The Secret to Aging Well - Be More Selfish | Jeannie Rice, 78

Ageless Athlete - Jeannie Rice
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[00:00:00] 

Kush: When we were exchanging messages, Jeannie, you spoke about just being back in South Korea. This is the place you grew up, you went to compete at the World Masters Championships.

Jeannie: Can you us back to the starting line?

I came over this country, I was very young and I just finished high school and I started college, and then I came over this country to Cleveland, Ohio, which my sister and her family were living at the time. So I lived with them, and then I went to school here. then the reason I went back, I think it's 1988, Olympic.

We had a, Korea Olympic. Right after Olympic, I wanted to see the,site and wanted to visit, so I went back, 1988. At that time I was already running. I start [00:01:00] running when I was 35, which, was few years into my running, so I was very interested. So we went back to Korea to visit the Olympic site and visit.

Came home with, five pounds extra. So that's when I started to run. When I came back, I was never runner, of course not, and I started to run our local, just neighborhood. I didn't even have a running shoes. I just had, tennis shoes. I was always exercising a little bit at the YMCA, what we call Jazzercise, things like that, but I never ran.

So but soon after I start running, I realized that I can run and I got hooked, so I've been running 

Kush: So you started was it to lose those five pounds? 

Jeannie: Yes. Yes. Yes. I just wanted to lose the five pounds right away. I thought if [00:02:00] I jog, that'll lose... I will lose that, those few pounds fast. So I start jogging maybe quarter mile, and then half mile, then mile, and I got into it. And very... That was, like, March or April 1983. So that year, August, we had a local five-mile race.

Now we just had a 50th year this year, so that was 43 years ago. Friend of mine, she talked me into enter this race. So I never ran five mile, but I only did once before the race, week before the race, and we did a loop. I could hardly run five mile. But I entered the race, and would you believe that lady I was running with, she came f- third, and then I was right behind.

But she was a runner, but I was not a runner. So that got me motivated, and I [00:03:00] thought, "I'm a little bit competitive." So I thought, if I train, maybe I can run faster." Since then, we don't know her, so I can say that, since then she's never ran, ahead of me. So yeah, I got hooked. So I ran a race,from then, and very following year I decide to run a marathon, 1984.

I started running '83. 1984 I ran Cleveland Marathon, and I did three f-

Kush: One 

Jeannie: f-

Kush: one year 

Jeannie: yes

Kush: starting, after running for the first time, you took part in a full marathon. Jeannie, let me ask you this. So growing up, did you do any sports? you were not a runner, but did you do any sports that had a running element? 

Jeannie: Not really. 'Cause when we grew up, we're talking about I'm o- I'm 78 years old. So years ago, women did not have [00:04:00] sports. I als- or I was in a dance class, like a Korean dancing class, so we did somewhat exercise. And then I play outside a lot, especially with the boys. I ran ... we played tag, so it was a little running involved, but not really running.

So I was always active, but I never knew I could run. So when I did a first marathon, I came in, I did a 3:45, my very first marathon. So that's when I thought, maybe if I train, maybe I can run faster." So six months later, that marathon was in the f- spring, in Cleveland Marathon. Six months later, I went to Columbus Marathon, Columbus, Ohio, and I came in 3:16.

Kush: So that's when I qualify for Boston. Yeah. So I went to Boston 1985, my very [00:05:00] first time. At the time, 3:20 was qualify time. Of course, today they all changes, Wow. You were a rocket ship. Well

You started running, you ran five miles one day, and then next year you were, like, doing Merhaba.

Wow. No, the... Ja. Ja

how did that happen? you did that five, five-mile run with this other person, and then how did you decide that, you five miles is not enough, or 

Jeannie: Yeah

Kush: am more talented for longer distances? was that a time when marathons were becoming popular? Is that one reason why you decided to-

Jeannie: if you remember 1984 Olympic...

Kush: because I was six years 

Jeannie: Oh, you're young. You're a baby. So 1984, first time,LA Marathon, women was allowed. That's the very first time. Can you believe that? It wasn't even that long ago. Nine- until 1984 Olympic, the [00:06:00] female didn't have a marathon. That was the first time. I just... So that's when I first race.

I remember Joan Benoit. She had the gold medal, 1984, so she's been my idol, and I'm thinking, "Here, women allowed to run a Olympic marathon," and then I starting to run marathon, so it motivate me, and I... Of course, she was totally different level, but for locally, so that's when I decide to run another marathon, and then I got qualified very first year.

So 1985, I went to Olym- not Olympic, Boston Marathon, and that really motivate me, and then I loved, being with the people, crowd, and I'm in my own way, I'm very competitive, so that's when I've been s- running marathon more than... local race, I do all different, 5K, 10K, five mile, [00:07:00] I do locally, but marathon, so I've been, starting to, travel to run.

So 

Kush: So

Jeannie: just about ready to go in Athens Marathon in a week or two, and that's gonna be my 138th marathon.

Kush: Wow. No, so did you actually ever try to qualify for the Olympics? 

Jeannie: No, I was already too old. I was already 30... when I start running I was 35, and when I run Bo- the first, Boston I was,I only ran 3:16. That's not fast enough. the ladies were running like you have to do 2, 2:40 to qualify even, Olympic trials. so no, I'm not... I was in, I was already older.

But there is a lady, my competitive now, she ran Olympic. She's my age. [00:08:00] She lives in UK, and she was, a 1984 Olympian. She was, like a 30 maybe, 20, late 20, 30s. But she's 70 years old. She's my competitive. But now she's slowed down a lot, and I never ran when I was that young. So it's a lot of fun.

I got to meet her. We became, friends. We still email back and forth and I told her, "Go ahead and break my own record," I have, I did have a marathon record and I thought maybe... She was very close. But she ran 2:40 in the past, years ago. But I was never that fast, no.

Kush: What's 

Jeannie: just...

My fastest time is 3:12.

I don't have that fast time. But my fast half marathon, I was in my 40s already, 1:26, and I should have ran 3-hour marathon, I was never really ran when I was that younger anyway. But I [00:09:00] enjoy it my age because now, people as get older, they stop running distance. I still see a lot of people running half marathon, but when you go to the full marathon the numbers, much less.

Because it is hard on body I guess, but I don't know any better because I've been running last 43 years consistent. Always been same, 50 miles a week, 50 miles a week every week all year round.



Kush: you look back at this amazing consistency you have,

Jeannie: do you ever think that part of the reason you are able to put in this kind of volume because you started later while others, the couple of people you spoke of, Mm-hmm.

Kush: they were running competitively and they might have even started at a much younger age Yep

to fade away?

So you think do you [00:10:00] think that's maybe, one secret? 

Jeannie: That, that may be a little part of it, I think. 'Cause when you're young, like a high school and, when they're growing up, high school, college, if they ran that many marathon, it's gonna ... It'll be hard on your body. But I didn't start till 35, but then some people say when you get older, you put that kind of mileage and it's not easy either.

So I don't know, what that could e- equal to. 'Cause I put a lot of miles in my... I have over 100,000 miles in my legs because, around the globe it's about, what is it, 25,000? I went around four times and then I'm in my fifth leg now.

Kush: Wow. 

Jeannie: Yeah.

Kush: Yeah. 

Jeannie: of marathon.

Kush: 50 miles a week for so many [00:11:00] decades, that is remarkable. I, I do wanna stick with South Korea because I'm 

Jeannie: Yes.

Kush: You grew up there. Was you know, and now you've run over 100 marathons. 

Jeannie: Mm-hmm

Kush: Was it, was there anything special about being at that race, the country of your birth?

