When Jeannie Rice began running for the first time, in her mid-30s, she wasn’t planning to win races or set records. She simply wanted to lose a few pounds after a trip to Seoul, South Korea, to visit family.
Rice soon discovered that she had a knack for running after enjoying success in some local events near her home in Cleveland, and started running marathons soon after. In Columbus, her second-ever marathon, she ran a 3:16 and qualified for the Boston Marathon for the first time, sparking her passion for long-distance running that has continued to this day.
It would be many years until the running world began to take notice of Jeannie Rice (who turned 77 earlier this month). Her first headline-grabbing race was when she set the women’s U.S. record for the 65-69 age group at the Columbus Marathon. Since then, she has continued to consistently rack up division wins, a hugely impressive feat considering that most runners seem to lose speed and stamina in their 70s.
Following the 2024 London Marathon, where she set a women’s world record for her age group with an astounding time of 3 hours, 33 minutes, and 27 seconds, she took part in a series of lab tests conducted by UK-based researchers, who studied her running and jumping abilities, oxygen consumption, heart rate, body fat, and lactate levels.
Perhaps most notably, Rice’s maximal oxygen uptake, referred to as VO2 max, was 47.8, the highest ever recorded in a woman over age 75. This measure of aerobic fitness and endurance would be a good result for a world-class runner several decades younger. Unsurprisingly, researchers are keen to learn more about Rice’s exceptional physiology to better understand the potential for people to stay active and fit as they age.
She’s going the distance:
- On Monday (April 21), Jeannie Rice ran the 2025 Boston Marathon in 4 hours, 27 minutes, and 17 seconds, according to unofficial results. She took the race much more slowly than usual due to a pain in her upper left hamstring that she had noticed in the lead-up to the marathon. Nevertheless, she said she “had so much fun” competing—and her time was still good enough to put her first in her division. It was her 134th marathon.
- Though consistent training has undoubtedly been a major factor in Jeannie Rice’s success, she has likely enjoyed some help from favorable genetics, which can play a role in determining VO2 max and cardiovascular efficiency.
- Rice usually runs around 50 miles and lifts light weights around three times per week, though her mileage increases when training for a marathon. Though she’s had accidents, including a twisted ankle last year, she’s never suffered an overuse injury, perhaps due to her excellent balance of training and recovery.
- Other aspects of Rice’s lifestyle may also help explain her success. Rice, a retired real estate agent who spends part of the year in Ohio and part in Florida, says she loves running and inspiring athletes of all ages. She also has an active social life, including going out dancing whenever possible. Her diet is also notably healthy, with a focus on vegetables, rice, nuts, and fish.
