The secret of the 93-year-old who ran 52 marathons

93-Year-Old Runs 52 Marathons

The other day, I came across a story of 93-year-old, John Starbrook (known as “The Legend”)

Here are a few his accomplishments:

• On his 80th birthday he swam across the Gulf of Corryvreckan (between two Scottish islands)
  
• At 87, he was the oldest person to complete the London Marathon.
  
• At 88, he completed at 26.2 mile race.
  

This former egg deliveryman still hits the gym 6x per week and has ran 52 marathons! His workouts include spin classes, swims (3x per week) and playing water polo.

While he has been swimming for 80 years (as a teen and while in the army) he didn’t pick up running until his was 53. And then later that year he was “accidently motivated” to do the London Marathon after his wife told him he’d never do it.

What’s his secret?

Starbrook believes his gene pool has helped, but he’s also adopted some key habits such as not smoking, rarely drinking, eating lots of veggies and minimizing fried foods. Plus, according to him he’s, “never bothered about anything.”

When it comes to working out, Starbrook has golden advice for those ‘later to the game.’

”Start easy and don’t overdo it – just enjoy it”

“If you want to go out jogging, just do a mile or two and walk when you want to. It’s more important to do something every single day than to batter yourself – if I am too busy to get down to the gym, I’ll just go for a long walk. You have the time so stop pretending it’s beyond you.”

While it’s up to you what form of exercise you take on, there’s something extremely liberating when you allow yourself more options.

Whether that’s hitting the weight room… joining a yoga class… jumping on the bike while you watch a TV show… walking around the block while you take a phone call… or doing a little exercise snacking in the living room.

When you give yourself more options, it takes the pressure off having to be so regimented with your routine and having to do it purr-fectly. It gives you the flexibility and freedom to gravitate towards whatever option makes the most sense that day.

In this way, you keep grooving deeper exercise habits – whether it’s rain, snow or shine.

You find a way.
You make it happen.
You keep movement a part of your schedule.

And you keep expanding your physical capacity whether it’s a calm, mellow yellow week or a hectic one where everything that could go wrong does.

Kelan Ern

P.S. For much more on expanding your athleticism and taking your fitness to levels you didn't think possible - check out a free issue of the Mind-Body Breakthroughs newsletter.