Jeannie: nowadays you can see a lot of Koreans and Japanese, a lot of Asian girls are out running. Years ago, girls didn't do this, but now, those girls are... Not my age that much. You don't see too many. But 50, 60, they already raised the children and they're healthy enough to start running. And I, it, I just, I love it, because when I was there not too long ago, as you knew, world championship, and I see so many Korean women, middle age and upper age, not, like I said, not too [00:12:00] many 70 years old, and I'll be pushing to 80 pretty soon, but I inspire them.

That's all I... I'm just so happy and excited about that. To them, that old Jeannie can do it, maybe we can do it. So that's what I wanna hear it, and I see so many people come to me, "Oh, you inspiration," and, you inspire." It's not, I'm not any special, but my age is a, for older grandma is running. So I just love to hear that.

That's my goal. Part of my goal is inspire pe- younger people. Older age, but younger people

Kush: do you get recognized when you are at the race? Uh,

Jeannie: Yeah.

Kush: like a household name in South Korea?

Jeannie: very first time when I h- break the world record in Chicago when I'm 70, very next year I went to [00:13:00] Berlin and I broke my own record by three minutes. In Berlin, going to expo, without exaggerating, I probably got 100 pictures taken. People come to me, "Are you Jeane Rice?" so I always jokingly, "How could you tell?

Don't we all look alike?" I always say, "We all look alike. How could you tell I am Jeane Rice?" But they knew I'm there to run. So how many, really older, people come to run a marathon? So yes, I do recognize. I just went to Sydney last year, and also same thing. In Sydney, as you go walk to this expo or going to the race, yes, people do recognize.

In Korea, this is last trip was Korea, and it was world championship, and s- couple of girls are so cute. They look at their phone, they found me, and running to me, "Is that you?" I said, "Yes." She goes, "Oh, can we [00:14:00] take pictures?" they were just so g- they are like, 50s. They are 40s and 50s, young people running and...

Yes, I do get recognized because, doing so many marathons

Kush: And it's, I think it's not just people in their 50s or 60s or 70s. I, think that you are also inspiring people, even people listening to this show who are maybe a little bit younger, 30s and 40s, 

Jeannie: Mm-hmm

Kush: with the fact that can keep doing this for decades if they do the right thing 

Jeannie: Mm-hmm.

But one thing, though, all these years, after 137 marathons, and I never ran marathon in Korea. I went there to see a world championship, half-marathon, 10, 10K, and all cross country. I did all that. So that's gonna be my list, run a marathon in Korea, in Seoul or [00:15:00] Daegu.

There's a huge marathon there, but I just never got to run a marathon there. But I don't know, Kush. I think I only have a few left in me. I hate to say that. I would love to run when I'm 100, but it may not happen. this will be my 138, which is Athens Marathon. I've been wanting to go there, Greece, so I'm doing that.

And I'm thinking if I'm lucky and stay healthy, I would like to reach 150 marathon. So I like to do the... Korea is, one over my list. So I will, hopefully, I will do the next couple, three years.

Kush: Amazing. So hang on. So this championship that you ran in, that was not the full marathon, that was a different No, half. Or that I did fi-- yeah. I did half marathon, 10K, cross country, and 800 meter. It's a track and field. it's a world championship. They do not have a marathon. They [00:16:00] have up to longest is a h- you know, half marathon. 

sure. And if I remember reading correctly, this was only a few months after you had knee surgery. Is that correct? 

Jeannie: Yes. Yes, it is. All these years I never had a running injury. There was some of, People ask me, "What's your secret?" I say, secret is, it's just to stay away from injury." But I never had a injury. I fell before, stepped on the stone and I fell, so I hurt my knee and stuff like that, but never had a hamstring problem, Achilles problem.

Never had it. But this year, February, my knee starting to hurt little bit, so I kept running and finally got a MRI. I was in Florida, Naples. I go to Florida during the winter, and I had a MRI and then doctor said, you have a tiny little tear, meniscus." So but he didn't [00:17:00] require for surgery or anything, and I was running a marathon soon in March in Las Vegas.

So I said, "Can I run a marathon?" He said, yes, you can, as long as you can tolerate." So I went ahead, did the marathon. I did Cherry Blossom 10-mile, and I did New York City Half. This is all spring after I knew I had a little meniscus. But af- then came home, Cleveland. I ran a Cleveland Half Marathon. Very next day I'm out running, I step on the uneven surface and I really fell really badly.

So that's when I decide to have a surgery, which was June, middle of June. And this, Korea World Championship, I already had planned prior to that, so I went anyway. I was only 50/50 when I went to Korea. 50/50 chance. I don't even... I [00:18:00] wasn't ready for race, but I got it out and did it all. So I came home with the two gold medal, and three silver medal.

So and I was very happy

Kush: Oh, so you took part in multiple races there 

Jeannie: Yeah, I was, we were there two, three weeks altogether, but we do not, 10 days I race, four. Cross country 800 meter, 10K, half-marathon, but as a team we got another silver medal in cross country, so I came home five, yeah. And then we took another week vacation. So I was gone three weeks altogether

Kush: And wow, that's remarkable. on 

Jeannie: Thank you. Thank you

Kush: Were you healed completely? No, not at all. Nope. 50% chance, and doctor told me I can start running in July, and I start walking [00:19:00] and a little bit jogging, and this is the middle of June I had a surgery. A very l- small surgery, actually, meniscus arthroscopy. But still, you still have to, recover. So July I start running, and this was the middle of, August.

Jeannie: So I was not prepared for the race. But it didn't hurt during the run. After the run, yes, it hurt me. I have to be honest. So but I did it all anyway. Since out there

did it

best I can, and I was happy for the result. Then when I came back and I start training for this marathon now. But I'm not quite ready for good marathon, 'cause I usually train lot of long runs.

Kush: For marathon I do four or five 20-miler, 22, 23. But for this Athens in, in two weeks now, I only got to do two, [00:20:00] because I have to recover. So I'm still 100-- not 100%. I'm about, I would say, 80, 85% heal. But I'm gonna go ahead and have fun. got it. So you pushed yourself, you took advantage of the travel that you had planned already,

sounds like you did not make the injury worse. Sounds like you have continued healing

Jeannie: and now you are 80% healed, and in two weeks you are going to the Athens Marathon, Yes

Kush: and you're gonna run the full distance.

Are you gonna do anything else there or, or this, 

Jeannie: no, full marathon. Yeah.

Kush: the full thing. Okay.

Jeannie: did you have to change anything about your training because of the persistent, because of the s- because of the, the injury today? Like you're not fully recovered. Are you still running 50 miles every 

I do.

So my goal has changed. reset my goal. Usually, I'm always going after [00:21:00] 3:30.

right around 3:30, 3:40. so Sydney I did 3:37, and then I did,Washington DC 3:39. I'm always 3:30, 3:40 range. But this time, Athens, my goal is 3:45. I'm allowing myself another 10 minutes because I'm not fully... So I already reset it, so I won't be disappointed if I don't do 3:30. No. If I'm under four hours, I'll be happy at this point.

But I have another marathon in San Francisco. I am coming CIM December.

Kush: Okay. 

Yeah, CIM. yeah. You have a stacked calendar. you're not slowing down at all. do you work with a coach, Jeannie?

Jeannie: No, I never had a coach, Kush. I always, put ... Even this week, last week, I [00:22:00] put myself weekly. Okay, I should do this many m- miles, and I should do today this much, tomorrow this much. I make myself. If I had coach, maybe I might have run much better or faster, or I could have been injured more.

