Gene Dykes, 70, is a faster marathon runner than most men half his age. Nothing solidifies that more than his performance on Saturday at the Ameris Bank Jacksonville Marathon, where he clocked a 2:54:23.
In doing so, he broke the late Ed Whitlock’s longstanding marathon record for competitors in the 70-74 age group by 25 seconds.
“Beating the record, it’s hard to believe,” Dykes told The Florida Times-Union. “But that doesn’t mean so much as achieving the goal I set for myself. It wasn’t until earlier this year that I thought I had a chance of beating this record.”
A new marathon world record was set today…by my 70 year old dad, Gene Dykes 🏆 It’s his 3rd time this year running a sub-3 hour marathon & 3rd times a charm because his race today of 2:54:23 was fast enough to break the last record set in 2003 by Ed Whitlock! pic.twitter.com/I2q0fg2WRs
— Hilary Shirazi (@HilaryShirazi) December 15, 2018
Born in Ohio and living in Philadelphia, the retired computer programmer who holds a PhD in biochemistry didn’t start running until he was 58 years old. But, as the years passed, Dykes found himself getting faster and faster.
In fact, he nearly broke Whitlock’s age group record in October when he ran the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2:55:17.
“I’ve often said that my ability to recover is my super power,” he told Runner’s World.
In fact, in 2017 he was one of about a dozen people to run the “triple crown” of 200-mile trail ultras, meaning he finished the Bigfoot 200, the Tahoe 200 and the Moab 240.
During Saturday’s race, he averaged a 6:39 pace for the 26.2 miles. And yes, he has been tested for banned substances in the past to make sure that his impressive times are due solely to his own training and dedication.
Saturday’s race wasn’t easy for Dykes, as he encountered cramps that he had to fight through, according to The Florida Times-Union.
“About two miles to go I started getting little cramp pulses, not full-scale, but it would be like I’d have to stamp my foot to get rid of it,” Dykes said. “Then with 400 yards to go, approaching the grass, I had a full-scale cramp and I had to come to a dead halt and hope it went away. I couldn’t even walk.”
But like any great athlete, he prevailed under pressure and pain.
Dykes celebrated his world record with a nice dinner, complete with wine, and a few rounds of golf before flying back to Pennsylvania.
“The golf,” he told Runner’s World, “will be much less successful.”
After all, even the best athletes can’t excel in every sport.
