Guinness World Records' geriatric fitness phenoms

In her spare time, Porchon-Lynn writes (both yoga articles and her autobiography) and leads wine travel tours in Southern N.Y.

"I believe that we can always reach just a little bit further," says the 93-year-old. "I'm inspired to bring yoga into others lives along with helping people unearth new talents."

Connor, a mother of three, grandmother of seven, and great-grandmother of six, entered her first bodybuilding competition on her 65th birthday, where she took home first prize. She works out three times per week and maintains proper nutrition.

Her advice to other mature women interested in hitting the gym? "Start with setting reasonable goals and educating yourself on what foods cause an increase in body fat. Remove the word "diet" from your vocabulary."

The most marathons completed in one year by a male was broken by a 63-year-old Texas lawyer named R. Laurence Macon, who ran 113 races between 1 January and 31 December 2011. "It's a great birthday gift," Macon told Reuters after completing his 113th course.

Macon describes himself as in lousy shape, and says he just "goes out there and puts one foot in front of the other." He said that while his marathon career may have some people convinced that he's crazy, he hopes it inspires other middle-aged people to "get some exercise and have some fun."

Guinness World Record inducted a "flying grandma" into its record books in March 2012. Mary Allen Hardison, a great-great grandmother from Ogden, Utah, decided to break new heights on her 101st birthday celebration this past September. Her 75-year-old son Allen had recently taken up paragliding, and not to be outdone by him, Hardison took flight and earned the record as the "Oldest Female to Paraglide Tandem."

Her closest experience prior? Going on rides at Disneyland when she was 90. "My desire is for the elderly to keep on going, do things as long as you are physically able, says Hardison. "Be positive. Friends don't like a grumpy person."

However shortly after earning the record, it was broken by a 104-year-old woman...

On April 14, 2012, 104-year-old Margaret Mackenzie McAlpine took the record from Mary Allen Hardison to become the Oldest Female to Paraglide Tandem. Hardison had in fact taken the record from McAlpine who earned it as a 100-year-old, so she decided to don her safety helmet one more time for a 2,400-foot leap from a peak in northern Cyprus where she lives.

"I enjoyed every minute of it," she told the Sunday Express newspaper. "It was better than the last time. I would certainly like to do it again - especially if anyone takes my record."