If you’re looking for a dose of inspiration to get your new year off to a good start, look no further than Robert Marchand. Yesterday, the Frenchman rode a total of 14 miles in one hour, setting a new world’s record in the process. Now, I know what you’re thinking. 14 miles in an hour isn’t particularly very far and that you could probably cover that same distance in less time. But, here’s the real meat to this story: Robert is 105 years old.
Yep, that’s right. At the age of 105, Marchand set a new mark for the longest distance ridden in an hour by someone in his age group. And, he says he could have gone faster had he not missed a sign telling him that he had 10 minutes left in his ride. While conserving his energy for the final push, he failed to see the notification, which meant the didn’t give it his all when he was in the final stage of the event.
Robert says that he picked up cycling at the ripe-young age of 68, when he rode from Paris to Moscow back in 1992. He also leads a healthy lifestyle and doesn’t smoke, rarely drinks, and recently gave up eating meat after learning about how unethically some animals are treated. He lives in a small apartment in Paris, where he rides a stationary bike every day.
If a man who is more than a century old can lead this kind of active and energetic life, why can’t the rest of us? Think about that the next time you’re climbing on your own bike or lacing up your running shoes.
Congratulations to Robert for setting this record. You’re an inspiration to us all.
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