Long Beach Marathon Legacy Runners may be dwindling — but the ones remaining are a sturdy, determined bunch.
Call them crazy or inspirational. They are tenacious, not letting broken bones, advancing age or other health issues keep them from participating in this year’s 2XU Long Beach Marathon, which takes place on Sunday morning, Oct. 11, and will feature 28,000 participants, making it the largest race to date.
The Legacy Runners get their name from having competed in every Long Beach Marathon in some way since the inaugural race in 1982.
This year’s race will be the 43nd time that they will be at the starting line. (The math is not a mistake. There was no race for two years because of financial problems.)
“I love this race,” said George Wallims, 80, of Huntington Beach.
From left, legacy runners George Wallims, John Sumpter, Lorenzo Herrera, Tom Frost, Kenny Williams and Gordon Watson take a group photo together at the Long Beach Convention Center on Friday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Legacy runner Kenny Williams, who is the only legacy runner set to run the entire length of the Long Beach Marathon, poses for a portrait at the Long Beach Convention Center on Friday, Oct. 10, 2026.
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From left, legacy runners George Wallims, John Sumpter, Lorenzo Herrera, Tom Frost, Kenny Williams and Gordon Watson take a group photo together at the Long Beach Convention Center on Friday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
In the past few years, Wallims has been slowed down by arthritis and other issues. It looked like he would not participate at all in this year’s race when he recently suffered a broken tailbone after falling out of a truck while delivering furniture for a friend.
“But broken butt or not, I am going to be in that race,” Wallims said during a Friday, Oct. 9, reception for Legacy Runners and race volunteers at Bogarts in the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.
He recalled training for that first marathon back in 1982. For six months, he met a friend at 5 a.m. every Wednesday at the top of Signal Hill. They would run through the streets of Long Beach to the Queen Mary and back. He ran 35 full marathons in Long Beach before dropping to half-marathons because of his knees.
He also talked about the camaraderie that has developed over the years with the veteran runners.
“We all look out for each other and help each other get through it,” he said.
Bogarts, a small reception space, is located right off the large and strikingly decorated lobby between the arena and the convention area. On Friday night, it was filled with some of the more than 28,000 runners participating in the sold-out running events this weekend.
This year, there will be only six Legacy Runners participating in the marathon.
They may be a small bunch — but they are feisty. They all still have the wiry bodies of lifelong runners despite their advancing ages.
In addition to Wallims, other Legacy Runners participating this year are John Sumter, Tom Frost, Ken Williams, Lorenzo Herrera and Gordon Watson.
Sumter, 82, an avid cyclist, had a misfortune six years ago, which almost kept him from running in anything, let alone a marathon.
He was riding in a residential area when he hit some kind of obstacle and was thrown from his bike. He was knocked unconscious, separated his shoulder and suffered multiple severe bruises.
But Sumter, a former golf coach at Poly High School, completed a rehabilitation program and returned to the marathon.
Now, he walks each year in two half-marathons. He walked a half-marathon last week on the course that runs by his house near Marine Stadium. He will also walk in the half-marathon on Sunday, which starts in downtown Long Beach.
An eternal optimist, Sumpter said, his goal is to complete his 50th Long Beach Marathon.
“That’s only eight years away,” he said with a grin.
He will be 90 years old then.
Sumpter credited his longtime personal doctor, the now-retired Dr. Marvin Zamost, as well as Dr. Christopher Woodson of the Beach Orthopaedic Specialty Institute, and Kyle Baldwin and Katherine Ness of the Center for Physical Therapy for his recovery.
“These professionals and their staffs make a difference in peoples’ lives on a daily basis,” he said. “I cannot thank them enough for giving me back the ability to run.”
Another Legacy Runner, Orange County resident Tom Frost, 73, will participate in honor of his daughter, Lisa Anne, who was killed in a United Airlines plane that was hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center in New York on Sept.11, 2001. Lisa, 22, had just graduated from Boston University and was taking the United flight back home to see her parents.
Frost has worn a shirt with his daughter’s photo on it in every Long Beach Marathon since.
Frost remembers his daughter for many things, but one thing that stands out for him was her interest in his running in the Long Beach Marathon.
“When she was little, she watched me run in the marathon for the first time from her stroller,” he said. “She watched me run every year and did artwork for the race.”
His most memorable race, Frost said, was Nov. 11, 2001 — just two months after losing his daughter.
“At mile 21,” Frost said on Friday, “another runner passed me and said, ‘I know who you are. I know what you’re doing, and it’s the most courageous thing I have ever seen. I’m running the last part of my race for your daughter.’”
Frost had a stroke 3.5 years ago and has slowed down a little. He ran a 5K race Saturday as part of marathon weekend.
Another Legacy Runner, Ken Williams, has also worn a shirt bearing an image of Frost’s daughter in every race since her death.
Williams has two distinctions: He is the youngest Legacy Runner at 64, and he will be the only Legacy Runner doing the full marathon.
Williams, a graduate of Jordan High School, said he ran in his first marathon in 1982 when his high school track coach talked him into running it with him.
“As long as my knees hold out,” he said, “I am hoping to run 50 marathons in a row.
“God has blessed me to run in every marathon,” Williams added. “I also run to honor Lisa Frost.”
Also participating in the race on Sunday will be Lorenzo Herrera, 74, of Buena Park, who will walk the half-marathon, and Gordon Watson, the oldest Legacy Runner at 91 — who will participate despite back pains.
Not present this weekend is Audrey Hauth, 93, a longtime Legacy Runner who fell down while taking out trash barrels recently and broke a kneecap.
“I am really going to miss the race weekend,” she said, “but my thoughts will be there with everyone.”
Also absent is Ken Purucker, who, at 89, is sticking to walking on a treadmill four times a week at his Leisure World gym. He ran with his brother, David Purucker, who has since died, at the first Long Beach Marathon.
“I’ve always been so proud of Long Beach for putting on such an outstanding marathon,” he told me previously, “and giving me and my family so many years of togetherness and enjoyment as they supported me every year.”
His grandson tried to sign up for this year’s marathon, Purucker said, but the popular event was already sold out. The marathon website is already signing up runners for 2027.
Dan Cruz, public relations director for the race, which is managed by Motiv Sports, called the Legacy Runners “special people” in a VIP toast during Friday’s reception celebration.
Why do Legacy Runners keep participating despite advancing age and growing health pains?
“I don’t know, maybe we’re just idiots,” Sumter said with a laugh. “But we love being as fit as we can be and keeping a great tradition alive.”