28/11/2025
96-year-old Shintaro Okuyama — Japan’s oldest certified marathon finisher🏃 🇯🇵
At age 96, Okuyama completed the Ibusuki Nanohana Marathon, crossing the line in 8:43:46 — and earning the title of Japan’s oldest certified marathon finisher since 2004.
He first laced up running shoes at 49, after feeling breathless just 300 meters into a local race. Instead of giving up, he started running daily — and turned that habit into a lifetime journey covering decades of miles through rain, hills, and everyday life.
During the marathon, icy rain and clutching cold didn’t stop him. Okuyama ran short bursts alternated with walking breaks to conserve energy. His goal wasn’t time — it was simply to keep moving forward. The crowd cheered as 96-year-old crossed the finish, wrapped in a thermal blanket.
Today, at 97, he’s still active — hiking uphill paths, buying groceries up slopes, cooking meals for himself and his 91-year-old wife, and even running 10 km every few days. His secret? Simple living: homemade food, steady sleep, and a running form he taught himself.
Huge respect!👏