JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One great aspect of the Gate River Run is that runners of all paces, backgrounds and ages can complete the 9.3-mile course on the same day that Olympic-level runners compete for the 15K national championship.
On Saturday, at least one runner will set a Gate River Run record. Augie Leone finished the race at 92 years old, becoming the oldest runner in Gate River Run history. Leone broke his own record set last year. He finished the River Run in 2 hours, 20 minutes, 24 seconds.
His finish Saturday was even better than it was in 2021. Leone ran a 2:34.17 last year.
Leone came to the sport relatively late in life. He did a bit of running in his 40s, but never really took it seriously until his 70th birthday approached. At 69 years old, he joined a marathon training group and as a birthday gift to himself, he ran a marathon at Disney.
“It was on January the ninth and my birthday was January the eighth. So, it was one day after my 70th birthday,” Leone said.
And just like that, Leone had the running bug.
“I literally was in tears when I finished. I was so excited,” Leone said. “And of course, my wife was there. She said, ‘Well, that’s your only marathon. I said, ‘No.’ As bad as I felt, I said, ‘No.’”
Since turning 70, 22 years ago, Leone has run 48 marathons, 36 half marathons, and only missed the Gate River Run once when he and his wife were on a cruise with friends. He still runs more than 20 races a year — mostly 5Ks and 5 milers. And then there is the Gate River Run, a day he looks forward to every year.
“It’s a good test. You know, the Hart Bridge is fantastic. Walking up the Hart Bridge, you realize you’re pushing yourself,” Leone said. “That’s distance running. You just kind of push yourself at the end and you learn how to cope with it, you know. It’s just part of running.”
As a former engineer, Leone keeps fastidious notes on his past races. His medals and plaques hang in his house. He has so many, some have to live in the garage where he keeps all of his race bibs, each with notes on that particular race.
Leone has the age records at the Gate River Run for an 80-year-old, and 81 and 82. In fact, he has every age record over 80 except 84 and 87. Last year, he finished in 2:34:17. He figures he’ll have about the same time this year. How can he keep doing it?
“I feel like the only reason I’m still doing it because I took on a healthy diet,” Leone said. “And that prevents you from getting the illnesses that stop people from running — mainly heart disease and high blood pressure. I’m proud to say I take no prescriptions. Never have. That’s exceedingly rare.”
Leone follows a nutritarian diet, that focuses on whole foods, mostly plants and nutrient-rich foods.
“The principle is very simple. Eat only the most nutritious foods. Nobody can argue over that,” Leone said. “But it’s very difficult to follow.”
Leone says he’s going to keep running as long as he can. He’s not planning on giving it up any time soon.