96-year-old sets world record in Thanksgiving Day 5K race

Bob McAdam might be 96 years old, but he’s still committed to staying in shape. And now, he has a world record to his name.

McAdam is a resident of a retirement home in Colorado and served as a U.S. Army Air Corps navigator during WWII. He also spent time as a POW after his plane was shot out of the sky, KUSA-TV reported.

As part of his retirement home activities, McAdam trained with a personal trainer on site for three months, in addition to utilizing his living facility’s exercise equipment. He also ran a simulated 5K on the facility’s indoor track.

On race day, McAdam competed in the Turkey Day 5K in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and exceeded even his highest expectations. McAdam completed the course in 48 minutes, 19 seconds, shattering the previous world record for the 95+ age group in a 5K, which was 50 minutes 10 seconds.

Interestingly, McAdam wasn’t attempting to set a record; in fact, he began his running training as a means of staying in shape so that he could continue to play racquetball. He initially refused to run in the actual race over concerns that he would fall because he is legally blind, but his trainer agreed to run the course with him to ensure his safety.

According to KUSA, McAdam feels that he can do better than his record-setting run:

For McAdam, the Turkey Run wasn't about achieving a life long goal. Grace, his beloved wife of 69 years passed away recently. She was his purpose in life.

"I feel like people my age sometimes begin to give up a little bit instead of looking forward to each day and trying to do what they can," adding that survival and purpose go hand in hand.

While the world may be impressed with McAdam's record setting run, he is the only one who doesn't seem to be.

"It doesn't impress me too much because I know that I walked a lot of this and I can do better than I did yesterday," he said.

Bob told 9NEWS he wants to beat his time at the Turkey Run 5K by three minutes next year.

Keep trucking, Bob.