Episode 17: Witold and Urszula

2 min read

This episode of Human Race is sponsored by Aaptiv, an on-demand audio fitness app that you can do at home, at the gym, outdoors - anywhere. Get your first month free when you sign up for a monthly subscription at and use the promo code "HUMAN."

This week’s show is also sponsored by Blue Apron. For less than $10 per person per meal, Blue Apron delivers seasonal recipes along with pre-portioned ingredients to make delicious, home-cooked meals. Get your first three meals for free by going to blueapron.com/runners.

Two years ago, at the 2015 5th Avenue Mile, Wtold Bialokur ran a seven minute time. He did it at 80 years-old. The second place finisher in his group came in a minute and 20 seconds later. (A year later he won again, at 81 years old.)

Wiltold Bialokur

A collage of photos Wiltold Bialokur owns that show him winning the Fifth Avenue Mile in New York City.

Witold is what most of us can only dream of becoming at his age. He’s fit, not frail, and he runs faster than most Americans can run at any age.

But greatness like this comes at a price.

In this episode of Human Race, we visit Witold Bialokur, a Polish immigrant born before the start of World War II. Witold’s run nearly his whole life. When he was young, it was a way to survive as a kid in exile during the war. Later it became a path to notoriety as a promising athlete and national running coach in Poland. And, when he got older, running was a part-time passion—and an obsession—as an amateur in Queens, New York.

Witold Bialokur

Witold Bialokur with his group of runners in the 1980s.

Witold Bialokur

Witold Bialokur training with his runners in Forest Park in Queens, New York.

Take a journey through the life of one of the most remarkable runners around. You’ll get a glimpse into the methods of a master running coach, see what it takes to achieve greatness, but also the perils of being super competitive and obsessed with being your best.

And there will be dancing.