I don't know. Because as you're the only one know your whole- your body, when it's hurting, when it's not, when I feel good. So a lot of times I say, I'm gonna go out for 6 mile." I run like a 12 mile because if I feel good and beautiful weather, and then sometimes I go out to run, fast run.

If I don't feel like it, if I'm not there, I just cut it short and slower. So I go by how I feel. But there's a friend, I'm sure Amby Burfoot. He ran Boston Marathon years ago. He w- he's a winner. He won the Boston Marathon years ago. [00:23:00] He's about my age. Actually, he's one year older. He just turned 80 years old.

He's awesome. Lot of people he used to run with that age not running. Amby's still running a marathon. He may not run, that fast. Of course, he ran 2:00 something. But today he's still running. But we became a good friend, so I will ask him sometime, "Amby, what do you think?" So he'll, not coaching, but he'll suggest and he will give me a, little idea, and yeah, you go do this, do that, and I do.

Kush: do. 

Jeannie: he doesn't really coach me, but I listen to his advice, let's put it that way. Yeah

Kush: That sounds smart. I am guessing that are not too many coaches who specialize in coaching world champions who are in their, who are [00:24:00] in that age bracket. It sounds savvy to work with somebody, to talk to somebody who's walked in your shoes already, 

Jeannie: Yes

Kush: kind of experience because there's a very special, small and special group of you guys out there who are doing this. I have, I've never run a marathon myself. 

Jeannie: You have her?

Kush: mar- 

Jeannie: Oh.

Kush: no. Yeah, my, my main sports are I'm a rock climber 

Jeannie: Oh, yes. Sure. Yes.

Kush: and I 

Jeannie: great. You have to be good condition.

Kush: yeah, a couple of

Jeannie: Yeah

Kush: yeah. So I did run a half marathon like, long time ago, totally off the couch. destroyed me. what makes people want to run 26 miles? what is it about the marathon that keeps drawing you back, Jeannie? Like you've done over 100 now 

Jeannie: Yeah. I ran probably thousand races, between 10K, half marathon. I probably ran maybe 300 half marathons. I'm talking [00:25:00] about race, and 137 race. But between then, I ran lots of 20 miler. I think my first goal is stay healthy. I think running makes me go out the door in the morning, get up in the morning, go out the door, fresh air,go out.

So stay healthy. And of course, if... the more you do it, you get physical endurance, right? I'm sure you do the rock climbing, the physical endurance, and mental strength to me. w- we are all busy people. Living in life today is a busy. So many family, job, and, you know, sickness in the family. but, excuse me.

But to me, the mental strength, you go out running, you clear your mind. You're not doing any housework, you're not doing... So to me, that's mental, strength as well. [00:26:00] And the more I run races, it's self-confident. Self-confident. I do race a lot. When I win, of course, and I'm not bragging, but most of times I win because, I think because maybe age.

But I was winning when I was 40, 50, 60. But as I get older and more people are not running a distance, it's less. So my... it's funny, it's a personal goal. it's nothing to... My personal goal is now when I go to races, I like to beat male division That's funny. I always look at ... I didn't record- I didn't realize that, 'cause we always run with the female division.

You have a age division. When I first found out, my son, he's the one look into it. I was in Berlin. I, did a, a world record. My son call me, to [00:27:00] Berlin. He say, "Mom, did you realize that you beat men, your division?" That's first time I even knew, checked. So since then, I check men division.

Kush: That's amazing 

Jeannie: all fun challenge to me that keeps me going.

So another thing is, re- the running is a lifetime sport. Obviously, you rock climbing as well. It's not ... I used to play racquetball. You need a partner. And then swimmer, you gotta find the swimming pool. And in cycling too, when you go to traveling, you have to take the bicycle. Running is so easy.

All you need are running shoes, no matter where I go. I used to just go vacation, Toronto, or go, go see my sister. All you need, running shoes. You can do that anywhere and any age. Also, you can compete, right? Now, running is so popular [00:28:00] anymore. Where could you com- compete if you're a tennis player? it's

So running, to me running is a lifetime sport

Kush: Running is quite pure, I have to agree, and it is so efficient. If you have limited time, have to go to work or catch a flight, you can quickly go out the door and,

Jeannie: 

Kush: you are obviously so good and, I can just see that as well that drives you, I'm curious, does that show up in other parts of your life as well, 

Jeannie: Yeah, I was a...

Kush: drive to win?

Jeannie: I was always, wanna be... Nobody's perfect, but I always wanna be close to perfect. Or even a house, I always want it to be clean. I get out of bed, I make the bed, and this has been always my life, And I wanna make sure my kids are [00:29:00] well-dressed and well-educated, and it was... Life is always seems to me, it's not a competition, but it's almost like a competition.

I just wanna be... I don't mean better than somebody, but I wanna be good or better. So what I do with my friends, we... I'm not coaching them, but I always tell them what is the better for you. this is what you do. This is what I do. I share with my, I would say wisdom, 'cause I'm this... my granddaughter's 26 years old, so I don't feel older.

I don't feel my age. I don't know what you feel should be 80 years old should be. I'm not quite there yet, but I'm getting there to 80. Oh my gosh, where does that number came from? But I run with the 50 years old and 60 years old,almost 20 years younger than me, friends, and [00:30:00] I don't feel that I'm, like, older, 'cause we run together.

We, we go races together. We train together. So I forget how old I am, but we are limited, right? You don't see anybody live forever. we are all limited. So now at this point, I wanted to live a little bit faster pace. And people say, "How do you live any faster?" faster life, faster pace.

What that mean, I wanna... If I wanna go this place, that place, I'm gonna plan and do it. I can't wait till next year. I can't wait till two years. So I'm trying to live faster pace and with a healthy life.

Kush: Sure.

Jeannie: Sorry, I, have a personal question. You set really high standards for yourself. 

Mm-hmm

Kush: you push yourself. Do you think if I was to ask your [00:31:00] family, ask your kids, 

Jeannie: Mm-hmm

Kush: would they say that you also push them 

Jeannie: Yeah, probably.

Kush: Okay. 

Jeannie: Yeah, I'm sure they will say that. But they also, my kids are not a... Actually, they run, but they don't race like I do. My younger son, tried to run a marathon because when mom did the 60, when I was doing 60th marathon, which was quite a while ago, I'm already doubled up, he thought, maybe I can do at least one.

My mom can do this that age, 60 years old. I think I'm gonna try one." He did t- he didn't train like I did, but he did, but he found out how hard it is, how tough it is. You don't go like, 30, 40 miles a week, a few weeks and do the marathon. He did, though. He did four hour, four minute, which is excellent, and because he went out too fast.

His halfway was a h- one hour and 32 minutes. He went out [00:32:00] too fast. He doesn't realize that second half is tougher. But so kids know how mom is tough. They know that. I don't know what they mean, but I don't think I'm tough. I think I put myself a goal, my personal goal, and reach out for... if you don't have a goal, it doesn't have to be some running goal.

Anything. I wanna get a better job, and I wanna lose weight. I wanna do this. I wanna go th- some place, Paris, I wanna go. If you don't have a goal, it never gonna happen, right?

Kush: Right 

Jeannie: the goal. When I was in my 60s, there's a world record, Helga, ca- I forgot her name is now. She was a German lady. She had the 70 years old marathon world record for five years.

I put her name and her time on my refrigerator. [00:33:00] I don't know who she is, so I look at it every day when I had it in the refrigerator. Her name's not on it now, 'cause I broke it by seven minutes. So I'm just talk about goal. So you set your goal and, move forward and try to reach it. Yeah. It doesn't matter how old you are.

