74-year-old Florida grandmother will run 97th marathon in Jacksonville to honor late sister

“People say you’re getting old? No, no, no, not me. I’m not getting old. I just keep going,” Gloria Vasquez said.

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — A 74-year-old grandmother from Kissimmee is defying the cold this weekend, lacing up for her 97th marathon at the Donna Marathon in Jacksonville Beach.

Gloria Vasquez, who moved to Florida from New York, said the race holds deep personal meaning. She’s running it to honor her late sister Isabel, who died of breast cancer 10 years ago. The Donna Marathon raises money for the Donna Foundation, which helps breast cancer patients cover unexpected expenses.

Vasquez’s running journey began at age 8 in Colombia, where she won her first race and received a Coca-Cola as the prize.

“I won the race, and I was like, what? They gave me a Coca-Cola. That’s the prize. I was super happy,” she said.

She has since completed marathons in all 50 states before turning 60. Now, she’s chasing an even bigger goal: 100 marathons before she turns 100.

“Then I decided, you know what? I’ve been in 50 states … maybe I can do 100 marathons,” Vasquez said.

Her relentless training routine keeps her going.

“It makes me feel good, makes me feel healthy,” Vasquez said. “I have the energy, and I always make time to train. Sometimes you find me jumping on the trampoline at 4 o’clock in the morning because I work.”

Vasquez fled domestic violence as a single mother, arriving in the U.S. with her sister Isabel’s support.

“When I came to this country with my 4 kids, I came by myself,” she said. “My husband was very abusive, so I left him. My sister Isabel opened her house for me, helped me get a job. She’s always in my heart, and I appreciate everything that she did for me and for my children. She was just amazing.”

Vasquez chose this race deliberately.

“I saw this marathon for breast cancer. I said, that will be perfect for me before I finish my 100 marathons to honor her this way, running the race for her,” she said.

Her advice to others: don’t let age stop you.

“You’re getting old? No, no, no, not me. I’m not getting old. I just keep going,” Vasquez said. “Just focus one mile at a time, just one mile at a time. All of a sudden, you’re at the finish line.”

After Sunday, she’ll have three marathons left. Her next is in Georgia in March, with plans to finish No. 100 in New York City.

The Donna Marathon starts Sunday in Jacksonville Beach.