15 Runners Who Prove It's Never Too Late to Start

A recent study revealed an alarming fact: many believe that after 41 it is too late to start doing sports. But science says otherwise. Research shows that people who started running at 50 and later quickly achieve a level of endurance comparable to those who have been running all their lives.Doubt it? Then meet these amazing people who prove by their example that it’s never too late to go for a run.

1. Miki Gorman

The story of Miki Gorman is one of perseverance and victories. She was born in 1935 in occupied China to a Japanese family and faced difficult trials from childhood. Hunger, deprivation, and the struggle for survival tempered her character. At 28, she moved to the United States, where she found a new life.Unlike most professional marathon runners who start with short distances, Miki immediately immersed herself in endurance tests.

One of her first races was a 100-mile (161 km) ultramarathon in Los Angeles. In her first year, she managed to run 86 miles and withdrew from the race with tears. But the next year, she returned and ran the entire distance.The experience toughened her up, and she soon began competing in outdoor races alongside other runners. At 41, when many consider her physical peak to be past, she won the New York City Marathon.Miki Gorman remains the only woman to have won the New York City and Boston Marathons twice. In 2010, she was inducted into the National Running Hall of Fame, and in 2012, into the New York Runners' Club (NYRR) Hall of Fame.She passed away in 2015 at 80, but her accomplishments will forever remain in the history of world marathon running.

2. Gene Dykes

There aren’t many 71-year-olds who can run a marathon in under three hours. But Gene Dykes is one of them!This incredible runner only started running marathons until he was 58. Before that, he lived an ordinary life, went abouthis daily business, and never thought that he would one day become a world legend. But everything changed when he retired at 64. With all the free time, Dykes decided to take up running seriously.

“It turns out that when you have a lot of free time, you can run a lot,” he says.And the results were not long in coming. In 2018, he became the second person in history to run a marathon in under three hours at the age of 70. Dykes finished the Rotterdam Marathon in 2:57:43, beating the world record by more than two minutes!But he didn’t stop there. Eight days after this achievement, he went back to the start line and won his age group at the Boston Marathon.“Being a world record holder was not my goal,” he admits. “But at some point, I said to myself: ‘There’s no one better than me at my age!’” And it’s true.

3. Ida Keeling

At 67, Ida Keeling was experiencing severe depression. Her daughter, a professional runner, suggested that she should try running 5K to distract herself. Ida was hesitant, but she decided to do it.At first, it was hard: age, fatigue, lack of experience... But then she noticed that after jogging, her mood improved, and the sadness went away.“Running is my medicine,” she said.

And this medicine worked wonders. At 102, Ida continued running and set a world record in the 100-meter dash for women over 100!How did she celebrate her victory? She did push-ups right on the track.Ida passed away at the age of 106, but her story continues to inspire.

4. Dennis Beggs

Dennis Beggs' first run was terrible.At 55, he decided to replace his daily walks with easy jogging, but after the first 400 meters, he thought he would never do it again. Running seemed like torture. But the next week, he tried again. Then again. Gradually, he increased the distance, and just a few months later he ran 10K, taking 2nd place in a local race.And already that same year, he decided to run his first marathon.

Since then, Dennis hasn't stopped. Today, years later, he has completed 50 marathons around the world!But the most incredible thing is his participation in the World Marathon Challenge. In 2024, he ran 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents to raise money for the Alzheimer's Foundation.He proves that sometimes you just need to overcome yourself at first, and then sport becomes a way of life.

5. Marion Irvine

“The Flying Nun” who started running at 48.Marion Irvine never took sports seriously. She dedicated her entire life to serving God and teaching children. However, at the age of 48, her life changed—she started running.Six years after starting training, at the age of 54, she ran a marathon in 2:51—a result that many young athletes can only dream of!This time allowed her to become the oldest participant in the history of the US Olympic qualifying race. But her achievements did not end there.

Irvine set numerous world records among women over 50, and her incredible story attracted Nike's attention. She signed a contract with this brand to participate in international competitions.Her outstanding results and inspiring example have earned her a place in the Running Hall of Fame. She has been called the “Flying Nun,” a title that best describes her incredible journey.

6. Toshiko d’Elia

Toshiko d’Elia was born in 1930 in Kyoto, Japan, during a period of strict patriarchal traditions. Since childhood, she knew that the world around her was unfair to women, but she was not going to put up with it.Her path to freedom began with education. Having received a Fulbright scholarship, she went to the United States to study to become a teacher for deaf children. In 1955, she was left alone in America with a small child, but she did not give up.

Running came into her life by chance. She was fond of mountain tourism, but due to health problems, she was unable toconquer Mount Rainier. Then she began running one mile a day with her daughter.And it turned out to be a fateful decision.In 1976, at 46, Toshiko decided to take part in a 15 km race. But due to carelessness, she missed the exit mark and ran the full marathon! She finished in 3:25, thereby qualifying for the Boston Marathon!In Boston, she took 2nd place among women in the 45+ category.But her incredible story does not end there.At 50, she became the first woman of that age to run a marathon in under three hours!At 70, she set a new record, running a mile under seven minutes.For her outstanding achievements, d'Elia was inducted into the American Running Hall of Fame.

