Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Marathon hopeful, 101-year-old , training hard
yahoo. ^ | Mar 5, 11:47 am EST

Posted on 03/07/2008 7:08:04 AM PST by dennisw

101-year-old Buster Martin.

Reuters - Mar 5, 1:45 pm EST Gallery LONDON - Already Britain’s oldest employee, 101-year-old Buster Martin now aims to become the world’s oldest marathon runner by completing the London Marathon and celebrating with a pint of beer and a cigarette.

Sprightly and bearded, he completed a half marathon at the weekend in five hours 13 minutes. The former Army physical training instructor works three days a week for a London plumbing firm and says he has trained for the April 13th race in his spare time.

“I’ve said I’ll attempt it,” he told Reuters by telephone from his workplace at Pimlico Plumbers. “I haven’t said I’ll complete it. If I do make it, all the better. I hadn’t thought of doing it before but someone asked me and the money goes to charity so why not?”

His sponsorship money will go to the Rhys Daniels Trust, which provides temporary accommodation for families of patients in specialist children’s hospitals.

Martin, who had 17 children and returned to work at the age of 99 saying he was bored after two years of retirement, would beat the previous record for world’s oldest marathon runner by eight years.

“If I finish, I’ll do what I always do and have a pint and a fag,” he said. “People ask what is my secret but I haven’t got one. They say fags and booze are bad for you—but I’m still here, aren’t I?”


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: elderly; grit; hope

1 posted on 03/07/2008 7:08:04 AM PST by dennisw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: dennisw
A handout photograph shows Britain's oldest employee, 101-year-old Buster Martin, posing for the camera during a training session in Archbishop's Park, central London on February 13, 2007. Martin aims to become the world's oldest marathon runner by completing the London Marathon and celebrating with a pint of beer and a cigarette. Sprightly and bearded, he recently completed a half marathon in five hours 13 minutes.
(Mario Rebellato/Handout/Reuters)

A handout photograph shows Britain's oldest employee, 101-year-old Buster Martin, posing for the camera during a training session in Archbishop's Park, central London on February 13, 2007. Martin aims to become the world's oldest marathon runner by completing the London Marathon and celebrating with a pint of beer and a cigarette. Sprightly and bearded, he recently completed a half marathon in five hours 13 minutes. (Mario Rebellato/Handout/Reuters)

2 posted on 03/07/2008 7:09:12 AM PST by dennisw (Never bet on a false prophet! <<<||>>> Never bet on Islam!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dennisw

Oh my gosh, there is no way that guy looks 101. Surely his age has been verified. Really amazing.


3 posted on 03/07/2008 7:10:31 AM PST by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: dennisw
He's actually got a Wiki article and a byunch more images.
4 posted on 03/07/2008 7:12:00 AM PST by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dennisw
If I finish, I’ll do what I always do and have a pint and a fag
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
5 posted on 03/07/2008 7:12:53 AM PST by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dennisw

I ran my first marathon at age 46. In my last I dehydrated and limped along the last 12.2 miles. At the end I decided to kick it & pass two 20 something cuties that kept passing me and then I them, when I saw a 70+ yo man with hunched over back about 100 yards ahead of me. I gave it all I had, fighting through the pain, and beat the old man by a half stride - my claim to glory.

I marvel at these guys! How do they do it. At 55 I feel like my body is falling apart.


6 posted on 03/07/2008 7:26:47 AM PST by DBCJR (What would you expect?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson