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OkillSports24SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2011SHOWING HIS MEDAL:Thomas Podruchny shows off the 149 medals he's receivedfor completing marathons. He'lladd his 150th at the end of the month in San Francisco.ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVERAt 74, Thomas Podruchny is still going strongand closing in on an incredible milestoneMarathon manCarlie Oreskovichtimes have more than doubled since he was 30 years younger,this kid busy, whether football or basketball or hockey, whichSPECIAL TO THE BEAVERbut what the average grinder will consider amazing, is thathe played until he was 42 when he gave up at the urging of he finishes each race he enters, he doesn't stiffen up or gohis wife, Sonia. Since he ran his first marathon in 1980, Thomas Podruchnythrough the agonies that visit most runners post run, andWhen my wife said, instead of coming home all bruisedhas put more than 3,932.9 miles (6,329.25 kilometres) thehe's back running the next day.up late in the morning, maybe I could consider switching todistance from Halifax to Vancouver behind him.I can drive eight to twelve hours home after a marathon,another sport.All those miles will lead him to a significant milestonehe says proudly. I don't stiffen that badly. It only takes a fewHe was a good runner, noted for stealing bases in baseball.when he runs his 150th marathon in San Francisco on Julyminutes to loosen up again.I always had speed. So switching to running was easy for29. Podruchny came to Oakville from Selkirk, Manitoba inme.The fact that Podruchny is now 74 years old becomes2008 to be closer to his two daughters. He has played com-He began seriously training in 1979 and ran his firstSee Podruchny, page 25more of a significant factor, but not to him. Certainly hispetitive sports all his life and there was something to keep