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93-year-old runner from London, Ont., looks to break own Canadian record this weekend

Canio Polosa of London, Ont., took up running at 60, gave it up at 80 because his knees were shot, and is lacing up again in his 90s. He hopes to set a new Canadian 5K record in the 90+ age category this weekend.

Canio Polosa ran a 5K in 37:41 earlier this year setting a Canadian record for the 90+ age group

Rebecca Zandbergen · CBC News ·
Canio Polosa, 93, hopes to break his own Canadian record this weekend. (Rebecca Zandbergen/CBC News)

At 5'6" and 113 pounds, Canio Polosa, 93, is certainly not a big man, but he is tenacious.

"I do what I can," a modest Polosa said. "Now I can run, so I run."

Suiting up most days in spandex pants, running shoes and the knee braces his wife recently purchased for him on Amazon, Polosa is back on the running circuit after a decade-long hiatus.

Polosa, a retired doctor who practiced internal medicine and had a long teaching career at McGill University, started running at age 60. After 20 years, his knees were shot and he was forced to give it up at 80.

But now in his 90s, Polosa has somehow rebounded and is back on the running scene, clocking five to 10 kilometres a day.

93-year-old runner looks to beat own Canadian record

3 years ago
Duration 0:51
Canio Polosa, 93, of London, Ont., is aiming to beat his own Canadian 5K run record. He set the record for the 90+ crowd this summer at 37 minutes.

Polosa's comeback tour has seen him run two five kilometre races this year. He finished first in a time of 37:41, which landed him a Canadian Masters Athletics record for the 90+ age group.

"I'm always the last in every race, but it seems that is not a serious problem," Polosa joked. "It is a nice thing to run knowing that you don't have to be the first."

"He really is physically, incredibly healthy," said Polosa's wife of 21 years, Lynne Weaver, 76. "There's no reason for him not to run."

"The only problem, as you can see, is he is very lean, very thin," said Weaver who does most of the cooking for the couple. "Trying to keep the calories to match the exercise is a huge challenge."

Polosa admits his doctors have a few things to say about his exercise, but with a smile Polosa says, "But since I'm deaf, I can be selective in what I hear."

Canio Polosa started running at age 60, but stopped when he was 80 because his knees were were so bad. At 93, he's back and running races. (Rebecca Zandbergen/CBC News)

Polosa is running the Halloween Haunting race in London on Sunday and hopes to beat his own Canadian record. 

'"This weekend is a certified course, and it's more downhill, less uphill. And so fingers crossed," said Weaver.

Pololsa has his eye on 36 minutes. Or possibly even 34 which is the world record for his age group.

"Why not?" he asked.

Lynne Weaver, 76, and Polosa have been married for 21 years. Weaver also runs and is an avid horseback rider. (Rebecca Zandbergen/CBC News)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Zandbergen

Host, Reporter

Rebecca Zandbergen is from Ottawa and has worked for CBC Radio across the country for more than 20 years, including stops in Iqaluit, Halifax, Windsor and Kelowna. Most recently she hosted the morning show at CBC London. Contact Rebecca at rebecca.zandbergen@cbc.ca or follow @rebeccazandberg on Twitter.

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