Posted on 02/12/2019 7:11:40 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Even though the high temperature will likely be well below freezing today in Adrian, Michigan, you can bet that Everett Luoma, 87, will venture outside for a run.
If it’s too cold for his liking, he’ll likely enjoy a longer run at the indoor track at Siena Heights University, where he serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the school’s cross-country and track teams. No matter where he gets in his workout, Luoma just needs to run—he’s kept a running streak since November, 2017, and made a log of each run ever since. Not only that, but he believes he’s on track to achieve Masters All American Standard times for several race distances when he reaches 90.
Last March, Luoma ran the Great Black Swamp 15K in 2:18:59, which is off by about 13 minutes in the 85-89 masters age group. But if his times don’t stall, he has a major lead on the 90-94 age group time of 2:39:25. He’s also posting times in distances like the 5K that have him not far off from his current 85-89 standard.
“I have a tremendous support group, and I think that is very important, otherwise I’m just an old man,” Luoma told Runner’s World. “But I have all these people who give me their respect and keep me motivated.”
Luoma still participates in half marathons, one of his recent ones being the Glass City Half Marathon last April, finishing in 3:28:50. And he logs about 25 miles per week without skipping a beat.
How does this 87-year-old keep up a run streak and competitive age-group times? Luoma credits his ability to stay active to his family and friends, many of whom are runners, plus the Toledo Roadrunners, a club of which he’s been a member for more than 20 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at runnersworld.com ...
That is wonderful. :D
Everett will slow down one of these days.
I’m rooting for him but based on personal observations, there is a SHARP decline between 87 and 90 years of age.
No doubt. He should consider himself truly lucky, as about half of the country’s 85-year-olds have some form of dementia.
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