'I Feel Younger': 88-Year-Old Completes 12th Athens Marathon

November 12, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Athens, Greece.

88-year-old Ploutarchos Pourliakas crossed the finish line at the 41st Athens Marathon on Sunday, proving once again that age is no match for determination.

88 year old marathon runner Ploutarchos Pourliakas
Ploutarchos Pourliakas / ABS-CBN News

This marathon, known as "The Authentic," is steeped in history, tracing the steps of the ancient Athenian messenger Phiedippides, who ran from the battlefield of Marathon over 2,500 years ago to bring news of victory.

Pourliakas completed the grueling course in 6 hours and 31 minutes—a personal best, finishing 18 minutes faster than last year.

Pourliakas’ journey as a marathon runner began at the age of 73, inspired by his son, an ultramarathon runner. Since then, he has defied expectations and surprised many who find it hard to believe that an octogenarian could still be racing.

"Why wouldn’t you believe it?" he asks with a smile. "We all can do it—as long as we want to."

For Pourliakas, the secret lies in both mental and physical training. “The mind has to agree with what you're doing,” he says, emphasizing that a strong mindset is just as crucial as a strong body.

Pourliakas runs about three miles daily and avoids smoking, heavy drinking, and late nights.

“I’ve never smoked. I don’t indulge in excesses, I don’t drink, I don’t stay up late. I eat in a balanced way, everything but in moderation. However, I do have a little tsipouro (local drink) every day not as a drink, but as a medicine”, he told Reuters.

Pourliakas’ achievement serves as an inspiring reminder that it’s never too late to start something new. "I feel younger than my 88 years," he reflects, smiling after his latest marathon finish.

Watch the video below!