Jacob Nur, a 70-year-old runner who set a new world record in his age group at Sacramento’s Urban Cow Half Marathon last month, was among thousands of runners at the Chicago Marathon over the weekend. Nur previously finished the Urban Cow race in 1 hour, 20 minutes, and 57 seconds.”The race was great! The weather was perfect,” Nur said of that run. Nur’s achievement is even more impressive considering he only took up running in his mid-50s. “I run. I put on like five miles easy this morning,” Nur said recently.Nur, who grew up in Eritrea during a time of war, reflected on his past.”I joined in my teenage years. I was young. Almost every family paid its dues in the fight to liberate the country,” he said. After the war, Nur embarked on a new journey, immigrating to Sudan, then Italy, and eventually the United States, where he worked various jobs before earning a master’s degree in nursing and working at the Veteran’s Administration for 30 years.”I do run almost every day. Seventy to 80 miles a week,” Nur said.Despite starting his running journey at 54, Nur believes anyone can improve their lives by visiting a local park. | VIDEO BELOW | Jacob Nur shares tips on how to get into better health through walking and simple exercise”When you’re walking you’re burning calories. Benches are my friend. I just go and do pushups like this. I can do some other movements. Then I can do squats. You will see significant improvement,” he said. Nur had his sights set on breaking a world record in Chicago on Sunday, but was forced to stop at mile 19 after he began having hamstring cramps and lower back spasms. He says he’s already signed up another run. “Running is not hard. a fun thing to do. You get out. You stretch. Put on your shoes. You go and run,” Nur said.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

Jacob Nur, a 70-year-old runner who set a new world record in his age group at Sacramento’s Urban Cow Half Marathon last month, was among thousands of runners at the Chicago Marathon over the weekend.

Nur previously finished the Urban Cow race in 1 hour, 20 minutes, and 57 seconds.

“The race was great! The weather was perfect,” Nur said of that run.

Nur’s achievement is even more impressive considering he only took up running in his mid-50s.

“I run. I put on like five miles easy this morning,” Nur said recently.

Nur, who grew up in Eritrea during a time of war, reflected on his past.

“I joined in my teenage years. I was young. Almost every family paid its dues in the fight to liberate the country,” he said.

After the war, Nur embarked on a new journey, immigrating to Sudan, then Italy, and eventually the United States, where he worked various jobs before earning a master’s degree in nursing and working at the Veteran’s Administration for 30 years.

“I do run almost every day. Seventy to 80 miles a week,” Nur said.

Despite starting his running journey at 54, Nur believes anyone can improve their lives by visiting a local park.

| VIDEO BELOW | Jacob Nur shares tips on how to get into better health through walking and simple exercise

“When you’re walking you’re burning calories. Benches are my friend. I just go and do pushups like this. I can do some other movements. Then I can do squats. You will see significant improvement,” he said.

Nur had his sights set on breaking a world record in Chicago on Sunday, but was forced to stop at mile 19 after he began having hamstring cramps and lower back spasms.

He says he’s already signed up another run.

“Running is not hard. [It’s] a fun thing to do. You get out. You stretch. Put on your shoes. You go and run,” Nur said.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel