He Fell, Got Up, And Set A World Record. At 97. Earl's Powerful Story Of Willpower.

photo by shaggysphotos.com.

By Ray Glier

Earl Fee stumbled over a rug and fell the night before a track meet at the Metro Track and Feld Centre in Toronto. Earl is 97 years old. Falls happen.

“I’ve had quite a few falls,” Fee said. He seemed to shrug through the phone as we talked.

“Some people have bigger things to worry about.”

The next day, on March 29, and with a little neck pain from the fall, Earl set a world record in the 200 meters indoors (Men 95-99). The 48.89-second time might not be impressive for a 40, 50, or 60-year old, but for someone 97 to be out there running that strong and still competing, Earl deserves a salute.

Fee will compete outdoors in June and July and go for a world record in either the 200 or 400 meters, or both. He has 11 world marks in various age groups and events, according to World Masters Athletics, starting at age 70.

"I've aged well," he said in a classic understatement.

Earl, an engineer who wrote a book about longevity, wants us all to understand something about aging. 

Fee nearly let go of Masters Track & Field two years ago. His ankles would swell up. He had a continuing problem with atrial fibrillation. What’s more, his knee ached from a fall 30 years ago.

Then Fee looked around at his community and saw other people with their own infirmities. He wouldn't quit Track & Field Competition just yet, not surrounded by a resilient tribe.

Earl willed himself to continue his lifelong ambition of exercising vigorously every day.

Earl says he has an intangible working for him, which is an exercise we take for granted.

Smiling.

“I have a sense of humor, I think that helps keep you young,” Fee said. “Gratitude is also a big thing with me. I’m very grateful for the things I have. I might have a pain, but I think to myself ‘You know, it could be worse’.”

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Geezer Jock profiled Earl 15 months ago. You can find a link to the story about this extraordinary man here.

He still simulates an 800-meter race in the pool three or four times a month. Every night, Fee picks up a heavy chord tied to a doorknob in his home. He pulls on it 100 times for weight training.

“It’s time to go to bed after that,” he said.

What is really interesting is that the ankle swelling Earl endured disappeared last year. The atrial fibrillation suddenly stopped as Fee recommitted to Masters track.

“I still have a problem with the knee, particularly if I'm going up and down the stairs, but I find that I'm not worried about it anymore and I keep running, as if my knee doesn't bother me. I think it's going to be okay.

“I'm not going to worry about it anymore.”

That is the imperative here today. Understand that stumble and falls do not mean the end is close. Pick yourself up, draw strength from others, and keep going. Don't look in the mirror and see gray. See blue.