Fit Folks

Thursday, March 10, 2011

1 of 138

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. I'm glad to be in the company of 11 million Americans who enjoy the physical and emotional benefits of yoga. Yoga keeps me flexible, fluid and centered. It also brings me strong, elongated musculature and increased bone density. Yoga poses offer a very nice counterpoint to the constant forward-bending posture necessitated by daily activities.

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(Ariana Vincent, 65)

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. I'm glad to be in the company of 11 million Americans who enjoy the physical and emotional benefits of yoga. Yoga keeps me flexible, fluid and centered. It also brings me strong, elongated musculature and increased bone density. Yoga poses offer a very nice counterpoint to the constant forward-bending posture necessitated by daily activities.

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(Kayla Fanning, 28)

Keeping fit for life is my biggest priority, above all else. I play soccer in an adult co-ed league and have for many years. I run, bike and practice yoga on a weekly basis to keep myself in the shape I want both inside and out. Soccer's always been my true love, but when I tore my ACL and meniscus in 2008, I had to find new ways of challenging myself while I healed for two years. I don't let physical or emotional setbacks get in my way.

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(Darryl Kotyk, 41)

I am so thankful for having the passion for cycling living inside of me. If it weren't for this, I'm not sure that my life would be as healthy and happy as it is today. I keep this 41-year-old body rocking by getting out on my road bike for around 150 miles a week, and I keep my mind young by getting out on my urban bike and pretending I'm a kid cruising the streets. Cycling is more than just a passion of mine, it is a lifestyle.

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(Andy Naumann, 29 http://www.monthlymarathons.blogspot.com)

I am a former college swimmer who always hated running, until I ran my first 10K in 2006. Since then, I have been hooked on racing. I ran my first marathon in 2008 and completed my first Ironman triathlon last June. Currently, I am attempting to run 16 marathons in 16 different states within one year. I started last October and have completed nine of them so far. Every marathon I run is painful, but I absolutely love the feeling I get at the fini

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(Jill Goeters, 39)

I am a 39-year-old (and holding on tight) mom of three girls, and staying healthy and fit has always been important in our family. I have always exercised, but a few years ago I started taking a cardio kick boxing class at Ernie Reyes World Martial Arts. This is not your typical aerobics workout. We are taught by fourth-degree black belts and we wear full boxing gloves and push our bodies to extreme limits while learning techniques that can help

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(Claire Smith, 22)

Rain or shine (and it's usually sunny in gorgeous Austin), I am always doing something to keep my body fit. I absolutely cannot live without running. The feeling I get after a seven-mile run around Lady Bird Lake is the purest form of joy I could ever imagine. Along with joy, running gives me confidence. I competed in this year's LiveStrong Austin Half Marathon, and now feel I can conquer anything life throws at me! After my daily runs, I love go

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(Kevin Carollo, 26)

I blog under the pseudonym ArmedVegan. I have always exercised and been athletic, but really have come into my own as I work through my graduate degree. I love integrating exercise with nutrition and education to better myself as a whole. I do mainly weight circuit training because it is an exercise system I can use at all ages. I supplement strength training with running and biking as cardiovascular exercise and include yoga for flexibility trai

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(Laurence Becker, 74)

In only my second organized group bike ride ever, I rode in the Autism Ride at Berry Creek Park. I rode the 24-mile course in just under 3 hours. Not too bad for a lifelong tennis player (I work out two or three times a week), a beginner biker who knows how to use only four of the 21 gears on his new bike, and who is 74 years young with two recent hip replacements. Everything seemed uphill, like an Escher painting, with the wind blowing in my fac

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(Suzanne Landiss, 29)

When I injured my knees from snowboarding, I thought I would never be able to participate in cardio workouts again. That's when I started Russian-style kettlebell strength and cardio training. The kettlebell "swings" (effects similar to jogging but without moving your feet) are not only pain-free but healed my constant knee pain.
Yoga is complementary to kettlebell workouts; they share many of the same movements and they both concentrate on breathing techniques.

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(Ramon Dasch, 69)

I walk 3.25 miles daily as well as doing "heroic" gardening - that is to say landscaping my acre with cactus, agave and yucca in the limestone caliche and solid rock here in Hudson Bend.
I weigh 170 pounds and am 5 foot 10 inches tall. I'm trying to get to 165 pounds and 6 feet, but wine and heredity keep holding me back.
I did, however, climb Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador to the base of the glacier at age 67 and have photographic proof.

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(Barrett Dudley, 24)

I love staying fit & being healthy because it makes me feel more optimistic, energized & confident about the other parts of my life. There's also nothing better than a long workout to decompress and clear your head. In a city as dynamic and athletic as Austin, if you're not doing something active, you're falling behind the crowd! My weekly routine consists of four to six workouts. I run and take spin classes for cardio.

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(Eleanor Perkins, 65)

I'm very proud of myself for staying active. When I turned 60, I joined the Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center, where my mother used to be a member. I decided to help some of the ladies by instructing the chair exercise class. We have a lot of fun. Three days a week, I start my day early with a water therapy class. Then I am off to my group exercise class. We have 10 people in our swim class and about 14 in our chair exercise class. I don't t

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(Riley Shea, 5)

I love to exercise and play outside with my mom, dad and little sister Madeline. Our family likes to go on nature hikes and visit all of the indoor and outdoor playgrounds around Austin. I play soccer at the YMCA and I enjoy swimming and basketball. My favorite activity is playing on the playground at my school. I am a great climber and love the monkey bars! (With help from her mom, Tracy Shea.)

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(Wally Kessler, 72)

I bike about 6,000 miles a year. I avoid using my truck when I'm in Austin because I dislike traffic and enjoy cycling. I live in Stowe, Vt., part of the year and take 13- to 15-year-olds from the Washington, D.C., area on long bicycle tours in the summer. The group covers up to 200 miles per day. I have had 12-year-olds finish double centuries. This summer, they will cycle in Oregon, California, Washington and British Columbia.

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(Bob Middleton, 93)

When I was in my 50s and had back problems, a therapist pointed her finger at me and said, "Mr. Middleton, you better do these exercises, or you are going to have problems later on!" I started jogging, walking and doing Royal Canadian Air Force exercises five times a week. I have continued doing them to this day. Today, I am 93 and I'm still scared to quit. Exercise is very important to me.

