At 75 Well Tucked, Benoit Rancourt ran on Sunday, his 200en marathon. Those who think that at his advanced age he is suffering from martyrdom after his heroic deed, think again. “The hardest part is the post-race for 30 people in a chalet. He celebrated a lot!” launches the indestructible Abitibian.
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The affectionately nicknamed “Ti-Ben” crossed the finish line of the 42.2-kilometre Beneuve Marathon event in Quebec, as he has done every year since the event's inaugural edition in 1998.
Due to the heat, it took 4 hours 58 minutes to complete the route. More than an honorable time, which he implores us not to count too much. After all, he finished the Ottawa Marathon in just 4 hours and 6 minutes in May.
“I like the feeling of leaving and arriving. There are some who get pleasure from their boat, their cars or all kinds of children. We have fun with our sneakers,” said a sympathetic Septuagenarian who apparently does not age.
Family
When he talks about “us,” Mr. Rancourt is referring to his family. On the streets of Quebec he attacked this marathon with two of his three children, one of his brothers and a friend. Four of his other brothers and one of his five grandchildren also competed in another group.
Rejoice in the fact that powerful vitamins flow in the water of Sainte-Germain-Bule, a small municipality of Abitibi where the roots are in the family clan.
Running in the company of his relatives will mark this 200th marathon in the best possible way.
“It was a really special moment. Without this gang Who runs, I wouldn't be at 200. There is a learning effect. I’m running another one in Ottawa at the end of the week with two brothers,” said Rancourt, as if he were mentioning the most banal of health walks.
Long tradition
It was in 1982 that the running sting of the joyfully intoxicated Benoit-Rancourt and his two brothers endured the first marathon. Others followed suit in subsequent years.
From 1982 to 2001, Mr. Rancourt was limited to a marathon a year. Since then, the age wall has certainly not hit. In his record year, 2016, he died in 16 marathons.
He's run four this year and has two more on the menu. Since its inception, it has competed in seven major world marathons, Boston, Chicago, New York, Berlin, London, Tokyo and Sydney.
He has run on every continent, with the Nairobi Marathon in Kenya also appearing on his enviable hunting board. In Europe, in addition to two adults, he lugged his running shoes in Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Athens, Belgrade… a real globetrotter of the race!
“I'm lucky, I'm not sick, and my husband loves to travel with me. With the family there is an effect of training, and we collect easily. After all these years, it's like a walk in the park.
“I think I'm running for myself and staying fit. When I see all the news about our healthcare system, I do everything to keep myself as far away as possible,” said this Superman, who has already offered the challenge of seven marathons in seven different countries.
There is no magic recipe
Nothing like crossing the finish line with several members of the Rancourt family, a tightly knit clan.
Photo by Nicholas Hallett/GESEV
Of course, achieving the token 200 marathons makes Mr. Rancourt quite proud, but not to the point of being pompous.
“It's just a figure, 200. There are some who have more than others who have less. The best part was celebrating it with gangField Now that party finished, we don't stop there. I just want to run as long as possible and I would like to be there when my three brothers reach their 100en Marathon,” he said.
As for those who might be tempted to emulate the complex diet of the 75-year-old tireless runner, don't look too far.
“I eat pasta the night before, but if I don’t, I don’t watch anything. I don't count on anything. I'm not interested in me and have never looked at it. It’s always good what my husband does, and I eat a lot,” he was having fun.
Every two days this force of nature finds itself on walks of 12 to 15 km. When the marathon approaches, he pushes the car to 25 or 30 km.
Here you now know all the secrets behind the impressive success of “ti-ben”…
