I didn’t walk until I was 18 months old, and I didn't run a step until 1972, so maybe that's why, 40 years later, I'm still running--trying to catch up. I did the Denver Marathon, my first, in 1978, and for a couple of years I was truly obsessed with running. Now it has become an important and pleasurable part of my life. I had to laugh when, a couple of years ago, race organizers transposed my name at the Canyonlands Half Marathon, in Moab, Utah and listed me as James Libby under the men. So happens I beat all those old guys, and in doing so really fouled up their awards!

The older I get, the easier it has become for me to rack up some records. In the fall of 2011, I ran a 5k in 23:30 and 10 miles in 1:19:22, both good enough for national age group records. I also hold an age group record in the 10k, documented in "Age Group Aces" by mike Tymn in Running Times, December 2009. In 2012 Tymn wrote about my records in National Masters News, "Setting new Standards for 70+ Women."

In February 2012 I joined my friend Cathy Morgan and son Kurt James to run the Tokyo Marathon with 36,000 others. In April, much to my delight, I was inducted into the Colorado Running Hall of Fame. I felt so honored to be recognized for something that I love to do.

What do I love about running? The way it makes me feel. The people I meet. The chances to travel. Most of all I love it that my four kids and twelve grandkids all under-stand that running is part of life, something you just do.