But that hasn't stopped Hemphill from continuing to train to the best of his ability. After all, in his illustrious masters career, he's racked up world records, hundreds of road races, and even some viral fame. Not bad for a near-centenarian who is still a relative newcomer to running.
Hemphill's athletic pursuits date back to his days at Middlebury College, where he enrolled in 1946 following a three-year stint as a U.S. Navy officer during World War II. At Middlebury, the Pawcatuck, Connecticut, native won the College decathlon and earned a bronze medal in the pole vault at the Millrose Games in 1949. After graduating, however, Hemphill put sports aside in favor of raising a family and furthering his career in the boiler industry. As his four children-and later, nine grandchildren-became the focus of his life, his fitness largely fell off.
But then, in his 50s, Hemphill began getting the competitive itch again. He started out by racing a mile for fun at a local meet. Months later, after some consistent training, he anchored a team to victory in a 20-kilometer relay race. From that point forward, Hemphill had a new passion. "I got a medal and thought, 'Well, this is fun. That was 50 years ago, and I've been running ever since."
Find friends who will fuel you / To feed his running fix, Hemphill joined the Potomac Valley Track Club (PVTC), a running club in the Washington, D.C., area, in 1972. Since then, Hemphill has regularly trained with the team and competed in hundreds of road races, like the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, and ran 12 marathons, earning a 3:44 PR at age 70. Hemphill also competed in triathlons-finishing 60 in his career-but in the last 20 years, he has focused primarily on shorter distances.
Denne historien er fra Issue 04, 2022-utgaven av Runner's World US.
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Denne historien er fra Issue 04, 2022-utgaven av Runner's World US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Twenty-One Years Ago, He Incarcerated Was for Life. Last Year, He Ran the NYC Marathon a Radically Changed Man.
Rahsaan Thomas rounded a corner.
100 WOMEN. 100 MILES. ONE HISTORIC RECORD.
On June 3, 2023, a group of 100 women came together to reclaim the 100x1-mile relay world record. | It reminded her of what she loved about running in the first place: a tight-knit community of women.
CAN YOUR GARMIN WATCH REPLACE A COACH?
Artificial Intelligence continues to rapidly creep into seemingly every facet of our daily lives. While no amount of computer learning will ever be able to do the actual running for you, there are aspects, like coaching, where AI could have a meaningful impact. In every debate about Al, the conversation almost always includes this question: Is it better than what humans can accomplish? In the case of running, would Coach AI be better than, say, Ed Eyestone, a two-time Olympian and coach of Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, the top two men at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February?
A SHORTLIVED AFFAIR WITH A WALKING BOOT
“Usually, engage in all kinds of activities when start a relationship. With you, Fiking, dancing, and running are clearly of the table.”
HOW TO (NOT) COMPETE WITH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER
Our first race together was a 5K Color Run. I'm not sure why we signed up, because neither of us was a runner, but in May 2016, my boyfriend of three years, Jonathan, and I showed up to run around the parking lot at Citi Field. It was fun, but I didn't think it would amount to anything.
GAMIFY TRAINING TO MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU
Instead of sticking to an iron-clad structure and numbers, I've tailored it to what motivates me, borrowing from the community around me and learning from their training.
THIS KITCHEN GADGET IS AN UNHERALDED TRAINING TOOL
Not only would the rice cooker help me meal-prep and pile on the carbs, but it was a badge of honor, a commitment to serious training.
REASONS TO RACE BEYOND CHASING A TIME GOAL
It's the determination, joy, and pride I see shine on everyone-a unique light that seems to illuminate most when running races-that brings more meaning to the miles.
A LIFETIME JOURNEY OF FUELING MISTAKES
DURING THE 2023 New York City Marathon, Runner's World set up shop in an empty storefront on West 57th Street with Adidas and hosted three days of inspiring talks, shakeout runs, and shoe demos.
THE ACCIDENTAL JOY OF RUNNING WITHOUT HEADPHONES
I'M FUMING. I rummage through my work tote, turn my workout bag inside out, lift every notebook on my desk, go through the pockets of every piece of clothing in my zone of vision, then my tote again... It's 5 p.m. I'm standing in the middle of the office dressed for a run, but my AirPods are nowhere to be found-and I can't possibly leave without them!
