Joy Johnson, age 86, at her 25th consecutive NYC Marathon

Joy Johnson, the next day on the Today show

She didn’t begin running until retiring from teaching at age 56. When a friend suggested they attempt the 1988 New York City Marathon, a passion was born.

“When I crossed that finish line in Central Park, I just knew this is what I would do the rest of my life,” Johnson said. “Running makes you feel good. It’s energizing. You sleep better at night. And the best part for me is you can eat anything you want.”

“I’ll be at the back of the pack, but I don’t mind,” she said. “I just praise the Lord I can get out of bed each morning and run. A lot of people my age are in wheelchairs.”

“What’s keeping us going right now is that she was doing what she loved,” Boydston (her daughter) said Tuesday. “She wanted to die with her running shoes on, and she did.”

Happy Running! Do you know anyone else as inspiring as Joy?