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Tasmanian 69-year-old, Michael Booth runs 100th marathon

To run just one marathon is a massive achievement for most people — Launceston's Michael Booth has just finished his 100th. 

The 69-year-old hit the milestone when he crossed the finish line at the Sunshine Coast Marathon in Queensland on Sunday, finishing in a time of just under four and a half hours.

"It's quite momentous," he said.

"I never started off running marathons thinking that I'd reach a certain number. I just did it because I enjoyed running.

"As I got into the 80s I could see a finish line up over the horizon, but it still wasn't necessarily a goal. I just kept running because I enjoyed it.

"As I got closer into the 90s, I thought, 'Gee I'm going to do 100.'"

It was a massive effort, but a low-key celebration for the Riverside grandfather.

"Chocolate milkshake and a nice lunch … I don't drink alcohol so I don't go down that path," he said.

His son Steven and wife Christine were on the course to cheer him on around the multi-lap course on the Sunshine Coast.

"They were having breakfast at a cafe along the track and cheered me on each time I passed," Mr Booth said.

Mr Booth only took up running in 2002 when he was 48, but was quickly hooked. It all started when the retired accountant went for a run with his brother.

"Running up and down Cormiston Road in Riverside with my brother 20 years ago, I wasn't even sure I was going to continue running," he said.

"It felt good and I just kept going."

It is now a part of his life and he has got has some significant running achievements under his belt.

Mr Booth has run the 42-kilometer marathon distance in every Australian state and territory, and also on each continent.

He ran his first marathon in Hobart in 2003 and has since taken his running exploits around the world.

Among the 100 races he has completed are the Boston, Athens, Rio de Janeiro and Great Wall of China marathons.

In 2014 he even took on a marathon in Antarctica. He believes he is the first Tasmanian to do so.

He has now competed in 10 out of 11 Sunshine Coast marathons, and 20 Hobart Cadbury marathons. And the iconic Overland Track in Tasmania is among his favorite runs.

He has taken on many of Tasmania's most well-known running challenges: the Three Peaks, Freycinet Challenge, Triple Top and Point to Pinnacle.

Earlier this year he took his total running distance to 50,000 kilometers.

No plan to stop just yet

Mr Booth also uses marathons to promote organ donation and Donate Life.

He often runs in a shirt featuring an image of his daughter Alison, who died in 2011.

"Alison back in 2011, she was 32, she suffered a brain bleed and our son-in-law Mark wanted to donate her organs and we fully endorsed that," he said.

"Four or five recipients were able to lead lives of better quality due to Alison's donation.

"Even though we lost a dear daughter there was a positive that we've enriched other people's lives. There's no point in burying organs that are in perfect working order."

Despite reaching the impressive milestone, which has been decades in the making, he has no plans to slow down.

"I propose to continue running for the next few years," he said.

"[I'll] see how I go … I think I've got to be more realistic and lower my finishing-time expectations as I'm getting older."

He runs four times a week and has his sights set on the Hobart Cadbury Marathon in January.

"I'll just bow out at some point when my body says, 'Hey Michael, I think we've had enough.'"

Before that, he is aiming to run a marathon with both his son and grandson.

He hopes his running exploits inspire others.

(08/14/2023) Views: 777 ⚡AMP
by Damian McIntyre