87-year-old runner finishes historic Richmond Marathon
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Saturday marked the 47th Richmond Marathon. It was a record-breaking year with nearly 21,000 runners in the 8K, half-marathon and marathon. The oldest runner, at 87-years-old, ran all 26.2 miles with his family by his side. In his third marathon, Doctor Rao Yalamanchili finished in just under seven-and-a-half hours. He said this was his last marathon. Yalamanchili traveled from New Jersey to run the Richmond Marathon. His daughter, Dr. Venkata Ramana Feeser, who is an ER physician at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center, as well as his granddaughter Sonya, a VCU medical student who lives here. “He’s my inspiration for running my first marathon two years ago and I’m definitely running today’s marathon for him," Sonya said. Yalamanchili works full time as an engineer for the United States Army, a position he’s held for over 56 years and four months. He runs at least six days a week, but he didn’t run for the medal. “Get to see the whole city and spend time with my family," Yalamanchili said. His two sons and daughter-in-law were there every step of the way, running by his side. “It’s nothing but honestly admiration for him," his son Dr. Kennedy Yalamanchili said. "I just have so much respect for him." “We’ve always known that he’s always been an incredibly hard worker and that’s what these marathons are all about," his other son, Dr. Surya Yalamanchili, said. "It’s just persevering through it.” His granddaughter Sonya ran ahead of the group in the marathon, and his daughter Venkata ran the half-marathon. “It’s pretty sad when your dad is healthier than you are," Venkata said. Yalamanchili said this was his last marathon, but his sons said they wouldn’t be surprised if he ran another one. He’s proving age is really just a number.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Saturday marked the 47th Richmond Marathon. It was a record-breaking year with nearly 21,000 runners in the 8K, half-marathon and marathon.
The oldest runner, at 87-years-old, ran all 26.2 miles with his family by his side. In his third marathon, Doctor Rao Yalamanchili finished in just under seven-and-a-half hours.
He said this was his last marathon.
Yalamanchili traveled from New Jersey to run the Richmond Marathon. His daughter, Dr. Venkata Ramana Feeser, who is an ER physician at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center, as well as his granddaughter Sonya, a VCU medical student who lives here.
“He’s my inspiration for running my first marathon two years ago and I’m definitely running today’s marathon for him," Sonya said.
Yalamanchili works full time as an engineer for the United States Army, a position he’s held for over 56 years and four months. He runs at least six days a week, but he didn’t run for the medal.
“Get to see the whole city and spend time with my family," Yalamanchili said.
His two sons and daughter-in-law were there every step of the way, running by his side.
“It’s nothing but honestly admiration for him," his son Dr. Kennedy Yalamanchili said. "I just have so much respect for him."
“We’ve always known that he’s always been an incredibly hard worker and that’s what these marathons are all about," his other son, Dr. Surya Yalamanchili, said. "It’s just persevering through it.”
His granddaughter Sonya ran ahead of the group in the marathon, and his daughter Venkata ran the half-marathon.
“It’s pretty sad when your dad is healthier than you are," Venkata said.
Yalamanchili said this was his last marathon, but his sons said they wouldn’t be surprised if he ran another one. He’s proving age is really just a number.
