81-Year-Old Will Be Oldest Registered Marathon Runner In 2011

BOSTON (CBS) - There is one runner taking to the Boston Marathon on Monday who will hold a title as soon as he steps foot on the course.

Eighty-one-year-old Clarence Hartley will be the oldest runner out there.

The Air Force veteran started running about 13 years ago.

WBZ-TV's Kate Merrill reports

He ran his first marathon at age 75.

"When I ran that marathon I didn't know if I would finish and I came in at 4:09:36," said Clarence.

This will be his fourth marathon.

Clarence has gotten faster, and he knows it.

"I enjoy running faster than younger runners because so many old people say, 'wow I couldn't do it at my age.' But I think they could," says the speedy senior citizen.

Besides the goal of breaking four-and-a-half hours, Clarence just hopes to get others moving at every age.