Harriette Thompson completed the San Diego Marathon in 7 hours 7 minutes and 42 seconds, breaking the world record for the fastest marathon completed by a woman over 90 years old by a whopping 2 hours and 45 minutes. As if this isn’t already an incredible achievement, she is now also the second oldest female marathoner of all time.

After making her marathon debut at the age of 76, Harriette has now completed the marathon 15 times in 16 years, only missing last year’s marathon due to oral cancer. Despite recently battling skin cancer and undergoing radiation treatments, with the last one just one month before the race, she continues to raise money for the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Society after her brother passed away from Lymphoma. Currently she has raised over $90,000.

Harriette lives in a retirement village and also plays the piano which helps her keep pace when she runs, by replaying pieces in her head. She also attends yoga and stretching classes and exercises on a cross trainer.

She even told reporters before the race that she only feels her age after running a marathon, although she feels better than younger girls she often sees struggling to move after! Harriette is an inspiration to us all, showing that age is not a barrier for beginning exercise and that you’re never too old to start. She hopes to run the marathon again next year in even better shape and aims to run it even faster!

Adie Blanchard – Researcher

Source

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/06/02/318238155/91-year-old-woman-breaks-marathon-record?