Much of the content on The Drive is related to living longer through healthy habits, disease prevention, and cutting-edge geroscience. However, the whole point of living longer becomes inconsequential if you are not physically and mentally fit enough to enjoy the final decade of your life – what I refer to as your “marginal decade.” What constitutes enjoyment in these years will be unique to each one of us; it could mean being healthy enough to continue world travel, or simply being able to get up and down from the floor to play with the young children in your life. This week, we’re spotlighting several exceptional people in their 80s, 90s, and beyond who inspire us by showing what is possible in these later decades of life.
The late-in-life marathoner
In December 2022, Mathea Allansmith became the oldest woman to complete a marathon at the age of 92 years and 194 days. She finished the Honolulu Marathon in 11 hours, 19 minutes, and 49 seconds. While that feat alone is impressive, it is all the more so when we learn that running was not a lifelong passion for Allansmith. The now-retired ophthalmologist began running at the age of 46, building up from running two miles daily to running in the Boston Marathon six years later in 1982. Allansmith credits her longevity in the sport to a few universal principles: find the physical activity you enjoy and be consistent in doing it, eat nutritious foods, and take life one day (or sometimes one step) at a time.
The adventurer
Not unlike running a marathon, climbing the tallest mountains in the world requires both physical and mental stamina. In 2003, Yuichiro Miura became the oldest person to climb Mount Everest at age 70, but he hardly rested on his laurels. Miura proceeded to break his own record for the feat twice – first in 2008 at age 75, and finally on May 23, 2013 at 80 years and 223 days old, the world record that stands today. At the time of his 2013 summit, Miura expressed the goal of climbing Everest again at age 90, which would have been in 2023, though subsequent illness and development of a lingering numbness in his limbs has prevented him from doing so. Even still, these concerns did not keep him grounded altogether. At 90 years of age, he reached the summit of Mt Fuji, the tallest peak in Japan, facilitated by a support team and a special wheelchair meant for mountain climbing. Even though Miura has made it to the mountaintop many times, he still expresses awe at the experience and the beauty of the view.
The legend
The longest-standing active rider of the Motor Maids, a North American women’s motorcycle club, is a legend in the world of motorcycling. Gloria Tramontin Struck’s family was in the business of selling motorcycles, but it was only by her brother’s insistence that she learned to ride at the age of 16, a skill that she found could facilitate her love of travel. As you can imagine, in 1941 there was quite a stigma for female motorcyclists, but she persevered and has now ridden more than 700,000 miles in her 83 years of riding, including riding in the Alps at age 75. Tramontin turned 99 this past July and isn’t slowing down just yet. She’s hoping to do another cross-country ride from New Jersey to California next year for her 100th birthday.
The 90-year-old astronaut
On May 19, 2024, Ed Dwight became the oldest person to fly in space at the age of 90 years, 8 months, and 10 days. Dwight, a US Air Force captain who had been the first African American in the Aerospace Research Pilot School for astronaut training, had never been selected for a space flight in the 1960s. After retiring from the Air Force, Ed became a well-known artist and sculptor, and it seemed as though the dream of going to space would remain just that – a dream. However, the aerospace manufacturer Blue Origin offered Dwight the chance to make that dream come true in the form of a short, sub-orbital flight to the edge of space before returning to Earth. When reflecting on the experience, Ed said, “I thought I didn’t need this in my life, but I lied. I really did need it.” This just goes to show that opportunities can come along at any age – we just have to be ready for them when they arrive.
The surf Betty
Several months ago, I came across this video of Nancy Meherne from New Zealand, a surfer who sums up her approach to life as “You gotta have fun!” – and her joie de vivre is infectious. Nancy may not be setting world records, but she is nevertheless a very impressive lady who proves that living your best marginal decade is all about maintaining the capacity to engage in the activities that bring you happiness. For Meherne, that meant growing “just about every kind of vegetable that she can eat,” teaching music, riding her bike, dancing to the radio, and getting out to surf at age 91. How many people do you know in their 90s who could independently carry a surfboard, walk on a sandy beach, and get in the water (not to mention getting into and out of a wetsuit, which on its own requires a fair amount of mobility)? Sadly, Nancy passed at age 93 in the summer of 2022, but she remains an inspiration as someone who lived exceptionally well up until the last days of her life, remaining active and delighting in the joys of daily life.
The bottom line
Hopefully, it is abundantly clear that traveling to space or running a marathon is in no way required to have your best marginal decade. All of these inspiring individuals are living extraordinary lives in older age by staying active, having goals, connecting with nature, eating healthfully, and continuing to challenge themselves – concepts that everyone can implement. While it is impossible to know exactly when your marginal decade will begin, imagining what your ideal life might look like at any age can be motivating to start building the foundation for that life today.
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