Marathon runner
Retiree who dashes past teenagers preps for 57th marathon
Rudy Smith, a retired postmaster general, is still going strong at 75 as he sets out to extend an impressive streak at Disney.
As they have done for so many years running, Rudy Smith and Tim Romain planned to live-chat before the Walt Disney World Marathon.
Not the type requiring an internet connection. No, this is the kind where two friends who have not seen each other for a year reconnect immediately through warm smiles, laughter and good conversation.
“[I] enjoy being with Rudy and talking about all the places he has been in the past year because he travels quite a bit,’’ said Romain, a 55-year-old software engineer from Orlando. “Just an interesting character.’’
With the 25th annual Disney World Marathon on Sunday morning, 76 runners have done all of the previous races. Smith and Romain, who met at the 10th Disney World Marathon, are in that number.
Smith holds a special distinction, however. At 75 years old, the retired postmaster from Gretna, La., is the oldest of them all.
“It went by really quick,’’ Smith said. “For some reason, the older you get, the faster the years go by.’’
Smith never could have imagined where running would take him or the myriad friends he would make along the way. He has completed marathons on all seven continents, including the Kilimanjaro Marathon in Tanzania and one in Antarc-
In China, Smith experienced the Great Wall Marathon while his wife of 50 years, Deanna, and grandson, Jordan, ran shorter distances. When Smith was on a trip to run the Rome Marathon, the World War II buff saw the Colosseum and the Vatican and passed a balcony where Mussolini gave speeches.
“His goal is to aim high,’’ Deanna Smith said.
Chuck George, a race director in the New Orleans area, attributes Rudy Smith’s longevity in endurance sports to a rare mix of dedication and personality. Besides marathons, Smith has been an Ironman triathlete and duathlete.
“When you’re involved in a sport when you’ve got so many people having a good time, it makes it easier to get out there,’’ George said. “Let’s say you have a freezing cold day or a real hot day and you’re by yourself. That’s tough, but when you’re with a group of other fellow runners or walkers, it makes it more enjoyable.’’
Born in New Orleans, Smith played football and ran track in high school in California before going to college for a year. He entered the Air Force, where he was stationed in Alaska and New Mexico. After leaving the service, he gave college another try before his mother encouraged him to take the postal exam. Smith eventually earned an accounting degree from Loyola University in New Orleans.
The 1988 New York City Marathon was his first 26.2-mile race. Sunday’s race will be his 57th.
“[Disney is] the only marathon that you see this long line of runners waiting to take pictures with the characters on the race course,’’ said Smith, a father of one and grandfather of two. “That’s the most unusual thing about the whole race. It’s so spectacular, you can’t beat it.’’
As president of his local running club, Smith sometimes runs with high-school students who participate in the group’s workout.
“When Rudy passes them, it’s the look of astonishment on their face,’’ said Smith’s friend, Betsy Boudreaux. “I tell them, ‘You do realize that man is 75 years old.’ He almost makes it a game. You know, ‘Keep up with the old man.’’’
This old man is not stopping.
“It was just so difficult to get back into the groove again [after a break] — the hurts, the pains and stuff like that,’’ Smith said. “That’s the thing that keeps me going. It keeps me healthy, and I am just afraid that if I don’t continue, I’ll lose it.
“I’ve got so much skin in the game. Why quit now?’’