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(Kay Head, 70)

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I practice Dahn Yoga at the Austin Center for Holistic Healing and Yoga. I benefit from stretching, intestinal healing exercises, brain wave vibration and meditation. Holding the poses is challenging.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I attend step class and Zumba at Gold's Gym, followed by a series of weight-training exercises I learned from my personal trainer, Leon Miller.

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(David Dunlap, 68)

Keeping fit as one enters the golden years can be quite a task. Having two 12-year-old sons (George and James) at the age of 68 is all the incentive you need!
Since I love hiking, I have taken the boys to New Zealand for a 33-mile hike along the Milford Track. They loved it, and that has continued a tradition of summer trips that do not involve as much traveling. We have a family ranch in northern Colorado, just below the Wyoming border.

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(David Chizum, 67)

As a lifelong outdoorsman and global adventure traveler, even at my advancing age, I strive to keep my edge for any kind of strenuous exertion.
Fitness allows my adventures to seem like walks in the park, not ordeals. And I have found that my body thrives at high altitudes. To stay in shape, I run, walk fast, swim and ride my mountain bike.

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(Steve Gaber, 64)

I ride a skateboard at least three times a week in local ditches and skate parks. I ride hard, so I know I am getting a good cardio workout. I breathe hard and sweat a lot. I also like to ride bowls and banks that you can ride nonstop. That requires a lot of "pumping," so it's like doing a whole bunch of squats.

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(Larry McGinnis, 59)

I'm a registered lobbyist and am several weeks into a physical training program for the legislative session that starts in January. "Training" is walking the halls of the Capitol at night, going up and down stairs and giving the big pink building a once-around before I head home. Beginning at the lowest point accessible by the public in the underground extension, I calculate that it's something like 431 paces up stairs and across terrazzo floors.

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(Gus and Jackie Browing, 82 and 83)

In celebration of our upcoming 83rd & 84th birthdays, we recently hiked about 25 miles during a period of several days amid the golden aspen trees in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. We capped it off with an ascent of 11,420-foot Twin Sisters, a double-peaked mountain about 5 miles south of Estes Park. The just-under-4-mile trail starts at approximately 9,500 feet, so the just-under-2,000-foot elevation gain was not forbiddingly steep.

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(Tom Bruechert, 43)

Here's something realistic: I'm about 20 or 25 overweight, but still consider myself fit at 222 pounds. I work out on average one time a week for 60 to 90 minutes. I try to get a second workout in on the weekend for another 90 minutes, but this doesn't always happen. I enjoy jumping rope, riding my mountain bike around Town Lake and doing pushups and sit ups.During my one regular workout, I use an elliptical machine for 30 minutes & lift weights.

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(Contributed item)

As a retired pharmacist, I love to stay active with Texercise classes and home exercises like stretching, a chinning bar in a doorway and walking the stairs until my pulse is 120. I learned to be a healthy eater from the book "Food, Your Miracle Medicine," by Jean Carper, which has helped me keep a strong immune system. I've been active in tap dancing with the Tap Dancing Grandmothers, which performed at Esther's Follies.

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(Lisa Barden, 40)

All of my life I've been playing soccer. I thought that was enough to stay fit, but after many years I realized that being a weekend warrior wasn't enough. About two years ago, I discovered a new passion when I joined a local boot camp. It was the best thing I've ever done for myself. I am totally addicted to being able to get out there and sweat to a new routine three times a week.The group dynamic of boot camp has changed my outlook on exercise

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(Randal Setzler, 30)

Who thought you could keep Austin weird and keep yourself fit at the same time? I sure did! I have taken not only my fitness but my client's fitness outside of the box and into the realm of whimsical by incorporating techniques like fire spinning, hand balance and parkour into our normal workout routines. On any given day, you might find me around town scaling walls, attending a party with fire in hand or hosting a partner balance workshop.

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(Richard Howe, 45)

I love to work out. My ideal workout regimen includes hitting the weights four or five times a week and doing cardiovascular exercise like running three times a week. I watch everything I eat.
When I was younger, I played some college football and then was hit with the "bodybuilder" phase in the mid-1980s. I started to compete when I was 19. Even though I no longer compete, I still work out to keep fit.

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(Sophie Knifton (right), 8 )

Swimming is good to do because you're exercising, and to be a good swimmer you need to eat fruits and veggies. Swim team is fun because if you win at city you can go to state, and if you do well then you go to nationals! They have neighborhood meets and the winter games. You win ribbons, and you can enter pretty much anything.

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(Onell Augustus, 69)

I am an all-around fitness person, but my specialty is abdominal muscles.
At age 69 I am proud of my abs. I work out three to four days a week. I begin my day by doing a floor routine that includes sit-ups and crunches at home. I arrive at the YMCA at about 9 a.m. and stay there about two hours. I work out on the StairMaster for an hour, then do some weight-lifting exercises.
My husband and I bowl once a week.

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(Sara-Mai Conway, 30)

My primary fitness activity is rowing. Rowing is a total body workout: legs, core and arms.
I can train for strength by doing short sprints, and I can train for endurance by doing long steady rows, so I really feel like it's the best of all worlds. It's low impact, and an activity I plan on doing for the rest of my life.
I spend eight hours a week on the indoor rower, and I get out on Lady Bird Lake at least twice a week.

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( Danielle Hallam, 27)

I started as a personal trainer at Gold's Gym a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I had always been in shape but I have now reached a fitness level beyond what I used to think was my best. In April 2009 I found out that I would be a mother. I am now a single mom of Van, my 7-month-old son. Throughout the pregnancy, I worked for Austin Adventure Boot Camp (and still do). After having my son, I was ready for new challenge

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(Carol Brady, 73)

Exercise has always been an important part of my life, and now I am reaping the rewards. I took up yoga about 6 years ago and attend a class twice weekly. I use the weight and elliptical machines at the YMCA three times a week. I took up clogging about 14 years ago and dance weekly with the Clickety Cloggers. In the summer I swim regularly, preferably at Deep Eddy Pool or Barton Springs. I also walk two miles daily with my dog.

