Cleusa Uenaka: The Ageless Power of Running
Discover the inspiring journey of the runner and influencer who started at age 70 and now motivates millions through daily consistency.
At age 76, Cleusa Uenaka inspires thousands by proving that it is never too late to adopt healthy habits and transform daily routines. From a humble beginning to viral challenges and community impact, she shares valuable lessons on discipline, self-care, and family support.
In the premiere episode of the videocast Se Liga Nelas on the Stemma Sports hub, Cleusa Uenaka shares her journey of resilience and transformation through road running. Boasting over 1.2 million followers on social media and a non-negotiable daily training routine, she demonstrates how deciding to get active at age 70 radically changed her physical and emotional health, serving as an inspiration for athletes across generations.
Starting Running at 70 and the First Fall
Motivated by a live stream from influencer Paulo Machado, who shared his streak of over 800 consecutive days of running, Cleusa embraced the challenge of moving immediately using a countdown technique. On her very first morning—a Sunday at 7:00 a.m. in São José dos Campos—she tripped on an uneven sidewalk and fell flat on the ground. Despite bleeding and scraping her hands and knees, she got right back up and completed her first kilometer around the block to honor her personal commitment.
A Health Diagnosis at 60 and Returning to School
Years before getting into sports, around the age of 60, Cleusa suffered from severe depression and a dangerous drop in blood platelets, which led to an admission at Hospital das Clínicas in São Paulo. Encouraged by a medical student to shift her mental focus and revive long-held dreams, she enrolled in an evening adult education program at a public school. Being in class brought her close to nearly 30 vulnerable youth whom she helped re-engage with school and the job market, a journey that ultimately restored her own health.
Lifestyle Changes and Choosing to Stay Young
Following her hospitalization and the discovery of a severe chlorine sensitivity, Cleusa and her husband completely overhauled their diet, eliminating sodas, fried foods, and refined cooking oils. Relocating to coastal towns in São Paulo state encouraged a daily routine of walking along the beach and cycling, conditioning her body for running years later. To her, biological age is just a number when compared to the conscious choice to keep one's spirit and vitality active.
Memorable Encounters with Followers and Fellow Runners
Participating in sporting events across Brazil, Cleusa has shared deeply moving moments with the running community. During a grueling 5K race under extreme heat in Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, she came across an exhausted runner on the verge of quitting; arm in arm, they crossed the finish line together. Crossing paths with the same athlete months later in Campo Grande confirmed that this simple act of solidarity kept the follower committed to the sport.
Going Viral After a Thousand Days of Consistency
Cleusa started filming short videos for Instagram after 500 consecutive days of running, initially just to overcome her fear of public speaking. Widespread recognition arrived when she reached 1,094 consecutive days of training, after posting a mid-run reflection on the setbacks caused by putting off important life decisions. Her commitment to never break the habit was further cemented by her granddaughter, who at age three asked Cleusa to look after her in the future because of her grandmother's vibrant health.
Supporting a Depressed Follower in Scotland
The reach of her social media message enabled Cleusa to support people during critical periods of isolation. Right after finishing a live stream, she answered a call from a Brazilian mother living in Scotland who was battling severe depression and could not leave her bedroom. Through daily video chats and encouragement, the follower resumed caring for her daughters, managing her home, and exercising outside in the snow.
Learning to Prioritize Self-Care and Saying Goodbye to Her Sister
For decades, Cleusa devoted her life to caregiving for ill family members, including her parents and her older sister, who battled cancer for many years. That experience taught her the hard-won lesson that caring for one's own health must come first to avoid burning out. Her running routine was so deeply valued by her sister that on the day of her sister's wake, Cleusa completed her daily run as a tribute to the support she had always received.
Time Management and Inspiring the Next Generation
Over time, learning to say no and directing energy toward what truly matters became one of Cleusa's essential well-being tools. This active lifestyle directly influenced her seven-year-old granddaughter: while accompanying Cleusa and her mother to a race in Sumaré, the girl insisted on joining, ran the entire 5K women's course, earned her own medal, and embraced the sport.
Influencer Routine and a Family-Run Team
Cleusa's daily routine begins early with reading, running workouts, and content creation, leaving the rest of the day for her retail sales work and interacting with her community. Her home operations rely on partnership with her husband and a production workflow managed by her son Glenn, who assembled her grandchildren and daughters-in-law to handle video recording, editing, and brand partnerships.
Consistency on Tough Days and Advice to Start Today
Even when managing health fluctuations related to thrombocytopenia or days with low energy, Cleusa keeps her momentum by alternating between running and walking so she never breaks her routine. For anyone delaying an active lifestyle while waiting for the perfect gear or ideal running conditions, her advice is simple: start immediately with whatever is at hand and commit to just ten minutes of daily movement to build the habit.