Never Too Old: Libby James, A Woman of Her Time

Never Too Old, directed by Stash Wislocki and Patty J. Arndt of Tiny Empire Media, has been selected as a finalist in the 22nd MY HERO International Film Festival. The short film tells the story of Elizabeth Ann “Libby” James, a record-breaking runner who discovered her passion for the sport at the age of 35 and went on to hold six US records and four world records.

Libby James

Over her career, Libby challenged expectations and helped change attitudes towards older women in competitive running. She continued racing until 2020, when she retired at the age of 83, with six US records and four world records to her name.

LibbyStill from the Film Never too LateRunning for herself

Libby’s running journey began while she was raising four children who were close together in age. Life at home was busy, and she found that getting up early for a run gave her some much-needed time for herself.

“I think I started running for my mental health rather than anything,” she explains in the film.

She would run a mile before returning home to make breakfast and get the children ready for school. What began as a simple way to find some breathing space soon developed into something much bigger.

Libby decided she wanted to run the Boston Marathon, but at the time, there were no qualifying specifications for women over 40. Rather than accept the situation, she wrote to race organiser Will Cloney to ask why.

“What have you got against old ladies?” she asked.

Cloney replied that he would accept her qualifying time of 3 hours, 29 minutes and 47 seconds, provided she met the required three-and-a-half-hour limit.

Libby earned her place in the race and believes her efforts helped pave the way for a women's division for older runners. Says Libby, “I take credit for getting a women's division in the over 40 In terms of world records.”

In the film Libby’s daughter explains how surprised she was at the time Libby achieved for a 10-mile race in Denver: “I was like, how'd you do? And she told me the time. I was like, mom, that's a gotta be a world record. She was like, oh, don't I, I was like, I gotta call the race director.”

The record was confirmed. Cliff Bosley, race director of the Bolder Boulder 10K in Colorado, explains in the film that Libby has recorded 25 of the race’s top 20 all-time age-group times across different categories.

Libby’s achievements continued for decades. At 76, she ran the Disney Half Marathon in Florida in 1 hour, 45 minutes and 52 seconds -  setting a world record there and beating it by almost 10 minutes.

In 2012, her age-graded performances placed her at the top of the world rankings.

Her success has not always been properly recognised. In the film, her daughter recalls occasions when people assumed that a fast time recorded under her name must belong to a man, or that her name had been entered incorrectly.

Her daughter explains, “Quite a few times people would say: ‘Women can't run that fast. It's not Libby James. It must be James Libby, right in her age group. And I said, mom, you gotta call a race director and correct that. And she's like, why? …she goes, I don't care. I go, you don't care. But there are people all over looking at you and they care and you're setting the mark for women coming up behind you!”

Her six US records and four world records represent more than personal milestones. They demonstrate what older women can achieve and help challenge assumptions about age and athletic ability.

Libby eventually retired from competitive racing in 2020, aged 83. Although she no longer competes, her achievements continue to encourage others to take up the sport.

It's never too late to start

For Libby, running remains refreshingly straightforward. You do not need expensive equipment or a complicated plan to begin.

“Running is very simple. It’s elemental,” she says. “It comes to people naturally, I think.”

All you need, she explains, is a decent pair of shoes, a T-shirt and shorts, with warmer clothing when the weather demands it.

Libby started running at 35 to get a little time to herself while raising four children. She went on to have a racing career that lasted almost five decades, retiring at 83 with six US records and four world records still to her name. Never Too Old tells her story and shows that you don't have to start young to find your talent – or to surprise yourself with what you can achieve.

About Stash Wislocki, Cinematographer & Producer

Some of Stash’s credits include HBO, PBS, Independent Lens, The New York Times, ESPN, ITVS, Spotify, Little Monster Films, National Geographic, Patagonia, Apple.

He is a fellow at the Tribeca Film Institute, sits on the Woods Hole Research Center Presidents Counsel and is a visiting artist for Film Aid International.

About Tiny Empire Media

Tiny Empire is a content studio and film production company located in Telluride, CO. We create commercials, brand films, music videos, documentaries, installations, and experiential films. We have over two decades of experience in film production and post, as well as having filmed in remote locations around the world. Our portfolio ranges from the world of high fashion to brand advertising and documentaries. Our clients includes HBO, Samsung, PBS, Independent Lens, The New York Times, ESPN, ITVS, Spotify, Little Monster Films, National Geographic, Patagonia and Apple.

About MY HERO International Film Festival

Now in its 22nd year, the MY HERO International Film Festival continues to celebrate both unsung and well-known heroes whose stories of resilience and hope inspire a global learning community. This unique festival unites professional and youth filmmakers who use their craft to drive positive change in the world.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, prizes are awarded across multiple categories—including documentary, narrative, music video, animation, experimental, and more - recognizing outstanding work from elementary, middle school, high school, college, and professional filmmakers.

To view all of the 2025 award-winning films, go to: /films/winners2025

For more details about MY HERO's International Film Festival, please visit: myhero.com/FilmFestival