Back in August I posted a photo of my fitness hero, Roy Englert, a 96 year old from Springfield, Virginia, who currently holds the world record for the 95 to 99 age group in the 800, 1500, and 3,000 meters. I also mentioned that I would be running a 5k for my 70th birthday in October and promised to post a photo of me at the finish line. I keep my promises, mostly, so here it is.
Last Sunday, as part of the Grand Rapids Marathon, I ran the 10k instead of the 5k because, uh, I’m too competitive sometimes for my own good. My time was one hour and 49 seconds, and that means I averaged 9:47 per mile. There’s always room for improvement, and I was out this morning trying to pick up the pace a bit. I did finish first in my age group, but then there were only three of us. Maybe that’s how my friend Roy keeps setting world records.