SAN DIEGO, Calif. – A 91-year-old battling skin cancer set a world record for the fastest marathon time for her age group during a marathon in California Sunday.
KSBW reports Harriette Thompson finished running the 26.2 mile Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego marathon in 07:07:42. That’s the fastest time on record by a woman age 90 or older.
Thompson, who lives in North Carolina, also holds the record as the oldest person to complete in this year’s marathon.
Harriette Thompson
Thompson, who ran her first marathon at 76, said she was unable to race last year after she was diagnosed with skin cancer.
One year later, the yoga enthusiast and mother of five and grandmother of 10 is still receiving cancer treatments.
“I think the fact that I have so many friends and family and if I can help at all by raising funds, then it’s worth it and also its beneficial to me health wise,” said Thompson, who raised $90,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
“I feel wonderful,” she told Runner’s World. “I feel very relieved and I feel very anxious to take a shower and then fall into bed.”
She is also planning to take part in next year’s marathon.
