100 Year-Old Dude Runs Marathon. Fat Americans Confused.

Fauja Singh just ran a marathon. He’s 100 years old. I, along with the other cheese-product covered, beer-swilling Americans are absolutely confounded. How is he even alive, or at least not confines to bombing around Walmart in one of those sweet motorized carriages?

Here’s how.

io9:

Saturday, Fauja Singh became the oldest person to ever complete a full-distance marathon when he finished the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in just over 8 hours, 25 minutes (and no, he didn’t finish in last place).

The British runner, who turned 100 back in April, chalks his success up to “not smoking or drinking alcohol, staying positive – and eating ginger curry,” but experts in geriatric medicine say that, at least in Mr. Singh’s case, there’s likely a lot more at work than healthy living alone.

“He is obviously a highly exceptional person. Marathons are a major stresser on your body. At the age of 100 most people are concentrating on 10 yards rather than a marathon,” said Dr. Sharon Brangman, chair of the American Geriatric Society.

“He is definitely a unique individual – not like any patient I have ever taken.”