Fauja Singh, 100, to break records at Toronto marathon

Fauja Singh, 100, plans to break world records as the oldest runner.

He has set records in Toronto before, in the "men over 90" category at a half-marathon in 2004 and a full marathon in 2003. This Sunday, Singh will compete in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

At 100, he's determined to land new Guinness World Records—all nine of them.

"I always wanted to be the oldest marathon runner and said to myself that if an opportunity presented itself, I will not turn it down," Singh told the Toronto Star.

Before the big race on Sunday, Singh will run eight shorter ones on Thursday. He plans to break records in the 100-metre and 200-metre runs, as well as to set the first 100-year-old runner records for 400-metre, 800-metre, 1,500-metre, 1-mile, 3,000-metre and 5,000-metre runs.

Running exploits have earned Singh, who asks for tea at the 32-kilometre mark, certain celebrity status. He was featured in Adidas' "Impossible is Nothing" campaign and profiled in a book called "Turbaned Tornado." His Facebook page has over 17,000 likes.

Looking for a new focus after loosing his wife and son, Singh started competing in races at the age of 89, but hasn't completed a full marathon since 92. The man is determined to finish this time.

As for training secrets, Singh has none. The 115-pound, 5-foot-8 man runs daily, eats small portions of a vegetarian diet and maintains a positive outlook. Watch him talk about healthy living below.

Singh, an Indian-born Sikh who calls the United Kingdom home, intentionally chose Toronto for his newest record-breaking attempts. Torontonians "seem more accommodating of other cultures than some other parts of the world where the Sikh appearance is wrongly prejudged," he said.

New world records won't mark the end of his running career.

"I will carry on running as it is keeping me alive," Singh said.

"God has given me this opportunity and I feel blessed with this and enjoy running," he told The Globe and Mail through an interpreter. "If I could run even when I'm dead, I'll try."