Buy This Photo

Frank Shorter, left, autographs White Plains runner Alicia Sokolofsky's bib on Sunday.JEFF GOULDING/Times Herald-Record

Published: 2:00 AM - 06/04/12

MIDDLETOWN Brian Baker doesn't seem to age, from his youthful appearance to his spectacularly consistent road running times.

Baker, of Walden, turned 50 this year, but continues to clock times that would make a 20-year-old proud. He won the 50- to 54-year-old age group in 39:54 on Sunday at The Classic 10K.

Baker is within only 90 seconds or so of times he ran as a 19-year-old. He has missed only four of the 32 Classics (2006-present) and Orange Classics (1981-2005).

"I'm psyched that I'm maintaining that consistency,'' he said.

A vegetarian most of his life, Baker chalks up his remarkable consistency to "good genes and a healthy lifestyle.'' He's also durable, having run for 36 years without being slowed by any chronic injuries. Baker finished his 37th marathon at Boston in April.

Liberty High graduate Mike Belfiore raised more than $5,000 on Sunday for Juvenile Diabetes, honoring a friend's daughter recently diagnosed with the disease at 18 months old.

"It broke my heart to see them go through what they went through,'' said Belfiore, a father of children ages 5 and 1. He said his friend's daughter is doing well. Belfiore set a goal of $5,000 and had raised about $5,400 through Sunday. Donations to the cause in Belfiore's name can be made at jdrf.org.

Read this article:
The Classic notebook: Veteran runner Baker still cooking at 50