RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Hall of Fame Runner Helen Klein was honored by the Rancho Cordova City Council for her 100th birthday.

Longtime Rancho Cordova resident, world record holder and great-great grandmother Helen Klein was recognized by the City Council on November 21 in honor of her 100th birthday. Helen holds 75 national and world records for running and has run 90 marathons and 143 ultramarathons. The Rancho Cordova City Council presented Helen with a proclamation and a key to the city.

“When I was young, I ran all of those races by ‘taking to the tortoise’ and going slow up the mountains and by running fast downhill and on the flats. Now that I am nearing my 100th birthday, I am ‘taking to the tortoise’ and going slowly uphill, downhill and on the flats,” Helen joked. “I am just so impressed, thank you so much.”

Helen’s running career did not begin until she was 55 and until then, she had not run a single mile. When she was challenged to a 10-mile race, Helen began training. At 66, she was one of the first to complete the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning, one of the oldest 100-mile races in the United States. At 72, she completed a 145-mile race in the Sahara Desert in Morocco, only weeks later to complete the 370-mile Echo Challenge in Utah.

“Helen is an absolute inspiration, and my colleagues and I wish her a very Happy Birthday,” said Vice Mayor Linda Budge.

Happy birthday, Helen!