Much of the content on The Drive is related to living longer through healthy habits, disease prevention, and cutting-edge geroscience. However, the whole point of living longer becomes inconsequential if you are not physically and mentally fit enough to enjoy the final decade of your life - what I refer to as your “marginal decade.” What constitutes enjoyment in these years will be unique to each one of us; it could mean being healthy enough to continue world travel, or simply being able to get up and down from the floor to play with the young children in your life. At 93, Mathea Allansmith is rewriting the rules of aging one mile at a time. Mathea Allansmith isn’t your typical 93-year-old. She’s a trailblazer whose age is nothing more than a number one that hasn’t stopped her from achieving a world-record milestone. Her story isn’t just inspiring. It’s transformative.
A Record-Breaking Achievement
In December 2022, Mathea Allansmith made history - and broke a Guinness World Record - when she became the oldest woman to finish a marathon, at 92 years and 194 days. On December 11, 2022, the nonagenarian conquered the 26.2-mile (42.1 km) route in 11 hours, 19 minutes, and 49 seconds at the 2022 Honolulu Marathon, snapping up the record for the oldest person to complete a marathon (female). She surpassed the former record holder, Harriette Thompson, by over three months. Half a year later, after a thorough ratification process, Guinness World Records has given their nod of approval, making the record official.
The grandmother and retired ophthalmologist, who lives in Koloa, on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, completed the 26.2-mile (42.1km) route at the 2022 Honolulu Marathon in an impressive 10 hours and 48 minutes. Completing her 23rd marathon in Honolulu on December 11, 2022, Mathea was overjoyed at setting the world record. “I love being out here with this group of people. It’s electric!”. There were several groups of people filming and cheering me on even though I crossed the finish line some 11 hours after the start of the race,” she said. “I felt an enormous sense of accomplishment and joy.”
Her record-breaking run wasn’t just a personal triumph; it sent a powerful message about aging, resilience, and the human spirit. From her home in Koloa, Hawaii, Mathea is showing the world that it’s never too late to chase big goals and create lasting legacies.
The Journey Begins: An Unexpected Start
Unlike many lifelong athletes, Mathea didn’t lace up her first pair of running shoes until she was 46. The spark came in 1977 when a colleague, Dr. C. Stephen Foster, encouraged her to run two miles a day. That gentle push became a powerful habit. After a colleague C. Stephen Foster, M.D. suggested running two miles per day, Mathea took up running in 1977 and fell in love with the feeling of exercising outside. Running outdoors became her sanctuary, her rhythm, her way to stay connected to life. I have continued to train and compete in races ever since.
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The first marathon she participated in was the 1982 Boston Marathon, and the rest, as they say, is history. She does have a soft spot for the event where she claimed her record though. “The Honolulu Marathon is my favourite marathon partly because they don’t close the gate at a certain time which allows even the slowest runners to finish the race,” she confessed. “It’s one of the best-executed races. Fantastic registration, set up and management makes it a joy to participate in.”
A Holistic Approach to a Vibrant Life
Mathea’s secret to a vibrant life? Relentless consistency. She runs six days a week, totaling 36 miles across the lush streets of Koloa. Rain or shine, Allansmith, now 93, runs six days per week all throughout the year, maintaining a training volume of about 36 weekly miles, even on vacation, and steadily increasing her mileage about 18 weeks prior to a marathon. “I train year-round but increase the mileage starting 18 weeks before a marathon,” she said. “I stick closely by the Bob and Shelly Glover training method as written in The Competitive Runner’s Handbook.” She added: “The pace and number of miles per training day are going to shift around but no matter what, I’ve got my running shoes on and I’m out the door six days per week. “These days, on average, I run 36 miles per week.”
Her runs aren’t just workouts they’re moments of mindfulness, social connection, and gratitude. Waving to neighbors and soaking in the beauty around her is part of the experience. “Running in cities around the world has allowed me to really get a feel for different places and people,” said Mathea. I know I can do 15 miles or more on my feet, so I don my backpack and head out for the whole day to cover the city. “In Hawaii, I can train 365 days a year because every morning is gorgeous and so many are out and about and generally in good spirits. There’s a whole community out here and I’m grateful to be a part of it.”
For Mathea, aging doesn’t mean slowing down. It means living with intention. She believes that taking care of your body, mind, and relationships is the true path to staying young.
The Habits That Fuel Vitality
Here’s a closer look at the habits that fuel her remarkable vitality:
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- Find Joy in Movement: Mathea lights up when she talks about the Honolulu Marathon, especially since there's no cutoff time. That’s allowed her to enjoy the full experience without pressure. For her, running with others has been a great motivator and social outlet. Not into running? The key is to explore until you find what excites you. Join a local fitness class, try cross-training, try swimming, hike with friends, or dance your way through a Zumba session. The best routine is the one you look forward to.
- Eat With Purpose: Nutrition is a cornerstone of Mathea’s lifestyle. She avoids ultra-processed foods and takes a disciplined approach to her meals. “I don’t eat junk. I count calories and track my macronutrients protein, carbs, and fats. I make sure my weight stays consistent,” she says.
