World's oldest marathon runner sets new record as he launches the 10th Edinburgh Marathon
The world's oldest marathon runner, Fauja Singh, today set a new official record as the fastest 100-year-old ever to run a 10K.
The sporting legend powered home in 1hr 27 minutes and 45 seconds at the Meadowbank stadium in Edinburgh, during an event to launch the official opening of entries for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival 2012.
And as he crossed the finish line he issued a rallying call for people of all ages to get in shape. Fauja said: "Impossible is not a word in my native language Punjabi. I believe there is no such thing as impossible. I love running and I love Edinburgh and am really looking forward to returning next year. If I can do it then anyone can."
With seven marathons and more than 500 races under his belt, all completed after his 89th birthday, Fauja has now promised to run his last ever official race in the team relay race at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival on May 27, 2012.
Robert Cole and other members of the Mile Aye Club, a club made up exclusively of runners who have completed every Edinburgh marathon since the event began in 2003, today trained with Fauja.
And members of GSi Events, the team behind the Edinburgh marathon, also took turns to run on a treadmill so someone was always running during the 10 hour event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Edinburgh marathon.
Entries are open now, for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival weekend on May 26 and 27 which includes the classic 26.2 mile race as well as a Marathon Team Relay, half marathon, 10K, 5K, two popular junior races and a mascot race.
This year's marathon in May 2011 attracted more than 26,000 entrants and tens of thousands of spectators from all over the world. Since it started it has had an economic impact of more than £25 million for the capital and helped raise more than £30 million for hundreds of charities.
Together with the Edinburgh marathon's Official charity Macmillan Cancer Support and hundreds of other charities, the 10th anniversary organisers are hoping to break all previous records and raise more than £4.5 million in 2012.
Neil Kilgour, Edinburgh Marathon Festival Race Director, said: "It's hard tobelieve that a decade has gone by since our first event in 2003 but we'redelighted that we have developed into one of the UK's and Scotland's major running occasions.
"Edinburgh Marathon Festival has it all - a great city that acts as astunning backdrop to the event's proceedings and a programme of races thatmeans that everyone is catered for from children to marathon veterans. We'relooking forward to a great 10th birthday next May and welcoming back thethousands of runners who've supported the event over the years plus thethousands who will be joining us for the first time. I would like toencourage anyone who has ever thought that they would "like to" take part tograb the opportunity now and enter a race that challenges them. Nothingbeats the feeling of achieving a goal and you can achieve in Edinburgh.Grab the moment and make it happen."
John Comiskey, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Leisure which manages MeadowbankSports Centre, said: "We are delighted to support Fauja in his run today andI'm sure he will inspire many others to take part in next year's EdinburghMarathon and raise significant sums of money for many great charitablecauses. Edinburgh is a great city in which to get active and stay healthyand Edinburgh Leisure is looking forward to the Edinburgh Marathon Festival10 year anniversary celebrations next year."
Click here to find out more about the Edinburgh Marathon Festival or to enter
Click here for a video of Fauja Singh setting a 10,000m record in Edinburgh
