Tag: Fauja Singh

Running. Besting 100-year Old Men.

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teeter totter, elephants, gif, see-saw

5:50 am. I’m off.  100-year old men running marathons and I’ve been filling the couch.  Now there’s inspiration.

45F according to Weather Channel. Walk outside.  Feels like 60F.  Strip off running jacket.  Fat man goin’ to fly.

Feeling HEAVY.  Thanks to my enabler friend Lori.  She sent a can’t miss recipe after last week’s Spaghetti Bolognese post.  Zeke (dog) and I were sniffing around like crack addicts for 10 hours while the bolognese simmered in the slow cooker…with the aroma from the meat sauce oozing into every pore of the house.  When the 6pm dinner bell rang, I was at the table with fork, salt shaker, large plate.  Salad? NO.  Bread?  NO.  Vegetables? NO. Keep all distractions out of the way.  I told Zeke to stand back, I needed room to feed.  Four plates later (at least I stopped counting at 4), I was licking my plate…and telling myself, maybe it’s time to stop.  Bliss.  Peace.  10 years from today, new FDA research will find that eating Spaghetti Bolognese extends life.  And you’re going to think back and say that crazy man was right.  You read it here first.

Back to the run.  So, here we are.  The day after.  A DIRIGIBLE. LARGE AND BLOATED.  On the road again trying to knock out some lbs.  100-year old running man drifting in an out.  I’m half his age and can’t get the pistons firing.  Wonder if he lied about his age. (That’s not nice. But something seems off. He looks better than 100. Hell, he looks better than I do.)

On February 23, 2013, 101 year-old Fauja Singh finished the Hong Kong 10km (6.25 mile) event in one hour, 32 minutes and 28 seconds. (That’s it!  I’m going to kick his a** today. I’m sick of being embarrassed by 100 year old men. It’s sad. Really it is.) Continue reading “Running. Besting 100-year Old Men.” →

Work-Out Inspiration: 100 years old. And still running.

Live & Learn34 Comments

espn, sports, inspirational

  • Fauja Singh ran his first marathon at age 89 and became an international sensation.
  • Records?  Fastest to run a marathon (male, over age 90), fastest to run 5,000 meters (male, over age 100), fastest to run 3,000 meters (male, over age 100), and on and on they went.
  • By his second birthday, Fauja’s parents had cause for concern: He couldn’t walk. His legs were short and spindly, capable of movement but too weak to support his body. He turned 3. No steps yet. Then 4. Still crawling. Children called him danda, Punjabi for “stick.” Family members worried he might be crippled for life, so they consulted village doctors…At age 5, he developed enough strength to hobble. Proper walking didn’t come until around age 10.
  • His goal?  Get into the Guinness Book of World Records for finishing a Marathon at 100 years old.  The race: The Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 16, 2011. He’d finished in 8 hours, 25 minutes. He waved to the crowd as he walked across the line, then lifted his arms and accepted a medal. There were smiles and handshakes and photos with friends and strangers, then a rambling news conference for Fauja to reflect on his record. Amid the chaos and congratulations, however, Fauja never noticed the absence of one celebrant they’d expected. Guinness. (Guinness would not recognize Fauja Singh for the record. Read why at this link.)

Source: ESPN – The Runner.  Hit this link to read the full story.  Inspiring.

Epilogue: On February 23, 2013, Fauja Singh finished the Hong Kong 10km (6.25 mile) event in one hour, 32 minutes and 28 seconds. (Source: BBC News – Oldest Man Runs His Last Race)

DK Note to Self: Get. Off. The. Couch.