I didn't see this posted on LRC so apologies if it already was. A centenarian is racing a marathon in Canada. I am stunned and hope the guy makes it through the race in one piece.
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/14/man-100-set-to-become-oldest-marathoner/?hpt=hp_c2
He set the current world record for people 90 and older with a time of five hours, 40 minutes and four seconds in Toronto in 2003.
Wow
If he dies at the end will it be because of the Marathon or Old Age?
The guy has decent form and has completed other thons before. He must be sponsored to have all this nice gear and a flight to Canada. I am guessing brooks?
Damnit, it's not a thon!
It's called a marathon.
Have some respect!
When's he going to move up to the Ultras ?
This guy has been in Runner's World UK a few times. He was sponsored by adidas for a while and appeared in some ads. Most people would be happy with a 5:40 marathon in their twenties and just being able to walk unaided at 100! He's an inspiration to us all.
I met him when I ran Toronto Waterfront a few years ago (or it might be more accurate to say that I said "hi" to him; he doesn't speak English). He is extremely frail looking, I mean it looks like a strong wind could blow him over. But apparently his legs have the bone-density of a 25 year old! I think he's amazing. We should all be so fortunate with our health to be running in our old age!
a pair of centenarians were being feted at a local independence day celebration that I went to this year, as they had been married apparently the second longest of any couple in North America (married around 1929). They couldn't hear much, if at all, and didn't stand up or walk the whole time and they looked very frail and uncomfortable. And very few people get even close to that age. Yet, this guy is going to try to run a marathon. That is amazing.
The word is that he uses a Kenyan and Ethiopian birth certificate...
Apparently there is quite a bit of skepticism about his true age.
I haven't been doing 'thon training, but still think I could crush him in the race.
Lone Lobo wrote:
The word is that he uses a Kenyan and Ethiopian birth certificate...
Apparently there is quite a bit of skepticism about his true age.
I know this is letstroll.com but are you just making this up or has this been discussed on UK running forums or UK running mags? Just curious.
Lone Lobo wrote:
The word is that he uses a Kenyan and Ethiopian birth certificate...
Apparently there is quite a bit of skepticism about his true age.
So he's what, like 110? Even more impressive!
Only Half Troll wrote: Damnit, it's not a thon!
It's called a marathon.
Have some respect!
Who put you in charge of what a thon can be called? I didn't get the memo. Please post a link to the memo. Thanks.
If any frequenters of this board are running this marathon please attempt to get a glimpse or a photograph. I am bad about searching for results so when they come up please link us!
My old nanny is now 101 and she can barely walk. She still has her marbles but the fact this guy is participating in a physical activity is astonishing. Perhaps with improvements in medicine these events will become more "commonplace"?
Fauja was born in rural Punjab in India, so I'm not sure how reliable his birth certificate would be (if he has one).
A similar debate surrounded Buster Martin (obituary:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/8451727/Buster-Martin.html
), who claimed to be 101 when he finished the London Marathon in 2007. He didn't have an original Birth Certificate, and there was evidence to suggest he was 'only' 94 (although there is also evidence backing up 101)
Buster's record was never official, I'm sure Fauja will face the same scrutiny.
Buster Martin was about 75 or something. That was a huge con.
I think this guy is the real deal.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there another guy from the UK who ran a marathon a couple years back who was about 102/103? Thought I remembered reading an article about the guy where it said he hardly drank any water, just beer, and that he's never been retired. Ring any bells?
Still, props to this guy, impressive stuff.
primed wrote:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there another guy from the UK who ran a marathon a couple years back who was about 102/103? Thought I remembered reading an article about the guy where it said he hardly drank any water, just beer, and that he's never been retired. Ring any bells?
Still, props to this guy, impressive stuff.
Yep. It's ringing a few bells. The few posts above yours are about him.
Sometimes I despair.
Yeah that's Buster Martin - I linked to his obituary ^^