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Inspiration June 5, 2017
Forget knitting in rocking chairs and jars full of old, butterscotch candies.
For many, weekends are for relaxation — kicking back after a tough work week and catching up with your friends, perhaps over a bottle of wine.
Well, not for 94-year-old Harriette Thompson. She spent her time taking on the Rock ’N’ Roll Marathon in San Diego.
Thompson became the oldest woman to run a half marathon on Sunday. But don’t think that means she took it easy. The longtime runner crossed the finish line with a time of three hours and 42 minutes, and a big smile on her face.
Meanwhile, I still feel winded walking up the stairs into the office each day. Following the race, Thompson said, “I guess it’s unusual, but I don’t know why people make such a big deal. I feel just like I did when I was 16. But I just can’t move as fast.” Clearly, she had a more active childhood than I.
This achievement comes after Thompson broke the world record for oldest woman to complete a full marathon, back in 2015. The inspiring, two-time cancer survivor runs to raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and has raised an impressive $100,000 thus far. She brought in a whopping $17,000 in 2017 alone.
Thompson had her family with her on Sunday, a veritable cheering squad, applauding the champion as she made her way to the finish line. And she had words of advice for runners – and us non-athletes as well – “It’s never too late to do something that you’re interested in doing. There’s no reason to not go after something you believe in.”
Well said, Thompson. Well said.
