Let me tell you the incredible story of Marion Mic Roberts. Imagine a 99-year-old woman, adorned with her pearl necklace, deciding to participate in a 5k race. Yes, you read that right—99 years old! And guess what? She finished the race in 56 minutes.
A year later, after celebrating her 100th birthday, Marion took on the challenge again. This time, she ran the 5k in 1 hour and 31 seconds. It’s crazy to think that at 99, she had never run such a race before. This achievement proves that it’s never too late to start something new.
If Marion took part in this race, it was largely due to her family. For years, she had been cheering on her grandchildren at the annual Connecticut race. One day, on a whim, her son Chuck suggested she participate. And so, Marion accepted the challenge without hesitation.
For her second race, this grandma wore an elegant blouse and comfortable pants, and was accompanied by Chuck and her daughter-in-law Donna. While running, Marion listened to Frank Sinatra for motivation.
She finished first in the over-80 category, receiving thunderous applause at the finish line. Imagine the scene: runners asking for photos, organizers presenting her with a medal. Marion was astonished by all the attention.
Marion was surprised by all the excitement. She simply thought she would run, finish, and go home. But her performance touched more people than she had imagined.
“I thought it looked fun. I just thought I’d do it and then come back and go home. I wasn’t expecting all of this,” she admitted.
Marion is no stranger to physical activity. In her younger years, she taught dance and loved skiing. She played golf until the age of 80, when a shoulder injury forced her to stop.
