This Man Started Running Marathons at 89 Years Old!

His story is remarkable and motivational!

Wouldn’t it be great if old age is the best time of your life? For many people, it’s a time for remarkable changes. Some people retire, and others continue to work at their jobs. In my former job, I knew people proudly proclaiming that they have worked for the company for over 30 years. For me, it was time for a change after 15 years of doing essentially the same thing every day.

But there’s one man who is so inspiring I had to write an entire article just about him! He’s a remarkable man who made a positive change that is definitely one for the record books.

His name is Fauja Singh and what’s remarkable about him is that he started running marathons at the ripe age of 89 years old.

Born in India on April 1, 1911, he currently lives in Britain and has run numerous marathons despite starting late in life. His track record includes beating a number of world records in multiple age brackets. His stamina is incredible, as well as his endurance.

At the 2003 London Marathon, his time to completion was 6 hours 2 minutes. His record for the 90-plus category was 5 hours 40 minutes when he was 92 at the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

He only started running after experiencing personal tragedies in life. He lost his wife, daughter, and son in separate accidents in 1995. Running became the catalyst to help him heal.

His other secret: he is a vegetarian. His meals are simple and include phulka, dal, green vegetables, yogurt, milk… lots of water, and tea with ginger.

This supercentenarian also doesn’t like late nights, which he explains by saying, “ I go to bed early taking the name of my Rabba (God) as I don’t want all those negative thoughts crossing my mind.”

He is quoted as saying:

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.

Another secret is his belief in a higher force. He told a reporter once, “‘The first 20 miles are not difficult. As for the last six miles, I run while talking to God.’’

Want to start running a marathon after reading this? Not so fast. You may want to take it slow by walking first, and gradually build up stamina. It took Singh years before he could do his first marathon and he got a personal trainer before he took the plunge. I am still working on making exercise a regular part of my week!

In fact, training to run a marathon is a long-term process and some say it takes up to 3–6 months to build endurance. You may want to check out running groups where you live and check your local community center for programs. Do consult your doctor before you undergo any strenuous program.

As for Singh, he retired from his beloved sport at the age of 101. There are reports that he is alive and well in the United Kingdom. Long may he live and continue to inspire others!

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