Now I have another goal now, a new goal. When I'm 80, if I'm still running, hopefully I am, hopefully I will. I take care of myself and try to be healthy, and running is part of my life anyway. If I'm healthy, I'm running. When I'm 80, I'd like to break all the records. if I don't, that's fine. I'd be able to run healthy, but that's a goal I have.

I try to break the... More like a marathon goal. once you break the marathon goal, it's all other, distance comes with [00:34:00] that pretty much. 

Kush: no, that's because you find a goal, you f- you set your mind to it, 

Jeannie: Mm-hmm.

Kush: and then you use these self-affirmation practices, you You,

you are, again, you're so remarkably diligent with your training. What keeps you going on those days when you don't really feel like running?

Because I think a lot of us have that, you 

Jeannie: Yes.

Kush: you have 

Jeannie: Yes.

Kush: and then 

Jeannie: Yep.

Kush: just oof 

Jeannie: Yep, we all have that. especially for me when it's really freezing cold, which that's... I don't stay here, northern part, but after Athens, and we'll go down to Florida. But that's only for a few years ago I start doing that, once I retire. But prior to that, when it's freezing cold out, yes, it is tough to go out the door.

But I guess that's when your toughness come with that, my [00:35:00] own way. I say, "Well, this is a part of... I have to do it." It's so easy not to do it one day, and the next day comes, well, another day, another day. So I don't let that get away from myself. So I just tough it out. I usually tell people, "Come on, you gotta be tough."

I tell my friends that, You're gonna fight all the time. Your mind's gonna fight, but who's gonna win? Toughness gonna win, not the weak. Tough

Kush: Is there some, uh, practice or routine? Because, you one can say, "Oh, yeah, let's tough it out," but then you just look at the, the wind chill outside and the warm bed, and it's 4:00 AM in the morning. So do you have, like, routine where, know, you do s- you do this thing to start charging your body up, charging 

Jeannie: Yeah.

Kush: up?

Jeannie: the, another thing it'll help for that, if you plan to meet somebody, which is, good, I tell the new runners try to, belong to local running [00:36:00] club or find a group. It helps things like that. If you're gonna meet somebody, that person may be the s- think the same way, but no, you push them, "Okay, come on, let's do it.

Let's meet it." So if you plan on meeting with somebody, it's more ... There's a half, 50% is you're responsible not showing up. So that helps too. But I normally don't have, in coming into running and training, I don't have the weakness that much. So in instance, in Florida when I train in marathon in Florida during the winter, it gets warm, so I get up at 3:00.

I just go to bed early night before. I still get my sleep. The sleep is so important, too. once in a while you don't sleep much, that's fine, but regularly you need regularly [00:37:00] good sleep. I go to bed early. I get up at 3:00. I'm out the door, 4:00 in the morning, and then sometimes I will meet people 6:00.

I'm already into two-hour run into ... I'm already got 13 mile in, and then I'll meet up where they meet 6:00. We meet 6:00, every, running anyway, 'cause it gets hot and people, some people go to work, so they run 6:00, period. But when I do the long run, I'll start 4:00. I'll do my own running 13 mile into it before I meet them and then finish with them.

Kush: So that makes it easier. I make myself easier and sometimes fun. we meet up and run, and we go for coffee, and so you gotta make ... I'm not all 100% like, those,athletes. I'm not like that at all. I'm also all about, enjoying life, having fun with the [00:38:00] people. You have these running groups

Jeannie: you run with. You have them both in Cleveland in time of the year, and then you have a community of people. I, I think... okay, personal story. My dad, who's almost 75, he started running at 

Oh. Oh, good. Good

Kush: just completed, like, half-marathon. 

Jeannie: Oh, wonderful

Kush: high alt- altitude one, and I I think one big difference for him was also he found a group of runners. So for a while he was training by himself. He didn't 

Jeannie: Yeah

Kush: So now he has a-- And I, can just sense that, it just transformed because

Jeannie: all of those things you speak about, the...

Kush: One is certainly learning from other people, 

Jeannie: Yes

Kush: technique and all of those things. But then also I think the community. 

Jeannie: Yes

Kush: I think the excitement about being out there and seeing familiar faces, friendly 

Jeannie: Yes.

Kush: that helps get you.Jeannie, can you give us a [00:39:00] sense of what your typical week looks like?

Because You are running 50 miles a week.

Jeannie: Are you running every single day? And then Put him

Kush: rest of your life organize around your,

Jeannie: Okay. I-- yes, 50 miles is just my, average. Sometimes I go 65. if I run a marathon that week, one week I'll run 20, 22 mile one day. So that week will be 65, sometimes, close to even 70. But those days cool down, the less mileage I can run maybe 40 miles. But my life, I get up earlier than most people.

I get up early in the morning, so my, my normal day is just like average other people. I don't work anymore 'cause I'm a real estate agent. I was a realtor for 30-some years. I retired like three years ago. I worked till I was in my-- way into 70 'cause I really enjoyed [00:40:00] it. But because I was a real estate agent, my work wasn't like you have to be there eight o'clock.

You don't have to be at the office nine o'clock. I made my own schedule. That helped a lot. And then I could go away. I can make a trip whenever I want. I was on my own boss. So that part was easy, but I still have a, set schedule. Get up in the morning, get my running done, and it, it doesn't affect any other activity I have.

And I used to do lot more everything, Kush, but I just don't do as much. I golf a little bit. it's a beautiful day, we go out golfing the afternoon. I used to ski a lot, downhill ski. I used to go to Colorado every year to downhill ski. And then I also used to do a lot of, when I was much younger, maybe until 10, 15 years ago, I sold all my equipment, I used to scuba dive.

Kush: Oh

Jeannie: [00:41:00] I have a certif- a, a certified scuba diving, advanced diving certified, but I sold all the equipment. I haven't done that for probably 15 years now

Kush: you, why did you get rid of all of those things? 

Jeannie: The reason, ski just we quit, we stopped going when it was COVID started, 'cause we always use a group. We stopped doing that. Now, scuba dive, I scuba dive in Australia too.

Right now I'm a little bit maybe selfish, 'cause I like to run marathon, so I make a trip around my running trip. Every time I've been going different places, something to do with the marathon. Yeah. I went to Australia, Sydney last year. we make a trip out of it. I go run a marathon and then plan. Now we're going to Greece now, marathon, and then we stay two weeks.

So that's what I do now. And we went to South [00:42:00] Africa, I ran Cape Town Marathon, and then we did all other stuff. So right now it's running is big part of my life as as you see. So I still have fun, I still go on trip, but something to do with the running marathon. So I'm gonna go Valencia next year, and we're talking about San Francisco next year, 50th anniversary, San- San Francisco Marathon.

So we have friends and we are planning on it, and I've done it before, but 50th anniversary should be big celebration. So I'm thinking ahead, my trip surrounding marathon.

Kush: and sorry, and when you say we, is it you and your 

Jeannie: a lot of,

Kush: or 

Jeannie: I have a, partner. He doesn't run marathon.

He do- he used to run, but as little he knows, I sign him up for 10K in, Athens. So he used to be real fast [00:43:00] runner when he was in college. This is ago- years ago, like four-minute mile. But, his knee can't handle distance, but he can do up to 10K walk and jog and whatever you call, not racing hard.

But he's a, he loves to go places with me. So but when I say we training, we planning, I have friends all over. I have California, Liz, and then San Diego, and I have friends in, Toledo, and then New York, and then North Dakota. I have all these people I met through running. Isn't that awesome? I have,many dear friends became, real good friends.

