07/14/2025
🏃🏾🏃🏾Dude is 96!!! What did you do today?
😀Remember it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish!
🚨 BREAKING: Japan’s Oldest RunnerFinishes a Full Marathon atGrand Age of 96
Shintaro Okuyama isn’t your average runner. At 96, he crossed the finish line of the Ibusuki Nanohana Marathon, clocking 8 hours, 43 minutes, and 46 seconds becoming Japan’s oldest certified marathon finisher since 2004.
But it’s not just about the record. Okuyama didn’t start running until he was 49, after collapsing 300 meters into a local race. That embarrassment turned into a lifelong passion. Now, with nearly five decades of daily running under his belt, he’s still lacing up rain, slopes, and age be damned.
During the race in January, icy rain poured down, but Okuyama pushed through with short runs and walking breaks. He didn’t even check his time, just focused on one goal: keep moving forward.
His recovery? A bowl of porridge and a hot spring bath.
Today, the 97-year-old still runs 10 kilometers every three days, navigates hills daily with grocery bags in hand, and cooks for himself and his wife, Tami, 91. His routine? Homemade meals, 8 hours of sleep, and self-taught running form.
Despite no professional coaching, no fancy gear, and starting late in life, he’s still chasing finish lines. His goal? Run another full marathon at 98 and do it in under 7.5 hours.
His story isn’t just impressive. It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to start, and never too early to keep going.
