Marathon Me

Buster “Rosie Ruiz” Martin was able to finish the 2008 Flora London marathon this past weekend slightly slower than Ryan Hall’s 2:06, with a time of 10 hours. While calling him Rosie Ruiz isn’t quite fair. He isn’t a cheater, just a liar. It turns out that Pierre Jean “Buster” Martin is actually 94 years old and not 101 as he previously claimed.

Finishing a marathon is impressive at any age, but sure seemed a lot cooler when I thought he was 101 years old. There is some dispute as to his actual age, but if he turns out to be 94 then he isn’t the oldest marathoner, and not by about 4 years.

The bizarre dispute blew up after Guinness World Records refused to back up his impressive feat.

Buster, whose real name is Pierre Jean Martin, reportedly told NHS staff that he was born on September 1, 1913, not 1906, as had been previously claimed.

He has previously made the headlines in September 2006 when it was revealed he was the UK’s oldest employee.

A source at Guinness told The Times that Buster “appeared to be a fake, and more so, one being exploited by his company, which is using him to promote their services”.

An official spokeswoman has confirmed he will not be entered into the Guinness Book of Records because it is impossible to verify his age.

She said: “We have to be quite stringent. If we do not have sufficient evidence we cannot verify it.”

“It is a real shame because it is such a lovely story.”

So who is the oldest man and woman to finish a marahton?

Guinness World Records lists the oldest man to complete a marathon as the Greek runner Dimitrion Yordanidis, aged 98, in Athens in 1976. He finished in seven hours 33 minutes.

The oldest woman to complete a marathon listed by Guinness World Records was Jenny Wood-Allen who completed the London Marathon at the age of 90 in 2002. She finished in 11 hours and 34 minutes.

Both of which are really amazing accomplishments.  I will be happy if I am still marathoning in my 50s, let alone my 90s and beyond.

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