I was told that there is a 101 year old British man who recently ran a marathon. He smokes 14 cigarettes?

Question

a day and drinks a can or two of beer / day.

Can anyone verify this story?

Answer 1

I read this also.  Odd huh?!?!

My husbands grandma used to smoke and drink beer everyday and then about 10 years ago (she is now 86) the doctor finally made her quit and ever since then-her health has gone way down hill. (yes she is still alive--but truly we don't expect for long)   I don't think smoking and drinking (Alot) is an answer (especially smoking or chewing tobacco)  but I think when your body is used to something and then suddenly it is gone--it possible goes into shock so to speak)

I heard it on the news and saw it on msn.com--within  last week or so!   Also--I just checked--you can see it on Yahoo Sports!

Answer 2

I could believe it Janet. I have heard of too many stories of people who lived to well their 80s and 90s and did not really take care of their bodies/health.

I think Winston Churchill was known to be a drinker and a smoker and lived a long life........ooopss....to be verified here . Have not googled it.

People in my family - on my mother's side - live very long. 97,98,101. 103 etc (her older generation). I have an uncle who is turning 99 this year and has been a painter and sculptor all his life and still works, looks in his 50s.......and remarried a 40 year old last year-.

Genetics must play an important role with some people.

Answer 3

Don't know about the smoking and drinking, but he may have lied about his age http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7346... - according to the NHS he's 'only' 86 - and, look, there he is smoking!

EDIT - my Grandma is 102 and has drunk a glass of sherry every day at 11 am since she was pregnant with my dad in the 30s, but she hasn't smoked since the Swedish rotten fish festival we attended in 1975!  Ha!

Answer 4

Yeh - he lied about his age - he's only 91 apparently

Answer 5

Hmmm....

Well, British cigarettes aren't as strong as North American cigarettes....

maybe that's a factor?

Maybe he's not inhaling???

Answer 6

My grandmother smoked 40 cigarettes a day and drank a bottle of port a week...we have just celebrated her 102nd birthday...and if she hadn't died in 1954 she would have enjoyed it...

Answer 7

That was the London Marathon on Sunday...I was there as a spectactor. The man you are referring to is Buster and he did do the Marathon...he stopped off at the pub I was in for a pint of newcastle brown with a slice of orange in it and he also had a ciggie and then continued his journey...he's amazing

Answer 8

He's also in full time employment. The Guinness Book of Records cannot verify his age as he has lost his Birth Certificate. It was in Monday's Daily Mail ;-)