Sports After 40: Who Started and Succeeded
- Ilona Pavlova
- Aug 14
- 2 min read
Think it’s too late to start after 40? Think again.
Bad back, no time, “I’m too old”… sound familiar? I’m 31 and I already find myself complaining about aches and low energy. But the truth is, there are people who start moving at 40, 50, 60 — and achieve incredible things. Here are just a few stories to prove it.
1. Ed Whitlock – First man over 70 to run a sub-3 marathon
Ed returned to running in his 40s. At 72, he became the first person over 70 to finish a marathon in under 3 hours. At 73, he did it again in 2:54:48. His training? Simple. He ran laps in a cemetery, no gadgets, no coach. Just running, day after day.
2. Cherie Gruenfeld – 28 Ironman finishes after 40
At 41, Cherie saw a marathon on TV and decided to give fitness a try. Within a few years, she completed her first Ironman. Today, at 79, she has 28 Ironman finishes and is training for her 29th — even after beating cancer.
3. Gene Dykes – Record-breaking veteran runner
At 70, Gene ran a marathon in 2:54:23, breaking Ed Whitlock’s record. His story shows that over 40, you can not only train — you can set world records.
4. Jenny Wood-Allen – Marathons at 71, record at 87
Jenny started running at 71 and went on to complete over 50 marathons. At 87, she became the oldest woman to finish a marathon, earning a spot in the Guinness World Records.
5. Fauja Singh – A marathon at 100 years old
Yes, you read that right. Fauja began running at 89. At 100, he completed a marathon in just over 8 hours. His story is living proof that age is never a limit.
The takeaway?
Age isn’t a reason to stop.
These stories show you can start at any stage of life and still achieve big things.
Sports boost your health, give you energy, reduce the risk of disease, and make life more joyful. So maybe skip that cake today and start your own story on Monday.
With SportCamp, you can find a training partner or coach in your city. It doesn’t matter how old you are. What matters is that you’re ready to begin.
