Antioch man celebrates 60th birthday with a brisk 60-mile run

Some people might want a cake. Others a surprise party.

Randy Burt is celebrating his 60th birthday today with a 60-mile run.

The 60-time marathoner started at 5 a.m. at the Raven Glenn Forest Preserve in Antioch and has been running, stopping only briefly for Gatorade.

Burt estimates he will finish around 4:30 p.m.

"Well, I did 50 miles on my 50th birthday and that was in a foot of snow," he said. "So, I think I can complete this."

Burt kept track of his miles using a wooden stake and his hands, where he drew a mark every five miles.

The Antioch resident completed the first 26.2 miles -- or his 61st marathon -- in four hours and 15 minutes today.

Burt has been running since high school, and completed the first Chicago Marathon in 1977.

He was one of only nine men Oct. 7 to run the marathon for the 30th time during the 30th anniversary race.

"My brother called me because of all the publicity and said it will be interesting to see what the media does for the 50th anniversary," Burt said "I said yes, it will be. I plan on crossing that finish line."

See Friday's edition of The Daily Herald to find out how Burt did on the 60-mile run.