When Jeannie Rice began running at age 35 in 1983, she didn’t concern herself with racing goals. She just wanted to lose some weight. “I was hoping to drop the five pounds I had gained on a recent vacation,” she remembers.
Today, more than four decades later, Rice is arguably the world’s best masters marathon runner—male or female. Sure, the youthful Olympians are faster overall. But no masters runners—male or female—can match her scores on the globally accepted age/sex-graded performances. The official calculator is here.
The older Rice gets, the better she becomes. At least, that’s the way it seems. Since turning 75 in April 2023, Rice has set world records in the 75-79 age category for the marathon (3:33:47), half-marathon (1:40:42), and many other shorter distances.
This Sunday, September 29, Rice will attempt to improve that 3:33:47 time, which she recorded at the London marathon last April. She’s running in the 50th-anniversary edition of the Berlin Marathon, famed for its twisting but very fast course. The last time Rice ran Berlin, in 2019, she established the still-standing 70-74 age group record of 3:24:48. An amazing change of pace!
Rice’s running career took an astounding detour a little more than a year ago. Previously, she had specialized in marathons, and she has completed more than 125 in total.
Last June, she entered a track meet for the first time.
And the result?
She set world age-group records in the 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters. She also won the 400 and 800 meters, but those were mere warmups.
How could she perform so well at short distances she had never run before? Rice found out five days after the London Marathon last April when she underwent a complete running physiology exam at Loughborough University in Great Britain.
The results showed that Rice has a very strong economy, as would be expected for a marathon star. But it also turned out that her VO2 max is exceptionally high, more like a miler’s than a marathoner’s. Few runners score high in both physiological measures.
In August, Rice won six out of six events that she entered in the World Masters Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. She captured races at distances from 800 meters to 6K cross-country to the half marathon.
With her wide range of distance successes, Rice seems similar to Olympic superstar Sifan Hassan, who has won Olympic medals at distances from 1,500 meters to the marathon. Hasan won the gold medal in the marathon in Paris last month.
Despite her age-defying record, Rice started out as a typical midpack runner and still sees herself that way. She’s relaxed and easy-going, happy to run and talk with anyone. Below, she answers questions about her success, training and nutrition, and goal to keep setting records past age 80.
What do you think accounts for your phenomenal marathon performances?
Honestly, I don’t know. I have never considered myself a very special runner. I didn’t start winning much in my age group until I hit 60 and above.
I suppose my consistency has been the most important factor. My training hasn’t changed at all in the last 40 years. That means I’m still doing the same training now that I was doing back then. A lot of other runners decrease their training as they get older. But I haven’t done that.
I’m still doing more or less 50 miles a week year-round. When I get closer to a big marathon, I increase to maybe 60 or more miles. I try to do four or five long runs of 20 miles before every marathon.
I just keep doing what I have always done, and the result seems to be that I don’t slow down very much. That gives me better and better age-group results every time I enter an older age group.
How did you learn about training for marathons? Did you ever have a coach?
I’ve never had a coach. My friend Gene Dykes tells me how much he improved with the help of his coach, so I think about it. But then I also think, “I’m setting all these world records. Maybe I’m doing okay on my own. How do you get faster than a world record?”
In my early days of running I learned a lot from reading magazines like Runner’s World. I’ve also been a member of the North Cleveland Runners Club for 41 years, and I did a lot of running with other club members. We always talk a lot about training, so I learned many things from listening to those conversations.
One reason older runners do less training is injuries. How have you dealt with that problem?
I don’t seem to get injuries. I know that sounds unbelievable to many runners, but I’ve only gotten injured when I tripped on something and fell, banging my knee. That put me out of commission for a couple of weeks, but then I was fine. In my normal training, even the long runs and speedwork, I don’t get injured.
I don’t think I’m doing anything special to avoid injuries. I must be very lucky.
How about cross-training and diet? Many runners get heavier as they age. How about you?
I try to go to the gym a couple of times a week to do light strength training. I don’t have a strength coach or anything. I only work on my upper body. I figure my legs get enough from my running. I like the rowing machine, too. I am an avid downhill skier. When I get the chance, I play golf whenever I can, and I do some aqua-jogging at the pool.
I was born in South Korea, where the diet was a lot of fresh fish and vegetables. That’s still what I like today. I don’t eat much meat. My favorite meal is a salad with roasted salmon. I don’t have a sweet tooth, and don’t enjoy desserts much, so my diet is probably quite low-fat. I do enjoy wine on occasion with dinner.
I began running mainly to lose five pounds that I had gained on a vacation. I was 5’ 2” and weighed 108 pounds when I got home. I thought I should get back down to my normal 103. The pounds came off quite easily when I started running, and my weight has stayed around 100 to 103 for many years. Now it seems that I have shrunk to 5’ 1” and my weight has dipped a pound or two under 100.
What’s your nutrition strategy before and during a marathon?
When I travel, I bring Nuun tablets with me to dissolve in water to be sure I’m getting plenty of electrolytes. I’m not a big fan of the “ade” drinks.
On marathon morning, I always have coffee and some toast with peanut butter and banana. I’m trying to fuel a little better during my marathons. I used to take three gels per marathon. I think I’ll try for four in Berlin. My last two marathons were fast, but I slowed down more than I’d like in the last several miles. Maybe the gels will give me extra energy to maintain my pace.
You’re running Berlin on Sept. 29. Do you think you can break the record time you set in London last April? Do you think about going under 3:30?
Yes, I think I have a chance to break 3:30 if the weather is favorable and I feel good. If I don’t get both of those, I might just do a long training run and try to race faster two weeks later in Chicago. Berlin was good for me five years ago when I ran there. I hope the same will happen this year.
I might start somewhat slower in Berlin. I have always liked to “bank” a few minutes in the first 13.1 miles, but maybe that’s not the best way. I’d like to try for an even pace or negative splits.
I got in three long runs of about 20 miles before leaving for the Masters Track Championships in Sweden in mid-August, and I did a 22-miler three weeks before Berlin. That’s a system that has worked well for me in the past. Then, the next week, I raced a local road 5K at about 7:05 pace, so that was good speedwork.
How long do you hope to keep running?
I’m already looking forward to competing in the 80-84 division. The next Masters World Championships will be in Korea, my birth country, in 2026. I definitely want to go to that event. I’ll be 78 then, so 80 will be right around the corner.
I know I’m going to get slower in the coming years, but I will keep trying my best. I want to set a good example for other older women to show them what they can do. And it’s fun and challenging to chase age-group records.
The most important thing is just having fun and staying healthy. I don’t think much about my age. It’s just a number. I train with some strong women who are in their mid- to late-50s.
When we run together, I’m not thinking that I’m 20 years older than they are. I’m just running and enjoying myself with some middle-aged women. They say I’m inspiring them. I say that they’re keeping me young. It’s good for all of us.
Editor’s Note: [We regret to inform our readers that Jeannie Rice sustained an ankle injury during her final taper-down run before her flight to Berlin. An X-ray examination revealed an ankle fracture, and she is currently in a walking boot. Unfortunately, this means she will be unable to participate in the Berlin marathon. We wish her a speedy and complete recovery and look forward to her future strong performances in marathons.]
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