Editor’s note: this article was originally published in 2019 by our partner Women’s Running and syndicated to 国产吃瓜黑料 Online in 2022.聽 Julia is as of 2022.

Julia 鈥淗urricane鈥� Hawkins is still taking the running world by storm.

In 2017, at age 101, for her age group in the 100-meter dash at the USA Track & Field Outdoors Masters Championships. She completed the distance in a blazing 40.12 seconds, instantly catapulting herself to running stardom.

Now 103, this great-grandmother from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is busy preparing for the聽. This biennial competition鈥攐pen to runners ages 50 and older鈥攊s scheduled for June 14-25,聽in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Hawkins will throw the shot put and race the 50-meter dash, 100-meter dash, and potentially the 200-meter dash.

鈥淎s you get older you don鈥檛 usually break your own record. I鈥檒l give it my best, I鈥檒l tell you that,鈥� said Hawkins about her upcoming opportunity to make history – again. In addition to the 100-meter world record, Hawkins holds the centenarian world record in the 60-meter dash (24.75 seconds) and shot put.

Throughout her 103 years on Earth, Hawkins has amassed a wealth of life knowledge, which she鈥檚 been kind enough to share with Women鈥檚 Running. Take a cue and a little bit of inspiration from these seven pearls of wisdom:

Try new things

鈥淚 try to do as many new things as I can. I never say no to an invitation. I like to go to plays and musicals and church and all kinds of places,鈥� Hawkins said.

Her enthusiasm for new experiences ultimately led Hawkins to start running鈥攁t the age of 100.

鈥淚 thought it would be neat to do the 100-meter dash when I turned 100. My first year I did the 50-meter dash to see how that would go, and I fell in love with it,鈥� said Hawkins, whose children signed her up for the 100-meter dash, following her first qualifying 50-meter run.

Pursue your passions

鈥淲hen you get old you should have a lot of passions. Passions keep you going. They make you want to live and want to do,鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淕et out there and make new friends and do something new every day.鈥�

She also enjoys reading ( is her top pick for runners), bird watching, and tending to her garden filled with bonsai trees.

In fact, while in her garden, she first suspected that she might have a talent for running. 鈥淚 knew I could run because I鈥檓 always in the yard working, and when the phone rings, I go running inside to answer it,鈥� Hawkins said.

Appreciate magic moments

She was born during World War I and grew up in much simpler times鈥攏o cell phones, internet, or television. She has learned to appreciate the little things in life.

鈥淚鈥檝e given books to a lot of my friends about magic moments鈥攖hings that you get every day that you might miss. Sunrises, sunsets, hummingbirds, shooting stars, music, and friends鈥� comments,鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淎ll of those things that just touch you so much, just seeing, hearing and feeling it鈥� I hope most people our age have more magic moments than senior moments.鈥�

Embrace adventures

Her initiation to adventure came at a young age. When she was a baby, her family traveled by boat down the Mississippi River, from Chicago to Louisiana.

Her adventures have also taken her abroad. Right out of college, Hawkins taught four grades in a one-room school on a Honduran banana plantation.

鈥淚t was quite an adventure鈥擨 loved it. I went horseback riding, played golf, went in the jungle, and came home with a monkey,鈥� said Hawkins, whose pet monkey was quite mischievous.

鈥淗e聽would let the clothes off of the clothesline and take shingles off the roof. He would jump on people鈥檚 heads and scare them to death. But he was cute and everyone loved him.鈥�

Put family first

Hawkins knows a thing or two about building a strong family unit. She was married to her college sweetheart, Murray Hawkins, for 70 years before he passed away in 2013, at the age of 95.

鈥淗e was in Pearl Harbor, working as a physicist to demagnetize ships, when it was bombed. He was out there that day getting ready [to demagnetize a ship] when they heard the first bomb land,鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淪o we were married by telephone. He was afraid if he was gone too long, I might change my mind. But when I make it up, I make it up.鈥�

Their four children鈥攁ges 71, 78, 68, and 66鈥攁re a huge part of her life and travel to most of her races.

鈥淭hey always go with me and encourage me. None of them are runners, a lot of them are bikers, but they are all active. My daughter may be doing the swim relay this year at the Senior Games in Albuquerque,鈥� said Hawkins, who is excited about the opportunity to compete alongside her daughter.

Treat yourself

Even before she started running, Hawkins led an active lifestyle. She has bicycled all of her life, averaging about 5-10 miles each day. She is no stranger to the National Senior Games either. Hawkins, who primarily competed in the 5K and 10K bike races, amassed six gold medals over the course of 10 years of competitions.

Hawkins credits her good health in old age to maintaining an active lifestyle and keeping her weight down. But, she occasionally allows herself to splurge.

鈥淗ere in Louisiana we have such wonderful fish and oysters and shrimp and crabs. And I like all of them, and they are all better fried than any other way,鈥� she said. 鈥淓very now and then I鈥檒l splurge and do something like that.鈥�

Inspire others

Even several years into her running fame, she is still shocked at what she has achieved.

鈥淚t absolutely floors me. I can鈥檛 believe. I just feel like鈥� how did this happen to me?鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淭hey tell me that I鈥檓 an inspiration to others. That鈥檚 one thing that keeps me going. If I can be an inspiration to people and keep them a little more healthy and active, I鈥檓 proud to do it.鈥�

You can read more about the life of Julia Hawkins in her book, .

The post 7 Pearls of Wisdom From a 103-Year-Old World Record Runner appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

In 2003, at 69 years old, Ginette Bedard made a choice that would impact the rest of her life. Bedard, originally from Metz, France, registered for her first marathon: the TCS New York City Marathon.

