How this inspirational Kelowna woman, 85, breaks the mold

As people reach a certain age, the inclination to slow down becomes normal.

However, for Liz Borrett, the conventional expectations aren’t her style. She's showing it’s never too late to take up something new.

After retiring at 63, the former nurse discovered her passion for running during a charity event in Hawaii. This initial experience sparked her drive for more, leading her to complete the Vancouver Marathon just six months later and to become a member of the Kelowna Running Club and Interior Running Association.

“My husband had died a couple of years earlier and I was answering only to myself. I always have been physically active and running also provided me with a social opportunity that I wouldn't have had otherwise,” she told Kelowna10.

She added being around the energy of younger people is a key factor in staying healthy, despite her age.

“They keep you healthy and they keep you current. And it's just so many things about youth that is important I think, as we get older,” Borrett said. “It's an easy way to keep healthy and it’s an opportunity to get out and actually be in the fresh air, getting out of your home and also the opportunity to meet other people that may be in a totally different level of interest.”

In her running endeavors, she’s competed in 25 marathons, including those in Boston, New York, Tokyo, and Berlin. Also, she complements her fitness regimen with Pilates to help her hips and calves while simultaneously enhancing her overall endurance.

Next up, she’ll head down under to run one of the events at the Sydney Marathon.

“Running also gives the person an opportunity to do a lot of destination traveling," she explained. "You go with the idea of entering a run but the opportunity to really get to know the country too is a win-win.”

To many, Borret is more than just an inspiration, she’s an example that an active routine is not an exception but rather the norm for her.

“I'm always surprised [when people say I’m an inspiration] because for me, it's very normal,” she said. “I think people just quit doing things too soon, and I think you give up your strengths because you think you're getting older, and you can't do it.”