George and I discuss the biggest wins and most unexpected surprises of the first half of the Tokyo World Championships, then turn our attention to Jeannie Rice. By several measures, she is the world's best marathon runner.
Rice is the first person known to have won her age group in all 7 World Marathon Majors. In six of those, she beat the first male in the age group.Her scores in the respected Age-Sex Graded Calculator, also put her atop almost all marathon performers.
In this podcast, Rice describes how her astounding age-group success came 30 years after she began with the goal of losing five pounds. Her singular skill: She hasn't slowed down during those 3 decades.
How? Rice laughs and says she doesn't know. Then she talks about how she has maintained a training regimen of 50 miles/week for 40 years ... plus a little more when building up to her several-times-a-year marathons.
If nothing else, Rice stands as a prime example of consistent, dedicated training--week in, and week out.
At her first World Masters Track Championships in Sweden in 2024, Rice won six gold meals, from 800 meters on the track to the half-marathon on the roads.
Next year's World Masters meet in South Korea, where she was born, will serve as strong motivation for 2026.
And then? Rice is already looking forward to turning 80 in 2028, so she can take aim on another set of age-group running records.
For more about Rice, visit JeannieRiceRuns.com.
WHERE TO FIND "RUNNING: STATE OF THE SPORT"
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"Running: State of the Sport" is brought to you by MarathonHandbook.com and RunLongRunHealthy.com. Marathon Handbook is the world’s leading marathon website, with a special focus on trustworthy running information and free, runner-tested training plans for all ability levels.
"Run Long, Run Healthy" is a weekly newsletter focused on the newest, most scientific, and most useful training advice for runners. It was launched by Amby in 2021, and is now edited by Brady Holmer, exercise physiologist and 2:24 marathon runner.
