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Joy Johnson, oldest woman to run New York City Marathon, dies at 86 - NY Daily News


Stashed in: Women, Longevity, Never give up., Inspiration

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This woman never gave up:

In a prerace interview, Johnson said she planned to run at her own pace and would walk when tired.

“I’ll be at the back of the pack, but I don’t mind,” she said. “I just praise the Lord I can get out of bed each morning and run. A lot of people my age are in wheelchairs.”

In the weeks leading up to Sunday’s marathon, Johnson said she followed her daily routine: coffee, Bible lesson, 8-mile run. On some days, she also did 150 pushups. In her earlier running days, Johnson would log 10- to 15-mile daily runs. And at the top of her game in the early 1990s, Johnson completed the marathon in about five hours.

Something of a celeb in the running community, Johnson had runners 40 years her junior asking to take photos with her Saturday.

“I always say I’m going to run until I drop,” she had said then. “I’m going to die in my tennis shoes. I just don’t know when I’m going to quit.”

I believe she had the right attitude. My toe is healed, my shoes laced and I am ready to get back out there!

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