Masters Star Lloyd "Forever" Young Dies

Minnesota masters long distance running legend Lloyd Young died on Tuesday at age 87.

Young (pictured), who was widely known to the Minnesota distance running community as Lloyd "Forever" Young, made his mark on the Minnesota long distance running scene by setting countless age-group and single-age masters records during the twilight years of his full life.

The elfin octogenarian was also well known across the running community for his friendly demeanor and for the joy he obviously took from his sport. Aside from being a remarkable masters athlete, Young wrote poems and creative prose about his distance running.

Memorial services for Young will take place today at 2:00 p.m at the Pine City Evangelical Free Church Lighthouse, 1025 Main St. S. with memorial visitation one hour prior to service. Interment with military honors will take place at Hilltop Cemetery in Pine City.

Young was born on July 18, 1923. According to his Pioneer Press obituary, HERE, Young spent his early life in St. Paul, often under the care of aunts. After Military service with the US Navy and Army, Young married Daisy Rosendahl of Sandstone.

Young's wholesale revision of the Minnesota masters record books began in earnest in the early 1990's when Young, then in his early 70s kicked off a decade and a half run as the dominant 70+ distance runner in the state.

His long list of state single-age records, which can be found HERE, includes a 20:27 5K at age 70, a 35:27 8K at age 73, a 1:21:32 10 Mile at age 81, and, in one of his final races, a 5:00:35 marathon at age 85, at the 2008 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.

Young was twice named US Masters Runner of the Year in his age-group and was year-in and year-out the Minnesota Runner of the Year among his peers.

A 2003 poem of Young's captures his youthful spirit ...

The soul of a runner
is not found on a shoe
but deep within
lives the other you
where desire is akin
and motivation is true.


Photo by Bob Higashi courtesy of Chad Austin.