Beginners and Beyond

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Oldest woman to run in New York marathon dies next day (Read 79 times)

LRB


    "An American grandmother, who on Sunday was the oldest woman to compete in the New York marathon, died a day later. She was 86.

     

    Joy Johnson from San Jose, California, took just under eight hours to complete the 26.2-mile (42.2km) race through all five boroughs of the biggest city in the United States.

     

    She stumbled and hit her head at around the 20th mile. But she went to the medical tent only after completing the race and declined their insistence that she go to hospital.

     

    "She never really ran to compete, she ran because she loved it," her youngest daughter Diana Boydston told AFP by telephone Tuesday.

     

    Johnson, who would have turned 87 on Christmas Day, had been a physical education teacher and coach for many years, but only took up running in retirement.

     

    Sunday was the 25th consecutive time she finished the race. Her fastest time in New York was just under four hours in 1991. She came first in her age group six times.

     

    "She was a woman of great faith, that was first in her life, faith and family and then probably running. She really loved to run. She made a lot of friends that way all over the world," Boydston said.  "She really was amazing."

     

    While Johnson's training had relaxed slightly in recent years, it was still rigorous for many people half her age.  "She would go every morning out to our local track and run with people who were running or talking there. She would run bleachers, obviously doing stretching before you left," said Boydston.  She traveled to New York accompanied by her sister, Faith.

     

    After the race, it was her custom to have a hot bath and go to bed. On the next day, it was her tradition to go to Rockefeller Plaza where US TV network NBC films the Today show.  When she and her sister returned to their hotel, Johnson lay down to rest and never woke up.

     

    Her daughter last spoke to her one day before the race and said she had been "very happy."  "I got to tell her I loved her. That's what's been keeping me going," Boydston said.

     

    Just 18 of the marathon's more than 50,000 starters this year were over 80, according to race organizers.  Johnson came in fourth in her group of runners aged 80 to 89. A man aged 89 was the oldest person to compete Sunday.

     

    "We're saddened to hear about the passing of Joy. She finished her 25th on Sunday and she was just such an inspiration to us all," Chris Weiller, a spokesman for organizers New York Road Runners."

     

    (link)

    happylily


      Sad for the family, but a nice way to go for this lady... I wonder if it was just age related, or if falling on her head did something to cause her death? She seemed like a great woman...

      PRs: Boston Marathon, 3:27, April 15th 2013

              Cornwall Half-Marathon, 1:35, April 27th 2013

      18 marathons, 18 BQs since 2010

      happylily


        Joy and Faith. Great names for sisters, by the way. Smile

        PRs: Boston Marathon, 3:27, April 15th 2013

                Cornwall Half-Marathon, 1:35, April 27th 2013

        18 marathons, 18 BQs since 2010

        Robert31320


        Team TJ

          That's sad.  But, she went to sleep knowing she had once again, ROCKED NYC!  RIP, Joy!

          Running for TJ because he can't.

           


          Jess runs for bacon

            Sounds like she went peacefully and at a good age, so that's good. But still very sad.

            Buelligan


              It's sad when most people pass away, but this story doesn't make me sad at all.  There never is a good time to go, but some are better than others.  86 years is a good run... and to have completed a marathon,well...

              LRB


                It's sad when most people pass away, but this story doesn't make me sad at all.  There never is a good time to go, but some are better than others.  86 years is a good run... and to have completed a marathon,well...

                 

                Where the hell ya been man?  There was a thread asking about you a week or so ago.


                SheCan

                  Although there's a sadness to the story, it's also very inspiring.  What a neat lady!  Thank you for posting this.

                  Cherie

                  "We do not become the people who this world needs simply by turning our backs on anyone we don’t like, trust, or deem healthy enough to be in our presence. "  ---- Shasta Nelson