Sylvia Weiner is a prolific runner. She’s 85 years old, and she estimates that over the course of her running career she’s completed somewhere near 2,000 races—and she’s got an extensive collection of race medals and trophies to prove it. In 1975, Sylvia even claimed a very special spot in Boston Marathon history. But her most significant legacy has nothing to do with race accolades. When Sylvia runs, she shows others what’s possible. Her long-term dedication to the sport is impressive. “I stick to running for dear life,” she says. That’s because running is more than a passion; it’s a way of dealing with her traumatic past. On this week’s episode, Sylvia shares her incredible story. Let’s just say, there’s a reason Sylvia’s longtime running buddy greets her with an enthusiastic, “Sylvia! She’s our hero!” Episode Credits: Host: Rachel Swaby Producers: Rachel Swaby, Audrey Quinn, Christine Fennessy Editing help: Brian Dalek Special thanks: Gordon Asmundson from the University of Regina for sharing his research and Debbie Weiner for her help with this story. Theme music: Danny Cocke Human Race editor in chief: David Willey  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices