Ruthless old lady is never satisfied

[SternAAlbifrons]

‘I wanted less than a minute’: 105-year-old unsatisfied after 100m world record

Julia ‘Hurricane’ Hawkins sets record in 105+ category

Like all elite athletes, Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins has a ruthless streak. So, despite setting a 100m world record on Sunday at the Louisiana Senior Games, she still wants to go faster.

“It was wonderful to see so many family members and friends. But I wanted to do it in less than a minute,” the 105 year-old said after the race, where she recorded a time of 1:02:95, a record for women in the 105+ age category. When someone pointed out that 102 is less than her age and asked if that made her feel better, Hawkins answered: “No”

The retired teacher is no stranger to athletic excellence. She started competing at the National Senior Games when she was 80, specialising in cycling time trials, and won several gold medals. She eventually ended her cycling career saying that “there wasn’t anyone left my age to compete with”.

When she turned 100 she took up sprinting. In 2017 she set the 100m world record for women over the age of 100 with a time of 39:62. When her record was broken in September by Diane Friedman, Hawkins decided to compete in a new age category.

“I love to run, and I love being an inspiration to others,” Hawkins said on Sunday. “I want to keep running as long as I can. My message to others is that you have to stay active if you want to be healthy and happy as you age.”

Several age records for the 100m have tumbled this year. In August, Hiroo Tanaka of Japan blazed home in 16.69 to set the male record in the 90 and over category. In women’s competition Australia’s Julie Brims broke the 55+ record in a time of 12:24, while American Kathy Bergen crossed the line in 16.26 in the 80 and over category. Bergen has also broken age records in the high jump, 60m and 200m.



Lej!!

[Ghostwriter]

she set the 100m world record for women over the age of 100 with a time of 39:62

Since when do we have world records for the 100+ ?
Oooh with news like that, don't be surprised if the age of retirement get delayed past 75...
What's next ?

[hanno]

Definitely my goal: bag a few medals in the 100+ category.

[Doc67]

Who wants to live to 105? All your friends will be dead, and more than likely some of your kids too.

I can't think of anything worse than being stuck in a care home for 25 odd years watching all my 'new friends' dying on a regular basis and everyone looking at me thinking, "he'll be next".

F**k that...

[Kung-fu Hillbilly]

Who wants to live to 105? All your friends will be dead, and more than likely some of your kids too.

I can't think of anything worse than being stuck in a care home for 25 odd years watching all my 'new friends' dying on a regular basis and everyone looking at me thinking, "he'll be next".

F**k that...

I suspect many who share a similar outlook change their opinion the older they get. It kind of raises an interesting question though: How many people actually end their own life late in life?

Just had a quick look and it seems many in older age share Doc's opinion (In Australia, at least)

Australian men aged over 85 have the highest suicide rate in Australia, and more than double that of teenagers, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2015 data shows.

Suicide rate for men aged 85 and older was 39.3 per 100,000 males
Among males aged 15-19 the rate was 11.8

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-30/ ... de/8569740

[violet]

Who wants to live to 105? All your friends will be dead, and more than likely some of your kids too.

I can't think of anything worse than being stuck in a care home for 25 odd years watching all my 'new friends' dying on a regular basis and everyone looking at me thinking, "he'll be next".

F**k that...

I suspect many who share a similar outlook change their opinion the older they get. It kind of raises an interesting question though: How many people actually end their own life late in life?

Just had a quick look and it seems many in older age share Doc's opinion (In Australia, at least)

Australian men aged over 85 have the highest suicide rate in Australia, and more than double that of teenagers, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2015 data shows.

Suicide rate for men aged 85 and older was 39.3 per 100,000 males
Among males aged 15-19 the rate was 11.8

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-30/ ... de/8569740

Interestingly about the suicide rate.
I think it is terrible that people have to resort to finding ways to end their lives rather than simply being able to check out in a dignified manner if they desire.
I will be on the list one day.

[Kung-fu Hillbilly]

Who wants to live to 105? All your friends will be dead, and more than likely some of your kids too.

I can't think of anything worse than being stuck in a care home for 25 odd years watching all my 'new friends' dying on a regular basis and everyone looking at me thinking, "he'll be next".

F**k that...

