Yugeta Mariko - First Woman Over 60 to Run Sub-Three Hour Marathon

 

Yugeta Mariko currently holds the women's marathon record for 60 - 64 year olds, finishing the 2021 Osaka International Women's Marathon in a time of 2:52:13. She ran her first marathon at age 24, finishing in 3:09:21, and hoped to run a sub-3 hour marathon some day. 

After that, she married and had four children, so running took a back seat to her family.  Shortly before her 40th birthday, she returned to running. At age 51, she came close to her goal of under 3 hours, finishing the Nagoya Women's Marathon in just under 3 hours 6 minutes. She succeeded in breaking the three hours barrier at age 58. 

When she discovered that no woman over the age of 60 had completed a marathon in under three hours, that became her next goal. She is now the only woman to have met that goal, not once but multiple times. She runs 600 to 800 kilometers a month, making sure to eat well and sleep enough, and avoids alcohol. Her new goal is to finish in under 2 hours, 50 minutes.  

She is so amazing! Never give up on your dreams or think you are too old to do something.