Monday Morning Motivation – Harriette Thompson
Harriette Thompson’s record-breaking San Diego Rock’n’Roll Marathon
On crossing the marathon finish line at the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and Half Marathon in May 2015, 92-year-old Harriette Thompson made history. By finishing in 7 hours, 24 minutes, 36 seconds, Harriette became the oldest woman to run a marathon. In 2014, she set a record for the fastest marathon by a woman 90 and older, finishing in 7:07:42. The old record was 9 hours, 53 minutes.
A one-time concert pianist who performed at Carnegie Hall three times, Thompson did not run her first marathon until she was 76.
Charity fundraising
A two-time cancer survivor, Thompson runs to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She has raised more than $90,000.
“I hit up all the people in my retirement home,” Thompson said. “Every year I write them a (thank you) note and say ‘I think this is my last year.’ Then I do another one.”
Asked how she felt about becoming the oldest woman to run a marathon, Thompson turned modest.
”I guess it’s sort of unusual now,” she said. “But in 10 years it won’t be ususual at all. People are living longer.”
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Legend! I was about a third her age when I did my first marathon. And it took me over seven hours.
Thank you! I needed this little post this dreary Monday!