I suspect many who share a similar outlook change their opinion the older they get. It kind of raises an interesting question though: How many people actually end their own life late in life?

Just had a quick look and it seems many in older age share Doc's opinion (In Australia, at least)

Australian men aged over 85 have the highest suicide rate in Australia, and more than double that of teenagers, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2015 data shows.

Suicide rate for men aged 85 and older was 39.3 per 100,000 males
Among males aged 15-19 the rate was 11.8

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-30/ ... de/8569740

Interestingly about the suicide rate.
I think it is terrible that people have to resort to finding ways to end their lives rather than simply being able to check out in a dignified manner if they desire.
I will be on the list one day.

You might be interested in an article in today's Guardian where Premier Dominic Perrottet opposes the voluntary assisted dying bill in N.S.W. preferring to increase palliative care funding.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... s-nsw-bill

[Freightdog]

Age doesn’t so much bother me, but being mobility impaired and having difficulty controlling one’s self, yes, that’s a big problem.

Maintaining some significant independence is essential, along with some dignity. Something pretty serving me a G&T, ideal. The same pretty thing serving me a bed pan, no.
The same with a shower or bath- both getting in together, and maybe getting a decent back scrub; perfect. A bed bath; not so much.

At 105yrs old, if she’s able to continue to challenge herself, and has things to aim for, and achieve some satisfaction in life, more power to her. But I’m also with Doc (Figuratively speaking), slowly declining and watching as friends come and go is not something I’d relish.

Here. Gone.

[Freightdog]

You might be interested in an article in today's Guardian where Premier Dominic Perrottet opposes the voluntary assisted dying bill in N.S.W. preferring to increase palliative care funding.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... s-nsw-bill

While the concept of killing has taken on a very different emphasis in my mind in recent years (all lives lost or wasted is something of a tragedy), the idea that people would be obliged to continue by someone else’s mandate is beginning to rankle. Rather like the argument about abortion- I have my views about some aspects, but would have to hold back on demanding a certain compliance from someone whose situation is different from my own, and where I actually have no place in the first place.

[violet]

Who wants to live to 105? All your friends will be dead, and more than likely some of your kids too.

I can't think of anything worse than being stuck in a care home for 25 odd years watching all my 'new friends' dying on a regular basis and everyone looking at me thinking, "he'll be next".

F**k that...

I suspect many who share a similar outlook change their opinion the older they get. It kind of raises an interesting question though: How many people actually end their own life late in life?

Just had a quick look and it seems many in older age share Doc's opinion (In Australia, at least)

Australian men aged over 85 have the highest suicide rate in Australia, and more than double that of teenagers, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2015 data shows.

Suicide rate for men aged 85 and older was 39.3 per 100,000 males
Among males aged 15-19 the rate was 11.8

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-30/ ... de/8569740

Interestingly about the suicide rate.
I think it is terrible that people have to resort to finding ways to end their lives rather than simply being able to check out in a dignified manner if they desire.
I will be on the list one day.

You might be interested in an article in today's Guardian where Premier Dominic Perrottet opposes the voluntary assisted dying bill in N.S.W. preferring to increase palliative care funding.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... s-nsw-bill

As soon as he was in the role I knew this would be his stance.

I’m very uninterested in the views of a staunch Christian politician with a large number of children.(my only interest in his views is to have a glimpse to see if my expectations are being met)

I do not accept that Christian values and beliefs of political decision makers are forced upon those of us who are not of the same mindset. But, of course, I have no choice but to accept.

I’m of the opinion it’s time for the likes of him to be dictated to by the likes of me. Christian decision makers can be dictated to by those with opposing views.
He can have his beliefs but when they interfere with my choices and my ability to die with dignity rather than having to take the scarier and more hurtful route of suicide by whatever means, then I have an issue with his beliefs.

It is my choice alone whether I live or die. To be told by others that a life of pain (by any means, whether physical or emotional/psychological) must be preserved at all costs because life is sacred, is just dumbfounding to me. Where is the compassion for a human being in pain? In their minds people are lost souls in need of saving and being shown the power of the love of a god. They can take a long and arduous hike off a cliff as far as I am concerned.

Apologies for my lack of ability to articulate my stance in a way that might bring other readers along on my journey. I have never been able to properly articulate my views on this.