London, Apr 6: A British woman, aged 92, has broken the world record for the oldest person ever to complete a marathon.
Gladys Burrill, a part-time Hawaii resident nicknamed the "Gladyator", finished the Honolulu Marathon in 9 hours 53 minutes after she had trained for the testing 26.2-mile course by walking 2,600 miles.
Her feat at the race last December has been recognised by the World Records Academy and by USA Track and Field.
She beat the previous record held by Jenny Wood-Allen of Dundee, Scotland, who was 90 years old when she completed the 2002 London Marathon.
Burrill, who was a multi-engine aircraft pilot, mountain climber, desert hiker and horseback rider before she ran her first marathon in 2004 at the age of 86, walks 45 miles a week.
She was asked to give advice to others wanting a long and healthy lifestyle.
"Just get out there and walk or run. I like walking because you can stop and smell the roses, but it's a rarity that I stop," the Daily Mail quoted her as saying.
"It's so important to think positive. It's easy to get discouraged and be negative. It makes such a difference in how you feel and your outlook on everything," she stated.
Guinness World Records confirmed Burrill's achievement, and the Hawaii House of Representatives honoured her with a certificate during a ceremony on April 4.
Burrill said her positive attitude gave her the strength to start running marathons, along with her regular routine of walking dozens of miles a week near her home.
