SAN ANTONIO – Many people will make a New Year's resolution to run one marathon, but 12 people who enjoyed cake and ice cream along the Leon Creek Trail on Tuesday were celebrating a huge running achievement.
"There's only 16 people in the world ... (who) have ever run over 100 marathons in one year, that's recorded," said Parvaneh Moayedi, a marathon runner. "Twelve of them are in the [Marathon] Legends Club."
At 49, Parvaneh Moayedi ran 213 marathons in 2013.
She finished her 80th race in the last 62 straight days Tuesday, setting a Guinness World Record.
"It's just about the personal record, personal achievement," she said. "If I can do it, anybody can do it."
Moayedi also ran the Badwater Ultramarathon in 2013.
Described as "the World's Toughest Foot Race," the ultramarathon course starts at more than 200 feet below sea level in California's Death Valley and ends at an elevation higher than 8,000 feet.
"You have to set challenges in your life," Moayedi said. "It doesn't matter what you're doing. Running, swimming, achieving it at work, anything. You have to set a challenge and take it day-by-day and step-by-step."
Larry Macon is also a member of the Marathon Legends Club.
The 69-year-old has run 1,235 marathons in his life, including a world record setting 255 marathons in 2013.
"It's absolute insanity," Macon said. "Every [race] is a challenge. Every [race] is, 'Hey, am I going to be able to make this one?' Thus far, I've had 1,235 down. Who knows what will happen next time."
Macon was on Mile 25 when explosives detonated at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
He said the courage he saw from runners and the crowd renewed his faith in humanity and pushed him even harder.
"It's the feeling of accomplishment when you finish it," Macon said.
The club substituted the usual nutritious post-race meal on Tuesday for ice cream and cake.
Ultramarathon runner Traviss Willcox said it was a fitting end to 2013, when he ran 40 marathon and ultramarathons, which are races that are 100 miles or longer.
"We're all fairly mad, I think for some of us the insanity runs deeper than others," Willcox said. "I really wouldn't consider myself much of a 'legend.' I'm just an idiot who runs around a little bit from time to time."
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