What does age mean to Yugeta, who has been running for half a century and set her personal best for the marathon while in her 60s?
“I’ve never really felt it. I run track workouts with the high school students I teach and can hold my own against 17-year-olds, so I don’t really think about age.”
At the same time, she’s highly conscious of maintaining a body that can run for the rest of her life.
“Blood circulation and flexibility are crucially important. That’s where the aging process really affects people.”
Yugeta focuses on getting the nutrients she needs from the food she eats. She consciously eats things that are good for the blood and muscles, like liver, tuna and chicken. She drinks two liters of water a day and does a regular stretch routine to maintain flexibility in her lower body. It’s this kind of attention to the small details of her daily life that keeps her form supple and lets her do mileage on a par with top professionals, up to 800 km a month.
With the world record now in her hands Yugeta is already reaching for the next goal, going under 2:50 for the first time.
“I was really disappointed that I didn’t do it in Nagoya this March! I’ve decided to do one more marathon this season, in April, to go for it. I want to find out how far I can go at 4:00 per km.”
Having fun pushing the limits of what’s possible in what she loves to do is what makes Yugeta smile the most these days. From her view at the top, she keeps looking even higher.
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