OLDEST PERSON TO RUN A MARATHON
Tuesday October 18th, 2011
100 YEAR OLD BEATS MARATHON RECORD
A 100year old Brit has become the oldest marathon runner in the world. Fauja Singh, from Ilford, London, completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8 hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds coming 3,850th. He said he ‘hit the wall’ at 22 miles but ‘soldiered on’ for another two hours.
The 100 year old began running 11 years ago following the death of his wife and son and now trains by running ten miles each day.
His coach and interpreter Harmander Singh said, 'Earlier, just before we came around the (final) corner, he said, 'achieving this will be like getting married again... He's absolutely overjoyed, he's achieved his lifelong wish.'
The former Punjabi farmer who was born in 1911 and moved to Britain in the sixties puts his stamina down to ginger curry, tea and 'being happy'.
Mr Singh already holds the world record for the over-90 category after running the 2003 Toronto marathon in 5 hours and 40 minutes. He has also broken another eight records for 100-year-old men by completing all eight distances ranging from 100m to 5,000m.
Mr Singh told the press, 'The secret to a long and healthy life is to be stress-free. Be grateful for everything you have, stay away from people who are negative, stay smiling and keep running.'
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