Clem Weierstahl started running late in his life, but he is making up for that now.
The 74-year-old Goodrich resident has been running in the Crim Festival of Races in Flint since 1980.
He was 46 during his first race.
‘I started running because I had friends who went jogging and I wanted to be active,? Weierstahl said. ‘The whole thing keeps you younger, I think. People don’t believe me when I tell them I’m 74.?
Weierstahl has been training for the Crim’s 10 mile run, which takes place on Aug. 23, with a group of runners he’s known for 20 years.
‘My first Crim took me about 90 minutes, which is pretty good for a first timer,? Weierstahl said.
The runner got faster each year, peaking after three or four years of running. He said his best time was about 69 minutes.
Over the past 10 years, that has been more difficult than Weierstahl would like. The runner was in a head-on collision in 1998, breaking his hip and shattering his ankle.
‘The doctor said I would never run again,? he said.
Weierstahl did not accept that professional opinion.
‘I started running with my crutches,? he said. ‘Short distances, like a quarter of a mile. Slowly, I got back into it.?
Weierstahl said he cannot make it through the 10 mile race without feeling his injuries.
‘After about six miles, it starts to hurt. I have to ice and take Motrin as soon as I finish,? he said.
Weierstahl said he still does not have much feeling in his right foot.
‘My doctors said it isn’t going to get any better, so I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing,? he said.