We plan together. The one we're gonna go San Francisco is, Liz from, California, LA. She's the one said, "Jeanne, let's do this San Francisco. It's gonna be 50th anniversary." So I said, "Okay, I'm in." So I told few friends. Now they all wanna go. 

Kush: I'm curious, like you have kept running [00:44:00] and you're, again, you still have all these events coming up. are there some things that you think you did differently as compared to your peers? Because I,I'm sensing for every five years, every decade,

Jeannie: s- people keep dropping off, Ye-

Kush: So yes,

that there are some things that you h- have been doing differently that allows you to keep going? I think I have a different set of mind because you're right, people are dropping. And I think they're losing motivation. It's easy to lose that motivation. You gotta have a mental strength. Even your body's healthy, if you don't have a motivation, you're not gonna go out the door in the morning or you're not gonna go train.

Jeannie: But y- you gotta have all the... I tell people if I have a three, I'm dedicated, okay? It's three Ds. That's what I tell some of my young friends. "Remember what [00:45:00] Jeanne said, three Ds: dedication, discipline And determination. Determine. If you don't have... You don't have to be racer, but if you're gonna run your best, you gotta have a determ- that determination you gotta have.

So three D's, dedicated, discipline, and determination will get you there. It doesn't matter what your goal is. it can be five-hour marathon, it could be three-hour marathon, or it could be I wanna finish the marathon, i- if I wanna do 10 marathon. I talk to many people, they will say, "Oh, I've done 35 marathon."

And I go, "Oh my gosh, that's pretty good. That's a lot. You did 35?" And I say that and they look at me, "How many did you do?" 137. I forget what I do. I do forget what I do, but this is what I do. I don't expect people to do what I do. [00:46:00] I don't think there is anybody my age do this many marathon. Maybe they have in the past.

But it's not just running. I still race, what I call racing. I got,somebody call me and re- pacing group, pacing company asked me if I would do pacing. You know, you go to marathon, they have a pacer, three-hour, four-hour, five-hour pacer. I would love to do that someday. But if I'm gonna do pacer, I have to run much slower, make sure I get them there on time, so it's not gonna be racing.

So I said to this gentleman, I said, "I will someday when I'm done racing." I still race. Race means I'm not racing against you or against somebody, I race against me. 

Kush: Yes. 

Jeannie: myself. So I'm still running my best, whatever that day is. It could be bad day, [00:47:00] but I'm still gonna do my best that day. So you know, there's a difference, racing.

I'm, I still like to ra- I like to race, and I love to race other people. It doesn't matter my age or young people ahead of me, I like to k- you know, keep up with her, I like to keep up with that gentleman. it's my racing myself. 

Kush: that's, 

Jeannie: keeps-

Kush: Jeannie, all this, all this time,

Jeannie: all these decades, so many marathons, so many races, so much training, have there been any trade-offs? Have there been sacrifices, you've had to give up because you could focus? I from everything I can see, you've raised a wonderful family, you've had this career. But have there been some things that you stopped doing, you changed paths because you had to running? 

f- I always work around [00:48:00] my, family when kids were young and make sure I don't affect their activity. They play football, they play baseball, they swim, they had a piano music, c- lessons. I would always maybe sleep less. It'll be just, yes, I would always sleep, like, get up early morning before they go to school and make sure they don't, I don't affect their activity.

Only thing is now little difference is all my friends in Florida when, I go there six months, and if somebody, non-runners... The runners, we usually go r- meet for lunch or early dinner. Some of my friends, they like to go out to dinner around 7:00. I must say no. I said, "I'm sorry. I don't eat that late."

I say, "If you wanna meet at 5:00, yes, or let's go to lunch." So yes, I do somewhat, some of my non-running friends think I'm no fun. [00:49:00] But, but I, that I'm a little bit selfish my own way too. If I'm gonna get up at 4:00 next day, I wanna go to bed early. I wanna eat at 4:00 dinner, and so make sure to digest and go to bed.

So those few things I could be selfish. And certain things, like I have a, like a race like New Year's Day, and I don't go night before. I don't care if it's New Year's Eve, I go to bed early.

Kush: Sure. 

Jeannie: Yep

Kush: one of your practices was to just wake up sooner. Like, how many hours of sleep do you get? 

Jeannie: I would like to sleep at least seven hours, but if eight hours it would be bonus for me. I don't need a lot of sleep. Yeah, seven hours I like to sleep. So if I go to bed like, 10:00 o'clock, I get up at 5:00, but if I [00:50:00] have to get up earlier, I go to bed 9:00 earlier. I accordingly I do that. So I like to sleep seven, eight hours.

Sleep is so important to as Yeah. Some people need 10 hours sleep. I can't even imagine that. I don't...

Kush: Yeah I don't need that many hours sleep

Jeannie, what about kind of cross-training, any kind of mobility work that you do along with the running that helps you stay in shape? Yes. I do just lightweight upper body. I used to do much heavier upper body and squat, and I don't do any of those my leg. I don't do any my leg workout besides running and walking. When I'm not running, when I'm done running even, sometimes I run eight miles and I walk two, three miles.

Jeannie: But leg workout, I don't do any those. But upper body, not [00:51:00] heavy weight, but I do lift weight three times a week. Try to do consistently, you know. That's all I do.

Sure. And what about any kind of stretching? 

Jeannie: Very little.

Kush: No Okay 

Jeannie: little stretch. I normally stretch after the run, you know that? I, when we, when I gonna go run, 5:00 o'clock in the morning, 6:00 o'clock morning, I go out the door and run. But after the run, I just stretch a little bit. Yeah.

Kush: Sure. 

Jeannie: Yeah.

Kush: Renee, w-when I was, about you, one thing that I thought was extraordinary that, you've been running all these marathons, but then at 75 you started competing on the track 

Jeannie: Yes

Kush: distances. what prompted that?

Jeannie: it was-- That was very interesting. I never knew I can do the track, because I was always distance runner. locally I do 5K and fun race. [00:52:00] Friend of mine from, New Jersey, and I met him through running, and he's a real fast. He's 65 years old and he's really-- he can s- still run under three-hour marathon.

I met him several years ago through USATF 5K race. So he talked me into it. "Why don't you try this track and field, USATF putting it out in s- Carolina?" So that was a couple, three years ago. Three, four years ago maybe. So he talked me into try it. So I go there. He signs me up 5K, 800 meter, 1500 meter.

I did about five event that day. They don't have a distance up to... I think 10K was the longest, the USA. I came home with the three world record. I didn't even know if I can run it, track. So that got me [00:53:00] interested. So now I do world championship. I do go 800 meter, 1500 meter. I didn't think I can do that, he-- friend talked me into it, and I try it, and I didn't realize that I had a speed.

N- not really speed, but for my age, let's put it that way. So I came home with a world record that year. So yeah. So that got me going

Kush: Yeah, mean, in some ways, you you ran five miles when you started one year, and then you ran, ran the marathon the next year. Were you surprised at yourself that you just started doing this sprinting on the track and, or were you like, "Okay, you I just know that I'm fast"? 

Jeannie: I was really surprised. I didn't think... I knew what I did, the time wise. I know I could compete with my time, but I didn't know I could be faster than most people. That, yes, surprised me. But that also give me very good confident [00:54:00] so I can, next time I go, "Hey, I can do that." So yeah, I meet so many different people from track though.

A lot of people are not marathon runner, but I met different, group of people. They're all wonderful. It's so fun, and they're competitive and, it's fun

Kush: I love this idea of trying something completely new,

Jeannie: 48, I just started mountain biking this year, and people are like, "Wow, you're starting mountain biking almost at 50." And you started something completely new at 75. And I'm just curious, you think the willingness to be a beginner has somehow kept running fun for you? 

