Running a marathon at age 88

While running is becoming a booming trend among young people, an elderly British man is proving that the 42.195km race still has its veterans. Harry Newton, 88, is the oldest athlete at the London Marathon.

Harry Newton only started running marathons when he was 57 years old - Photo: The Guardian

Mr. Newton developed a passion for marathon running in his later years. In 1994, a representative from a candy company encouraged people to participate in the London Marathon to raise funds for charity. The 57-year-old man readily agreed, even though his life before that had revolved around farming and long hours working at a grocery store.

His initial training process was far from smooth. His longest run before the race was only 14km due to persistent knee pain. A week before his first race, the doctor reviewed the X-rays and delivered a cold shower: "Your knee has degenerated and it can't handle a marathon."

But since he had already registered, he decided to take the risk. That time, he combined walking and running and finished in 5 hours and 10 minutes. In return, his body ached for a whole month. But from that moment of pushing himself beyond his limits, his marathon addiction began.

To date, the 88-year-old veteran has completed 31 marathons, including 21 in London. His personal best is 3 hours 52 minutes and 30 seconds – an incredibly impressive achievement set when he was already 70 years old.

His passion was so great that during the COVID-19 lockdown, when he couldn't go outside, he ran a marathon in his own backyard by running 461 laps around a 100-meter-long space.

Behind those tireless runs is the unwavering support of his 85-year-old wife, Phyllis. Although she constantly tells her husband he's "not normal" and wants him to rest, she remains his most enthusiastic supporter. At major tournaments, she and her extended family of nearly 20 people are always there to cheer him on.

To maintain his running ability at the age of 88, he is extremely diligent in keeping up with sports trends. Preparing for races, he hunts for sales and buys himself the best shoes. He also hires a physical therapist and diligently practices strength training exercises to maintain his musculoskeletal system. As a result, knee pain only appears occasionally and disappears after a few runs.

Newton's advice for beginners is both practical and humorous: "Don't run too fast, keep a steady pace. And remember to use the restroom before you start." When asked by The Guardian about when his journey would end, the 88-year-old said: "A few years ago, I didn't think I'd still be running at this age. I'll definitely slow down each year, that's the law of aging. But I'll keep running as long as my legs allow it."

THANH DINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chay-marathon-o-tuoi-88-20260425095126206.htm