As 61-year-old won the five-day marathon to 875 km

We offer you an interesting story of Cliff Young, who at 61 won the Australian marathon. Cliff hits the childish innocence and his life minimalism. It seems we have something to learn from him!

In 1982, Cliff Young (Cliff Young) tried to run 1,000 miles around Memorial Square Square in Colac (Colac) To break the world record. Unfortunately, Cliff attempt failed, but this failure did not dampen his ardor. The following year he took part in the first super-marathon from Melbourne to Sydney (Westfield Sydney to Melbourne Ultra Marathon).

Everyone thought that he senile old man (Cliff then knocked 61), and some are afraid that Cliff will die and before reaching the finish line. But Cliff proved to everyone that they were wrong.

Super-marathon distance of 875 kilometers, which takes about 5 days from start to finish. The race usually involves world-class athletes who train specially for this event. The majority of athletes are not older than 30 years and are sponsored by big brands such as Nike, which provide athletes form and sneakers.

How it all began

In 1983, this world-class athletes were at a loss when the day of the race at the start there was 61-year-old Cliff Young.

At first, everyone thought that he came to see the start of the race, because he was dressed in overalls and galoshes over shoes. But when Cliff came to the table to get the number of the participant of the race, then everyone realized that he intends to run with everyone. At that time nobody knew that the only coach Cliff was his own 81-year-old mother.

When Cliff got the number 64, and is built on a line with other athletes, the film crew (make reports to the launch site) decided to take him a short interview. The camera is fallen upon Cliff and asked:

- "Hi! Who are you and what are you doing here? "

- "I'm Cliff Young. We breed sheep on a large pasture near Melbourne. "

- "Are you really going to participate in this race?"

- "Yes."

- "Do you have a sponsor?"

- "Not."

- "Then you can not escape."

- "No, I can." Cliff said. "Listen, I grew up on a farm where we could not afford horses or a car, until very recently, when 4 years ago, I bought a car. When a storm coming, I went to drive the sheep. We had 2,000 sheep that grazed on 2,000 acres. Sometimes I would catch the sheep for 2-3 days - it was not easy, but I always catch them. I think I can participate in the race, because it is only 2 days long, only 5 days when I'm running after the sheep for 3 days. "

When the marathon started, the pros left Cliff in his galoshes behind. The crowd laughed at him, because he was not even able to start correctly.

On television, people watched Cliff, worried and prayed that he did not die on the way.

Turtle and Rabbit

Every professional knew that to complete the race will take about 5 days and daily thereafter neobhodmo 18 hours to run and 6 hours sleep. Cliff Young did not know it!

The next morning, after the start of people I know that Cliff had not slept, and kept running all night, reaching the town of Mittagong.

photo © SMH

But even without stopping to sleep Cliff was far behind the athletes, though, and continued to run, while managing to greet people standing along the route of the race.

When he reached the next town of Albury, Cliff was asked about his tactics to the end of the race. He replied that he could run across the finish line.

And Cliff fled. Each night he approached the leaders of the race, and on the last night Cliff bypassed all world-class athletes. he was far ahead of all to the last day of the morning. Cliff not only ran the super-marathon at age 61, without dying on the way, but also won it, breaking the record of the race at 9:00, and became a national hero!

Cliff Young overcome race 875 kilometers for 5 days, 15 hours and 4 minutes. Not knowing what athletes can sleep, he imagined ourselves fleeing sheep and tried to catch up with her.

photo © NLA

When Cliff was awarded the first prize of A $ 10,000, he said he did not know of the existence of the prize and participated in the race, not for money. Without thinking, Cliff said he gave the money to the first five athletes who came running after him, for A $ 2,000 each. Cliff did not leave myself a cent and Australia all fell in love with him.

The race continues

The following year, Cliff Young again participated in the race, finishing in 7th place. During the race at Cliff jumped out of the hip joint, the knee has gone up and had shin splint. But that did not stop him from continuing the race. When the finish Cliff called the most courageous runners and gave the car Mitsubishi Colt, he replied: "I do not need a car as the old Bob (Bob McIlwaine). Hey, Bob, now you have a car. "And gave the car keys.

As they say, Cliff Young did not take itself a single prize. Once people gave him a watch, since he did not have them. Cliff thanked the people, so as not to offend them, but gave the clock to the first child who got in his way. Cliff did not understand why his watch, because he knows when the day and night, and when he is hungry.

photo © SMH

In 1997, at age 76, Cliff Young tried to run around Australia to raise money for homeless children. He turned to run 6,520 kilometers from 16,000 before the only man of his crew fell ill.

Cliff Young died on November 2, 2003, at the age of 81 years.

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