Macon Magazine

42 maconmagazine.com | December 2024/January 2025 Te r r y P a t t e r s o n H E R O E S A M O N G U S T T h i s s e n i o r m a ra t h o n e r s h o ws o t h e r M a c o n i te s t h a t i t 's n e v e r to o l a te to r e a c h t h e f i n i s h l i n e . INTERVIEW BY MM STAFF | PHOTOS BY MATT ODOM here's always time to reach the finish line, even if you have to build yourself up one step at a time. That's the message Terry Patterson wants to send other Maconites about staying active. Not many people pick up running in their late 40s – but not many people are Patterson, a senior marathoner still going strong into his 70th birthday this month. Patterson has finished races in all 50 states and qualified for the Boston Marathon, one of the world's major contests, at the age of 65. He started right here in Macon with the Cherry Blossom Road Race, and since then he's run over 100 marathons. He's still collecting medals and has eyes on the globe, basing his travel plans on race opportunities. But even more importantly as someone who is thriving well into their golden years, Patterson gives credit to his family and community, particularly to his wife as a marathon travel buddy and cheerleader. He's a proud Macon native and an Air Force veteran who graduated from Bibb Vocational Technical High School. Patterson talks to Macon Magazine about his future goals and advice for others wanting to step into his shoes and go the distance. One of the articles I read said you had run 10,000 miles. Are you still keeping track? Yeah, I'm probably past 10,000 just this year, so far. You began in 2002 with the Cherry Blossom race. What compelled you to start that first race? I was hearing a lot of talk around town, so I just thought I'd only do it for 10 miles. I heard about a marathon coming here to Macon, so I decided to do it. It hurt. It hurt a lot. I said I would never do it again. What got you back on the horse?

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