For most people, running a marathon is a test of mental endurance, training and the ultimate commitment to healthy living. Ed Whitlock embodies this type of endurance. On Sunday, Whitlock broke the world record for the men’s marathon 85-89 age group by more than 30 minutes. The spry 85-year-old ran the Toronto marathon course in an impressive 3 hours and 55 minutes.
A sub-four-hour marathon is an impressive achievement for any age, but for an 85-year-old man, it is a feat of human strength and the product of a lifetime of healthy living and fitness. Whitlock is no stranger to distance running. At 73, Whitlock ran a sub-three-hour marathon, a result most serious marathoners are unable to achieve in their careers.
You don’t have to be a runner to appreciate Whitlock’s incredible run in Toronto. He is living proof that the benefits of an active lifestyle can pay dividends throughout life. If he can run 42 kilometres in four hours, what excuse do we have to not be more active?
