Jennie Rice, a 77-year-old Ohio-based marathon runner, has captured the attention of the running world with her record-breaking performances and unbeatable spirit.
Recently, in April 2025, the South Korean native ran the Boston Marathon and not only won her age group but also outran the fastest men in the 75-79 category.
Rice has set multiple world records in her age group (70-79) for distances ranging from 1,500 meters to the marathon.
But beyond her athletic achievements, Jeannie Rice’s personal journey, particularly her decision to leave her marriage, has shaped her path to becoming a trailblazer in both running and life.
Jeannie Rice was once married to Don Whitaker, but the marriage ended in divorce due to a lack of support for her flourishing passion for running.
In an interview, Rice revealed that although her husband didn’t stop her from running, he never came to watch and cheer her.
“My husband didn’t stop me running, but he never came to watch me,” said Rice.
She further added:
“I used to race every weekend. If there’s a race, I’ll go. I used to win many, many races. I got faster. Running around the world became my dream. That couldn’t be with him, He was a nice man, but that’s when I knew we were different.”
Jeannie Rice also stated that her former husband was just happy being home and working. He wasn’t the type of person to travel and encourage her; he didn’t want to go anywhere.
Likewise, after 17 years of marriage, Jeannie Rice and her husband, Don Whitaker, separated, and she began working in a real estate company and remained single, focusing on her marathon journey.
She has run over 133 marathons all over the world, winning several honorable titles.
Jeannie Rice Shares Two Sons With Former Husband, Don Whitaker
Despite the end of her marriage, Jeannie Rice remains deeply connected to her family.
She is a proud mother to two sons, Allen and Kevin Rice, and a proud grandmother of two granddaughters, Alyssa and Bailey Rice.
Furthermore, Jeannie Rice instilled her athletic genes in both of her sons and granddaughters.
While not much is known about her eldest son, Allen Rice, her youngest son, Kevin Allen, followed in her footsteps in racing. Kevin and his wife both have run marathons.
Kevin Rice, a native of Concord, Ohio, delivered a strong performance at the Erie Half Marathon on September 14, 2008, in Erie, PA.
He finished with an official time of 1:46:32, crossing the line in 52nd place overall and 7th in his class, maintaining an impressive average pace of 8 minutes, 8 seconds per mile.
Similarly, her granddaughter, Aylssa, aims to run a half-marathon in every U.S. state and carry on Jeannie’s legacy in marathon running. Alyssa has already completed races in Alaska, California, and Ohio.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Jeannie Rice was born on April 14, 1948, in South Korea. She moved to Mentor, Ohio, at the age of 18 to pursue her studies in nursing school.
- As of 2025, she is the fastest woman (aged 75 to 79) worldwide in the 1500m, 5km, or 10km.
