Running News Daily

Legacy runner, 86, to take part in Cleveland Marathon for 46th time

Is he the energizer bunny? Because, 86-year-old Jim Mackert keeps going and going and going.

Since the Cleveland Marathon began in 1978, he's participated in all 46 events. He's only run the half-marathon once, last year. And, he's doing it again this year. Though, it had to take some convincing.

"(Until) last week, I was still planning on trying to do the marathon. But the family has been telling me that I should go to the half-marathon," Jim said.

You see, it's not easy for someone like Jim, a three-time Boston Marathon veteran, to start slowing down.

"I somehow, I'm gonna get through it now. It may take longer, you know, but time doesn't matter anymore," Jim said. "You know, they time me with a calendar now."

This father of six and loving grandpa has always been a jokester. That humor has kept us laughing for years, and why so many feel inspired by him.

Jim was recently honored by the Lorain County Track and Cross Country Hall of Fame. That's nothing new, as he's regularly honored for his running.

But if you've ever participated in the Cleveland Marathon events, you've probably seen him around. That's because he's been volunteering for more than three decades.

He inspires everyone he meets and especially young runners. For those thinking of breaking into the marathon world, Jim has a message for you:

"Don't let people tell you you can't reach a realistic goal. If you had heard how many people told me that I couldn't do what I'm doing ... I still feel like I wanna run another 70 years."

We asked if he'd ever stop running.

"I prefer not to. I prefer to stop until I drop over," Jim said.

Something tells us, he means it.

If you watch the marathon this Sunday, look for Jim. This legacy runner is leaving inspiration on the course.

Nearly 8,000 runners will race through Cleveland this weekend in a city tradition that began in 1978.

The Union Home Mortgage Cleveland Marathon, a three-day event, extends beyond the 26.2-mile course. It attracts novice runners and those like 85-year-old Jim Mackert, who has run in more than 40 races since the event began.

Last year, the race was pushed back to October because of the pandemic. In 2020, it was virtual. This year, runners are returning to Cleveland.

University Hospitals will host a health and fitness expo Friday. The 5K and 10K races are Saturday. Half and full marathons will be Sunday.

The races will start and finish at Memorial Plaza in the shadow of the Fountain of Eternal Life statue on Public Square. The course will pass landmarks such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center.

The runners who have registered are from nine countries and 47 states. They feature beginners and veterans like Mackert.

At 85, he runs five to eight miles a day.

“My wife and I raised six children, and when I got to be around 37, I was gaining weight, and I just didn’t like the way I felt, and I started back running again,” Mackert, a former paint store manager, said. “I felt so good, so I kept running, and I haven’t stopped since.”

The return of the spring marathon has Mackert and others excited. He has been running the race since it began in 1978.

He grew up in Lakewood, the youngest of 10 children who weren’t regular workers.

“Nobody in my family was really into sports because we were usually working,” Mackert said.

A teacher spotted him in gym class and recruited him to run cross country and track at Lakewood High School. He ran as a member of the U.S. Army at Fort Riley, Kansas.

He later met his wife and raised his family. But he had left running behind, until he decided to pick it up again.

He later joined local running clubs, like the Cleveland West Road Runners Club, one of the region’s oldest clubs. He also became the president of a running club in Lorain County.

Even during the pandemic, Mackert never stopped running and even virtually completed the last two marathons.

“I felt that if I continued to exercise that it was the best way to that I could fight off getting sick,” he said.

Mackert’s advice to beginning runners? Good shoes and realistic goals.

“What happens is that you hurt yourself trying to do more than you’re capable of,” he said. “Set a realistic goal, and you’ll be happy. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t reach that goal.”

82-year-old Jim Mackert will be the oldest runner in the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon race, he has ran all 42 of them

Jim Mackert is no spring chicken. He's an 82-year-old marathon runner. The legacy runner has run 65. And, he's the oldest person running 26.2 miles in this year's Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon.

Crossing that finish line in May means that Mackert is the only person to have competed in all 42 of Cleveland's marathons. 

"Determination. Desire. I enjoy it, I enjoy the people that I see there," the father of six said.

Mackert is a master. Not just with running. He's mentally tough as nails, which has propelled him to push through injuries to qualify for the Boston Marathon three times.

"When I went in 2007, I was 70 years old and in training I pulled a muscle doing my hill workouts," he explained. "But I said I was going no matter how my leg felt."

And, he did.

These days, Mackert racks up about 40 miles a week. He was, however, getting attention long ago, even appearing on Channel 3 back in 2000 with Jimmy Donovan when he was 63 and gearing up for his 23rd Cleveland Marathon.

Mackert has no plans to slow down. He says he's fueled by his family, while inspiring others on his path.

"I feel good doing it. And as long as I feel good doing it, I try to keep doing it," Mackert said.