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(Cindy Hayes, 25)

About seven months ago, I decided I wanted to lose weight and run a 5K. At the time, I could only run about a mile and a half without stopping to walk. I started training with Rogue Running in January 2010. By April, I had increased my distance to seven miles, and I ran both the Statesman Capitol 10,000 and the Texas Roundup 10. I had so much fun that in May I decided to start training for the Rock 'n Roll San Antonio Marathon in the fall.

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(Sarah Mark, 24)

I started working at RunTex a few years ago, knowing nothing about running. Through working there and gaining many new friends (who are all longtime runners) I have discovered a new talent and love for running as well as racing.
Now I have a personal running coach and am trying to see how fast I can get and what I can accomplish.
I am currently a member of the Mizuno Central Texas Road Racing Team and the head track and cross-country coach at St.

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(Jessica Escobar, 30)

Austin has given me a renewed appreciation for running. Seeing all the people running and biking outside is so motivating. I love to run outdoors. It's my quiet time and a way for me to collect my thoughts and relax. It's a hobby I can share with my daughter to give her an appreciation for being healthy.

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(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Though past the 50-plus age requirement for the Lamar Senior Activity Center, I thought I was too lively to hang out there. But I figured the affordable yoga class was worth a try. So, twice a week for three years, I've been stretching body and soul under the spell of Jogi Bhagat. It gives me the energy to keep up with three young grandsons.

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(Emma Stiles, 10)

Every single minute that I'm not sitting still at school I am either at my advanced gymnastics class, at my flag football practices or games (where I'm the only girl on my team), jumping on my trampoline, skateboarding, swimming or doing parkour with my dad. I love working out! When you're doing something every minute of the day, it makes you feel good about yourself. It's important to eat healthy foods and get enough sleep, too.

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(Conor Mitchell, 15)

I'm a freshman at Vandegrift High School. I stay fit by doing martial arts at the Austin Karate Academy. When you're in high school, the work load can sometimes make it hard to stay fit, but I manage. Twice a week and occasionally an extra Saturday I train at the academy. By the time this article is published, hopefully I'll be a black belt. I take a P.E. class at school every other day, but I give most of the credit to my martial arts training

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(Amanda Tong, 23)

I started running in college - it was easy to put on shoes and run out the front door whenever I had a free moment. The combination of the great outdoor space and the wonderful weather in Austin makes running such a wonderful experience. I go on three runs during the week and one long run on the weekends. Running is therapeutic for me; I completely zone out and before I know it, I am done with my run and refreshed.

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(Connie Bosworth, 69)

I line dance with a group of seniors at the Allen R. Baca Center for Senior and Community Activities in Round Rock. We dance for two hours, four days a week at the center, and once a month at a nightclub in Austin. We also attend line-dancing workshops and jamborees and travel to different cities to learn new dances. We perform when requested, often at assisted living centers or senior centers, as a way of giving back to our community.

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(Gary Bernhard, 70)

I am very fortunate to love a lifelong sport that also keeps me fit.
My first involvement with "the perfect game" came 52 years ago in my sophomore year at UT when I registered for a handball class. I've been playing three or four times a week ever since.
Handball is a unique sport relatively unrecognized in the mainstream sports arena, but it does require a respectable amount of conditioning and skill.
Like rack

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(Dan Mukherjee, 41)

Martial arts is my passion & I started when I was 12. I give a lot of credit to martial arts for my success in life. I always dreamed of opening my own karate school, and Austin Karate Academy was founded several years ago. I'm happily married and blessed with 2 1/2-year-old twins, a boy and girl. How do I stay fit? I wake up at 5 a.m. and open my karate school, where I teach and train for next 3 hours. I am currently a third-degree black belt.

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(Jean Pedicaris Spoor, 52)

I was the kid picked last for dodge ball. I'm still recovering from buying clothes marked "chubby" as a teen. At 52, I've run two marathons & multiple half-marathons. I work out from 5 to 6:30 a.m. & have had this same routine for 18 years. In the Central Texas fitness scene, I'm told I'm the strongest woman in my age group. When I do chin-ups, I invoke the mantra "I know I can, I know I can" & remember fondly that dodge ball wasn't "all that."

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(Susie Milam, 75)

I started walking in my 40s for exercise. Now in my mid-70s, my fitness routine includes water aerobics, line dancing, yoga and circuit training each once a week. I walk the neighborhood and pick up trash. I take hiking trips, do Sierra Club work project trips, which involve lifting, hauling, digging, planting and a lot of walking. I tackle yard and house projects, such as landscaping my yard, hauling all the stones and the gravel myself.

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(Bonnie Groves, 63)

I stay fit by going to Renaissance fairs. There is a lot of walking involved - and dancing, too. I go in costume and am a volunteer at the Texas Renaissance Festival, Scarborough Faire and the soon-to-open Sherwood Forest Faire , between McDade and Paige, set to debut in February. My characters are a lady wizard, who is also a queen, and her evil twin sister, a pirate captain. I enjoy entertaining. It keeps me fit, sane and young at heart.

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(Jerry Velasquez, 55)

Why do I run? My son recommended more exercise so I would be a healthy future grandparent. I joined a marathon training group, Fort Bend Fit, and found everyday people of all abilities. At first I would run from one driveway to the next then take a walk break; now I run three marathons a year. There are only two reasons why you can't participate in a half- or full marathon - your doctor or you say you can't. I look at my granddaughter and wait f

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(Karin Stern, 53)

I have always exercised. I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year at age 52. After my surgery, I was unable to do my hip-hop workouts because I was having trouble healing. I was so excited when I could start my workouts again. Before I started my six and a half weeks of radiation treatments, my husband and I did a 17-mile hike up to Glacier Point (and down) at Yosemite National Park. We then trained for and walked a marathon at Disney World.

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(Don Craig, 62, and Angie Craig Seguin, 34)

Angie, my daughter, and I have been rollerblading across the dam at Lake Georgetown for many years. It's approximately 1.25 miles across it one way, and we make two round trips. It seems the wind is always against us, so it is a pretty good workout. Angie also plays ice hockey in a men's league and is quite go and is quite good. She also bicycles and has an an eliptical machine to stay fit. I run one other day in the week.

