96-year-old breaks U.S. age group record in the mile

Mike Fremont. Stud.

The 96 year-old ran the Grand Blue Mile in 13:55.82 tonight in downtown #DSMUSA. Incredible! ???#GBM2018 #MyDrakeRelays pic.twitter.com/Bb6OQCbldL

— Drake Relays (@DrakeRelays) April 25, 2018

Mike Fremont is a lifelong runner who seems determined to keep running until he draws his last breath – but don’t count on that being any time soon. Fremont, who turned 96 on February 23, set a new American age record in the mile at the Grand Blue Mile road race in Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, as part of the Drake Relays. His time was 13:55.82. And he’s going after a new record in the 800m on Friday.

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In this era of people accomplishing extraordinary things at advanced ages, Fremont’s record recalls Canada’s own Ed Whitlock, whose many records will likely stand for a very long time.

Fremont set single-age world records in the marathon at age 80 and age 90 (his time in the marathon at age 90 was 6:37), and then decided to settle for similar records in the half-marathon at age 90 and 91.

The current 800m world record for the 95-plus age category has stood since Herb Kirk ran 6:02.94, in 1991.

Retired from his job as a mechanical engineer since 1988, Fremont still runs 10 miles three times a week. He also spends a lot of time canoeing–canoe marathons, naturally. He has run the Boston Marathon “16 or so” times, as he told Trail Runner magazine in an interview in March. 

When asked when and why he started running, Fremont refers to a difficult period in his life after his first wife died in 1958, leaving him with three young children. “I took up running after work instead of a martini before supper,” he says. The habit stuck, and his children are also runners. Fremont also attributes his longevity and excellent health to his vegan diet. 

With all the attention his accomplishment has received, he will surely have a rapt audience at Drake Stadium for the 800m tomorrow.