In December 2022, 92-year-old Mathea Allansmith crossed the Honolulu Marathon finish line in 11:19:49, becoming the oldest woman to have ever completed a 26.2-mile race. She surpassed the former record holder, Harriette Thompson, by over three months. Half a year later, after a thorough ratification process, Guinness World Records has given their nod of approval, making the record official.
Rain or shine, Allansmith, now 93, runs six days per week all throughout the year, maintaining a training volume of about 36 weekly miles, even on vacation, and steadily increasing her mileage about 18 weeks prior to a marathon.
The retired doctor lives in Koloa, Hawaii, and didn’t start her running journey until she was 46 years old, after a colleague suggested running two miles per day. “I took up running in 1977 and fell in love with the feeling of exercising outside,” she told GuinnessWorldRecords.com. She credits her healthy running lifestyle with her high quality of life, and while her stamina has decreased over time, she’s making the most of what she’s got at any given moment. “I see the direct connection between moving and health,” she said.
The 1982 Boston Marathon was her first experience racing 26.2 miles, but the Honolulu Marathon is her favorite, partly because the race organizers don’t have a time cutoff, so even slower runners have an opportunity to complete the course.
“It’s one of the best-executed races,” she said to Guinness. “Fantastic registration, set up and management makes it a joy to participate in.”
On the day of her world record, Allansmith’s six children surprised her by wearing matching T-shirts denoting their mother’s achievement. “I felt an enormous sense of accomplishment and joy,” she told Guinness.
Allansmith plans to continue running marathons for as long as possible, and hopes to nab some other world records along the way, for other distances like the 10K and half marathon.
Abby Carney is a writer and journalist in New York. A former D1 college runner and current amateur track athlete, she's written about culture and characters in running and outdoor sports for Runner's World, Like the Wind Magazine, The New York Times, and other outlets. She also writes about things that have nothing to do with running, and was previously the editor of a food magazine.
