Running a marathon once is enough for most people, but what about running 37?

Patty Hung, 77, a registered nurse from Oakland, CA, has proved that running doesn’t have a age limit, having just run the Boston Marathon for an astounding 37th time.

According to Nurse.org, Hung is the first woman in history to have completed a marathon this many times in a row. Her latest time was 5 hours, 40 minutes and 37 seconds.

“People who were my family were all now running with me in Boston, and then it just kept escalating to be a big family thing,” said Hung on the Women’s Running Stories podcast.

Hung ran her first Boston Marathon in 1987. She has a steady stride throughout the race.

“When I get to mile 13, I know it’s downhill from there, even if it’s uphill once I reach Heartbreak Hill, I know it is a reality that I can finish,” Hung told NBC.

Hung has plenty of motivation to keep her running, using the passing of her son to fuel her fire.

“When my son died in 2017, your family came out, and we all did a beautiful track workout, and it made me feel that we are still all together, and that’s what keeps me going,” said Hung on the podcast.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Duck fat is lower in saturated fats than beef tallow, and as far as health benefits are concerned, it is comparable to olive oil. (Handout)

Credit: Handout

Featured

An aerial view captures a large area under construction for a new data center campus on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Developed by QTS, the data center campus near Fayetteville is one of the largest under construction in Georgia. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez