2008 - Putting off Boston until Age 65 (not to mention quadruple by-pass surgery)

Vic Thayer

I began my running program at age 39; I am almost 71 at present. I have competed in almost 1,000 races, and have logged close to 60,000 miles. As a competitive runner, I have participated in races from the Carolinas to California, and Rhode Island to Florida, as well as Canada.

In 2004, my annual physical revealed I had a heart problem: four blocked arteries. I was told I had no option but to have open heart bypass surgery.

On August 31, 2004, I had the surgery and was in the hospital for about 3 1/2 days. Prior to being released, my surgeon came to my room and during our conversation, I told him I would be looking forward to training for my first marathon. The surgeon just smiled and shook his head as he left my room.

Four weeks after being released, I was walking 50 miles a week. At ten weeks post-surgery, I was back on my training/running program, and at 16 weeks I ran the "Race on the Trace" 5 miler at Natchez Trace State Park and placed in my age group. I felt so blessed to be back competing. That was in January 2005. I continued to participate in racing distances up to the half marathon.