Dick Young has never said no to a challenge.
When his mother wouldn't let him go to the soapbox derby championships when he was 13, he and his brother left a note, snuck out and rode their bikes from their Marion, Ind. home to the championships in Akron, Ohio.
The 255-mile trek took a day and a half.
"We snuck out early Saturday and got there Sunday afternoon," Young said. "We got there, saw the championships and left."
Young's 510-mile bike trip might have been a preview of the 77-year-old Lansing resident's future accomplishments.
The next 47 years of Young's life were relatively inactive in terms of major feats of exercise. He graduated with a civil engineering degree from Purdue in 1957 and worked for the Michigan Department of Transportation for 35 years.
But Young's athletic career began again at the age of 60 after his doctor advised him to take swim lessons in order to relieve 15 years of back trouble.
It was during his swim lessons when Young met "his angel," Sue Creaser. She befriended Young and encouraged him to join his first master swim competition.
"After I got tired of swimming, she twisted my arm again and got me into my first triathlon," Young said. "I haven't done anything (athletic) before that except for bowling," Young said. "But I don't really consider that too athletic."
Now Young's goal is to prevail at a half marathon in Hawaii this January.
Young's willful spirit has carried him across many finish lines, including six marathons and a number of triathlons, all accomplished after the age of 60. In 2002, Young was honored by being named an Olympic torchbearer.
"Tom Izzo ran right in front of me," Young said of the MSU head basketball coach. "We were right in front of the university on Grand River Avenue. He lit my torch."
Two walls in Young's home are covered with 16 years of medals and plaques he's obtained through his athletic feats. He also has three scrapbooks full of articles and other paraphernalia related to his athletic competitions. Long-time running partner and friend, Laura Schultz, knows him for his determination.
"We were out running in the woods one day and he tripped over a root and broke his collarbone," Schultz said. "He was supposed to run in the Olympic torch relay within six weeks and he was afraid he wasn't going to be able to do it.
"(Running with the torch) was such an honor and he was so excited about it that he fixed himself something that weighed as much as the torch and started training with that."
On race day, Young's small frame is usually draped in a large T-shirt and shorts or windpants, depending on the temperature.
"I put on a number of layers according to how cold it is," he said.
Young's head is always covered, and he attaches his running number to his hat.
"I always wear my number on my hat because I don't know what shirt I'm going to wear until the last minute," Young said with a laugh.
Young runs about a dozen races a year. He is a father of two and grandfather of two. His wife and brother passed away earlier this year. They both inspired him to run the extra mile.
"My brother's last words to me were 'Keep on running,'" Young said.
Young is a member of The Turtles, a long-distance running group that meets throughout the week to run along the Red Cedar and the river trails. Young joins the group to run 10 miles every Sunday morning.
Young's vigor and determination has been prevalent throughout his life.
"When they raised the price of gas to a dollar in the 70s, I rode my bike to work every day," Young said. "It was about 10 miles all together, or I would walk a mile to the bus stop when it was deep snow."
Schultz said she's known Young for about 10 years and during that time she has never seen him let anything get him down.
"I think he'll just keep going as long as he can go," she said. "We hope that when we're his age we can do what he does."
