It was a reminder that, if you want to run for a long time and you're growing older, you've really got to think hard about safe routes & how to stick to them.

For example, for this guy, if you're going to run 8 miles for 50 years, then safety would be the top concern - especially in your 70's. You can't do much better than a beach route. Soft surface, no cars, no way to screw up and fall and easily injure yourself: that scores like a 10 out of 10 for a running route. And 50 years of daily running can add up to a lot of risk. For example, 1 close call with a car every 1,000 runs = 18 close calls over 50 years.

I'd probably make the same choice in his position.

Thought I’d ask since hearing these stories of old healthy people brings me so much happiness.

Besides, 3 hours for 8 miles, that's not running, it's slowish walking. Not judging here, I'm not 70 yet, but I'm wondering how much of his health problems are actually causally related to this stubbornness. In a bad way.