Well, that this is why I'm trying to tell some of my friends, like, 60 years old, and I just said, if you wanna try something different besides a marathon, road run, if you wanna go track, look at what I did. it [00:55:00] w- I didn't think I can compete, and I did it, and I had fun." So I encouraged them to try something different.

So anybody can try something, uh, get out of your comfort zone, I would say. people so comfortable doing certain things, they don't wanna try something strange or, but you have to get out of comfort zone and try different things. I would highly recommend anybody. 

Kush: is there some like, you talk to your friends, d- is there some advice you give them on how to find that next thing? how does somebody even decide like,"Okay, you know, I do this, I'm good at it, and I am already like 50, 60, 70." 

Jeannie: Mm-hmm. 

Kush: like what should be the next thing I should try? 

Jeannie: No, I usually tell them, some of the new runners, I usually tell, "Don't do what I do," 'cause I don't want them to get [00:56:00] hurt. Don't think that, "Oh, Jinny can run a marathon, eight marathon a year." I've done it, eight marathon a year, but don't do that, 'cause,don't do what I do. But you can try, if you wanna do the marathon, you, you have to work on it.

it's not that simple either. It's not that simple. Not, I can just run a marathon. You can do that if they like to do it. So what you like to doing, and then, you know, you just have to plan and go for. I would like to help people if they wanna run a marathon or if they wanna do half marathon, I would like to help them.

I don't have to run my pace all the time. Once a week or twice a week I can run with them, which I do sometimes, slower pace, or if somebody wanna go fast pace that day, and it'll be my, workout. And so I like to help people. I like to see people reach out their goal. [00:57:00] So set the goal. I already said that.

Set the goal what you like to do. What's your lifetime... do you wanna be healthy? Of course. We all do, right? We all wanna stay healthy, but it doesn't come that sitting around and do, just do that. You have to exercise. You gotta move. I always tell people, "Move forward. Keep moving forward." Anything.

Whatever it is. People like to swim, that's fine, and biking. I think cycling is a wonderful... I go to gyms. Sometimes I do stationary bike, you know?

Kush: Sure 

Jeannie: I don't go out on the road. I used to. I've done triathlon before, years ago. Yeah, years ago. Local short triathlon. I'm not a good swimmer. I can swim. I can save myself, but I'm not a f- speed swimmer.

So when I did the s- swimming part, all these people getting out of water [00:58:00] way before me. And then cycling was same, but then I pick them up in the running, 

Kush: In the 

Jeannie: so I didn't like that. I didn't like to get out. I was a little more competitive my own way, so I gave up triathlon. But I do swim little bit when I go to Florida, but I'm not a fast swimmer

Kush: One thing that's so wonderful about your story, Jeannie, is that some people might look at your and think that, "Hey, this person, you this person just runs. This person has been running so consistently as this one, single-minded focus." But I think what we're learning here is that you have 

Jeannie: I'm not

Kush: so many different things. 

Jeannie: Mm-hmm.

Kush: you were a downhill skier, 

Jeannie: Yep

Kush: are a diver, you play golf, you've even done triathlons. Like,you really have, 

Jeannie: I've done it all.

Kush: You've 

Jeannie: I used... Yeah.

Kush: s- so 

Jeannie: and ru- running just became, my first sports now, but I've [00:59:00] done, I used to roller skate. Yeah, ice skating when I grew up, that's when I did ice skating. I can still go ice skate, but,

ski is, one of my favorite. When I... I would say 10, 15 years ago, maybe, yeah, maybe when I was 60, I don't know, a while ago, if somebody asked me, "If you have to give up skiing or running, what would you give up?



Jeannie: Wow. I couldn't answer that at the time. That's how much I love ski. I don't know if you ski or not. I used to ski everywhere. the Big Sky Montana.

Kush: Sure, 

Jeannie: I'm not a that great skier, but I like two things. I like speed, and I'm not afraid of height. So I did every black diamond in the course because they have a T-shirt in the back,

Kush: Yes 

Jeannie: trail map and all black diamond.

I wanted to buy [01:00:00] that shirt. So I went down every black diamond in Big Sky Montana. And I love skiing. I like speed so I can go real fast. I'm not a beautiful skier like some people. I wasn't skiing when I was little. I learned that when I was older. Once my kids got teenager, we all ski together.

but I can go fast, and I like those black diamond hill.

Kush: Oh, that's so awesome. 

Jeannie: Yeah.

Kush: I can just see, yeah, so wonderfully competitive, you had to get that T-shirt. 

Jeannie: Yep.

Yep, I got that. And then when you go to Vail and then Aspen, you know, uh, Colorado, they have a, you can, what do you call? You can speed... You can, race your own way, race, And then you overall, nationally they have a time. You can get a medal, small pin. And I got couple silver medal from skiing.

Kush: Wow. 

Jeannie: by age

Kush: why... Okay, so you had to make this tough [01:01:00] decision between skiing and running as one thing. Like, why did you pick running? 

Jeannie: Well, because there's a biggest reason. Skiing, we live in Ohio, there isn't much mountain. You have to go somewhere. I used to go to, Colorado and Utah, snowboard and, all that, Park City, and then you have to go somewhere, Montana. You gotta go somewhere to ski. You can only ski, couple three times a year.

I've d- gone to Jackson Hole, Wyoming many times. Running... Even when I went to ski, early in the morning I'll get up and go out, run five mile before lift up. Lift is up usually 9:00, and my friends all we'd, we always go with a group. So I'll get up early, at least five mile in, and then get ready first thing in the morning we go on the lift.

So one day, this is way, way back, we went to Aspen. I was training for marathon at the time, and we would ski for a week. [01:02:00] The day we're coming back it was in later afternoon. So people ski in the morning. They go first thing in the morning until noon, and then get ready to come back. But I choose to go out run.

I ran 20 mile in Aspen that morning. I got up while they're skiing, yeah. So the running was important to me as much as the skiing, but that morning it's only half day ski I'm missing, and then I got my 20 mile run in Aspen,

So

Kush: Yeah 

Jeannie: it, just to, you set your mind and you just go for. That's all.

Kush: No excuses. No excuses. 

Jeannie: Nope

Kush: Ginny, I believe scientists studied you and found that your VO2 max 

Jeannie: Mm-hmm

Kush: extraordinary for your age compared, and it was com- it was comparable to that of a much younger woman. 

Jeannie: Yeah

Kush: was your reaction when you heard that? [01:03:00] 

Jeannie: I said, "W- what's... Why is it? Why is it different? I never knew that." you wear, we wear Garmin, and then it tells you normally, but this is so wrong anyway. It shows 58, 58. A lot of people, friends said, "Oh, mine's at 48." But I never knew that if this was correct. When I ran a London marathon, this,study, young doctors at the, UK, they found that I was com- I think Andy Beaufort told him that I was coming to London.

They don't have a budget to bring people from somewhere else, put, pay for, but they knew I was gonna be in London marathon. I ran the London marathon. The Sunday I wasn't quite recovered. I told him I'm recovered, but normally you're done within, five days. This happened Friday, so they put me in the, the university hotel, and then they study in me, and then they, give me the result, [01:04:00] and they say my VO2 max was like a 25 years old, young.