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(Lynn Haner, 48)

I am a columnist with Dog Fancy magazine. Because my column is about practical tips & anecdotes, I need to observe many dogs and owners, in diverse settings. I might walk Zilker one day, Commonsford Park the next, and then the new park Bee Cave the following. With long daily story-finding walks, I'm finding myself increasingly fit.

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(Lon Gee (left), 89, and Walter 'Bud' Swanson, 89)

Tennis is a great sport; enjoyable to play, good exercise to keep you fit and you can play right on into old age. That advice comes from two of Austin's most senior (old) tennis players. Walter "Bud" Swanson and Lon Gee are two veterans of World War II (in the Eighth Air Force), veterans of about 75 years of tennis, who are approaching their 90th birthdays.

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(Meredith Nunis, 67)

After reading the book "Younger Next Year," I put myself on a workout program and hired a fitness trainer to teach me how to use free weights. My weekly routine includes a three-mile speed walk on Monday and Wednesday, a free-weight routine on Tuesday and Thursday, a 25- to 35-mile country bike ride on Friday, and a bike ride to the farmers' market on Saturday. By the time Sunday rolls around, I need a rest - thank you God!

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(Jordan Greenberg, 16)

This year I am lucky enough to avoid the sweaty and mysteriously stinky school gym for a more pleasurable PE class. Four times a week I dash to Austin Kula Yoga after school for an hour of challenging but relaxing yoga. As a teenager, taking yoga is extremely beneficial. We talk about healthy eating habits, lifestyle decisions, ancient yogic philosophies and more. We are fortunate to be given the gift of yoga during this time in our lives.

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(Tim Starry, 53)

I woke up a couple of years ago and realized I was squandering the fitness that the Marines pounded into me over a 20-year career. I got off my sedentary backside and got a commuter bike. I started commuting to work three times a week (39 miles round trip.) After the Rosedale Ride this year I decided I needed a serious road bike and began training for various charity rides. I've learned it's important to have a goal in fitness.

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(Liz Guernsey, 30 )

What do I do to stay fit? Everything! I like to mix things up so I never get bored. Though I'll always be one of those crazy marathon runners, I am constantly seeking out new activities to keep my body fit and my mind stress-free. Squeezing in activities like a beautiful hike in the greenbelt with my dog, some challenging rock climbing with my boyfriend or some refreshing yoga with my sister is easy, too.

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(Martha Solis (left), 69)

We are a group of ladies who love to Zumba. Zumba at the YMCA-Round Rock allows us to dance to Latin music and have an absolute blast "salsaing" for one exciting hour of calorie-burning movements. We work out three times a week with wonderful instructors who keep it fresh and fantastico. Great songs, great rhythm and international zest make Zumba like no other aerobic classes we've participated in!

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(Georgia Tadlock, 83)

When I moved to Texas from Florida four years ago, I joined the Sit and Be Fit exercise class offered at Stonebrook Seniors Community in San Marcos. Before I began attending the classes, I had difficulty walking. Now I teach the class, designed for seniors into their 90s, three times a week. Our class routine, which was designed by Texas State University, encompasses light weights, stretching, mild cardio and a little tai chi.

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(Rona Distenfeld, 50)

Rock climbing is an amazing way to get fit and stay fit. I did my first climbs at the end of March, down in the greenbelt, and was hooked. Climbing uses your body and your mind. You don't need strong arms; you climb from your legs and your core, so it's great for women. I'm outside, challenging myself in nature, having fun, and I'm in the best shape of my life - all muscle, no fat. And Austin has a great climbing community.

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(David Murphy, 54)

I've always been a walker & hiker, but when I got laid off last year I decided to take up cycling. I quickly found that it uses a different set of muscles than hiking or walking, so it adds variety to my workout routine. I ride three or four days every week and walk on others. Austin's a wonderful town for cycling. My favorite ride is along Shoal Creek from North Austin all the way into downtown. Now I combine healthy eating with exercise.

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(Lauren Ross, 54)

In January 1990, my daughter was 1, my son was 5, and I was stuck on the couch. I bought a 95-pound plastic kayak with two seats and an open cockpit. I loaded the boat onto the roof of my sedan and drove it to the end of a concrete culvert. I wrestled the boat off the car and into to the water and confronted a dilemma. Children in the boat first, leaving me onshore; or me first, cajoling them to climb in? 19 years later I'm still paddling.

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(Ed Myers, 79)

I'm a certified lifeguard & swimming instructor at the Town Lake YMCA, where I'm also a volunteer instructor for a program for Alzheimer's patients called Senior Retreat. I've been a lifeguard for more than 63 years. I established a new record time in the 100-meter freestyle & 200-meter breaststroke at the North Carolina Seniors State Championship in the over-65 bracket. I continue to distance swim regularly at Barton Springs and Deep Eddy.

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(Rusty Cribbs, 72)

I love Texercise! I started teaching this fitness class five years ago because I needed to motivate myself to exercise regularly. I enjoy walking around Lady Bird Lake with friends to increase my breathing and heart rate, and I work out four or five times a week at Body Business to keep up my balance and flexibility. As a docent at The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, I've found that I can use the stairs when traveling from floor to floor

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(Sara Sievert, 84)

I competed in the National Senior Games at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. In swimming events with more than 20 competitors in my 80-84 age group, I took fourth in the 100 backstroke, fifth in the 100 freestyle, sixth in the 50 backstroke and eighth in the 50 freestyle. The Texas challenge 80-plus basketball team, which I captain, took bronze. The team is made up of players from San Antonio, Dallas and Round Rock. Their ages are 83 to 93.

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(Jane Tillman, 55)

I am not the gym type but recently changed my mind. My motivation? Bird watching! I need stamina for weekend field trips like those offered by the Travis Audubon Society, and for "extreme birding" like the dawn-to-dusk Christmas bird counts, where we count the number of species seen and the numbers of individual birds seen. Upper- and lower-body strength training a couple of times per week make the hike easier when there is a cool bird at the end

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(Jan Gessler, 65)

I get fit with a virtual walk on Route 66 on AARP's Web site. It's a great program that lets you keep track of how many minutes (or miles) you walk each day. You record your time and move in one of four vehicles along the famous route. In addition to tracking your miles, you can get information about the town you are passing through. I also started ice skating a few years ago, which gives me a place to exercise during the dreaded cedar season.