7. Mike Rogers

Mike Rogers started running at 50 when he decided to get in shape. Then he could not imagine that in 20 years he would become one of the few people in the world who would run 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days.This incredible challenge showed him that age is not an obstacle to new achievements.

Running changed his life. It helped Mike improve his physical fitness, overcome prediabetes, and take control of his blood pressure and asthma. Today, he trains 15-20 miles a day and claims that with enough persistence and discipline, anyone can achieve their goals.“As long as I run, I feel great,” says Mike.His story inspires everyone who doubts whether it is worth starting training at a mature age.

8. Roberta Groner

Roberta ran in college but quit after graduating. She got married, had three children, and didn’t run at all for 10 years.At 30, she decided to come back just for the sake of fitness. In 2011, she ran her first marathon—and realized she wanted more.Her best time in the marathon is 2:29:09 (Rotterdam, 2019). In 2019, she took sixth place at the World Marathon Championships.

At 45, she set the US half marathon record for the 45–49 age group, 1:11:27. In 2024, she updated her marathon record to 2:29:32 (Valencia).She works as a coach and inspires women not to be afraid to start over.

9. Sheri Piers

Sheri Piers was into basketball in her youth and even played in college, but she only took up running after she was 34. This happened after she had her third child.At that time, she could not imagine that in just two years, she would run her first marathon in 2:45 and qualify for the US Olympic trials.

Sheri's athletic achievements continued to grow.At 40, she won the US National Veterans Championship, running a marathon in 2:37. She twice finished in the top 25 at the US Olympic trials.At the same time, she combined training, family and work. Sheri works as a medical director of a college, leads an active lifestyle, and proves that athletic achievements are possible at any age.

10. Eva Moskowitz

Eva Moskowitz has never been an athlete.But at 60, she decided to do something meaningful—running the New York City Marathon to set an example for her students.She is the CEO of a network of schools where children are taught an “educational marathon” designed for 13 years of study. Eva wanted to show that you can overcome any difficult path as long as you keep moving forward.

“A marathon is like studying. There are difficult periods, but the most important thing is to keep going.” The finish line was a psychological and physical challenge, but she pushed through.Now, she knows nothing is impossible, and inspires her students to believe in themselves.

11. Randall Park

Randall Park is a popular actor, known for his roles in Marvel films and comedy series. But at 50, he decided to try himself in a completely new role—becoming a marathon runner.

Photo by BACKGRID (left), Phillip Faraone/GA/Getty Images (right)

The reason was his participation in a charity project, for which he chose the New York City Marathon. Before that, he had never run long distances—just a few miles at most. However, training taught him to endure pain and overcome difficulties. He runs without music to listen to his breath and fully immerse himself in the process.Fun fact: Before the start, his greatest fear was getting so tired that he would be photographed in the fetal position on the pavement.

12. Lew Hollander

Lew Hollander is a physicist, writer, and incredible athlete. He came to the sport at the age of 50, starting with running, but soon became interested in triathlon.His greatest achievement? At 82, he became the oldest finisher of Ironman Hawaii—the most prestigious triathlon in the world!

He has run more than 100 marathons and ultramarathons.He completed the Ironman distance at the age of 82, setting a record. His record was later broken by a Japanese man at the age of 85, but Lew’s contribution to the sport remains legendary.

13. Harriet Anderson

Harriet Anderson didn’t begin her triathlon journey until she was 53, but she didn’t just participate—she dominated. She went on to win 21 Ironman races, proving that determination can defy time.

Even at 74, she refused to slow down, competing despite a broken collarbone sustained during a race.A true legend, Harriet showed the world that endurance and willpower know no age limit.

14. Julia Hawkins

What do most people do after turning 100? Julia Hawkins runs and sets records.

She took up running at 100 and quickly made history, setting multiple world records.Then, at 105, she became the first woman to complete a 100-meter race in her age category, showing that determination has no expiration date.

15. Orville Rogers

Orville Rogers was a pilot who transformed into a record-breaking runner at 90. His running journey began at 50 after being inspired by Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper’s book “Aerobics.” What started as a personal challenge soon turned into a passion that redefined his later years.By the time he reached 90, he wasn’t just running—he was breaking world records. At 99, he outran a 92-year-old competitor in the 60-meter sprint. At 100, he set new records for both the 60 meters and 400 meters, cementing his place in history as an unstoppable force.

These extraordinary athletes prove that age is not a barrier—it’s an opportunity. Whether starting at 30, 50, 70, or even 100, they defy expectations, rewrite records, and redefine human potential.Their stories remind us that it’s never too late to challenge yourself, push your limits, and discover new strengths. The only real obstacle is hesitation.So, if you've ever thought about starting—start now. Because the best time to begin is always today.By Lena Sage