Fauja Singh, 100, Finishes Marathon

BBC
October 17, 2011.

Fauja Singh (born April 1, 1911)

A 100-year-old Briton has become the world's oldest marathon runner after finishing a race in Canada.

Fauja Singh, from Ilford, east London, ran the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in eight hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds.

The record-holder "hit the wall" at 22 miles but soldiered on for another two hours and finished in 3,850th place, ahead of five other competitors.

Mr Singh, who took up running 11 years ago after his wife and son died, trains every day by running 10 miles.

Curry and tea

His coach and translator Harmander Singh said Mr Singh was "overjoyed".

"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."

Born in India in 1911, Mr Singh was a farmer in the Punjab but moved to Britain in the 1960s.

He puts his stamina down to ginger curry, tea and "being happy".

He holds the world record for the over-90 category after running the 2003 Toronto marathon in five hours and 40 minutes. His latest feat earns him another spot in Guinness World Records.

On Thursday he broke another eight records for 100-year-old men by completing all eight distances ranging from 100m to 5,000m.

Mr Singh said: "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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Comment:  This is an amazing feat at any age and infinitely more so at 100!

I have nothing but mad respect for Mr. Singh.  In 2005 he was featured in an Adidas ad that said: "Nothing is Impossible".  Just amazing.

And there I was this morning complaining to the moms that I wanted to stop going to the gym because my joints hurt and there is too much noise in the gym and I hate it when teenagers hog all the machines and my diet ain't working and my energy levels are down and I expect it will get worse cause I am 47 and beyond my prime in life and I'm just ready to watch the sun set ...

I need to figure out his recipe for Ginger Curry and tea and getting rid of negative people in my life - does that include me ?  ;0)

OK so Mr. Singh has inspired me to go to the gym right now ... well in a little bit right after a nap and a snack or two.

Onward!

Ps. See also "Centurian (sic) marathoner Singh sets world record by completing Toronto event".

By the way, a hundred year old person is a Centenarian not a "centurian" as headlined by Toronto's  The Star. :0)

Update: I sent a short message to the The Star pointing out that Centenarian was the right word and not 'Centurian' and they changed the headline :0)

Cool huh?

What?

Of course I have a life.  I even went running and though I barely made 3 kilometers.

And if you don't believe me click on the link and see that it still contains the wrong word. This is the link just in case you too lazy to click:  http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/1070868--centurian-marathoner-singh-sets-world-record-by-completing-toronto-event?bn=1

Geez ;0)

Picture Credit