By Amy Galleazzi
Ira Carmen first took up running at the age of 43. Nearly 47 years later and approaching his 90th birthday, he took it up a notch and entered his first competitive race.
At this past summer’s Empire State Senior Games, Carmen took home the gold medal in the 5K road race, placing first in his category of runners aged 90+ (for athletes born in the year 1934 or prior). He competed the 3.1-mile race with his own record-breaking time of 39 minutes and 5 seconds. “I wanted to turn in a time that was respectable,” he says. The time would prove to be more than respectable, as this was Carmen’s first competitive race. Ever.
Every year, states from across the country conduct organized senior games for competitive athletes over the age of 50 where they can compete in a variety of sports – from track and field to tennis, golf and pickleball. In January, Carmen first learned about New York’s senior games, held in the upstate city of Cortland, and decided to enter even though he’s never been a competitive runner. “I thought that I would do well against any 90-year-old and that proved to be the case,” he says. “I really let loose at the end to beat 40 minutes [on the clock] and it was a good, solid effort on my part. I was very pleased with my time.”
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His love for running began in 1977 when he was living in the midwest and working as a political science professor at the University of Illinois, Champaign. A natural athlete, Carmen found that running could not only fit in with his busy work schedule, but provided a good physical fitness routine that suited him well. “I’ve been blessed with good knees,” he says, recognizing a key to his longevity in the sport. And with that, he says, “I run every week, all year long.”
Carmen’s training typically involves a 5K outdoor run every Thursday. He’s a fixture in Cortlandt Manor, running throughout its various neighborhoods. “The roads around me are hilly,” he says. “It’s hard. There’s sometimes no shoulder on the streets, but I’m careful.”
On Sunday mornings, he heads over to Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose, where he works on speed and endurance with a 4-mile run. “It’s my important training day of the week,” he says. He owns no sports equipment, but relies on a good pair of sneakers and high hopes for good weather for his outdoor training. Even with the changing of seasons, he never goes beyond four days without training. He admits that the only time he takes a week off is if he’s hosting gatherings or visiting family, which includes his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren.
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Carmen has no plans to give up his disciplined running routine any time soon. He’s already thinking about the 2025 Empire State Senior Games, but adds that it depends on how he feels. “Will I be injured? We’ll see!” He works on maintaining his overall health and wellness by eating a balanced diet, keeping his academic mind active by consulting with former university colleagues about student rights, and living in the moment. “I’m fit mentally and fit physically. You put them both together and I’m doing OK.”
His overall fitness advice? “Make yourself as fit as possible for your age,” he says. “Don’t try to climb Mount Everest. And no, no, no to marathons! Think fitness!” Another tip: Don’t let your obstacles get in the way. “My eyesight isn’t great, and I wear hearing aids, but you don’t need good sight or hearing to run,” reminding us all that age is just a number.
> nyseniorgames.com.
Irvington resident Amy Galleazzi is a writer and PR & communications consultant who has contributed to People, Country Weekly and others.