I said, "How? How do I know? How... Why?" I have no idea why difference. I don't do any different than other people, but that was the result So I don't know. But I think they would like to do it again when I'm 80. that's been, three years ago already, two and a half years ago. So let's see if I'm still healthy enough to...

they can do whatever they want. I'll be happy to show up, if they wanna study me. it's just that they'll study anyway. they just like to see why is Jeannie Rice that age still running? Why is she beating men that age? If you look at it 30, 40, 50, 60, even up to 60 years old, there's no woman can beat man.

I'm talking about, let's say, 50 years old man, 50 years woman. There's no [01:05:00] way because 

Kush: true 

Jeannie: woman are not as, even overall, we're always little slower. But when you get that older, don't know. I beat all seven major... You know what major is, right? 

Kush: No, 

Jeannie: Boston, New York, Chicago, Berlin, London, Tokyo, and they add Sydney.

Used to be what they call six major. Those six major you get special, whatever, the medal and I didn't go for the medal, but I just wanted to do it all. And then Sydney was last year. All those seven major I beat my... I mean, I came in first of, first of all my age group, and then men division also.

Kush: All of them. all

of them you beat the men

Jeannie: Yeah

Kush: Do you find, do you find, do you find that the men are coming to [01:06:00] you now also to get advice, 

Jeannie: No, I really haven't. Amby's the only one really recognize, and he said, "Jeanne, y- you beating men," Amby Burfoot. And again, he was awesome runner. He, he won the Boston. But he's still running, but, which is incredible. He's, he just turned 80, and he ran Boston. And hopefully when I run Boston 1980, '70, 2028, I hope...

I told him, say we'll run together. And not that many can run as, men get older, but there's, more women run. So I don't know. He, yeah, he once told me, he said, "Men certain age, they, downhill." we all get that. Of course, we are 70 years old, we can't run like 25 years old. But the women are more gliding down.

But a lot of women quit running a marathon. I don't [01:07:00] know it's health or motivation. And i- it's not easy. It's not easy to run. Y- you can't just go 20 miles a week and go marathon. If you wanna do it right, you gotta increase the mileage. And people get hurt. knee hurts, whatever. This hurt, back hurts, whatever.

it, we all get older

Kush: You know, honestly, yeah, I think maybe people forget that you don't just run a marathon and do other things. Like, it's a daily practice. 

Jeannie: Yes. 

Kush: miles 

Jeannie: Yes 

Kush: week after week. 

Jeannie: Yep. 

Yep. 

Kush: mind-blowing. Do

Jeannie: You

Kush: do you find that something has changed with the way You

recover? 

Jeannie: Yep. Yeah,I know exactly what you mean. My girlfriend, from Debbie from Toledo, she called me, happened to call me la- last when I did 21 mile, and she goes, "Are you taking a nap?" I said, "No, I got too much going on." She goes... She [01:08:00] said, "Jeannie, when I run 20 miles, I take a two-hour nap." But I had no time for nap that day.

I was busy all day, and I had actually company over for dinner, like eight people. So I was in the kitchen all day on my feet cooking. So I don't get that. I don't get that, f- fatigue. I don't know, it's just natural or I don't know what I do, and I recover real fast. And even after the marathon, I know it's not good for you, I don't think.

I don't know if you read it, next day you're supposed to rest, and some coaches say take a week off. And I know my friends, some of our younger friends said, "Yeah, my coach said take a week off, recover." I don't. Next day I go out, run few miles. I think that recover fast for me. I'm just used to that for [01:09:00] 40 years.

I recover real quick. Yeah

Kush: Do you think it's genetic? Do you think it's some discipline? 

Jeannie: It could be. They're both. It could be genetic, but none of my family really run. I have a brother, has a eighth degree black belt, taekwondo. He's very active. he's, now, he's retired now. He used to have a, twen- 15 studio, Texas area. But he's in good shape, but he's not a runner. He may be great shape, but he doesn't have that endurance.

I think endurance comes with the training, don't you think? Yeah, it comes with the training somewhat. 'cause I train all the time. I've been running 40... This going on 44th year now. And actually

Kush: people, people when they put that kind of volume, they get injured. Like

Jeannie: that's number one. Yes. People run too many miles, [01:10:00] they get injured, and I consider myself very lucky and blessed. Yeah, I do. that's something I got, you know, and lucky, and I guess I'm good

Kush: you said something earlier about, you know, how you, how you're so self-aware. Like, you can s- scan. Do you think you have, like, some greater ability to scan yourself and know that, "Wait, wait a second, if I, if I wa- if I run another mile, I might, like, hurt myself and I should stop"? Like, do you have...

Have you developed some kind of, like, higher kinesthetic sense?

Jeannie: yeah. You have, you, you have to know when to stop. Sometimes I can go out and run marathon today, but you have to... I know I don't want to. I- you have to stop. Some day I feel great, I can run. I, like I said, sometimes I go, "I'm gonna go for six, seven mile." I come back with a 13, 15 mile because I feel good and I run, and then [01:11:00] next day I'll cut shorter.

So I can feel myself. And then some things, if you don't feel good, don't do it. It's not worth it, and then you push too hard, that's when you get hurt

Kush: Sure. you have, I think we can all learn to be more, uh, self-aware and know, you know, when we are simply feeling lazy 

Jeannie: But don't be baby, right? I don't... 

Kush: days 

Jeannie: I, I said, "Don't be so baby." And when people, "Oh, this hurts. This is so..." So just live with that. I tell them that. 

Kush: Yeah 

Jeannie: So some people can tolerate better than others, you know that. 

Kush: Yeah. 

Jeannie: My doctor said, "You can run as long as you can tolerate," when I first had a MRI. And one of my friends said, "That was very wrong to say to you, 'cause I know you can tolerate a lot."

So this friend of mine said. 

Kush: too. 

Jeannie: Yeah

Kush: Yes. Jeannie, what about, what about, [01:12:00] like, diet? Are, 

Jeannie: Oh yeah, 

Kush: kind, kind of foods that you find are better for you? 

Jeannie: Yeah, the diet, Kush, we grew up with the rice and the fish and vegetable. I never ate meat until much older. Never ate... I always ate rice and fish, and then vegetable. No meat until I came over this country, until I got much older. Today I do eat beef and little bit of a chicken. But yes, diet has a lot to do with the, So that's, my weight is always pretty much same, e- either I was high school or now, and, So when I gain like two, three pounds, that's when I gain five pounds, I want you to lose that. That's why, I start running. so I go up and down two, three pounds and, but diet-wise, I don't eat [01:13:00] sweets.

I just never liked it. I, it's not... We could have a like a chocolate or cookies or cakes, and it never... I'm not interested. It doesn't, interest me. But I'd rather have a grapes and, strawberry. I like fruit. We ate a lot of fruit when we grew up. I think that's a part of it. In Korea, we didn't have a sweet.

We ate a lot of fruit. So even you go to Korean restaurant here, if, not here, the, a restaurant, we don't have a good Korean restaurant, Cleveland. When you go there, after dinner, they bring piece of apple and then cut out oranges. That there's no cakes and ice creams on the menu. So that's probably part of it, too.

I don't eat sweet. I don't eat any fried food. No. Everything has to be baked or I love fish, [01:14:00] but fish fry I don't eat. It's a bake, grill. Yes. I, it just, because, not because weight, I just never liked it. 

Kush: Sure.

Jeannie: yeah. 

Kush: yeah. 

Jeannie: I love salad. I can eat salad every day. Green salad with, salmon would be my, best meal.

Mm-hmm.

Kush: Beautiful. And supplements 

Jeannie: I take now, I never did until maybe 10 years ago, until I got much older, I do take, calcium 

Kush: Okay 

Jeannie: vitamin D, which my doctor asked me I should take those, if I was taking. I said no. He said I should take it because as you get older, your bone... So calcium, vitamin, D, and I do take vitamin 12, and that's all.

