Has completed a marathon in all 50 states
(VERSAILLES, Ind.) – A Lawrenceburg man who has overcome the odds is gearing up for a milestone race this weekend!
80-year-old Bill Whipp is no stranger to knee surgeries as he suffered a torn meniscus in 1961. He had a second surgery on that same knee in 1975 and was medically-ready for a knee replacement by the early 1990’s.
“I told my doctor at my 1994 check-up that I had always wanted to do a marathon. He said I couldn't do one on the artificial knee and I responded that then I would have to do it now,” Whipp recalls.
At the age of 49, Whipp walked his first marathon in 1994. He recalls, “I realized this was not the death defying event I thought it would be.”
Whipp decided 26.2 miles was not enough and he set his sights on a 50-mile walk race.
He participated in local races as a way to train and eventually completed the JFK 50 Miler, which is the oldest and largest single-event ultramarathon in North America.
He would continue competing in regional races until his knee replacement in 1997, however, his walking journey was far from over.
In 1998, he completed 133 races including eight marathons, three 50K races, the JFK 50 Mile Race, and the 100K race.
By 2001, he also accomplished his goal of completing a marathon in all 50 states.
What was remarkable, is that he did that while still working full-time. He would travel to a destination and be back in time for work on Monday.
Whipp retired in 2021 from his career, but he isn’t finished competing in races.
He completed his last marathon at the Cincinnati Flying Pig in 2016 but even at the age of 80, he is still traveling around the region to participate in 5K’s and other races.
Whipp is planning to walk in his 1,700 race at the Holiday Hustle 5K in Versailles on Saturday, December 7. He will be given a special bib number of ‘1700’ during the event.
Bill points out that the benefits of walking have gone far beyond health and wellness.
“To this day we only have one close friend who we did not meet through racing. Also, in over thirty years of doing races I have only met two people who were not good people,” Whipp said.
Some have referred to Whipp as an inspiration as well as a living legend. However, Bill is humble about his accomplishments.
"I just do races because I enjoy them but it is nice to know that I can motivate others to participate," he said.
This weekend's Holiday Hustle 5K is part of Versailles "Home for the Holidays" Christmas event. The race will take place at 4 p.m. at Holdsworth Pavilion.
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