While new to the racing scene, Bedard was hardly a novice to the sport. This mother of two had been running for approximately 30 years before deciding to tackle the 26.2 mile-distance. Her initial hesitation stemmed from intimidation, fearing she was not good enough or fast enough to enter a marathon.

After talking to a friend, she was encouraged to think otherwise. 鈥淭hey told me: 鈥榃hat do you care, as long as you see the finish line,鈥� and that triggered me. And from that time on, I鈥檝e been running [a marathon] every year,鈥� said Bedard, who is now 86 and has completed nearly 330 New York Road Runners () races.

Now Bedard, who moved to New York in 1962 with her husband, a Canadian airman, is gearing up for her 17^th consecutive TCS New York City Marathon. On Sunday, November 3, she鈥檒l traverse the city鈥檚 five boroughs with 50,000 other runners, including her son Gery. Both are part of NYRR鈥檚 , a group of 26 inspiring runners and families completing this year鈥檚 race.

Despite her late start to racing, she鈥檚 realized overwhelming success. During the 2008 TCS New York City Marathon, Bedard set the 75 to 79-year-old women鈥檚 U.S. marathon record, with a time of 4:08:31. Over a decade later, Bedard hasn鈥檛 stopped shattering records. In 2018, Bedard was the oldest woman to cross the finish line of the TCS New York City Marathon.

鈥淵ou can underestimate yourself and think all of those people running are superhumans. But I found out, I鈥檓 just like the others, not any better, not any worse,鈥� said Bedard, who is quite modest when it comes to her accolades and accomplishments.

Consistent Volume

To achieve these results, there are for Bedard. She runs every day, rain or shine, for two hours. For this grandmother of two, that amounts to approximately 10 miles a day and 70 miles each week.

Every day Bedard follows the same routine: she wakes up, she drinks coffee, and by 9:00am, she is running along the sandy shoreline near her home in Howard Beach, Queens.

If it鈥檚 cold, she wears more clothing. She doesn鈥檛 succumb to boredom or fatigue. Simply put, there is no valid excuse to miss a run.

This sense of dedication was present even before she started completing races. 鈥淚 used to wake up every morning at 3:30am to run before work,鈥� said Bedard, who retired from Alitalia airlines in the 1990鈥檚.

Though Bedard logs most of her miles solo, she acknowledges the motivating benefits of running with others. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very nice to have somebody running with you, it鈥檚 more encouraging, it鈥檚 very good. No man is an island, even for running. You have to run with somebody else,鈥� said Bedard, who used to run with her sister and her husband, before he passed away five years ago.

Never Come Back Sorry

While running is deeply entrenched in her daily routine, it doesn鈥檛 always come easily for Bedard. If she is struggling or lacking in motivation, she thinks about how she will feel post-run.

鈥淚f I only do one hour, I come home, and I鈥檓 not happy. To make your mind happy, you do it. You never come back sorry,鈥� said Bedard, who views running as her 鈥渉ealthy addiction.鈥�

And even though Bedard has completed hundreds of races, she still experiences pre-race jitters. To help quell her nervousness, she uses a similar tactic and focuses on the finish line.

鈥淓very time I feel the same way. But I walk and I run until I see the finish line, and I am happy. It鈥檚 a little stressful, but it鈥檚 worth it,鈥� said Bedard, who also does sit-ups and push-ups every day.

Listen to Your Body (Even When It Asks for Wine and Ice Cream)

Some may view her routine as a bit extreme, but Bedard is deeply in tune with her body.

She doesn鈥檛 adhere to any fancy diets. Instead, her motto is 鈥渆verything in proportion,鈥� which includes drinking wine, eating cheese and indulging in ice cream.

鈥淚 listen to my body. My body said okay, you can do it, so that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 doing. I have no problems, so I鈥檓 going to do it every year until the end,鈥� said Bedard, who has never experienced a running-related injury.

Throughout the years, Bedard鈥檚 goals have evolved and changed, but one thing has remained constant: her love of running.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a big achievement in life, being able to do this at my age. I love every bit of it; it鈥檚 mentally and physically very good for you. And hopefully I鈥檓 going to be an example for others to do it,鈥� said Bedard.

A Better Quality of Life

鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to be able to share Ginette鈥檚 story, as it fully embodies the TCS New York City Marathon鈥檚 It Will Move You campaign and represents New York Road Runners鈥� mission to help and inspire people through running,鈥� said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of NYRR. 鈥淲e are proud to recognize Ginette鈥檚 tireless devotion to running鈥攕he鈥檚 a true inspiration to all.鈥�

Although she鈥檚 already inspired many, Bedard is on a mission to motivate countless others to follow in her footsteps. 鈥淚 want more people鈥攁nd women鈥攖o run. You don鈥檛 know until you try how beautiful it is, how important it is. Getting involved in running is the best thing I鈥檝e ever done in my life. If you do what I do, you will have a better quality of life,鈥� said Bedard, who proudly claims she can still fit into the bikini she wore when she was 16.

But even while touting the life-changing benefits of running, Bedard is the first to admit that it is not always easy. 鈥淚t takes a lot of willpower, dedication, determination and everything in moderation. But you have got to do it!鈥� said Bedard.

Bedard is a huge advocate that anyone can run and race, no matter their age, insisting that people just need to try.

鈥淚n order to get somewhere, you鈥檝e got to be like the turtle and stick your neck out. I鈥檓 a turtle, I stuck my neck out, and I never stopped,鈥� said Bedard, who intends to run until she鈥檚 physically unable to do so.

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