Chinese rehabilitation expert Dr. Li Jian’an has transformed his approach to health and aging after taking up running at the age of 64, when he was overweight, suffered from severe fatty liver disease and struggled to walk even 500 metres.
A decade later, the 74-year-old doctor has completed 140 marathons, turning his personal experience into a long-term case study in physical activity and healthy aging.
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Li’s journey began when his health and physical condition prompted him to reconsider his lifestyle. Rather than remaining inactive, he gradually introduced running into his routine and continued increasing his physical activity over the years.
His transformation has demonstrated the potential benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle later in life, but Li’s experience also highlights the importance of understanding individual health conditions and physical limits.
For Li, running has become more than a way to stay physically fit. He describes it as an opportunity for quiet reflection and personal discipline, allowing him to maintain a sense of purpose while continuing to challenge himself.
However, his commitment to marathon running has not been without personal challenges. His wife of more than four decades has expressed concerns about his safety and the amount of family time devoted to his training and competitions, even while supporting his determination.
Sports medicine specialists have also emphasized that Li’s experience should not be interpreted as a universal prescription for extreme endurance exercise. Individual fitness programmes should take into account age, medical history, physical condition and professional guidance.
Li nevertheless remains determined to continue running. Having set himself the goal of reaching 100 years of age while remaining active, he sees fitness as a lifelong journey rather than a short-term challenge.
His story offers a broader lesson about aging: physical activity can remain an important part of life at any age, but sustainable fitness requires balance between personal goals, health, family responsibilities and evidence-based exercise.
