In 2023 the New York Marathon got the best of Garth Barfoot but this year was a different story as the 88-Year-Old completed it in 11 hours 29 minutes and 49 seconds.
At 88 years old the former real estate agent has quite the resume when it comes to long distance races, Barfoot has completed triathlons for over 30 years, he’s a patron for Triathlon New Zealand and a life member of the North Harbour Triathlon club.
He was the oldest competitor among his age group of 80 year olds, he ran the race alongside his daughter Kiri and a running friend Lay Cunningham aged 73 also with quite the resume having 52 marathons to her name.
Last time around he was unable to finish the race due to it being too cold but this year he came prepared.
“So this year, with three layers of thermal and two jackets, and that was of course more jackets than anyone else in the race, and that’s where my friends came into it, Geri, my daughter, and Lay Cunningham, my pacer, and they carried jackets in their hands … and then when it gets cooler … that’s when I put those jackets on.
After moving into a retirement home, he found that entering a marathon helped regain a routine in his daily life, he said.
“People congratulate me even before I do anything, ‘Oh, it’s great that you’re starting a marathon’ Especially when they see how old I am.
“I don’t know whether I do it for ego or not, but it’s a mixture I suppose.”
Photo Credit: Kiri Barfoot
