Sunday, May 31, 2015

92-year-old seeks to set records as oldest woman to complete marathon in San ... - Vancouver Sun

In this June 1, 2014 photo, Harriette Thompson, then 91, starts the 2014 Suja Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego, which she completed. Thompson is scheduled to compete in the 2015 edition in San Diego on Sunday, May 31, 2015. If she completes the race she would become, at age 92, the oldest woman to ever complete a marathon. (Paul Nestor/Competitor Group via AP)





SAN DIEGO - A 92-year-old cancer survivor is seeking to become the oldest woman to finish a marathon.

Harriette Thompson of Charlotte, North Carolina, is participating in the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego on Sunday.

"I have no idea if I'm going to be able to do it, but I'm going to try," Thompson said at a news conference on Friday.

This is her 16th time running it, and last year she set a record when she finished the race in 7 hours, 7 minutes and 42 seconds, beating the previous record for a woman 90 or older by more than an hour and a half.

Thompson is a two-time cancer survivor who dealt with the loss of her husband and a staph infection in her legs while training for this year's race.

A classically trained pianist who played three times at Carnegie Hall, Thompson says she mentally plays old piano pieces she had performed to help her get through the 26.2 miles.

"I just don't think of myself being that unusual," she said. "I have a lot of people saying what an inspiration I am. That's nice to hear, good for something at this age."

The oldest woman to complete a marathon was Gladys Burrill, who was 92 years and 19 days old when she finished the 2010 Honolulu Marathon.

Thompson is 92 years and 65 days old, according to race organizers.


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