Marathon man heads for 100,000-mile mark

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SAN ANSELMO, Calif., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- A 56-year-old California marathoner says he is close to a major milestone, 100,000 miles of running.

Mike Fanelli of San Anselmo expects to reach his goal Sunday when he runs the Philadelphia Marathon in his hometown, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Fanelli, who grew up in Philadelphia and began running cross-country in high school, ran his first marathons there.

Fanelli says he has slowed down a bit with age. He has halved his weekly distance to 50 miles.

But he starts most days with a 5-mile run near his home in San Anselmo.

His wife, Renay, who met him at the 1996 Boston Marathon, said he once almost missed a plane to London because he was doing his run.

"Some people say I'm compulsive," Fanelli said. "But I say it's more just competitive."