UPDATE: On Saturday, Réjeanne Fairhead broke the world record in the women's 95-99 age category by more than three minutes, finishing with a time of 51:09.01. Last May, Réjeanne Fairhead laced her Keds and started walking.
Fifty-eight minutes and 52 seconds later, she crossed the five-kilometre finish line at the Ottawa Race Weekend. Despite entering her first-ever road race without any training, Fairhead set a new Canadian record in the event's 95-99 age category.
Now 96, Fairhead is targeting the world record for women in that age group. To do so, she'll have to shave about three minutes from last year's time. "I'll do my best," she said. "If it doesn't rain, I have a better chance." Rain or shine, Fairhead said the record isn't her top priority.
Her main goal is to raise money for Ottawa's Perley Health long-term care home, where she's volunteered for the last 27 years.