Jeannie Rice Knows Something the Rest of Us Don't

It's not about talent. It's not about training. The 77-year-old, record-smashing marathoner has tapped into an ineffable force that defies her age— and she'll never stop chasing it.

- BY PAVLÍNA ČERNÁ

JEANNIE RICE SEEMS to be floating down Mentor Avenue in Painesville Township, Ohio, her chin-length bob bouncing gently in rhythm with her footsteps. Despite the humid July heat, the 77-year-old is pacing at 7:59 as she makes her way toward the finish line of the 2025 Johnnycake Jog 5 Miler. Her lipstick-red smile is spread wide.

Five miles is not a big deal for Jeannie, who takes part in some 30 races a year. So far in her running career, she's entered about 1,000 of them all around the world, including roughly 300 half marathons and 137 marathons.

This one has a special meaning, though. In 1983, Johnnycake was the first race Jeannie ever ran, the one that made her realize how much she relishes the competitiveness but also the camaraderie that accompanies it. Unless she's out of town for another race, she runs it every year—she's the de facto star. Everyone knows her or knows of her: the running legend, the world record holder in the 70–74 and 75–79 age categories in the marathon, and in many other distances. She's convinced that showing up at local races is a must for her at this point. “If I don't...they think, ‘Oh my gosh, Jeannie died,’” she says.

Jeannie crosses the finish line at 39:56—not entirely satisfied, as she knows she can run faster. On a recent trip to California, she took a tumble during a trail run while chatting with friends and bruised her ribs. Regardless, she's still fairly sure she has won not only her age group but also the 40+ masters title. How could she not when there's no woman her age faster in Northeast Ohio, let alone the world?