I don't take... 

Kush: like, like creatine 

Jeannie: No, I do have the powder. 

Kush: Yeah 

Jeannie: once every o- once in a great while I make smoothie, then [01:15:00] I put scoop in there. I don't take, I, I wouldn't say I take it because just very seldom I do. 

Kush: Sure. 

Jeannie: I should

Kush: Yeah, sounds like just a lot of good, clean, wholesome eating 

Jeannie: Mm-hmm. 

Kush: decades

Jeannie: I do like nuts. I like, almond and I like peanuts and walnuts. Yeah, I do a handful. That'll be my snack. I don't eat chips and stuff like that, no. I just don't like it. It's not that I try not to, I just don't care for. Mm-hmm.

Kush: Jeannie, over 40 years of running and you started at 35. 

Jeannie: Mm-hmm.

Kush: Would that 35-year-old be surprised at how far come with the sport? 

Jeannie: Yeah, it's, it... I look back, my gosh, thank God I started. What if I didn't? What do I... I would still probably active [01:16:00] 'cause I used to go to, YMCA, did the Jazzercise and, and things like that. But w- if I didn't start running, I'd be probably skiing. But that's only winter sports, Certain things like a scuba dive, you have to go somewhere to do it. But every day, I don't know what would I do. I probably would do maybe walking. I don't know. Thank God I found the running, and that's a huge part of my life. Yeah, running is huge part of my life. I start with the running every day pretty much.

You know, and you asked me earlier how, if I run every day. I could run... I've done, two weeks in a row, but I do try to take the day off a week. There is... Yeah, I do. I won't... I don't run seven days a week anymore. I run s- six days a week, and if I do run 20 miler, I may take day off before so I can [01:17:00] get a decent, a quality 21 mile.

If I run hard, maybe I might take next day off and walk. But average, six days a week I run. Every week

Kush: That's incredible. And sound like, sound like you could run a seventh day too because you 

Jeannie: Yes, I could. I've done it many times, and all of a sudden I say, "Oh my gosh, I ran 20 day, 20 days straight. There's no day off." And then, yeah, I could. I don't really need a day off, but I force myself to take the day off

Kush: you know this dedication and this love for running, what has it given you besides the sport? 

Jeannie: Oh, you mean for besides

Kush: Yeah, so, so how has it... I'm 

Jeannie: Running

Kush: yeah, how has, how has running and racing, how has it shaped the kind of person you are? 

Jeannie: I learn a lot. Yes. The, it just gives [01:18:00] me the,life, I think, discipline, I would say. And then it gives, gave me a lot of... I learn a lot about people, and I met so many people from running, and all around the world actually. I go to London, I have, somebody, some friends. I go to Sydney, I find somebody.

And it's it's, it gives me, it's like running makes a small world to me. And before, where did you, how did you end up going all around the world? I've gone many different country because running. And then it just, the world became, very small, and we are all, running, runners are all pretty much same-minded.

A lot of people are. We all understand. So it just educate me a lot in my life. 

Kush: Jeannie, [01:19:00] Yeah

amazing. It really is a small world when you find the right people to do things with. Uh, last part of the conversation, what I like to call the ageless

Jeannie: oh. 

Kush: Is there something about growing older that scares you? 

Jeannie: No, not really. Only thing is I wishing and hoping and pray for, I wanna be healthy until... You know what? I, as a joke, I tell them many times, I like to be able to run the marathon and drop dead. I couldn't be that blessed. I think that's what I would like. That means I like to stay healthy until whatever the day come.

But that doesn't mean I will. Maybe I will not, but that's my pray for. I like to be able to be healthy enough to run all the way until I die. But [01:20:00] death never scare me at all. We all gonna go, right? I don't care who that is. I tell everybody, my friends, we have all limit. Do you ever see 110 years old still living?

120 years? No. But I know I'm getting closer than most people. So I have to just live full, fullest. That's what I'm trying to do

Kush: Yeah. No, you, you really are full of positivity. Jeannie, what is... Okay, running is so central to your day, 

Jeannie: Mm-hmm

Kush: you know, it brings you joy. What is one thing besides running, what, one simple thing that you do that brings you a lot of happiness? 

Jeannie: Oh, I socialize a lot. I do socialize a lot. we meet with the friends for lunch, and we meet, dinner plan, together, group dinner together. We do that a lot actually, at least once a week. And I, [01:21:00] this week already went out three times, which is more than too much. We did Sunday and Tuesday and last night we went out with the friends for dinner.

but it just, when I'm not running and I'm still busy with the talking to people and go out with the friends, and we walk a lot too in the afternoon and we call each other, "Hey, it's a beautiful day. You wanna go for a walk?" And we do that. And this afternoon we're gonna take a ride because it's beautiful right now.

It's a fall color. The tree changes, so we're gonna go out to country. We're gonna drive around this afternoon because we don't really have any plan tonight, today after I talk to you. So we're gonna do that, and w- we just keep ourself busy constantly. And then we have to get ready to go to, Athens. And then after that we s- close this place down and we'll go to Florida.

So we're busy. 

Kush: Yeah 

Jeannie: then I'm [01:22:00] planning which one should we do, which, trip next, So keep ourself busy

Kush: Yeah, your excitement is like... I'm sorry, but it, it's like a teenager. I, I, I'm speaking to you and I'm like, I'm speaking to somebody my age or younger. I- it's, it's, it's amazing. I love it. 

Jeannie: Yeah

Kush: Jeannie, 

what do, 

what do you think society gets wrong about aging? 

Jeannie: I think that it's getting better. I think s- society's getting, we can live longer and healthier, so we might as well stay healthy until we go. We all, like I said before, we're not, we're all gonna go, so why go when you're, unhealthy? So start it out with a little bit, better diet.

I think that's important, don't you think? I think what you eat, it is pretty important. You gotta n- nutrition is, important. And do [01:23:00] exercise. It doesn't have to be running. It can be walking, and it could be just a little bit movement. And, we might as well stay healthy until we go. So I think when you do that, it's helping your family.

When you're healthy, actually you are helping your family. They don't have to take care of you. 

Kush: Yes. 

Jeannie: it's all good for everybody. I tell my kids all the time, " Aren't you glad you don't have to worry about Mom? 

Kush: Yes. Yes. 

Jeannie: going this, doing this. they don't have to... They do call once a week to make sure we're okay.

So it's helping your family as well when you are healthy. So it's not just, like I said, not running. You do, climbing and, my kids like to hike. they do instead of running, I think, which is great. It's all outdoor exercise and keep yourself healthy each day, every day. And age gonna catch up, but you still have to [01:24:00] fight for that.

because age, "Oh, I'm too old to do this or too..." No, there's no ages too old for anything if you like to do it. I also say just Nike, just do it, right?

Kush: Yeah. excellent point that staying healthy is important not just for one's own, yeah, one's own life, but also for your family and also for society 

Jeannie: Yes. Yes 

Kush: Last question, Ginny, which is What does the term ageless mean to you personally? 

Jeannie: Ageless 

Kush: Yes. 

Jeannie: to me, 

Kush: Yes 

Jeannie: I don't know it's a right answer or not. Ageless mean to me is we do what I do, what I have to do for me. age is just, it's just nothing. Age is not... It catch up on us, but you can't... I would, I don't worry about the age. Each [01:25:00] year we get different number, age, but ageless is just for me, what I have to do, take care of myself.

You have to take care of yourself first before you can take care of others