Harriet Thompson of Charlotte, North Carolina, is a 92-year-old runner who is putting younger runners to shame. running her 16th Suja Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon this weekend.
Thompson is going to be the star of the “show,” even though there will be around 26,000 other participants in this race for charity. She will, however, be the oldest woman to complete the marathon if she finishes the entire 26.2 miles this year.
92-Year-Old Runner Setting Records
The Suja Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon starts off at Balboa Park and ends at PETCO Park. Last year, Thompson set the record for running the fastest speed by women who were 90 years old and over, by completing the marathon in seven hours and seven minutes. It was a whopping improvement over the previous record of nine hours and 53 minutes.
Thompson says that it’s normal to get attention once someone gets to their 90s, but says she is having fun, riding first class from her home in Charlotte to San Diego and getting to stay in a hotel right across from the area of the race finish line.
Thompson’s First Marathon Was at Age 76
Thompson wasn’t always a marathon runner. In fact, she didn’t start doing it until she turned 76. She said she got interested when one of her church members was collecting donations for running a marathon — which was, coincidentally, the Suja Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon — to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Thompson herself has fought off cancer twice, and many of her family and friends have lost battles to cancer, so raising money for the charity was dear to her heart. Since her first marathon, the 92-year-old runner has managed to raise over $90,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The race itself has come close to earning $180 million for the cause.
Living life to its fullest
The 92-year-old runner says that she has lots to do. She exercises daily, runs or walks five days a week, plays bridge, and reads the paper. She has five children and 10 grandkids to keep her busy. She says she loves San Diego and loves all the attention she has been getting.
If Thompson is able to finish this year’s race, she will beat out the former record holder Gladys Burrill, who was a few months younger than Thompson when she ran the Honolulu Marathon in 2010.
92-Year-Old Runner Vows to Run Historic Race
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