Buster Martin - 101 year old Marathon runner
November 9, 2007 — planetultramarathonRecieved from Tony Mangan
I’M RUNNING MARATHON AT AGE OF 101
EXCLUSIVE Buster’s record bid
Plucky Buster Martin is taking time out from work to train for the London Marathon - aged 101.
The dad of 17 is determined to become the oldest man to complete the gruelling 26.2-mile run.
War veteran Buster, who plays in a rock band when he’s not at work cleaning vans, said: “It’s about time someone my age did the marathon. It will be a record, though I’m not doing it for that. I just want to show that old people can do things.”
He added modestly: “I would like to be able to do it in three-and-a-half hours - but then I don’t run as fast as I used to.”
Buster, who completed the 10km Great London Run in 2hrs 22mins this June, will prepare for next April’s marathon by running near his home in Vauxhall, south London.
He vowed: “Every Saturday and Sunday morning I will be up at 5.30am to jog.
“You have got to keep your knees from freezing up - and a couple of pints to grease them up could be called for.”
He will be running to raise money for the Rhys Daniels Trust, which provides a “home from home” for parents of children having treatment for life-threatening illnesses.
Great-grandfather Buster’s geriatric band The Zimmers - combined age of over 3,000 years - reached No28 in the singles chart in May with a cover of The Who’s My Generation. Buster, who puts his long life down to a daily pint of bitter and “good red meat” rather than cheese or fish, started work in London’s markets when he was 10.
He was in the Army during the Second World War, rising to regimental sergeant major.
Buster’s wife of 35 years, Irana, died in 1955.
He worked in the markets until he was 97. Buster got bored with retirement and landed a job cleaning plumbers’ vans three times a week.
He said: “I will only give up when they put me in a wooden box.”
Charlie Mullins, boss of Pimlico Plumbers, said: “Buster is a great asset to the company and everyone looks up to him.”
Please consider making a donation - 24hrs for Legacy
April 13, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Did he finish the race?
April 14, 2008 at 2:14 am
I see he finished in 7h and 33m…Interesting that doubts are now surfacing about his real age. He may only be 94
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3740118.ece
April 14, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Well done Buster. So glad you finished the race and we dont really care how old you are Its still a great achievement.
April 16, 2008 at 8:09 pm
It is a great that he ran the race, I don’t care if he is 94 or a 101, with obesity running rampant in soceity today my hat is off to him! I beleive he is an inspiration to those who “can’t” get in shape.
April 18, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Wish I could run that far and I’m only 70! well done Buster you are keeping the flag flying for all us oldies.
April 25, 2008 at 11:18 am
I literally love you man . last year I finished in 4 hr and 45 m and I’m just 22 . I will definitely put your totem carved on rock on my shelf for good
May 2, 2008 at 6:29 am
Amazing, trivializing the details is besides the point, I work in a nursing home and many of its patients are under 70 and need assistance to get out of bed, much less control their bowel movements. ‘A pint a day, red meat, and a bit of jogging’, got it.
June 29, 2008 at 12:08 pm
what an inspiration, I saw Buster’s achievement and was blown away.. so what is aging? From Buster’s story it is a state of mind… keep dreaming and keep moving it. It is so true when they say “use it or lose it’.