92-year-old Cancer Survivor Finishes Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon

SAN DIEGO – A 92-year-old cancer survivor has become the oldest woman to finish a marathon in San Diego at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon on May 31, 2015.

Harriette Thompson of Charlotte, North Carolina, completed 29.2 miles with a time of 7 hours, 7 minutes and 42 seconds, beating the previous record for a woman 90 or older by more than an hour and a half.

“What made it possible? Well, I guess the fact that I did have a little training before,” Thompson said When asked by NBC San Diego what contributed to her success “I’ve done it before. So I thought if I did it before, maybe I can do it again.”

A two-time cancer survivor,Thompson began running at the age of 76 and has raised more than $100,000 for charity in over 15 years. Thompson ran The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Sunday to raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and for her son, a captain in the Navy, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.

Thompsons new record breaks the one set by Gladys Burrill, who ran the 2010 Honolulu Marathon at the age of 92 years and 19 days. Thompson, who is nearly three months older than Burrill, has no plans on slowing down and looks forward to her next marathon.

“I’m really pleased I can get through it,” she said.