Photo: Jeff J Mitchell, Getty Images News

I once had a conversation with a man who, in addition to having an extremely demanding publishing industry job, had the strange habit of participating in triathalons. "I'd love to do something like that," I enthused, "but my knees kind of pop." He generously responded that this was okay because I'm a writer. I think he may have been implying that as writers we are allowed to be kind of slovenly and inactive. I've clung to these two great excuses for years. My knees pop. I'm a thinky person, not an exercisey person. Did I mention my knees pop?

But lately the unlikeliest people keep going and achieving athletic highs, I'm pretty sure with the intent of making me feel like a lazy bum. First there was the pregnant woman who gave birth hours after running the Chicago marathon. Then there was the blind kid who pitched a no-hitter, and the deaf motocross champion. But! People! My knees!

Now there's this: the 100-year-old-man who ran the Toronto Marathon. Are you kidding me? Finishing at 8 hours, 11 minutes, he wasn't even the last to finish. According to NPR, the Indian-born British citizen Fauja Singh took up running at age 80 and trains by running about 10 miles a day. The Guinness World Record holder runs to raise money for local charities, including one benefiting poor children. According to his trainer, his secret is a diet that consists mostly of tea, toast, and curry. Um, what's in the tea?

NPR has more, including a smile-inducing video of Singh crossing the finish line. GO FAUJA!!

Get moving:
Decode your exercise excuses
The excuse-busting workout plan