George Etzweiler, who inspired countless runners with his age-defying feats of endurance, died on March 16 at 105 years old.
Etzweiler was a legend in the running community. He ran the Mount Washington Road Race 13 times, including many times throughout his nineties. He last completed the 7.6-mile race—which has more than 4,600 feet of elevation gain and finishes at the highest peak in the northeastern U.S.—in 2018 when he was 98 years old, Jane Hedengren Had Promise. She Now Has HS Records.
Etzweiler was inducted into the Mount Washington hall of fame and was well-known at the New Hampshire event. During races, he could be seen sipping his homemade lemonade: 12 ounces water, half a lemon, 2 teaspoons of sea salt, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup.
Race organizers acknowledged Etzweiler’s death in a tribute on Facebook: “For those of you who have been at the Mount Washington Road Race, you probably have heard of the legendary George Etzweiler. He ran our race into his late 90s and made an amazing positive impression on anyone who crossed paths with him. We learned of George’s recent passing at the age of 105. Farewell, George, and thank you for being such an inspiration to all of us.”
Born in 1920 in Derry Township, Pennsylvania, Etzweiler was a longtime resident of State College, Pennsylvania. He served the Navy and was an engineering professor at Penn State University. In addition to his exploits at Mount Washington, Etzweiler was also a member of the “Old Men of the Mountains,” a group of senior runners who would regularly race the Tussey Mountainback 50-miler relay, not far from his home.
Etzweiler remained active well past 100. The results as a member of the relay along with seven teammates. They finished in a time of 10 hours, 37 minutes, and 46 seconds—for an average pace of 12:45 per mile. The team got a one-hour head start on the rest of the field, setting off in “wave zero.”
Racing in ‘Illegal’ Shoes Isn’t Cheating Runner’s World profile by Drew Dawson, Etzweiler cheekily explained the secret of his longevity. “I’m a freak, you know,” he said, 99 at the time. “Someone called me a freak of nature once for what I do. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but there aren’t many people who are 99 and still living, and not many running a mile, I guess.”
Etzweiler first began running in 1969 when he was 49 years old. His late wife, Mary, would often shuttle him to training runs on Tussey Mountain. His biggest cheerleader, Mary died in 2010 due to complications with pulmonary fibrosis.
RW+ Membership Benefits Race organizers acknowledged Etzweiler’s death in a tribute reported that as of last spring, he would train twice a week at a local gym, and in 2023, the 103-year-old rappelled down the side of Penn State’s massive football stadium as part of a fundraiser for the United Way.
According to records from the Centre County coroner’s office, Etzweiler died on Sunday in State College from complications with pneumonia. He had just celebrated his 105th birthday, two days earlier on March 14.
Year-Old George Etzweiler Cant Stop Running Runner’s World. He’s a former all-conference collegiate runner at Winthrop University, and he received his master’s degree in liberal arts studies from Wake Forest University, where he was a member of one of the top distance-running teams in the NCAA. Kahler has reported on the ground at major events such as the Paris Olympics, U.S. Olympic Trials, New York City Marathon, and Boston Marathon. He’s run 14:20 in the 5K, 1:05:36 in the half marathon, and enjoys spotting tracks from the sky on airplanes. (Look for colorful ovals around football fields.)