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(Suzanne Warmack, 47)

I ride daily and teach lessons. When I'm not on a horse, I'm on my feet working with horses (and horses and riders) on the long line.

Additionally, I move jumps around and, several times a week, I load and unload 50-pound bags of feed from my truck. I also load and unload hay. I tend to be mostly vegetarian and consume a fair amount of monounsaturated fats. I don't count calories.

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(Craig-Christopher Williams, 47)

I first picked up a tennis racquet when I was a kid. Back then, I had no idea that I still would be playing in my late 40s. From an early age I played and tried various training methods. A two-handed backhand was a novelty stroke, and many complimented me on my form. It just seemed natural but not something I would be doing 25 years later ... this is a sport for a lifetime, and if I am in good health, I will be stroking into my golden years.

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(Tony Matisi and Cammi Boyum, 42)

My best friend and I have fallen in love with riding a tandem bicycle together. We started 10 months ago, riding the flat lands east of Austin and quickly whipped ourselves into peak fitness. We now take on the hills in and around Austin. We did a 103-mile ride out around Johnson City and Blanco last fall. Then we became only the second tandem team ever to attempt the Tour das Hugel in Austin - 108 miles of all of Austin's most brutal hills.

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(Melinda Brasher, 35)

When friends tell me they admire my dedication to walking, I tell them to get a dog. Mine acts as an alarm clock, nudging me each morning to get out of bed. That's been our routine for nine years. I actually started walking to supplement my twice-weekly gym workouts before I got my beautiful red Doberman, Cayenne. So when Cayenne came into my life, I simply added her to the routine. Now, it's more than routine; it's a required daily habit for us.

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(Scott Williams, 46)

Right now, I'm probably in the best shape of my life. I'm a special education teacher and coach in the Round Rock school district. My job responsibilities require me to keep active throughout the day. Most days I walk between 3 or 4 miles. I also bicycle to and from school, arriving by 6:30 a.m. I'm a dedicated weight lifter and fit in workouts four or five times per week. On top of that, I'll go for a 3- or 4-mile run twice a week.

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(Rev. Gus Browning, 82, and Jackie Browning, 81)

My wife, Jackie, and I hiked in Rocky Mountain National Park this summer. Nothing special about that, except we have been doing it for 50 years. We have both climbed 14,259-foot Long's Peak multiple times, as have all four of our children and some of our grandchildren. We keep fit by eating right (most of the time), exercising, living right and keeping a positive outlook on life.

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(Gwen Atkinson, 74)

I keep fit by walking two miles several times a week and from line dancing classes four times a week, plus performances whenever the dance group is asked. I also keep an active interest in my five grandchildren. My quiet time is spent knitting while watching my favorite programs on TV. My husband and I are active members of our church and help every Sunday afternoon with Alzheimer's patients at a local nursing facility.

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(Jim Wayne Knowles, 70)

After Little League and high school activities, I turned to tennis once or twice a week and an occasional golf game. I played softball two times a week for more than 20 years. I decided to quit softball when I turned 51 and took up distance running. Now, 20 years later, I average running 15 miles a week and lift weights twice a week. I have run 17 marathons, including two Boston, and do several shorter races a year.

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(Kelly Schiller, 22)

Two-and-a-half years ago I picked up a large Hula-Hoop on the ground and began hooping. Finding the slow, repetitive, circular movements meditative, I began hooping to relax. Once you get the general hooping motion down, you can experiment with heavier hoops for an intense abdominal workout and light hoops for dancing and tricks. Hooping works every muscle from your fingers to your toes and is a great way to express yourself.

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(Steve and Marieta Hutchison)

My husband and I are so fortunate to live near a golf course, which has become a source of fitness and joy. We walk this course after sunrise at least three times a week. From our home our route lasts an hour, but we hardly realize it because Mother Nature provides such enjoyment. As we walk the steep inclines and declines, we are privileged to see cottontails, jack rabbits, does, bucks, fawns and foxes.

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(Art Cardenas, 45)

I am a captain with the Travis County Sheriff's Office. I have always been an avid exercise enthusiast and enjoy cycling, running, weightlifting and hiking. I learned to box at a young age and picked it up again when I turned 30. I fought a few more amateur bouts during that time and lost most of them but really got into good shape through the boxing regimen (jumping rope, road work, speed bag work, heavy bag work, push ups, pull ups, crunches).

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(Beverly Emran, 72)

I was born in New Orleans, where after graduating I was a finalist in the 1954 Miss New Orleans contest. I moved to Houston, where I met my husband, Roki Emran, and retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone after working for 30 years. In 2000 we moved to Sun City in Georgetown, where I have been very active. I've acted in plays at the Palace Theatre, Polo Barn and Sun City. I'm a lap swimmer, and I sing, dance and do comedy for our Follies.

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(Alex Earle, 26)

As one of the publishers of Austin Fit magazine, I have to stay fit. Here's how I do it: 90 minutes of weight lifting Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 45 minutes of cardio (running, biking or rowing) Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Plus a premiere league soccer game and tennis match on weekends. I'll also get in one or two days a week of tennis and a few hours of wakeboarding on the weekends. Only in Austin!

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(Marsha Johnson, 66)

Horses have allowed me the privilege of enjoying the outdoors and appreciating God's handiwork. I ride and train horses daily. I do a lot of de-spooking techniques with my horses to help make them marvelous trail companions. Having horses in my life keeps me physically, emotionally and spiritually fit. Riding keeps me happy and healthy. I'm ready, let's ride!

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(Leoda Anderson, 92 )

Line-dancing's complex routines are good for mind and body, says Leoda Anderson.

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(Jennifer Ahrens, 34)

When I hit 30, I noticed my normal workouts weren't cutting it. I was about 15 pounds overweight and, more importantly, felt lethargic and generally unhealthy. Two years ago, I started a rigorous boot camp with CrossFit Central. A few months into the class, 20 pounds lighter, stronger and much healthier, I was surpassing most men in the class. I now teach a women-only boot camp with CrossFit Central and at 34 years old, I am in the best shape of my life.

