91-year-old racing July 4th
Roger Anawalt, the 91-year-old who picked up a gold medal in last month’s Wine Country Senior Games, is among 900 runners competing in the Kenwood Footrace on Independence Day.
The Santa Race resident will contest the 3k run through the hills of Kenwood. There will also be a 10k with both races beginning at 7:30 a.m.
The races, along with the World Pillow Fighting Championship, have been a July 4th tradition in Kenwood for 40 years.
Anawalt competed in the 5k (3.1 miles) run at the Wine Country Senior Games on June 5. He completed the Asti Vineyard course in Cloverdale in 1:09.08.
Anawalt trains or competes seven days per week.
“I live in the Wikiup area and I jog 1.3 miles every day,” Anawalt said. “I have a comfortable pace, you’d probably call it a jog. I start out that way and keep going at the same speed.”
Anawalt, who will turn 92 in September, got into running at age 50.
“I was looking at a Reader’s Digest and started reading an article that was a condensed book written by Kenneth Cooper,” he said. “It was about aerobics and how exercise could make you feel better.
“The more I read, the more sense it made. I decided to change my lifestyle. I started jogging every day and the more I did it, the better I felt.
“You could say it has something to do with my longevity. Athletes lead a healthier lifestyle.”
Anawalt was living in the San Francisco area when he began running and joined the Dolphin South End Runners. The group did a scenic run every Sunday and Anawalt also competed in the Bay to Breakers race multiple times.
He moved to Santa Rosa when he retired in 1986 and is now a member of the Empire Runners Club.
Anawalt has competed in senior games in Syracuse, N.Y., and San Antonio, Tex.
“I think the Wine Country Games has a bright future,” Anawalt said. “The one last month was the first one and the turnout was good. There was camaraderie among the athletes and everyone had a great time.
“I plan to enter again next year.”
The Nebraska native is 5-foot-5 and weighs 106 pounds.
“I feel good for my age and I’m sure the exercise every day has played a big part in that. I started this routine more than 40 years ago and I’m addicted.”
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