HONOLULU MARATHON
88-year-old marathoner prefers not acting her age
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Well-wishers along the 26.2-mile Honolulu Marathon course on Sunday beware: 88-year-old Gladys "Glady" Burrill is trying for a personal best this year.
The oldest runner in the competition, Burrill will be running in her third Honolulu Marathon.
Last year she completed the race in 8 hours, 55 minutes and 39 seconds. This year she's hoping to improve to 7 1/2 hours.
"But people are so inspired that when they see me they want to give me hugs or take a picture, so that takes time," said Burrill, who has lived in Waikiki part-time for the past 12 years. "My grandson and his wife tell me (five-time champion) Jimmy Muindi wouldn't stop, so they yell 'Jimmy!' at me, and I keep going."
Burrill may be an inspiration to others, but it is another runner who is unable to compete in this year's race who inspires her.
Burrill is dedicating Sunday's race to 91-year-old Meisho "Bob" Terukina, who suffered a stroke in January.
"I knew it meant so much to him to be a part of it," Burrill said. "And he's a great guy. It's what I wanted to do."
Last year they were the oldest female and male runners.
"It's amazing that I'm the oldest one," said Burrill, who power-walks the course. "I do a lot of talking to God, I trust his help."
Terukina won't be participating for the first time in 30 years, and Burrill is "sad about it, but he's had a lot of good years in the past."
They met in last year's race near the start, and kept in touch.
Terukina, who fell and struck his head when he suffered the stroke, had not missed a Honolulu Marathon since turning 60.
"He loved to do it. He looked forward to it every year, marathon, marathon," his wife, Dorothy said. "We talk to him about it, but he doesn't seem interested. He's not excited, because his brain is not normal."
She said her husband was a "very active man," who enjoyed the outdoors. "He used to go swimming and golfing and running a lot."
Terukina is at the Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, where "he feeds himself," but "can't walk," Dorothy said. He gets around with the use of a wheelchair.
It helps Dorothy to receive the sometimes weekly phone calls from Burrill inquiring about Bob's health.
"She's so nice," Dorothy said. "She called and we became friends."
Burrill said: "About once a week, and I call her from the Mainland, and I enjoy talking to her."
Getting to know the Terukinas "has meant a lot to me," Burrill said. "Bob has done quite a few marathons, and being near the same age, they are friendly and caring people. It just developed into a wonderful relationship."
Burrill was inspired to compete in her first marathon after watching the start of the 2003 race, when the fireworks and marathoners enticed her to try it at 86 in 2004. It helped that she "had walked forever; I was born walking," the hills of her family farm in Washington.
"I never think about my age," Burrill said. "Everybody is more excited about it than I am."
If all goes well, Dorothy Terukina plans to be at Kapi'olani Park to see Burrill cross the finish line Sunday, like she used to do when Bob competed.
"Most of the time he was the last one," Dorothy said of her husband, "but he always finished it."
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STARS TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS
Actors and University of Hawai'i football players will sign autographs at The Honolulu Marathon Expo at the Hawai'i Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave. The expo — open from Wednesday through Saturday — drew more than 62,000 people last year. Actors who will be signing autographs will be "Lost" actress Yunjin Kim (Friday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.), "Lost" actor Naveen Andrews (Saturday 2 to 4 p.m.), and actress Kelly Hu (Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Football players will be Leonard Peters, Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins. The session is free and will be held Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Pictured autograph cards will be made available for free. Peters and Bess are all-Western Athletic Conference first-team selections. The Honolulu Marathon starts at 5 a.m. on Dec. 10, beginning at the intersection of Ala Moana Boulevard and Queen Street extension. Here is their schedule of events: THURSDAY Honolulu Marathon Legends 5K, 7:45 a.m., Kapi'olani Park Honolulu Marathon Expo, Hawai'i Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave. Mandatory packet pickup; Late entry registration, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Expo courtesy shuttle: Waikiki/Hawai'i Convention Center: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Legends of Running autograph session, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Convention Center. (Frank Shorter, Kip Keino, Meb Keflezighi, Patti Dillon, Carla Beurskens, Ian Stewart, Greg Meyer, Alberto Salazar, Cosmas Ndeti) Honolulu Marathon Expo, Hawai'i Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave. Mandatory packet pickup; Late entry registration, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Expo courtesy shuttle: Waikiki/Hawai'i Convention Center: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Legends of Running autograph session, at Convention Center. 10 a.m. to noon. (Frank Shorter, Kip Keino, Meb Keflezighi, Patti Dillon, Carla Beurskens, Ian Stewart, Greg Meyer, Alberto Salazar, Cosmas Ndeti) Univesity of Hawai'i football players Leonard Peters, Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullins, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Convention Center. Actress Yunjin Kim ("Lost") autograph session, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Convention Center. Souvenir Sales, Kapi'olani Park noon to 9 p.m. Clothing check-in, Kapi'olani Park, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Honolulu Marathon concert/luau Jake Shimabukuro and Gavin DeGraw at Waikiki Shell; gates open at 4 p.m., concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Food service ends at 7:15 p.m. Honolulu Marathon Expo, Hawai'i Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave. Mandatory packet pickup; Late entry registration, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Expo courtesy shuttle Waikiki/Hawai'i Convention Center: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Kelly Hu (movie/TV actress) autograph session, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Naveen Andrews ("Lost" actor) autograph session, 2 to 4 p.m., at Convention Center. Souvenir Sales, Kapi'olani Park 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Clothing check-in, Kapi'olani Park, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bus transportation to start area, Kapi'olani Park. 2 to 4 a.m. Honolulu Marathon start, 5 a.m., Queen Street extension near Ala Moana Beach Park. Race Day Walk, start, 5:25 a.m., Queen Street extension near Ala Moana Beach Park Finish line/area services, Kapi'olani Park, 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free concert at Kapi'olani Bandstand 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring Jake Shimabukuro Awards ceremony, Kapi'olani Park Bandstand, 1 p.m. Souvenir sales, Kapi'olani Park 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Finisher certificate pick-up, Kapi'olani Park 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Souvenir sales, Kapi'olani Park 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Souvenir sales, Kapi'olani Park 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.
