As ultrarunning grew in popularity, O’Grady witnessed changes in the sport that she had never imagined. She says, “We never had pacers. We never had crews. You carried everything on your back. You didn’t have any drop bags. It was just so different.”
Despite the changes, O’Grady has embraced the evolution of the sport. She says, “Now, I get to have a crew. I get to have pacers. I get to have drop bags. I get to have all of these things that people never had before. It’s so much easier.”
On the growth of ultrarunning, O’Grady reflects, “It’s fun to see how the sport has evolved and how the quality of runners has improved.” She adds, “I’m so impressed with these young people coming into the sport, and I’m glad to see it flourish.”
Setting World Records
After turning 75 in 2023, O’Grady decided to take advantage of her age and set her sights on breaking some world records. She says, “I was looking at the records and I thought, ‘I can do that.’”
She trained specifically for the 50-mile, 100k, and 100-mile distances, as well as for 12 hours and 24 hours. O’Grady says, “I was very focused. I didn’t do a lot of long runs, I did a lot of back-to-backs. I think that was key for me.”
Her hard work paid off when she set five women’s 75-to-79 age-group world records in 2023. O’Grady says, “It was amazing. I felt fantastic during all of them, and I was so happy when they were done.”
Looking back on her accomplishments, O’Grady says, “I never thought I would be setting world records at my age. It just goes to show that you don’t have to get faster, you just have to get older.”
O’Grady continues to inspire runners of all ages with her incredible achievements and her dedication to the sport of ultrarunning. As she proves, age is just a number, and anything is possible with hard work and determination.
Janice O’Grady crossing the finish line at the 2024 North Fork 50k.
It’s not like they’ve been running their whole lives. They’re just doing something they enjoy, and they’re doing it well.”
O’Grady’s advice for longevity in the sport is simple: “Listen to your body. If you’re tired, rest. If you’re not feeling good, take a day off. Don’t be afraid to rest.” She also emphasizes the importance of strength training and cross-training to stay healthy and injury-free.
As for her own future in running, O’Grady says, “I’m going to keep going as long as I can. I’m not going to stop running until I have to, and I hope that’s not for a while.”
She continues to set goals for herself, whether it’s breaking more age-group records or just enjoying the trails and the community that have meant so much to her over the years. And with her passion and determination, there’s no doubt that O’Grady will continue to inspire and amaze others in the ultrarunning world for years to come.
Entonces, parece que les va mejor en sus 70 que a aquellos de nosotros que empezamos antes.
O’Grady ya no hace una carrera larga semanal, espaciando el intervalo entre esfuerzos grandes a 10 días en lugar de siete. También sigue siendo una corredora de bajo kilometraje y dice: “Si no tengo una carrera próxima y es una semana sin una carrera larga, tal vez solo corra 15 millas”. Pero eso no significa que O’Grady esté sentada el resto del tiempo, “Tengo mis entrenamientos de fuerza de dos horas y media. Me mantengo bastante en forma”.
Ella sabe que ha disminuido su velocidad con los años y dice que la broma continua entre sus compañeros es, “Sigues corriendo como siempre, pero hay algo mal con el reloj porque el tiempo es muy lento”. Pero no está molesta por los tiempos más lentos, diciendo: “Me encanta estar ahí afuera, y si soy más lenta, puedo estar ahí afuera por más tiempo”.
La mayoría de las personas con las que solía correr O’Grady se han retirado del deporte. Pero cada mes, aquellos que pueden intentan tener una videollamada por Zoom para ponerse al día, y O’Grady dice que cada año en la Western States 100, “Muchos de los viejos amigos todavía se reúnen en Foresthill [un pueblo ubicado en la milla 62 de la carrera] por la tarde para ver pasar a los corredores”.
O’Grady tiene varias carreras próximas, incluyendo 3 Days at the Fair en Nueva Jersey, donde espera recuperar su récord mundial de 24 horas, el único que fue superado este año. Ella dice sobre correr y competir a los 76 años, “Disfruto estar ahí afuera, y puedo hacerlo, y es porque lo amo. Seguiré haciéndolo mientras pueda”.
Llamado a Comentarios
¿Has visto a Janice O’Grady en acción? ¡Cuéntanos tus historias sobre ella!
¿Eres un corredor mayor? ¿Cuáles son tus consejos para la longevidad?