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(Al Pedler, 71)

For the past 14 years, a major part of our six weeks of vacation includes exercising at the Town Lake complex. She rows at the Texas Rowing Center and is a former World Master Champion in the quad. I have competed in hundreds of road and cross country races and marathons around the globe. Most mornings you will find us at one of these locations - on the running path, on Lady Bird Lake or at the Veloway cycling.

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(Elaine Rogers, 56)

I woke up one morning last August and decided I needed a fitness activity. I set about looking for something that would hold my attention. I came across an article in More magazine that talked about fit women older than 40. One gal took up rowing at age 50 and looked terrific! I Googled rowing in Austin and found the Rowing Dock, signed up, and now I'm hooked.

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(Michael Goldman, 55)

I started Krav Maga Israeli self-defense classes under the guidance of Dan Kiser at Austin Self Defense in Cedar Park more than three years ago as a fat, wheezing, middle-aged man. After the first year, I added Haganah self-defense and mixed martial arts and have attended classes three or four times a week. I've taken a physical time machine trip back 20 years!

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(Benjamin Benulis, 26)

I've been playing footbag for about 15 years. I've been playing and training for freestyle for two years now. Freestyle footbag is an advanced form of Hacky Sack that involves various tricks with the bag, strung together to form runs. Trick elements include flying kicks, spins and moving over or under the bag while it's in the air. Footbag requires coordination, dexterity, endurance and creativity.

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(Jon Durbin, 59)

I first saw clog dancing more than 25 years ago at a square dance. For someone with two left feet, it looked super challenging. I got started, finally figured out my left from right and have been clogging ever since. Clogging is high-energy dancing done to a wide variety of music - think "Riverdance." It took me more than a year to reach for a second challenge: performing in front of audiences. More than 500 shows later, including 100-plus with t

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(George Hasty 67)

George Hasty, left, works out with personal trainer Ken O'Neill, who has developed a technique for maturing adults.

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(Patti Fludd, 55)

In 2004, I retired after 30 years of teaching from the Lake Travis School District. In 1978-1979 I was a Houston Oilers cheerleader. After retirement, I continued to stay fit by dancing. In this picture, I am performing a tap dance routine during the Follies Performance 2008.

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(John Shackelford, 67)

In August 2006, at age 66, I completed a Senior Professional Open Golf Tournament to end my obsession for competitive golf. I was burned out. Since the 1998 Vancouver International Marathon, I have completed 14 marathons, more than 20 half-marathons and too many 5K and 10K fun runs to count.

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(Patrick Larson, 40)

I bike to work most days (five miles one way), take the stairs and eat a vegetarian diet. I've maintained my same weight my whole adult life. I went vegetarian after many relatives died of heart disease and cancer. I'm 40 years old, and I think my biking has kept me in good shape. I live downtown right now, so I'm able to walk or bike most places, so walking also is a part of my lifestyle.

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(Connie Leaverton, 48)

I have an interesting way to keep fit. I juggle, ride unicycles, do acrobatics and stretch and strengthen with a hanging trapeze in my living room. All of this is a great way to keep in shape. Even though I've had a broken back and had scoliosis in my younger years, I still have full movement because I stretch or do yoga daily. Important! I am a professional comedy juggler and perform around the world. -Photo by Mark Guerra

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(Sue Orr, 55)

Staring middle age square in the eyes, I was determined not to be 50 and fat! As a registered dental hygienist and registered dietitian, I have heard for years the many reasons why one can't get control of weight. I know what to eat for good health. My neighbor, who is 2 months younger, challenged me to do the Danskin Triathlon here in Austin. With a little training and a lot of support from my husband, we both made it.

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(Rick Beguelin, 70)

I have been a fitness buff all my life, having built eight fitness centers. I believe fitness has extended my quality of life through running, weight lifting, swimming and skiiing. I started using a Trikke, which is a standing three-wheeled platform propelled by body movements without pushing or pedals at speeds up to 18mph. I find that a weekly 20-minute workout keeps me fit and makes me feel like a kid again.

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(Tom Walsh, 65)

I'm a 65-year-old Clydesdale-division (more than 200 lovable pounds) runner who has been in the running game since 1977. I began running as an antidote to being a reformed smoker and have been running ever since. Times past I've run in most of the downtown races, including the Frost Yer Fanny in January, the Turkey Trot in November, Toys for Tots in December and 18 different times in the Capitol 10K.

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(Jerry Levenson, 58)

Nine years ago, after cancer surgery and six months of chemotherapy. I needed to restore my stamina. Working outdoors is great fun and rewarding. If it were a sport, we'd call it extreme gardening. I volunteer with the Bull Creek Foundation, the Austin Parks Foundation and the Central Texas Trail Tamers.

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(Nancy Guelker, 42)

I am a native Austinite who stays fit with sCULPture Nutrition & Fitness Bootcamps.

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(Summer McInerney, 32)

Six months ago, I weighed 178 pounds and got winded walking a block. I'm now 40 pounds lighter, and I just finished the AT&T Austin Marathon an hour ahead of my goal! I was motivated and inspired to get fit by joining StrollerFit, where I learned that getting a serious workout with small children in tow is a realistic expectation. I love being a role model for my boys. My older son, Vaughan, participated in Marathon Kids this year.

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(Judi Stevens, 64)

I retired in May from Austin High School after 37 years of teaching special education and being department chair. My hobby is scuba diving, which I've been doing with my husband for 22 years. We dove in Mexico, Belize, the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Honduras, Bonaire and the Turks and Caicos Islands. I stay fit by lifting weights for 40 minutes every other day, and on the alternate day I rapid walk on my treadmill.

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(Elaine Wetmore Swiss)

It appears that the horse is doing the work, but 14 hours in the saddle provides a workout for the rider, too. I participate in competitive trail rides where the horse and rider travel 20 to 30 miles per day over two days on a mapped course within a specified time. The horse and rider are judged on how well they navigate various natural obstacles such as creek crossings, opening gates and climbing steep hills as they proceed down the trail.

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(Mickey Owens, 61)

My husband and I own farm animals and gain our exercise through caring for them and the upkeep of our place. Very little time is spent indoors. We both ride our horses regularly, which provides great exercise and close contact with nature. My husband has lung problems and cannot compete, but he helps me compete in an equestrian sport called Cowboy Mounted Shooting.

