Effort uncorks legend at 80

BERWICK man Stan Miskin is determined to keep running until the age of 92.
The 80yearold has based his decision on his favourite poem The Preservation of Man.
The last line of the poem states that: “Some of us the mighty few stay pickled ’til we are 92,” and while Mr Miskin likes a wine everyday over dinner he said running was his favourite vice.
Mr Miskin set an age world record on the weekend at the 20th Cliff Young Australian sixday race in Colac walking and running 429.648 kilometres in six days.
This smashed the previous record of 386.242 kilometres by 43km and Mr Miskin also broke the 48hour record in his age group and the Australian 100mile record.
This week the avid athlete, who trains at least 20 hours a week, said he was both mentally and physically exhausted after the event.
But he said he was delighted with the result and was determined to continue competing despite battling recurring prostate cancer.
“They say the cancer is aggressive but I am more aggressive and I will beat it,” Mr Miskin said.
“The sense of achievement you feel sometimes when you compete and the benefits you get is what makes it worth it. “I am more fit and healthy than many men younger than me and can do many things that men in their 50s could not do,” he said.
Mr Miskin has been married to wife Ellwyn for 54 years and she keep statistics on all of his races.
The father of four and grandfather of seven said a fellow competitor had spurred him on to beat the record.
“It (the race) was pretty tough but I was inspired by someone who made some condescending remarks to me. He inspired me and I thought I am not going to let him beat me.”