Jerry Ogata, 93-year-old, proves that never is too old to run

Competing in a world class race like the Honolulu Marathon can be a life-long dream. And this 93-year-old runner's dream started when he retired.

Completing a marathon has been described as a religious experience. The euphoric feeling of success after enduring 26.2 miles only slightly outweighing the pain.

Being a Marathon Finisher is an accomplishment many runners aim -- for years, setting goals early in their lives.

But when I asked Jerry Ogata -- why he runs marathons -- his answer, may surprise you.

"I enjoy it. That's the only reason I get," he said.

Jerry Ogata is one of the oldest people registered to run the 2019 Honolulu Marathon. At 93-years old, he's been competing in races for 30 years, but admits his desire to become a marathoner came late in life.

"After I retired, I envied other people running. I envied them because whenever there was a race and I saw them running I though gee I wish I was one of them," Ogata said.

Ogata grew up in the Ewa Plains on a plantation, where he says he ran and hiked as a kid. But his first race came decades later.

"When I was 60 I guess. That was in Honolulu, the Pineapple Run in Wahiawa," Ogata said.

Since then, he was hooked.

"Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Honolulu -- but different times, Honolulu maybe I ran several times."

He placed in his age division the last time he ran the Honolulu Marathon, finishing in 10 hours and 36 minutes. That's about a 24 minute mile.

And if Jerry's late choice of hobby might surprise you -- he likes surprises. Like the time he kept his wife in the dark about their honeymoon.

"We went to Japan to climb Mount Fuji -- I told her for our honeymoon we're going to Japan. When we got there I told her we're climbing Mount Fuji. That was a surprise for her"

His wife Jean says she'll be with him at the finish line.

posted Saturday December 7th
by Maleko McDonnell