Congratulations to Fauja Singh, who has become the world’s oldest marathon after finishing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in eight hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds.
Watch this clip of him breaking the record for the 100m race – it’s brilliant – he can run faster than me!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15330421
Apparently he “hit the wall” at 22 miles but carried on for another two hours and finished in 3,850th place, ahead of five other competitors – that would have been me at the back being beaten by the 100 y/o and all the people with no shoes on and rhinoceros outfits.
It’s an inspirational story because he didn’t take up running until he was 89. So that gives me a few more years to think about it. Also, whilst I would have liked to have heard that his success was based on 8 glasses of wine and 200 cigarettes every day he puts his stamina down to ginger curry, tea and “being happy”. 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.”
Not sure about his final quote during the race – ‘achieving this will be like getting married again’ – really? That is sort of a little disappointing isn’t it?
Or perhaps I should just take up marathon running from now on.
