Drudge is highlighting a remarkable achievement by someone of any age, but for a man born in 1911 — yup, 100 years ago — completing a marathon is about as amazing as it gets. He’s a widower, born in India who only began his life as a marathon-runner at the age of 89. Fauja Singh is the oldest man who ever successfully completed the 26.2 mile run.
He says not smoking or drinking alcohol throughout his life, combined with a vegetarian diet and up to 10 miles of walking or running per day are the secrets to his health.
“He says no one is forcing him to do it. It’s his desire to do it,” coach and translator Harmander Singh said Sunday in an interview with CNN. “He wanted to do one when he’s 100 and today’s the day.”
The marathon took place yesterday in Toronto and Fauja Singh ran it in eight hours.
The Association of Road Racing Statistician already had Singh as the oldest person to complete a marathon, for one he ran seven years ago. But the Guinness Book of World Records recognized Dimitrion Yordanidis, 98, who ran in Athens in 1976.
Singh recently set eight world records for his age group in one day at a special invitational meet in Toronto. He ran the 100 meters in 23.14, 200 meters in 52.23, the 400 meters in 2:13.48, the 800 meters in 5:32.18, the 1500 meters in 11:27.81, the mile in 11:53.45, the 3000 meters in 24:52.47 and the 5000 meters in 49:57.39.
“I have said it before: that I will carry on running, as it is keeping me alive,” Singh told the marathon website.
Mr. Singh is an inspiration to all who witnessed his magnificent achievement.
For pun lovers, however, he has won not only a marathon but also a special place in our hearts:
Singh ran wearing his yellow turban and a matching T-shirt with the words ” Sikhs in the City” emblazoned across the front.
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