Run, Keelan, run! Girl, SIX, becomes youngest racer in the world to compete in half-marathon - and she did it in under three hours



Next time you feel too lazy to go out for a morning jog, think of Keelan Glass, who at age six has become the youngest person in the world to compete in a half-marathon.

The first-grader, from Abeline, Texas, finished the 13.1-mile Showdwon Half Marathon in 2 hours 47 minutes and 30 seconds, coming in fifth in the 14-and-under group. None of Keelan's nine fellow racers were younger than 12 years old.

According to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians, Keelan became the youngest half-marathon participant in the world. That record had previously belonged to a nine-year-old.



Road runner: Keelan Glass, age 6, became the youngest person in the world to take part in a half-marathon

Wunderkind: Keelan, pictured with her triathlete mom, Tracy, completed her first 5K at age 4 and her first 10K at age 5

Besides smashing a world record with ease, the 6-year-old also raised $2,855 for the Pregnancy Resource Center in Abilene, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Before taking part in the race, Keelan's parents consulted with an orthopedist to make sure that it was safe for her to run.

Running for a cause: Keelan smashed the world record during the Showdwon Half Marathon in Fairview, Texas, while raising money for charity

The 3-foot-5, 35-pound firecracker comes from a family of runners. Both her parents are triathletes who have been training for their races with their daughter in a stroller.

When Keelan got bored being carted around, she switched to a bicycle and eventually picked up running.

By the time she was 4 years old, Keelan was running in 5K races. Last year, she graduated to a 10K, laying the groundwork for her first half-marathon.

Keelan and her mother, Tracy Glass, were set to compete in an event organized by the anti-abortion group Life Runners in South Dakota earlier this month, but the race was cancelled due to a snowstorm.

So the Glasses decided to find another race to compete in. A friend recommended the Fairview half-marathon as a backup.

Keelan said she hopes to complete her first full marathon by age 10, although her mother thinks her daughter would likely have to be a bit longer.

‘Just because she could, I’m not sure that’s a good reason to,’ Mrs Glass said. ‘Mom would have to do a lot more research before that happens.’

During Saturday’s historic race, Tracy ran by her daughter’s side the whole distance and every mile checked up on her to make sure Keelan was OK, she told the station KTXS .



Impressive time: Keelan (second right) finished the 13.1-mile run in 2 hours 47 minutes and 30 seconds, coming in fifth in the 14-and-under group

Photo-op: Keelan stopped along the way to pose with llamas grazing in a field

No sweat: An announcer at the event observed that Keelan was not even panting when she crossed the finish line

Keelan's run included stops along the way for photo-ops with other participants of the race and some llamas grazing in a field. The girl also went door to door raising money for charity.

Half-marathon announcer Cliff Couch told the Morning News that Keelan was not even breathing particularly hard when she crossed the finish line.

Tracy Glass said her daughter does not even realize how amazing her accomplishment is.

When asked what she liked most about the race, the pint-sized wunderkind said: ‘Announcing my name when I finished, and all the money that I raised.’

