SALT LAKE CITY— Thursday marked the latest edition of the Deseret News 10K, and among the entrance was a woman whose performance has truly stood the test of time.
Gladys Buxton posted a time of 56:43 with a pace of 9:08—at the age of 80.
"I was one and one," she said. "I was the only one in my age division."
Buxton got her start at the '85 Deseret News 10K
Buxton said she ran her first Deseret News 10K in 1985 when her husband got her into running.
"He trained me and said, 'OK, now we're going to go 3 miles and then 4,'" Buxton recalled. "We usually only went about 5 miles until the race and then that extra 1 mile — I think you just have energy to keep going until the finish line."
Buxton said her husband was always several minutes ahead of her in timing, but around 20 years ago, she started beating him, and a lot of others.
"It's been probably anywhere between 15 or 20 years now that I've been able to run faster and get first in my division," the runner said.
According to Buxton, running has become a tradition among the couple's children and grandchildren.
Her family was present Thursday morning wearing yellow 'Team Gigi 80' T-shirts to cheer her on as she was recognized at the event.
"My family thinks it's a great accomplishment," Buxton said. "I feel it's a wonderful blessing from above, and I really appreciate that because I do love to run."
