They all have plenty of reasons not to run. Brain tumor surgery, sleep apnea, liver failure. Age.
"Anyone can make excuses," explains Richard Irons, 75.
But they don't. They get up and run, several times a week. And they race.
Irons qualified for the Boston Marathon twice in recent years and is training for Tulsa's Route 66 Marathon. He placed second in last year's Tulsa Run among men ages 70-74. This year, he'll race in the 75-79 age group (which had only eight competitors in 2008).
"I'm no great athlete; God has just blessed me to keep going," Irons said. He didn't start running until he was 65 and recovering from brain tumor surgery.
Grace McCoy, 62, won her age group at last year's Tulsa Run. She's the group's oracle of running wisdom, as she's been running since the 1960s. She runs every day, first with her springer spaniels and then on her own or with her training buddies.
"God gives us all special talents," she said. "I was born running, I guess."
And running has helped keep her alive. She suffered liver failure in 1986, and doctors sent her home and told her she had three months to live, she said. She's been able to avoid a transplant so far, and doctors have told her they believe it's because of her devotion to a healthy diet and exercise.
"They told me, you better keep that up because you shouldn't be alive," she said. "I think it's because I'm very consistent. I run two hours every day, seven days a week. But it's easier to be consistent when your life depends on it."
Their running group also includes David Mitchell, 73; Barbara Parker, 64; Janet Ellsbury, 62; and Jana Harrington, 55 (the young one). McCoy doesn't mind running alone, but she does like the company of her running buddies.
"We love the exchange," she said. "At our age, a lot of us have family problems or health issues -- and it's a lot cheaper than a psychiatrist. We'll just talk about anything -- family stuff, nutrition, whatever is going on --and we'll have run 10 miles without even knowing it."
Parker is an accomplished runner/triathlete who teaches spinning classes -- and looks about 15 years younger than her age. In 1986, she was the first female masters runner in Oklahoma to break the 20- minute barrier in a 5k. But none of them want to talk about themselves. They want to brag on each other.
"Richard and David, they're running times that many 26-year-olds can't do," McCoy said. "They're just phenomenal. Richard's done Boston twice!
"I really think he's the most phenomenal one of the group."
They started training together back in 1999, for the first Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, and they just kept going. This year, they're all doing the Tulsa Run, and most are training for the Route 66 marathon or half marathon.
Route 66 will probably be his last marathon, Irons said. McCoy's not so sure.
"I think everybody always says this is the last marathon I'm going to do," she said. "Until the next one comes along." [rc]
Source: YellowBrix, Tulsa World
© copyright 1997 - 2009 ThirdAge Inc
October 10, 2009
USA: These runners prove you're never too old
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SAN FRANCISCO, California / The Third Age / Exercise & Fitness / October 10, 2009
By Cary Aspinwall
They all have plenty of reasons not to run. Brain tumor surgery, sleep apnea, liver failure. Age.
"Anyone can make excuses," explains Richard Irons, 75.
But they don't. They get up and run, several times a week. And they race.
Irons qualified for the Boston Marathon twice in recent years and is training for Tulsa's Route 66 Marathon. He placed second in last year's Tulsa Run among men ages 70-74. This year, he'll race in the 75-79 age group (which had only eight competitors in 2008).
"I'm no great athlete; God has just blessed me to keep going," Irons said. He didn't start running until he was 65 and recovering from brain tumor surgery.
Grace McCoy, 62, won her age group at last year's Tulsa Run. She's the group's oracle of running wisdom, as she's been running since the 1960s. She runs every day, first with her springer spaniels and then on her own or with her training buddies.
"God gives us all special talents," she said. "I was born running, I guess."
And running has helped keep her alive. She suffered liver failure in 1986, and doctors sent her home and told her she had three months to live, she said. She's been able to avoid a transplant so far, and doctors have told her they believe it's because of her devotion to a healthy diet and exercise.
"They told me, you better keep that up because you shouldn't be alive," she said. "I think it's because I'm very consistent. I run two hours every day, seven days a week. But it's easier to be consistent when your life depends on it."
