Better late than never just may be Libby James’ motto. The 74 year old Fort Collins resident didn’t enter a race until her 40s. She has been setting records ever since. Libby took a few minutes recently to catch up with CRM.
—
Libby James doesn’t let the ground settle under her feet – not in running and not in life. The septuagenarian raised her own brood of four children decades ago, has taught life skills to teen moms, and is currently a teacher, magazine editor, freelance feature writer and record holder in the 70-74 year old age group for the 10k.
James (second from left in feature photo) eased into running when teenagers ran rampant around her house. She’d run a mile every morning in time to get home to make their breakfast. Then, she says, “When I turned 40 I did a 10k race in our local city park and was hooked! I surprised myself with a pretty good time in that 10k race and that spurred me on. It didn’t hurt that I was in the master’s category and female and therefore had some success.” James adds, “For the first time in my life I decided that perhaps I was competitive, and that it was not a bad word.”
She went on to run her first marathon (the Denver Marathon) four years later in 1978. Libby says she “did it because I thought it seemed so impossible! It was held in April following a huge snowstorm that kept my friend, Donna Messenger, who lived up Rist Canyon, from even getting out to the road to town–after 3 months of training she had to miss it!”
Among the highlights of her race experience was “going to Denver with my husband who was a great supporter. He thought I was nuts … he couldn’t believe all the people getting ready for the race, lying on the pavement, stretching. It was entering another world for him. I did the race in 3:45, and I think I won my age group which was a kick.”
James didn’t realize it at the time, but her age group win in Denver was only 11 years after K. Switzer’s unofficial entry into the Boston Marathon and six year’s after women were ‘officially’ allowed to enter the race. “That really puts it into a perspective!” James states.
But Libby is a trail-blazer, too, and in 1980 wrote to Will Cloney, the Boston Race Director to ask why there was no qualifying time for women over 40. He then set 3:30 as the qualifying time. Libby says she ‘barely’ did it, but qualified nonetheless.
It’s obvious that running is one of James’ greatest joys, but not her only nor greatest love. Stories of her husband (now deceased for twenty years), four children, twelve grandchildren and family events intermingle with her running accomplishments the same way other runners note great trails or encounters with elite athletes.
Libby’s accomplishments:
- Fastest marathon: Rawhide Marathon at age 47 in 3:24:18
- Half marathon: Big Sur, Monterery, CA 2010 1:51:15 (this, may be a record-breaking time, too! James beat the 70-74yo women’s course record by 13 minutes).
- Fastest recent 10k: Bolder Boulder at age 72 in 48:54
- Fastest 10k: Was “42-something” when a guy friend of my daughter’s paced me–or, Libby chuckles, “pushed me.”
- Fastest 5k: Firekraker 5k in Ft. Collins at age 72 in 23:37
- Just last month: Garden of the Gods 10 miler, 2011, 1:26:58-three minutes faster than 2 years ago. James says she has no idea why!
- Most memorable runs: Through the hills near Kyoto, Japan with son, Kurt, early on his wedding day (not a race) and the Steamboat Springs Marathon in 2000 with daughters Kristin and Jeni, ages 41 and 36 at the time. Libby was 63 and ran the race in 4:05.
What does the next generation have to gain by staying fit? “At times I have encouraged the grand-kids to run, but I think the best thing is to keep on running yourself and set an example. Most of my grand-kids run, some more than others, but I think they all know, as do their parents, that daily exercise is just one of those things you do. Adam, 22, the oldest, did the Bolder Boulder with me in 2009 and 2010. Every year during his middle/high school years, he came from his home in Cheyenne with his family to do the Fort Collins Turkey Trot and every year he tried to beat me. Finally about 5 years ago, he did. I loved it. Now he’s done a 39 minute 10k. Two daughters and two granddaughters and I are all doing the Wild West Relay in August.”
More mature folks have much to gain by staying fit, too.
“Getting off the couch and escaping the TV is a big benefit in my book. It’s a way to meet people you would not otherwise meet, go places you might not otherwise go, and eat more than you might allow yourself otherwise.”
James admits that she now runs fewer miles than she once did because she wants to keep running for years to come. She attributes her longevity and age-group records to cross-training, limited mileage, Pilates, a moderate diet, and healthy doses of wine and chocolate.
Libby says “I feel younger when I’m out running than at any other time”.
With maturity comes wisdom, and sometimes a handful of ‘what-if’s.
Has James every wondered what records might have been set if she’d begun running earlier in life? James answers, “Life is full of what ifs and roads not taken. I don’t spend much time dwelling on them though. I feel I’ve been so very fortunate in so many ways. I have four very successful kids and they all have great families. I’ve never had much money, but I’ve never felt deprived. In fact, after spending 9 months in Africa, I came home feeling positively wealthy!!”
Wealth can be counted in cherished memories, too, “My husband died nearly 20 years ago, and I’m sad that my grand-kids never knew him, yet as my kids get older, I see so many of his good traits showing up in them, and for that I’m grateful.”
Busy, thankful, and just maybe a bit ADHD, James admits. One might wonder if she will ever retire from her joy-filled work, habits, and lifestyle.
It’s doubtful.
Libby says, “I’ve been working on a piece of historical fiction that takes place in Africa for quite a few years and I would be thrilled if it ever saw the light of day! It’s called White Shadow. I also have a small business “oldBags” Note cards, book marks, coasters and framed pieces that incorporate used tea bags. I look forward to doing more tea bag art. I fell into this tea bag thing by accident and it is so silly and so much fun. I just like to be busy. I admit, sometimes it gets out of control!”
James has no plans to retire from running, either.
Bolder Boulder recently announced that James won the biggest women’s margin for the “Beat Your Age, 2011” award. (In a special yearly contest, the race offers a special award to all participants who can run faster in minutes than their age in years).
“I’d like to keep running as long as I can. It’s always fun to see how fast you can go. I’m always shooting to beat 24 minutes in a 5k, stay as much under 50 as I can in a 10k and under 2 hours in a half. “
Keep on living, running and inspiring, Libby!
July 6, 2011 by Connilee Walter
Athlete Profiles, Features