SOURCE: CNN
POSTED BY: Sydney Slater on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013
"For 25 years she has been lining up and finishing, and in 2014 it won't be the same without her."11/6/2013 -Chris Weiller, spokesman for the New York Road Runners, reminisces over the passing of Joy Johnson who at 86 was the oldest runner in the NYC marathon and who went to sleep following her final run and never woke up (11/6/13)
SOURCE: CNN POSTED BY: Sydney Slater on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013
6 Comments
Morgan Mundorf
11/11/2013 11:07:28 am
I found this quote so wonderful and inspiring. Literally brought a tear to my eye. What a great example of persistence and the importance of health in everyone's life. An inspiring idea for someone her age to have worked so hard every year and certainly a peaceful way to go after having completed one final race.
Victoria Fedder
2/16/2014 06:03:34 am
It is truly inspiring that someone so much older than myself had been running marathons for 25 years. This reminds me of my grandfather passing; after he watched his favorite team, the Green Bay Packers, win, he went to sleep and never woke up. This quote is so touching, I'm sure some people are inspired to start running after seeing how much of a dedication she had to it. The runners make up a family and have an unspeakable bond.
Sabrina Karr
2/25/2014 10:49:07 am
I've always said that the moment I lose my livelihood, I'll be ready to leave this earth. Johnson lived my ambition, showing that dreams can live as long as we do, and perhaps even longer. Though Johnson no longer runs on pavement, her vitality will remain among us. Some dreams never die.
Sanjana Murthy
2/25/2014 03:54:35 pm
Joy Johnson reminds us that perseverance and dedication are all it takes for a person to achieve his or her dreams. Joy symbolizes passion, and her legend will live on through the people she has inspired. It is comforting to know that she passed peacefully after working hard for one of her many well-deserved achievements.
Kimberly Halberg
4/14/2014 04:27:42 am
I think that women like Joy Johnson are an inspiration to everyone, not just to those in the running community. Johnson was a habitual runner, and taught the public, that at any age, you can do anything if you set your mind to it. It is an honor to run in the NYC Marathon alongside so many amazing runners, but also to run with people like Johnson who continually did what she loved.
Mikala Whitaker
4/14/2014 11:10:11 pm
As someone who just ran my first half marathon, I find this to be so incredibly inspiring. 13.1 miles is difficult to run; I couldn't imagine doubling that distance. I find anyone who can run a full marathon to be an inspiration, but especially someone this old. It's almost unbelievable. I agree that Joy Johnson truly shows that with strong willpower, one can do anything. Nothing, not even the physical deterioration that comes with aging, stopped her from doing what she loved: running. This willpower serves to be an inspiration for anyone facing some kind of challenge. The fact that she still managed to run at age 86 shows others that if she could overcome the challenges she must have faced, so can everyone else. Leave a Reply. |