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(Bib Underwood, 76)

In September 2001, at the age of 70, I (center) bought my first bicycle in 60 years. I signed up for Team In Training's century ride at Lake Tahoe. At the insistence of teammates, I got a road bike, and training rides stretched to 80 miles ... ouch! In June 2002 we did the ride. Since then, I have ridden two San Antonio-Corpus Christi MS 150s and numerous local rides. I ride 50 to 60 miles per week and lift weights three days a week.

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(Lynne Weber, 46)

Ten years ago, I was diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes. I was told it would limit my activities, but the outdoor-oriented tomboy in me would have none of that! Once just a casual jogger, I trained hard and eventually became a road and trail distance runner. My most recent accomplishment was the successful completion of the Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance 50 Mile Run at Huntsville State Park.

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(Bill Scholl, 68)

I hav been a fitness advocate for decades. I bike and swim when possible for cardiovascular benefit. I also play racquetball twice a week when I'm not traveling. My love for tennis was recently rekindled. The exercises I do regularly, averaging about every other day, are pushups (70 to 80 nonstop) and pull-ups or chin-ups (usually 10 or sometimes 12 nonstop).

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(Joan Roberts-Scott, 54)

I maintain my healthy weight and fitness with five or six weekly workouts. I struggled with my weight for years before losing 90 pounds.

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(Margaret Wilson, 68, and Don Wilson, 72)

My husband and I cycle in our subdivision three times a week and average 12 miles each time at 101/2 mph. Our subdivision, Steiner Ranch, has many hills, and we enjoy the challenge. During the summer, we cycle very early in the day to avoid the heat and in winter, we wait until the day has warmed up. Sometimes we tackle the steep hills and cycle outside the subdivision onto RM 620 and go farther afield.

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(Maria M. Shelton, 60)

Energetic, funny and positive: Those are words that describe me. I work with two universities mentoring graduate educational leaders as well as maintaining an active lifestyle. In addition to running, I bike and landscape. But my new love is sculling with the Texas Rowing Center. Having moved back after a 20-plus year interlude, I wanted to make new friends and certainly did so with the "skinny boat going backward."

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(Rene Gense)

Out of curiousity, I (far top right) ran a little blurb in our newsletter last fall to see if any women wanted to train with me for the 2007 Danskin. I didn¿t run, bike or swim, so I thought I better have some backup!Twenty-eight women responded and 23 came to my house for an informative meeting. I was blown away!

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(Mike Coy, 54)

I currently play baseball in three different divisions. I played high school and college baseball. Baseball keeps me fit and feeling younger (sometimes). I¿m usually sore, but it¿s fun to compete! I plan to continue to play until I embarrass myself or my son on the field. When I can¿t ¿keep up¿ anymore, I will hang up the cleats with no regrets!

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(Jim Harrington)

I do martial arts for fitness in the Austin area and compete regularly on the national level. I am a second level Black Belt in American Style Karate and the Superfoot Fighting System and also have a Black Belt in Tang Soo Do. I won my age and weight division, sparring at the 2006 US Open in Orlando in the Black Belt Division and my friend and training partner, Delayne Akins (right) was the overall winner in the Brown Belt division.

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(Deborah Underwood, 41)

On days that I teach school, I often wake up and run a couple of miles. Then after school I will either go to the gym to work out on weights or I will teach a water aerobics class. I teach water aerobics three times a week, for an hour per session. On days that I don't teach school, like weekends and during the summer, I work out up to three times a day.

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(Lynne Smith, 39)

A former triathlete and collegiate swimmer, Lynne Smith (front, blue swim suit and yellow cap) spent nearly two years preparing for her attempt to swim the English Channel, swimming six or seven hours at a stretch, purposely gaining weight for insulation and soaking in ice baths to acclimate to the cold.

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(Jeff Boswell, 47)

I am a fit father of two, volunteer adult scout leader, and adventure junky. I work out on weights 3-4 days during the week and run. I enter 5K and 10K races around Austin. I placed in my first adventure race: Texas Challenge near San Marcos. I am hooked on adventure outings and races.

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(Terry Humphrey, 76)

I have a senior line dance group and we perform all over town, mainly
at nursing homes. We did 34 performances last year. Our ages range from 66 to 86. The group started about 15 yaers ago by Sue
Northington, who passed away a few years ago. I have been in charge for about five years. My ladies are so loyal. We practice every Thursday at the Senior Center on Manchaca. We hafve at least two performances a week, and sometimes more.

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(Clara Kinney, 76)

I have worked and exercised all of my adult life. I managed the Woolworth food counter and bakery for seven years and managed KFC stores for 43 years. My husband and I go dancing two to three times a week. I sing in rest homes with the senior sing-along group. We have a full social life, with our many friends. I am a member of the Red Hat Society. It is important to exercise the mind and the body and have lots of fun.

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(John Gillum and Melanie Eskoff )

"To dance Argentine tango is to both engage in a demanding athletic endeavor and participate in one of the world's most magnificent performance arts. The dance's signature moves - the leg hooks, the leg wraps, the leans, the pivots, and so on - all require a certain degree of muscular good health and coordination to do really well."

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(Kate Wodash, 49)

I am a Pilates trainer and resistance flexibility intern and mother of two teenage daughters. In addition to staying fit by doing Pilates and applying resistance stretching for my clients, I am a competitive catamaran sailor. I just completed the fifth annual Great Texas Catamaran Race, a four-day, 300-mile race from South Padre Island to Galveston. This was my second year in the race as crew for Team Yost Automotive.

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(Laurie Lambert, 45)

Lambert is the only American national snowshoe champion who lives in a place where it doesn't snow enough to practice the sport. But that didn't stop her from collecting her second win in the U.S. National Snowshoe Championship in March of 2004. Lambert loves running. She ran track in high school in Houston, and has long participated in local races. "I'm Forrest Gump," she says. "I come from a long line of runners."

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(Mary Ann Robalino)

I got serious about fitness when I joined a health club about five years ago. There was a big variety of classes to choose from and after a while, I persuaded friends to join. It's fun to run into your friends at the gym, and working out with a group definitely keeps you motivated. About two years ago, I hired a personal trainer, whom I train with twice weekly, and he really made all the difference.

