FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
"THE COUNTDOWN"
DON LANG OF GLENDALE CALIFORNIA WILL CELEBRATE COMPLETION OF HIS
400TH MARATHON/ULTRA AND
HIS 71ST BIRTHDAY AT THE SAN FRANCISCO MARATHON ON JULY 31, 2005
His first official marathon was the same San Francisco Marathon, 13 years
ago on August 30, 1992, at age 58. Since then he has averaged more than 30
marathon/ultra completions per year, or about 3 events per month.
•On Sunday July 10, 2005, he completed his 399th marathon at the inaugural
SEAFAIR Marathon in Bellevue WA. He won 2nd place in the 70-74 year age
group. This was his 19th marathon/ultra completion so far in 2005, and his
33rd marathon/ultra completion since turning 70 last July.
•On Saturday June 25, 2005, he completed his 398th marathon at the
Pacific Crest Marathon in Sunriver Oregon. He won 1st place in the 70-74
year age group.
•On Sunday June 12, 2005, he completed his 396th marathon at the
inaugural Lake Placid Marathon in New York. He was one of the featured
runners, honored with Bib #1, and won 1st place in the 70-74 year age group
in 90+ degree weather.
•On Monday May 30, 2005, he completed his 394th marathon at the Lakeshore
Marathon in Chicago. He won 1st place in the Over 70 year age group.
•On Sunday May 1, 2005, he completed his 392nd marathon at the Frederick
Marathon in Maryland. He was one of the featured runners and won 1st
place in the 70-74 year age group.
He has completed 67 marathon/ultra events outside the U.S.A. in 41
countries, including 21 in Canada (at least one in each province and
territory); 8 in Australia (one in each state and territory); at least one
in each of 24 European countries and in places like Greenland, Iceland,
Tahiti, New Zealand, Jamaica, Malta, Cyprus, Panama Canal, Curacao,
Cozumel, Svalbard (Spitsbergen), Cape Town, Belfast City, and Mt
Kilimanjaro in Tanzania Africa (after climbing the 19,340 foot mountain).
He has completed 39 ultra distance events (about 10% of his total)
including the 100 mile ultra in the Himalayan mountains of India and Nepal
at 13,000 feet and the 36 mile ultra up 10,000 foot Mt Haleakala in Maui
Hawaii. "I've completed 36 ultras in the U.S.A. in 30 states, 3 were
completed outside the U.S.A." he said.
In 2002, during his 10th consecutive year of running, he ran the Boston
Marathon. It was his 300th different (unrepeated) marathon/ultra event
worldwide (see his finishing time in the 2002 "Official Racers' Record
Book"). "That year was a big one for me," Lang says, "I was the featured
'older and slower' runner in the Budapest Hungary Marathon, the Bermuda
Marathon, and the Santiago Chile Marathon. I was also the featured runner
in the 2nd running of the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon."
He has completed at least 4 marathons/ultras in every state (all certified)
and 4 marathons/ultra in Washington DC (also certified), and is almost done
completing a 5th event in every state and WDC. "I'm the first and only
person so far, to complete my first 3 marathons/ultras in every state + DC
without repeating any, and all are certified," says Lang. At this date
(July 11, 2005), he has completed 263 different (unrepeated) marathons in
the U.S.A. (299 including ultras) and has repeated only 33 events.
"I've completed all these events and never been hurt or injured, even
though I've put myself in harms way many times", Lang says. "The reasons
are simple to those of us who have been in our bodies for a long time: use
common sense, eat sensibly, and listen to the body's warning signals-a.k.a.
staying within yourself. Another reason-applicable only to me it seems-is
never go to a doctor unless death is imminent. They are nice people, but
they don't make money on a healthy body and I have never met a poor doctor.
I haven't been to one in more than 20 years. Being old and slow is not a
disease nor is it treatable; if it isn't broken don't fix it", he said.
And what of the future? "I will try to complete 500 marathons by the time
I reach 75 and do at least 7 or 8 marathons in each state. When/if I do
that, I will try for 600 completions and so forth. There is no end to
running objectives to be achieved", says Lang.
In the sport of running-like life-sometimes the last to finish wins!!
Don Lang
Note: A more complete list of his marathon finishes in 2005 can be found
at www.marathonguide.com.
Scroll down the home page and enter his name--Don Lang-- in the 'Quick
Results Search'.
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