News Digest

Road to success: Nonagenarian breaks marathon world record

A 92-year-old cancer survivor rocked her way into the record books Sunday, becoming the oldest woman to finish a marathon. Harriette Thompson of Charlotte, North Carolina, completed Sunday’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego in 7 hours, 24 minutes, 36 seconds. She was mobbed by well-wishers as she crossed the finish line. This was her 16th Rock 'n’ Roll Marathon and, by far, the hardest. The oldest woman to previously complete a marathon was Gladys Burrill, who was 92 years and 19 days old when she completed the 2010 Honolulu Marathon. Thompson is 92 years, 65 days old, according to race organizers.

I couldn’t train very well because my husband was very ill and I had to be with him for some time and then when he died in January I had some treatments on my leg.

Harriette Thompson, 92-year-old marathon runner

Despite her training woes, she nearly matched her finish time of last year, which was 7 hours, 7 minutes, 42 seconds. That set a record for a woman 90 or older, shattering the old one by more than an hour and a half. 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 miles, 385 yards. She didn’t begin running marathons until she was in her 70s, after a member of her church approached her about being one of her sponsors in the marathon to raise money to fight leukemia and lymphoma.

I don’t think I’d be living today if I didn’t do this running.

Harriette Thompson