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(Cleo Barnette, 71)

I learned to play volleyball when I was 12. Years later, after raising three boys, I began to play again on intramural teams at the University of Texas. When I became a senior citizen, I joined the Texas Senior Volleyball Association and began to play in tournaments all over the state and nation. I love the companionship with my teammates. We have learned that volleyball is truly a team sport, and we support each other both on and off the court.

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(Peggy Pepitone, 44)

I manage a patent law firm by day and I am a natural figure and bodybuilding competitor, certified personal trainer and exercise enthusiast on nights and weekends. Lifting weights, running along Lady Bird Lake and gardening are my favorite activities. I work out to reverse the aging clock and to stay healthy. By believing in oneself, anything is attainable. All it takes is hard work, discipline and the desire to succeed.

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(Jean Warren, 47)

I adore the outdoors, especially tennis and water sports. I play recreational league tennis, focusing on doubles. Tennis is fantastic: It combines physical endurance, finesse, patience, mental toughness, strategy and social opportunities. I am also an active boater, enjoying Central Texas lakes since age 4, and learning to water ski and slalom at ages 6 and 8, respectively.

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(Sue Schaffer)

My husband and I square dance - a lot! We dance two to three times a week and often go away weekends to dance. We dance in the Rio Grande Valley, which is the square dance capital of the world, much of the winter. Square dancing is great for the mind as well as the body. We must know 1,000 to 1,500 calls, and we have to do the move as soon as it's called out.

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(Patti Coffee, 51)

I'm 51 years young and work full time at North Austin Medical Center. I have two dogs, a 117-pound black German shepherd, Gus, and a medium-sized "lovamutt," Ellie, whom I walk every morning at 5 followed by a two- to three-mile run. I try to work out at Gold's Gym five days a week. But the fun part of my week is when I practice team roping two nights a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at the Hilltop Arena in Elgin, where I board my horse.

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(John Tschirhart, 87)

Throughout my early life, I swam and rode a bicycle. I seldom got five pounds over my ideal weight. Today, in spite of painful arthritis, I do two miles every morning around my circle driveway. That keeps me healthy. I have a good heart and good lungs. I eat moderately, don't take myself too seriously and keep the same sense of humor that has also contributed to my longevity. Reaching 100 years of age and beyond is not an impossible goal for me.

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(Kevin Rhodes, 45)

At age 22, I was hit by a drunken driver. I woke up three days later in intensive care. The aftermath experience was arduous, but a blessing: two months in a wheelchair, eight surgeries and crutches over two years, rehab after rehab. It all conditioned my thinking: I could not - just could not - take for granted being active.My first marathon (the '97 Motorola Austin) was a soaring personal achievement, and I've done others.

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(Skip Anderton, 60)

In celebration of his 60th birthday, Skip Anderton plans to slalom ski a 30-mile run on Lake Travis. A skiing accident in 2001 that involved a badly shattered right femur and a blown ACL didn't stop him. Skip is back at it with his usual enthusiasm. This endurance run is to top his personal best of 26 miles, but also a reminder not take ourselves too seriously.

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(Eloy Ojeda, 71)

One day I found myself at the hike-and-bike trail, needing to get my legs going again. Six months later I had a knee replacement and have not left the trail at all. Toward peace, tranquility and a lot of healing. I am now a member of Town Lake Trail Foundation and have found a home.
I could not walk before and never knew that there was another world for me. At 71, I am now living the most important part of my life.

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(Tana Christie, 70)

The ultimate luxury is working out at home. It is important that you create a space that is convenient and pleasant. My home studio has a lot of windows and sunshine and a great view of the fish pond and gardens. With the help of my trainer, choreographer Andrea Ariel, I am able to get a complete workout without machines and special equipment.

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(Michael Shannon, 42)

My wife, daughter and I do Songahm Taekwondo, which offers something for everyone. We do traditional forms (which range from 18 to 46 moves); light contact sparring; weapons drills; and even board breaking. It's always a good cardio workout, and we often work different muscle groups in class as well. We need to develop strong core muscles for balance, leg muscles for kicks and jumps, arm and shoulder muscles for punches and blocks.

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(Hailey Edwards, 10)

I am a Level 6 gymnast at Olympic Hills Gymnastics. I have been in gymnastics since I was 6 years old and on the team for three years now. I train after school from 3:45 to 8 p.m. for a total of 20 hours a week. In summer I train 27 hours a week. I love gymnastics because it keeps me strong and healthy and it's fun!

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(Richard Hahn, 65 Linda Callaway, 55 )

Linda Callaway, back row left, Richard Hahn, next to her, and their friends found an exercise they can stick with all year at the indoor Nitro Swim Center. They've learned how to be better swimmers.

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(Mary Bullin, 48)

"Running has been my only exercise for 25 years. It's convenient, inexpensive and social. It's kept my 5-foot frame at 100 pounds my entire adult life. Currently, there is a group of 10 ladies that runs before 6 a.m. every weekday. It's a support group in many ways. Our motto is, 'Whatever is said on the run, stays on the run.' We also meet the last Sunday morning of every month for a run and coffee/birthday celebration."

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(Cheri Carter, 59)

Grandmother of eight uses skydiving, running, weight-training and tai chi to stay in shape.

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(Bill Mitchell, 49)

Bill Mitchell of Kingsland has ridden the MS 150 from Houston to Austin and taken part in several other challenging cycling events.

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(Debbie Shaw, 60)

Tap dancing keeps Debbie Shaw in shape.

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(David Henderson, 53)

Cycling and jiu-jitsu keeps this plumber fit.

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(Felicia Bruno, 39)

"I work out at Gold's Gym on William Cannon Boulevard five days a week. I do weight lifting every day, focusing on one to two body parts per day and 30 to 45 minutes of cardio afterward."

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(Kim Hall, 38)

Kim Hall, with her son Luke, turns an ordinary park into an exercise gym.

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(Jeff Tucker, 46)

Jeff Tucker gets his exercise as a football referee. He starts before football season by walking and jogging in spring to build up endurance.

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(William Hyland, 46)

"I get a 60-minute weekly aerobic workout when I cut my grass. My battery-powered lawn mower has no 'self-propel' feature - it's propelled by me. Going up hills on my lawn is a little like a StairMaster, but with a better view!"

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