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October 03, 2022 6 min read 152 Comments
Joseph Diehl didn’t know if he’d make it past the age of 72. After all, to his knowledge, very few people in his family ever had due to heart conditions running strong in his bloodline. At the age of 73, however, Diehl has not only surpassed generations before him, but he is running strong.
In fact, on Oct. 7, Diehl will toe the line of the Moab 240 with the goal of being the first person his age to complete the distance.
Diehl began running as a teenager on his high school track and cross country teams. Not only was he the team captain, but he even broke the mile record at his school. Running was just one of those things that stayed with him through his twenties and thirties, where he competed in several marathons including 5 Rock and Roll Marathons during its beginning years.
However, as time went on, like many do, Diehl’s lifestyle migrated away from running as he settled into family life and career. During those years, Diehl said that his health started to deteriorate. He said that had developed an affinity for junk food, and as a result, in his late sixties, he found himself in his doctor’s office facing a fate all too familiar.
“I went to see a heart specialist, and she said, 'Why are you here? When was your event?’ To which I retorted, ‘What event?’ And the doctor replied, ‘Your heart attack.’” Diehl recalled. “I told her that I was just here to prevent a heart attack. Two stress tests later, I found out my arteries are clogged up more than the I-5 freeway through downtown Seattle.”
Diehl explained that he had a friend who reminded him about his years as a runner, and who invited him to start walking. The first walk he described as being discouraging, saying that he was “Tired after only one block.” Diehl’s wife of 28 years encouraged him to walk two blocks, which he did. Around the same time, his doctor told him about the benefits of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training).
“I was told of the benefits of HIIT by my heart specialist,” Diehl said. “She then explained that men in my age group, on average, have a 62% blockage. Well, it didn't sound like good news to me. I started running harder, longer and doing HIIT to reduce plaque buildup.”
Coupled with a new lease on life and blending the old self with the new, Diehl went full force losing 46 pounds and regaining his love for running long distances. Just last year, in fact, Diehl ran five marathons. It was during one of those marathons that he found himself needing a little help.
“I ran a marathon that went through a 2.4-mile tunnel through a mountain at Snoqualmie Pass, and we were told that we would need a light,” Diehl said. “I really didn’t pay much attention to that part, and figured I would be just fine. When I got to the tunnel it was pitch black. I couldn’t see anything. I was literally running into the wall. A woman with a Kogalla light came up to me and had me run with her. She had to slow way down for me, but she stayed with me the whole length of the tunnel, and it was unlike any light I had experienced.”
Diehl said that this woman spoke about running ultramarathons, and that conversation intrigued him. Not only did he get himself one of those lights, but he decided that he wanted to get better at running and enter into the world of ultrarunning.
“You know, you need to have resources and tools to be able to get better at things,” Diehl said. “That light was a tool to get me through the tunnel, and so was the runner who had it. I started to think that maybe having a coach would be another resource to help improve my running, so I hired one.”
Diehl said that when he hired his running coach, he told her about his interest in running ultramarathons, and her response surprised him.
“I told her I wanted to do ultramarathons, and she was like, ‘I’m going to be honest with you; the races out there are geared toward younger runners.’” Diehl recalled. “I didn’t know what that was supposed to mean, but it was then when she told me about cutoffs. She had just completed the Moab 240 in 2021, and noted that it was the more experienced runners who ended up having the fortitude to finish - assuming they could make those mysterious ‘cutoffs.’”
In most ultramarathons, runners need to arrive at aid stations by a certain time or they will be removed from the race. This is in an effort to keep track of all of the runners, as well as to stay in line with permit rules. This much was explained to Diehl, but it wasn’t until his first experience with said cutoff, when he knew exactly what his coach was talking about.
As Diehl began his entrance into the ultramarathon world, he quickly learned that even if you felt fine enough to continue on, that didn’t mean that you would be allowed to.
“You get to an aid station, and they say, ‘OK, you aren’t going to make it.’” Diehl said. “I said (to the race officials) ‘What do you mean? I’m on my way. You know I’m feeling great!’ And then they say, ‘No, we have to pull you from the race and we’re going to take you to the finish line in a car, and you’re going to have what they call a DNF which is, did not finish.’”
While Diehl has several “DNF’s” next to his name on race results, he said it hasn’t deterred him from continuing on. Not only that, each unfinished race has sharpened his resolve to both finish what he started, and to also let race directors know that “old people” like him want to finish.
“During the Cascade 100, I was doing really well,” Diehl recalled. “I got to mile 36.5 aid station, and they said they were pulling me. I told them that I had 63.5 miles and 20 hours to do it. I told them that I could do this, but they told me that they had to pull me.”
“Older runners should be given a little bit of slack, right? We don’t mind finishing with nobody around and there’s no hoopla, applause and bands playing. Just give us a chance because we’re prepared to finish.”
Diehl said that he realizes that race directors have to follow protocol with permits in order to keep runners safe and liability low. He acknowledged that some race directors will let runners start a few hours ahead so that people can finish in the allotted time. One time, however, despite being told he couldn’t complete the race, he still managed to trek the entire course.
“At an ultra at Tiger Mountain here in Washington, I got to an aid station and I think I was at like maybe mile 42 or something, and was told that I didn’t make the cutoff, so I ripped my bib off and handed it to the RD and I said, ‘OK, I’m on my own then, right?’” Diehl recalled. “So I handed them my bib and I followed my All Trails app to the finish line. There was nobody there when I crossed the finish around dusk, and I looked around and got to my car. I had to get back there anyway. The RD called me later that night and told me why he needed to follow the rules. I told him that he had to do what he had to do, but I was going to keep running.”
