In It to Win It

At The 100 Year Lifestyle, we often speak on the topics of career longevity of business people and athletes who are in it to win it. Sometimes, we combine the topics when we talk about players like football’s Tom Brady. Approaching his 45th birthday, Brady is a unique and gifted player, but he’s far younger than many athletes who are still in their respective games – and still in it to win it. We’ve brought to your attention centenarian tennis players and basketball players, just to name a few. But, have you heard about the 100-year-old runner who has been setting world records for nearly 80 years?

If that sounds crazy and impossible, it’s not. The fact is, researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have found that running slows the aging process! The study tracked 500 older runners over a period of more than 20 years. What did they find? Elderly runners have fewer disabilities, a longer active life span, and are half as likely as aging nonrunners to die early deaths. Before you head for the closet to dust off your running shoes, take a moment to read about Lester Wright.

Nearly a quarter of a century after breaking one sprinting world record as a mere 76-year-old, Lester was back in form again as he set the official 100m world record for centenarians. To find out what Lester thinks about coming in second, keep reading.