When most people run marathons, beating a personal-best time is often the goal. Part-time Naples resident Jeannie Rice is no different, except the fact that her personal-best times happen to be world records.

Rice was back at it last month at the Chicago Marathon, running a time of 3:34:22 to set the world record in the 75-79 age group. She topped the old mark of 3:38.56, set by Norway’s Vera Nystand in the September 2022 Berlin Marathon. She also established American road records for the 10K, 15K, 20K, half-marathon, 25K and 30K.

“I was pretty confident I’d get this record, as I’d held the (70-74) age group record for this race the last five years,” Rice said. “But with a marathon, you never know. The weather could be a factor, the course could be a factor, also how you feel personally on that given day. But I’ve run this course many times and I felt good about my chances. I didn’t quite run the time I wanted, but it was enough for the record, so I’m happy with it.”

She also claimed the Abbott World Marathon Majors age group championship in Chicago. The Abbott World Majors comprise six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world: Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York and Tokyo. Rice has won the age-division championship at every marathon except London, where she’ll run next year and hopefully complete that goal. She also will compete in the 2024 age group world championships, which will take place at the 2024 Sydney Marathon.

“I’ve come close in London a few times,” she said. “It’s a great course and the nice thing about running all these marathons, especially the international ones, is I can take two of my passions— running and traveling—and roll them into one. I’ll run the race and then take a week to explore all these great cities.”

Rice took up running in 1983 and, shortly afterward, started running marathons, completing her first at the Cleveland Marathon that year. Since then, she’s run in 131 marathons across the globe.

“Number one, running is just a part of my life,” she said. “Before I do anything, I go for a run. It keeps me healthy and helps keep my mind clear. Number two, it’s a social thing. The running community is a very supportive group. I’ve made so many friends through running. And three, I’m extremely competitive but mainly I’m competitive with myself. Each time I run, I want to do better than the time before. And then you start setting these national and world records, and that just gives you more motivation to do your best.”

Rice said she often runs with people half her age and they tell her she’s quite the inspiration to them.

“To be honest, I often forget how old I am,” she said. “Age really is just a number. It’s more how you take care of yourself and how you feel. But to hear younger people tell me I’m an inspiration, it makes my day. At the Chicago Marathon, people were stopping to get selfies with me. My friends ask me why I do it, as it could affect my time, and I tell them, ‘For one or two seconds, it’s worth it.’ Like I said, the running community is so supportive. It’s an honor to be recognized for all the hard work I’ve put in over the years.”

Rice, who lives in Ohio when she’s not in Naples, will soon be back in town to start training for the Naples Half Marathon in January. She’ll run a 10K event in Tallahassee to get ready.

“I can’t wait to see all my friends in Naples,” she said. “The Naples Half Marathon is always a fun race for me and it will help get me ready for the marathons I’ll be running (in 2024).”