These Runners Prove You're Never Too Old

They all have plenty of reasons not to run. Brain tumor surgery, sleep apnea, liver failure. Age.

"Anyone can make excuses," explains Richard Irons, 75.

But they don't. They get up and run, several times a week. And they race.

Irons qualified for the Boston Marathon twice in recent years and is training for Tulsa's Route 66 Marathon. He placed second in last year's Tulsa Run among men ages 70-74. This year, he'll race in the 75-79 age group (which had only eight competitors in 2008).

"I'm no great athlete; God has just blessed me to keep going," Irons said. He didn't start running until he was 65 and recovering from brain tumor surgery.

Grace McCoy, 62, won her age group at last year's Tulsa Run. She's the group's oracle of running wisdom, as she's been running since the 1960s. She runs every day, first with her springer spaniels and then on her own or with her training buddies.

"God gives us all special talents," she said. "I was born running, I guess."

And running has helped keep her alive. She suffered liver failure in 1986, and doctors sent her home and told her she had three months to live, she said. She's been able to avoid a transplant so far, and doctors have told her they believe it's because of her devotion to a healthy diet and exercise.