Young at Heart

Did you know...
In 1988, Johnny Kelley at age 80 completed the Boston Marathon in 4:26:36!

Johnny's love of life and Hall of Fame running career serve as an inspiration for many of us. And over the next few months I'll be sure to have a few more posts on Johnny Kelley. But next time you're out on the Boston Marathon course take a moment and check out the "Young at Heart" statue at the base of the third hill in Newton. The statue depicts a young Johnny Kelley at age 27 (who in 1935 won Boston in 2:32:07) and an older Johnny who at age 83 finished in 5:42:54.

If you feel like singing, here's some lyrics to Johnny's signature song...

Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you
If you're young at heart.
For it's hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind
If you're young at heart.

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes.
You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams.
And life gets more exciting with each passing day.
And love is either in your heart, or on it's way.

Don't you know that it's worth every treasure on earth
To be young at heart.
For as rich as you are, it's much better by far
To be young at heart.
And if you should survive to 105,
Look at all you'll derive out of being alive.
And here is the best part, you have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart.

[Musical interlude]

And if you should survive to 105,
Look at all you'll derive out of being alive.
And here is the best part, you have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart.