Jeannie Rice
For those who follow masters running, Jeannie Rice’s name often invokes awe and admiration. At age 77, Rice has more than 40 Masters titles in the U.S. At age 70, she set her first age group world record at the 2018 Chicago Marathon with a time of 3:27:50, which she lowered a year later, at the 2019 Berlin Marathon, with a time of 3:24:48.
She also holds age-group world records in the 1500 meters, 5000 meters, and 10,000 meters on the track. In this episode of Starting Line 1928, we talked about her own running routine, her role models, and her goals to run a 3:30 marathon after turning 78. Rice is also planning to compete at the 2026 World Masters Athletics Stadia Championships in South Korea.
Chasing Unexpected Records
Rce’s running history is well-documented. Growing up in South Korea, she didn’t have much access to sports, though both of her parents were active. She didn’t start running until age 35, after realizing that she gained weight after a trip to her native country.
Now, Rice takes pride in her consistent running routine. “I don’t take short or long weeks. I average about 50 miles a week all year long except for the weeks leading up to a marathon,” says Rice. She races about four marathons a year, along with a handful of half-marathons and more 5Ks and 10Ks. “I’m ready for the marathon anytime,” says Rice.
After decades of winning age divisions in local races, Rice finds herself surprised at her international fame. In 2017, at the Columbus Marathon, she set the American record of 3:29 for the age group 65 – 69. From there, she got excited about the prospects of setting world records. In 2018, she set the world record in the marathon with a time of 3:27 at the Chicago Marathon for the age group 70 – 75. Then she lowered her own record to 3:24 at the Berlin Marathon in 2019. At age 76, she set another record of 3:33 at the London Marathon for her new age group.
What’s so striking about Rice is her relentless focus on getting the most out of her own potential. “Though I am still training as hard, I feel like I slowed down a little bit in the last couple of years… but my goal is still 3:30,” says Rice. This past year, Rice ran the Sydney Marathon in 3:38 – a hilly course and on a warm day. “Maybe I need to find an easier course” for another world record, says Rice.
The Lineage of US Women’s Distance Running
2026 is Rice’s forty-third year of consistent running. She recalls running eight marathons in one year, and “only” plans to complete four marathons this year. “By the end of this year, I will have completed 140 marathons,” says Rice. She only keeps a total count of her marathons, and not other distances.
Rice’s prolific racing records are a testament to how much U.S. women’s distance running has come along since the passing of Title IX. As an immigrant, Rice benefits from a vibrant running culture in the U.S., training with a few run clubs in Cleveland and in Florida. She’s often seen racing in a sports bra and a pair of shorts, something she mentioned she would never wear in Korea. “In Korea, there’s no way I’m wearing what I usually wear during races. No way,” says Rice. “That’s why I don’t live in Korea,” she laughs. She enjoys a supportive running culture and says she never experienced any racism or sexism.
She also follows her role model, Joan Benoit Samuelson, the first women's Olympic Games marathon champion in 1984. “She’s been my idol,” says Rice. “I follow all her achievements. She’s still running,” says Rice. The two of them met in person at the Chicago and Boston Marathons. Rice is about a decade older than Samuelson and has the sincere wish for Samuelson to break all her records. “I never had her speed,” says Rice. “I hope she continues to be healthy… and break all my records when she gets to my age. It will be such an honor.”
Living Her Dreams
These days, Rice’s life is perhaps any runner’s dream: She trains with runners of all ages. She splits her time between her homes in Ohio and Florida, depending on the weather. She flies all over the world to race, and has completed all six marathon majors: London, Berlin, New York, Sydney, Tokyo, and Boston. She coaches herself. Her house is usually a bustling scene of runner friends coming to stay with her from all over the country. “I do too much social stuff perhaps,” Rice chuckles.
She recently struck a friendship with Amby Burfoot, the 1968 Boston Marathon champion and former Runner’s World editor-in-chief, with whom she trades texts on training. She learns about running from reading. Contemporaries like Deena Kastor inspire her. She hardly thinks about how she’s a pioneer in women’s distance running—she’s simply enjoying her running life.
“We women need to take care of ourselves with our health and social life,” says Rice. “What’s a better way to do that than running?”
Note about the author: Jinghuan Liu Tervalon is a runner and freelance writer based in Los Angeles. Her writing focuses on marginalized voices and under-covered stories. It spans from BIPOC runner profile stories, book reviews, recipes, to performance-related topics (menopause, grandmaster runners, etc.) You can find her byline in Runner's World, Women's Running, Outside Run, Trail Runner and the Lonely Planet. For her most recent work, check out Substack. She also hosts running-book events at her local running store, Run With Us in Pasadena.
