ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Over 2,300 runners gathered in Rochester Sunday morning for the annual Rochester Marathon.

Chuck Vanduzee was one of them.

Vanduzee began running decades ago for the comradery.

“It was a pretty simple thing to do," Vanduzee said. "You get a bunch of buddies, guys and gals, and you just go for long runs.”

And he hasn’t stopped since.

“I’m 81, and I’ve been running for 40 years,” Vanduzee said.

He’s run over 340 marathons — enough miles to run across the United States mainland twice.

In fact, he has run a marathon in every state, including 12 Boston Marathons. He’s also run marathons all over Europe, including the Athens Marathon in Greece.

“Running is simple in it that it’s just running," Vanduzee said. "You do it as a kid, and then you stop doing it — usually much sooner than I have.”

Living in Florida now but born and raised in Rochester, he returns every year for the Rochester Marathon, which has been put on by Fleet Feet Yellow Jacket Racing since 2014.

“I like Rochester. I like the food, the bars," Vanduzee said. "And I get to see friends and family.”

He’s no longer as fast, but for marathon organizers, he’s an inspiration.

“A lot of these people are out here because they want to live long, healthy lives and to see folks who are 81 years old doing this, it’s a tribute to say, ‘Hey, it’s possible,’” Vice President and CFO of Fleet Feet Ellen Brenner-Boutillier said.

Though, Vanduzee remains humble on the matter.

“It’s kind of a novelty to see an old guy out there running," Vanduzee said. "I don’t enjoy that by the way — I don’t enjoy being old at all.”

Organizers say 26.2 miles at his age is almost unheard of, even in the 70s.

“You’re still running, you’re still walking, you’re still participating in these long-distance events," Brenner-Boutillier said. "That in itself, to me, is a much greater feat than some of the fast times you may have done in the past.”

Still, Vanduzee says he plans to run for as long as his body will let him.

“As long as I like it, as long as it’s fun," Vanduzee said. "It’s definitely a challenge.”