Eighty-one-year-old marathon walker Beth Petersen won’t let several challenging respiratory ailments slow her down. She has successfully completed more than 50 marathons since she took up the sport at age 56. Let Beth’s attitude inspire you to find a way to start and keep moving, no matter what your health issues you may have.
Many people find that movement such as walking, swimming, bicycling, and yoga help improve their physical health, mood and outlook on life, mobility, balance, and sense of well-being. Work with your primary care physician or seek the help from other licensed healthcare provider to determine where and how to get started.
Beth’s Story
She wrote to the editors of The Costco Connection, a magazine for Costco members, in response to feature story in an earlier issue:
2016 Interview Reveals More Accomplishments
Highlights from the insightful feature article, “84-year-old Adventist Woman has Walked Nearly 2,000 Miles” published Nov. 10, 2016:
- She walked 55 marathons [from 1988 to date of interview]
- Completed “dozens of half marathons”
- Finish time of her first event, 1988 Honolulu Marathon: Over seven hours
- Finish time at the 2015 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon: 6 hours, 43 minutes
- At age 83, she completed twice the distance at a faster pace than my 2013 Bellingham Bay Half Marathon time!!
- Her 2015 average pace was about 15 minutes per mile!
- My BBHM pace was shy of 19 minutes per mile!
- Her daily routine included a 4-mile walk at sunrise
Read the entire inspiring story!
Originally titled “Can the ‘Can’t’ and Start Enjoying Life,” published July 23, 2014 | Edited, updated and republished Aug. 23, 2023