Their running group also includes David Mitchell, 73; Barbara Parker, 64; Janet Ellsbury, 62; and Jana Harrington, 55 (the young one). McCoy doesn't mind running alone, but she does like the company of her running buddies.
"We love the exchange," she said. "At our age, a lot of us have family problems or health issues -- and it's a lot cheaper than a psychiatrist. We'll just talk about anything -- family stuff, nutrition, whatever is going on --and we'll have run 10 miles without even knowing it."
Parker is an accomplished runner/triathlete who teaches spinning classes -- and looks about 15 years younger than her age. In 1986, she was the first female masters runner in Oklahoma to break the 20- minute barrier in a 5k. But none of them want to talk about themselves. They want to brag on each other.
"Richard and David, they're running times that many 26-year-olds can't do," McCoy said. "They're just phenomenal. Richard's done Boston twice!
"I really think he's the most phenomenal one of the group."
They started training together back in 1999, for the first Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, and they just kept going. This year, they're all doing the Tulsa Run, and most are training for the Route 66 marathon or half marathon.
Route 66 will probably be his last marathon, Irons said. McCoy's not so sure.
"I think everybody always says this is the last marathon I'm going to do," she said. "Until the next one comes along." [rc]
Source: YellowBrix, Tulsa World
© copyright 1997 - 2009 ThirdAge Inc
They all have plenty of reasons not to run. Brain tumor surgery, sleep apnea, liver failure. Age.
"Anyone can make excuses," explains Richard Irons, 75.
But they don't. They get up and run, several times a week. And they race.
Irons qualified for the Boston Marathon twice in recent years and is training for Tulsa's Route 66 Marathon. He placed second in last year's Tulsa Run among men ages 70-74. This year, he'll race in the 75-79 age group (which had only eight competitors in 2008).
"I'm no great athlete; God has just blessed me to keep going," Irons said. He didn't start running until he was 65 and recovering from brain tumor surgery.
Grace McCoy, 62, won her age group at last year's Tulsa Run. She's the group's oracle of running wisdom, as she's been running since the 1960s. She runs every day, first with her springer spaniels and then on her own or with her training buddies.
"God gives us all special talents," she said. "I was born running, I guess."
And running has helped keep her alive. She suffered liver failure in 1986, and doctors sent her home and told her she had three months to live, she said. She's been able to avoid a transplant so far, and doctors have told her they believe it's because of her devotion to a healthy diet and exercise.
"They told me, you better keep that up because you shouldn't be alive," she said. "I think it's because I'm very consistent. I run two hours every day, seven days a week. But it's easier to be consistent when your life depends on it."
Their running group also includes David Mitchell, 73; Barbara Parker, 64; Janet Ellsbury, 62; and Jana Harrington, 55 (the young one). McCoy doesn't mind running alone, but she does like the company of her running buddies.
"We love the exchange," she said. "At our age, a lot of us have family problems or health issues -- and it's a lot cheaper than a psychiatrist. We'll just talk about anything -- family stuff, nutrition, whatever is going on --and we'll have run 10 miles without even knowing it."
Parker is an accomplished runner/triathlete who teaches spinning classes -- and looks about 15 years younger than her age. In 1986, she was the first female masters runner in Oklahoma to break the 20- minute barrier in a 5k. But none of them want to talk about themselves. They want to brag on each other.
"Richard and David, they're running times that many 26-year-olds can't do," McCoy said. "They're just phenomenal. Richard's done Boston twice!
"I really think he's the most phenomenal one of the group."
They started training together back in 1999, for the first Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, and they just kept going. This year, they're all doing the Tulsa Run, and most are training for the Route 66 marathon or half marathon.
Route 66 will probably be his last marathon, Irons said. McCoy's not so sure.
"I think everybody always says this is the last marathon I'm going to do," she said. "Until the next one comes along." [rc]
Source: YellowBrix, Tulsa World
© copyright 1997 - 2009 ThirdAge Inc
