82-year-old Raleigh woman runs every day for 40 years

Barbara Stanley Latta, 82, has gone running every day for more than 40 years.

Latta walks over and picks up a card, filled with accolades and signed by dozens of local athletes.

"To our dear friend Barbara - you’ve achieved an incredible milestone," Latta read aloud. "Your 40-year streak milestone is a testament to your unwavering dedication."

Four decades – that’s how long Latta has been lacing up, leaving her home and hitting the streets around Raleigh and beyond. It wasn’t very intentional. Actually, she wasn’t planning on running at all. But the first day was a day not too different from this, and she wanted to be outside.

"I went out and it was cold so I decided to run," said Latta, recalling the day the streak began.

Then the next day came.

"I thought that was really fun to keep warm," Latta said. "So the next day I said [to my sons] 'Guys, I am going to run again.'"

Now, there have been more than 14,600 days like that. Most of the time, Latta is out the door before 5 a.m. She hits the greenways alone and says she has made peripheral acquaintances by recognizing people who are also there daily.

A lot has happened since that day in 1983. When Latta started her run streak, women had only been allowed to participate in major marathons like Boston and New York for about 10 years.

This week, WRAL News ran with Latta and talked about how the sport has grown.

"When I first started racing, it would be one woman for 10 men," she said. "They would just look at you and ignore you."

Latta recalls some of her favorite races like pacing at City of Oaks, running a marathon through Umstead and logging miles on all seven continents. She is humble about her experiences. While she says she didn’t have an impact on running in Raleigh, her journey tells a different story.

"Barbara – you’re a legend," she read off the card, laughing.

Latta didn’t get her start until she was in her early 40s. Now at 82, she’s proof that it’s never too late to find your passion.

"I’m getting older and I'm slowing down," said Latta, whose average 5K time now is more than double when she started. "But I still show up."

And if you’re wondering why she keeps showing up, it’s simple – because she can.

"I get up and I just go out," Latta says.

One tip is that she lays out her clothes the night before so she doesn't have any time to reconsider.

"I never even think about 'Am I going to run today or not? It is such a habit.'"

As Latta celebrates a milestone, tomorrow is a new day when Latta will lace up and show up.