Scott Mersiowsky and coach Ann Alyanak continue to defy Father Time. This past week at the Richmond Half Marathon Scott ran a lifetime best of 1:19:32 and finished 3rd in the 45-49 age group. [Full results] If you check out Scott’s Athlinks data you have to go back 13 years to 2002 to find his previous best for a half marathon (1:20:11). That’s incredible!
The man turns 50 in January yet he’s still improving after 14 years of competitive running on the local masters circuit. This isn’t a guy who always ran but just started training seriously a few years ago. Scott has been trying to compete at the best of ability for well over a decade now. And he’s not just doing this in longer races, which is conventional wisdom for an older runner. If you look at 2002 he also ran 17:09 for 5k. Just a few weeks ago he ran 17:29 and his 5k time has continued to get faster this year too.
Thanks again for matching me up with Ann. I had no idea I could get faster at 49 years old and my 50th coming up in January. Ann is frickin fantastic!! – Scott
Cheers to Scott and Ann for such mind-bending success and the inspiration to keep giving it our best out there!