- Stick to the Plan No Matter What: Rain or shine, Mathea laces up and gets out there. “I never use age as an excuse,” she insists. Her advice to beginners is to start small, stay consistent, and let your body adjust. It’s not about speed it’s about showing up. Choose activities that blend naturally into your daily rhythm. And whatever you do, make sure it’s sustainable and repeatable.
- Gear That Works For You: Mathea is a firm believer in tried-and-true gear. “I never wear new clothes or shoes on race day,” she explains. She breaks in each pair of running shoes over the course of 200 miles before they make it to the start line. Comfort and familiarity are her priorities.
- Live in the Now: When life gets tough, Mathea keeps it simple: focus on the present. Just like she approaches a long run, she tackles life one step at a time. That mindset helps her manage stress and stay grounded. It is important to reduce stress rather than ignoring it without a plan on how to do so in the long run. “Perspective on what matters to you may help here,” said Mathea. “Of course, exercise of any kind is a natural stress reducer.”
The Mind-Body Connection
Mathea says it was her career as a physician that allowed her to understand how her body and mind respond to diet and exercise. “I see the direct connection between moving and health,” she said. But you don’t have to be a doctor to get the magic. As one of only two women in her class, Mathea completed UCSF School of Medicine in 1967 to become an ophthalmologist and would later make several medical discoveries while at Harvard Medical School/ Mass Eye and Ear Institute.
Asked what it takes for her to complete a marathon, Mathea replied “A marathon is a spiritual experience for me. I have to train my body for sure but it’s all about getting my mind to enjoy and soak up the experience while it’s happening.” Mathea is among the growing group of super agers, people living well into old age while maintaining physical and mental abilities. “I don’t ever think about my age. It’s not helpful. Age is never an excuse or a benefit. It’s not genetics I was gifted with either.
In fact, Mathea says because she runs almost every day, she lives much of her life out on the road. However, she keeps her mind occupied by listening to music and audiobooks, attending meetings, calling friends and family, and greeting the wonderful people of Koloa as she passes by.
The Importance of Setting Goals
One inevitability of aging is that you’re not likely to set personal records again. So the older athlete needs to find other ways to focus and motivate themselves. Luckily, even just within running there are so many ways to set new targets - aiming for a longer distance than before, completing a first marathon, 50km, 50 mile or even 100 mile race; different types of endurance events like backyard ultras, relays or track events. It's also never been easier to build a list of real bucket list events - what about completing the Mont Blanc Marathon, the Comrades in South Africa, the North Pole Marathon or the Marathon des Sables? Or just setting a streak for getting out and moving for as many consecutive days as you can. The goal itself is nowhere near as important as just having a goal, and even more importantly, enjoying the process of getting fitter, more mobile and healthier.
Family Support and Future Aspirations
Mathea’s six children, who she says are her biggest supporters, were also overjoyed to learn of her new record title. “My family completely surprised me after the 2022 Honolulu Marathon, in which I achieved the world record, by wearing matching T-shirts stating my accomplishment,” she said. We met after the race in California and celebrated for an entire week.
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At 93, Mathea credits her healthy lifestyle to running. “I’m living independently, driving, participating in many active social circles, working on my spiritual program, learning new things such as applying new technology to track my runs, and doing adventure travel,” she said. “I’d say that my healthy lifestyle has allowed me to maintain a very high quality of life. My stamina has decreased over the decades but I’m making the most of what I’ve got in the moment.”
At 93, Mathea isn’t done. Far from it. She’s setting her sights on half marathons and 10K races, driven by a fire that shows no signs of dimming. Mathea intends to keep running marathons for as long as she can and would like to attempt the record titles for the oldest person to complete a half marathon (female) and the oldest person to complete a 10K (female) within the next year.
“There’s still so much I want to do,” she says with a smile. She encourages everyone no matter their age or ability to start where they are and keep going. “I’ve grown up with Guinness World Records books and museums and have always admired people who distinguish themselves in this way,” she said. I am honoured to be among them, and I thank GWR for elevating and promoting the record holders.
Lessons from Mathea and Other Inspiring Individuals
Hopefully, it is abundantly clear that traveling to space or running a marathon is in no way required to have your best marginal decade. All of these inspiring individuals are living extraordinary lives in older age by staying active, having goals, connecting with nature, eating healthfully, and continuing to challenge themselves - concepts that everyone can implement.
What has become increasingly clear in recent years is that it is perfectly possible for athletes of any discipline to train intensively and regularly far later into their life than was previously considered the case. Endurance sport, and running in particular, is no longer the preserve of the young, and the more research is carried out into this area, the more it becomes apparent that not only is it possible for people to be training well into their 70s, but it’s directly and clearly beneficial to their health in a wide range of ways. Over the past couple of decades athletes have learnt far more about how to look after themselves and are able to continue their sporting careers (even if no longer at the elite level) well into their 50s and beyond.
The key to remaining fit, strong and mobile into your later years is not just in the regularity of training, but also in its intensity. Plodding along won’t get you there on its own (although it’s clearly preferable to sitting down). It’s now widely understood that interval training and strength training are key additions to a comprehensive wellbeing programme. You have to put your body under strain, and push towards what feel like your limits in order to get the full benefits of exercise - and that is as true at 70 years of age as it is at 20 years old.
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