Surrey, B.C. -- A 101-year-old runner who jogged five kilometres in 40 minutes says Sunday's Surrey, B.C., event was too short to break a sweat.

Fauja Singh holds the title of world's oldest marathon runner, but the British man with family in B.C. wasn't aiming to set a personal best in the city's inaugural marathon.

The event drew more than 2,000 participants and thousands more cheering spectators, including teens who jostled for the man's autograph and others who hoisted signs that read "Fauja Rocks!"

Singh and four generations of his family ran together, along with Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts.

Publicist Laura Ballance said Singh's goal was to inspire people of all ages and abilities to get outside and get active.

Singh holds the world record for the men's over-90 category after running the Toronto marathon in five hours and 40 minutes in 2003.