‘Japan’s oldest runner’ finishes a full marathon at grand age of 96　

YOKOHAMA--Meet the marathon man.

Shintaro Okuyama entered the record books when he crossed the finish line in the Ibusuki Nanohana Marathon held in Ibusuki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Jan. 12 with a time of eight hours, 43 minutes and 46 seconds.

It wasn’t because he was first or anything. It was because the Yokohama native was 96 years old at the time. 

Jogging has been part of Okuyama’s daily routine for the past 48 years, half of his life.

According to the R-bies Sports Foundation, which tracks data on fun sports activities, Okuyama, now 97, is the oldest person in Japan to have completed a certified marathon in or after 2004.

The fun run is famed for its course that crosses areas with sprawling yellow carpets of “nanohana” field mustard. It has been held more than 40 times.

Braving pelting rain peppered with ice pellets, Okuyama ran in short bursts of about 200 meters and then walked for a while to save energy.

His goal was to keep going, so he didn’t dare look at his watch.

He was met with loud applause when he finished the marathon while wearing a thermal blanket handed by a member of the event’s staff.

“It was hard, but I could move forward,” the near centenarian said.

He was taken by his daughter to a gymnasium where he lay on the floor to recover.

There was nothing physically wrong with him. Okuyama was just exhausted, so he had a bowl of porridge for supper and bathed in a hot spring at a traditional ryokan inn.

BEGINNER AT 49

Okuyama was born in 1928 and grew up in the port city of Yokohama.

He started working as a paperboy when he was a fourth-year elementary school student to support the family budget. He delivered morning and evening editions to 120 households in his neighborhood and collected payments from the subscribers.

He was pressed into military service at age 15, working at a factory in the city to produce machine guns mounted on fighter planes.

During a June 1945 air raid, a bomb exploded about 400 meters away. He felt the shockwave on his cheeks.

After World War II, he started working at an architectural firm through the help of a friend and later became an architect.

He doesn’t drink or smoke, but he has a sweet tooth.

Okuyama took up jogging when he was 49 by taking part in a 1,500-meter race at a local athletic meet.

He ran out of breath after 300 meters or so due to his previous lack of exercise and had to give up.

“I fell on my back on the school ground,” he recalled.

Feeling frustrated and ashamed, Okuyama got into the ritual of a daily run in his neighborhood.

He enjoyed climbing up the ranks each year and attended marathon events held in and outside the city, going from running 5-kilometer races to 10 km and beyond.

He has never received professional training, and his running form is self-taught.

Okuyama attributed his lack of injuries to practice

“I kept practicing. If you want to build up stamina to get through practice, all you can do is practice.”

In recent months, Okuyama has slowed down and runs 10 km in areas with slopes once every three days.

EATING WELL

The fact that his house is located atop a slope is also a plus when it comes to exercise.

Okuyama shops at a supermarket 400 meters from home every day. Because of the 20-meter height difference, the return journey with a shopping bag entails an uphill climb.

He says it is good muscle training.

Okuyama also watches his diet carefully.

For breakfast, he eats a slice of bread spread with margarine and honey, a boiled egg and a bowl of yogurt topped with banana and kiwi fruit.

For lunch and supper, he might cook Hamburg steak, perhaps curry, sweet and sour pork, or “tonjiru” (miso soup with pork and vegetables) for himself and his wife Tami, 91. He is skilled at a range of other dishes, too.

He bathes daily and sleeps soundly at least eight hours, although he wake up once to go to the toilet.

Okuyama says he is blessed to have lived a long and healthy life, which he attributes to a virtuous cycle created by his running routine, which helps him maintain a healthy appetite and stamina and a proper sleep at night.

Okuyama retired as an architect when he was 82 and lives with Tami in a house he designed.

“I support his marathon efforts, but I’m worried he might fall to the ground or get into an accident before he comes home,” she said.

Tami added she is greatly relieved every time she hears her husband say “I’m home” at the entrance.

Okuyama intends to keep running in marathons if he is able. He always consults with his family first.

“I find it demanding soon after I start running, but it’s exhilarating when I finish,” he said, before adding with a smile, “I want to complete (a full marathon) in seven and a half hours when I’m 98.”