Dr. Henry Wolstat has been running for more than half his life, ever since a former neighbor invited him on laps around the neighborhood in preparation for a local road race. Now 83, the retired Brookline psychiatrist says the camaraderie and support of the New England 65 Plus Runners Club (ne65plus.org) keeps him pounding the pavement.
“I started running before it became popular,’’ said Wolstat, who had previously kept in shape by hiking, skiing, and cycling. “The exercise [from running] felt good, and it was a good stress outlet when I had my private practice. I’ve kept it up ever since.’’
Wolstat persevered despite an inauspicious result in that first race, a 5-miler in which he finished almost last. Just two years later, he competed in his first of 40 marathons throughout the United States and Canada, including 11 Boston Marathons between 1976 and 2009.
That final year, he crushed his sub-six-hour goal with a time of 5:31:12. A mere 75 years old at the time, he was edged by his wife — Marj Radin, 11 years his junior — who finished at 5:30:02.
“We’re both retired from marathons now, but we still enjoy running for the exercise and the social aspect. We see people we know from the [New England 65 Plus Runners Club] in races all over,’’ said Wolstat, a former club secretary who now serves on the board alongside his wife. “We’ve made a lot of friends. It’s quite a lot of fun.’’
Wolstat joined the organization after moving to Brookline 15 years ago, and Radin followed when she turned 65 seven years ago. Founded in 1991, it has grown from a handful of members in the Merrimack Valley to more than 700 runners from all six New England states.
Membership is open to all who meet the age requirement without regard to competition results. The lifetime membership fee costs $50.
Wolstat, who had a right-knee replacement last fall, has resumed running 5Ks and aspires to double that distance. While many of his fellow club members set age-group records, he is content to finish toward the back of the pack.
“I’ve already done a lot of mileage,’’ he said, “but I’m going to keep running as long as I can.’’
Cindy Cantrell