DUBAI: A 96-year-old man, who already has bragging rights to a number of world records in running, recently added yet another as he finished 5,000 meters in 42 minutes and 30 seconds at the USA Track & Field Masters Outdoor Championships at the Cyclone Sports Complex in Ames, Iowa.
Roy Englert, 96, broke Frank Levine’s 10-year-old record of 50 minutes and 10 seconds, according to media reports, among them, The Guardian.
Prior to that Englert, held the 95 to 99 age group records for the 800m and 1500m and is a member of the world record 4×100, 4×400 and 4×800 relay teams.
The new mark is still pending approval by USATF, The Guardian and Runner’s World reported.
Hailing from Springfield, Virginia, media quoted the 96-year-old runner as saying: ““It’s fun. It’s not fun while you’re doing it, but it’s fun when you’re finished. I don’t consider myself that much of an inspiration. I’m a slow runner,” he said in the profile. “But I guess I’ve outlasted almost everybody. It gets easier to win when there’s not as much competition around.”
How does he prepare for the run?
The Guardian and Runner’s World, citing National Senior Games Association, said Englert runs about two to three miles a day, mostly on a treadmill. “When it gets closer to race day, he will up his daily mileage to three or four miles, and also incorporate speedwork on an indoor track,” The Guardian said.
Englert lives at Lake Ridge Retirement Living Community and doesn’t mind running alone during competitions as rarely was there anyone in age bracket to compete, reports said.
(Photos: USA Track & Field)