“For many, a DNF is a curse, but for me it’s a badge of honor. I’ve been writing letters and talking to race directors, telling them, ‘Hey, you know what? We are the ones who are in our sixties and seventies who really started the races that you are profiting from, right? So, we are really the ones that, you know back in the 1960's and 70’s signed up for these races and they became popular, including the Boston Marathon and other major marathons, right? So it’s like, respect your elders.’”
On a quest to earn respect.
Author Ari Brown is a mom of nine, trail and ultra runner and freelance writer who has had articles published and syndicated in national publications. In her free time she likes to ... Wait! What free time?
Follow Joe on the Moab 240 Live Tracking Page. Starts on race morning Oct. 7: Moab 240 Live Tracking
Learn more about the Moab 240 ultra-marathon: Moab 240
October 06, 2022
Interesting article! Very informative!!!
October 06, 2022
What an inspiration you are! It gives me hope that maybe I can turn my health around if I start eating right and excersing and following my doctor’s advice! Not only have you turned your health around, you may save someone else’s by sharing your story! thank you
October 06, 2022
Stay healthy do not over do it. You are n inspiration
October 06, 2022
Very inspiring and good luck in Moab. I’ll remember this story when I’m trying to talk myself out of a workout!
October 06, 2022
What an awesome story! Thanks for sharing
October 06, 2022
I love reading inspiring stories!!! Thank you!!!
October 06, 2022
Way to take control of your health! Very inspirational!
October 06, 2022
way to go Joe! Keep stepping!
October 06, 2022
Very cool! Great you followed the inner guidance to take control of your destiny, by getting fit again.
October 06, 2022
I’m in the same age group and this is the reason I still run long distance. Best of luck this weekend!
October 06, 2022
This is just incredible! It really shows the power of the human spirit.
October 06, 2022
Just goes to show you that it’s never over while you yet live.
October 06, 2022
Awesome!
October 06, 2022
Way to go Joe!!
October 06, 2022
Fantastic! Congratulations on turning motivation into determination. Enjoy every mile – it’s incredible what we can accomplish when we commit to it.
October 06, 2022
So inspiring! 🥰
October 06, 2022
Way to stay, enjoy & Be alive!
October 06, 2022
So awesome! Go Joe!
October 06, 2022
Way to go, Joe! Way to use those lights!
October 06, 2022
stud of the highest caliber!!
October 06, 2022
Simply amazing, and good for him! That is an inspiring cause!!
October 06, 2022
Amazing journey Joe! I’m in full support of addressing the hard cutoffs for us older ultra runners!
October 06, 2022
That’s quite the tall task no matter what age someone is, yet it is so much more inspirational given your story. Stay strong! You have a lot of support (good thoughts and prayers) pulling for you to see it through to the end.
October 06, 2022
Way to go Joe!
October 06, 2022
I need to improve my heart health before it’s too late.October 06, 2022
Way to go!
October 06, 2022
Keep up the hard work. You look great with all that weight off you. Best of health to you.
October 06, 2022
This is a great story!
October 06, 2022
Great story. Thanks for sharing.
October 06, 2022
You have given me the motivation to keep going with my running. I survived breast cancer and I am on a healing journey. I love the strength and determination he shows. My hero!
October 06, 2022
I have already ran 67 half marathons, 12 Marathons, and 50K. I thought I should hang up my running shoes at 70 years old but you inspired me to go further. The men and women of my generation keep surprising me, and inspiring me to “boldly go where no one has gone before”. I hope to run into Joe Diehl on the road or trail.
October 06, 2022
Love th determination. Ultra isn’t about speed but persistence and endurance and you embody that. Keep running!
October 06, 2022
Joe, This is an incredible story. I love your determination and tenacity. Thanks for sharing your journey.
October 06, 2022
We are elderly and trike 8 miles a day for exercise.
October 06, 2022
🙌 INSPIRATIONAL 🙌
October 06, 2022
YOU GO JOE!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU GOT THIS . THIS IS SO AWESOME AND GIVES ME INSPIRATION TO BE ABLE TO OVERCOME LIFE OBSTACLES IN MY OWN LIFE JOURNEY AT THE TIME. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS
October 06, 2022
Go Joe. You are 15 years ahead of me. I plan to do the same in 15 years!
October 06, 2022
What a lovely story and a true inspiration! Good luck Joe!
October 05, 2022
WAY TO GO, JOE!!! You got this, sir! You are such an inspiration. Thank you for your hard work and perseverance! I am rooting for you!!!
October 05, 2022
Wow, BL= perservenance and goals can be achieved!
October 05, 2022
Diet & exercise are so important at any age! All best wishes!
October 05, 2022
Joe, you are an inspiration to us all. Best of luck with your endeavors. I am sure you will succeed.
October 05, 2022
Such a beautiful story and you are an inspiration to all of us!
October 05, 2022
As someone who recently had a doctor visit force me to change up my diet and exercise, I love that Joe decided that making a change has no time limit. Congrats on your success and best of luck!
October 05, 2022
LOVE your outlook! I hope to be as strong as you when I get to your age. Thanks for the inspiration, and I’ll be rooting for you for the Moab 240.
October 05, 2022
How motivating a story!
October 05, 2022
What a warrior! 👏🏽👏🏽
October 05, 2022
Sweet ! Like Hiking Its Great Outdoor Adventures
October 05, 2022
Joe,
You are SUCH an inspiration!
October 05, 2022
1000% older runners need more time for cut offs for their health and not pushing past limits on health.
October 05, 2022
incredibl;e
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Mandy C
October 06, 2022
Sir, you are incredible! A hero, a pioneer, a voice to those who wonder if they can do it.. thank you for your presence and for all you do. What an encouraging story, and yours is not over!