How long would it take you to run 5, 000 m? Li Yiben, 80, ran 5, 000 m in 28 minutes and 6seconds(秒).
Li did it in a race in Huainan, Anhui Province on April 3rd. There were six runners in his group. The other five were three men in their 50s and 60s and two women in their mid-30s. Li was the oldest but he finished third.
"This is tough. I have never worked so hard, "said Li after the race.
Li served in the military(部队)when he was young. In 1968, he left the military and found anew job. Li had to go over 20 km from home to work. That's when he got interested in running. Lran to work every two or three days. That made him a great runner.
After he left work in 1995, Li spent more time running. In 1998, Li ran a 100 km marathon(马拉松赛跑). He ran in the National Masters Athletics Championships(全国大师田径锦标赛)in 1999. One year later, he went to the Asia Masters Athletics Championships in India. In 2001, Liwent to Sydney to run in the World Masters Athletics Championships. He won many prizes.
In the following years, Li kept running in many races. Running plays an important role in his life. "Running makes me feel younger, "said Li.
