This 70-Year-Old Ran a 2:54 Marathon

After six decades of running, Gene Dykes is running his best times at the age of 70, including breaking 3 hours in the marathon three times in 2018.

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GENE DYKES
I’m have a blast running. Every day is a new adventure.

Gene Dykes has been running for five decades.

GENE DYKES
I usually do about 1,300 miles in races a year and close to 3,000 including training. Last year I did 43 races in 40 weekends. Actually, “I told my wife when I retired, oh, I’m not going to run all the time, I already run as much as I could. But I was so wrong.”

He averages 45-60 miles a week.

GENE DYKES
Some people are surprised that it’s so much and some people are surprised that I run so little each week… Of course, a month ago, I hit a 230-mile week, but that was all just one race.

Dykes loves the competition of racing. He hired a coach five years ago.

GENE DYKES
I’d always resisted hiring a coach because, I mean, he’s going to tell you how to run. Who doesn’t know how to run? I said, well, obviously, I’m getting old, if I want to get a new PR, I’ll have to take a chance.

Dykes knocked 20 minutes off his marathon time.

He now runs 5Ks in under 20 minutes.

Dykes otherwise simplifies his training.

GENE DYKES
I don’t do cross-training, stretching, special diets, none of that stuff. I always tell people, I just run.

He says there are some exceptions.

Can’t start until the GPS starts. The miles don’t count.

GENE DYKES
I am married to my watch during training and a marathon. I keep myself right on pace. I set three marathon PRs last year. Five years ago, I never would have believed such a thing could have happened.

Dykes broke 3 hours three times in 2018.

He finished one in a PR of 2:54:23.

The time was an unofficial world record.

The late Ed Whitlock holds most 70+ age group records.

GENE DYKES
Even if I were to get my Jacksonville marathon time ratified as a world record, it would still be Ed Whitlock 35, Gene Dykes 1.

He’s prouder of another accomplishment.

GENE DYKES
I did a 200-mile race in August, September, and October two years ago. It’s another part of my ‘just run’ philosophy. Did I know whether or not I could run 200 miles month after month after month? Who knows? But you never know unless you try. If it gets to the point that I can’t beat times anymore, I have my own personal metric that I keep for trail runs which is the Oldest Known Finisher. I have five or six, seven races now where nobody older has ever finished the race. Of course, as I get older, that gets easier… My ultimate goal is to win the 120 age group in Boston some year.

#HumanRace #GeneDykes #WorldRecord

[rileyfrank]

Imagine training for a marathon for months, and then halfway through the race you get passed by a 70 year old. Its just crazy. Mad respect for this dude.

[miker]

Man if you can have a 70 yo do sub 20 minutes in a 5k that deserves respect there. Nike sponsor this man already.

[TheAtl]

If you don't look, just listen to his voice and how energetic it sounds, you'd think he is 30-40 yrs old.

[runcaz]

An old friend of mine Carl Willburg, Used to tell me he wanted to die running. He got his wish just a month shy of his 90th birthday. He was found on the side of a dirt road near his home. I loved this man yet wasn't sad at his funeral. For me he had lived a beautiful life. He did it his way, doing what he wanted. He inspires me to this day.

[akmaljones]

no wonder why he's so good. because he has 60 years of training 😂

[danimal]

an absolute legend. My hats off to you gene.

[pally]

I'm running this London marathon 2019 hopefully 3.45. This guy is twice my age and runs faster. Totally respect. True legend.

[sushrutdeshmukh]

"As I get older it gets easier" is all the motivation I need.

[rjfrejoles]

5ks in under 20, I’m about to hit that next year in hs, man I’m slacking

[gabriel.hongkong]

Whenever they say running is bad for knees, I reply to them: obesity is even worse

[toddboucher]

Amazing, at 57 I have no excuses- thumbs up

[kow]

1:18 - "I just run" - super awesome..

[samkao]

Him: No cross training, No stretching

Everyone watching: 😳😮

[neontreefrog]

Gene was a great inspiration at the start of the BSIM this year. He wore a pink shirt with swappable patches for his age and number of marathons finished. He passed me at mile 24 and I just watched him go. Cruising along at 71 years young.

[grantv]

I am only 66, such inspiration to get back into the runners. Thanks

[hackerchn]

Ran next to him for a while during the Love Run. Dude is unreal. I hope I'm still running like that when I'm his age

[fcl]

I've been in a running slump the past year and a half. I'm 64...soon to be 65, and this video just motivated the heck out of me!

[phamtinkt]

wow, his voice and skin look absolutely younger than his age, running is wonderful :)

[HedbergHenrik]

This gives me hope, and tells me I have set artificial barriers for myself.

[fardeenrazif]

Gf: An old guy beat you
Me: He had more time to prepare