Los Angeles – They go through heart pain and sorrow, struggle with diseases and injuries because their body has grown up. Some are now using wheelchairs, the oldest of which is 87.
Despite all this, the legacy runners of the Los Angeles Marathon are stuck to their missions: finish the race.
On Sunday, a group of 92 marathoners, including 10 women, marked their 40th La Marathon, who participated in the 26.2-mile (42.2-km) race every year since the city’s prestigious program started in 1986.
Lu Brions, 77, said, “We are inheritance runners, we don’t know when to leave.”
Brian has also ended the race on Baisakhi after surgery. Since changing both knees, he runs.
“You want to do it,” Bryan said. “No matter what situations are, you will be on the early line on Race Day.”
When Bryan and others first gathered in the early line for La Marathon, President Ronald Reagan was just re -chosen and a few weeks ago the space shuttle challenger exploded, shocked the country. Tom Bradley was serving as the first black mayor of Los Angeles and the city was struggling with the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Los Angeles were inspired to start their own marathon after the success of hosting the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, as the beginning of the Boston Marathon after the first marathon competition at the 1897 Summer Olympics in 1897. Los Angeles is now preparing to host its next Olympics in 2028.
Five years after the La Marathon began, event organizers began to identify the runners, who had completed each race with a plaque. He continued the ceremony for the runners dedicated every five years.
Around the 15th year, Bryan decided that he wanted to formalize the group. He and a friend printed the sticker with an email address and brought him to the marathon in 2002.
“We went into the race and we just started shouting,” Bryan said. “We paste it properly on their bibs, and then after the race, most of them immediately sent an email. That was the beginning. ,
Some heritage runners stated that they were inspired by American runner Zone Benoit, who won the first Olympic female marathon in the 1984 Los Angeles game.
The 80 -year -old May Dubois remembers watching the race on TV and Benoite look far beyond the rest of the runner packs. A classical pianist, she never used to walk in her life.
Two years later, Dubois drove the same path in the form of benoite – starting and ending in the Memorial Coliseum – since then, the La Marathon route was similar to the Olympics. He said that it is just “like running in the Olympics, everyone is making us happy.”
Now, she cannot imagine going one day without running 3 to 5 miles (4.8 to 8 km).
“I’m healthy, I look good, and I don’t get tired. I never got sick, I never catch a cold,” said Dubois, who hosts a brunch to celebrate after each marathon.
Each year, inheritance runners are given the same bib number. They start a monthly meeting for training about six months before the marathon.
76 -year -old Cliff Housego started running away from his father’s heart attack at the age of 48. He decided that he wanted to live for a long time to see his grandchildren and even great-grandfather.
Over the years, Housego has passed through two divorces and lost his daughter. Through all this, the marathon has been a stable in its life.
“Many, many things can prevent me from being there,” Housego said.
At the age of 83, Sharon Kesan also learns.
A year after dealing with the disease and vertigo, Karson completed his training in the West Los Angeles College Track last week, at the same place he started running for the first time more than 40 years ago. He has run more than 600 marathons.
He wore a rain jacket from St. George Marathon in Utah, shorts from San Francisco Marathon and a T-shirt from 30th la marathon.
“I was never sharp and I am not at all,” Karson said, saying that his only goal is to end every time.
Rick Bingham ran in a wheelchair after injuring his Akilis tendon during a triathlon a decade ago. At the age of 87, he floats half a mile (0.8 km) every other day and lifts weight. To train, he moved 5 miles (8 kilometers) around his farm in a wheelchair one day.
Bingham has no plans to slow down. He wants to reach his 50th la marathon.
“I will only be 97 when I do it,” he said.
Bingham’s commitment to remain in the race inspired Luis Galardo to continue.
The 71 -year -old Gallardo was planning to leave after his 38th marathon, when her knees were released. But he started training again when Bingham offered him his additional racing wheelchair.
“We passed through a lot of things in the years, a lot of difficulties,” Galardo said. “Doing this with him is just a blessing.”
Galardo aims to reach the 50th La Marathon with Bingham.
After that, he said, he will find a way to finish the race with his friend, even when he moves him across the finish line.
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