In the realm of inspirational athletes, there are two realms that come into play: the achievements and the motivation.
Consider Rita Hanscom, 70, who won the gold medal and set an American record in the pentathlon last month for women in her age group at the USA Track & Field Masters Indoor Championships in Florida. That’s the achievement.
Here’s the motivation:
“One of my main goals for all of this is to live a healthy life, and one of the greatest gifts you can give your children is to remain healthy and independent,” says Rita. “I have two grown children, and they’ve got families, and I don’t ever want to be a burden. I don’t want to be dependent on them.”
“So, I think if I have something like sports to keep me active, that’s really what I’m striving for.”
Now, that’s universal motivation, isn’t it? Not everyone wants to enter track and field competitions, after all. But we can all relate to remaining independent, strong, and active. That sort of motivation is what drives people to workout with us at MMFitness Gym here, as well.
We all need regular exercise to maintain strength, agility and endurance, even if we’re not quite sure what a pentathlon is, anyway.
Not Slowing Down
Rita is still working part-time for the state attorney general, investigating fraud in health care.
She has been competing in Masters events for 15 years and set a world record in the heptathlon in Finland in 2009.
She won five gold medals that year and was selected the Best Masters Female Athlete in the World.
She could probably tell you how many fraudsters she has helped put away, but she has no idea how many national or world championships she has won.
Her track events require speed, agility, strength, balance, and the endurance to do it all in one day—qualities that building muscle at any age can help you achieve too.
“It’s not linear, it is a wide assortment of skills, and I’ve just really enjoyed the physical challenge,” Rita said.
Stay Active
She’s had two Achilles injuries in recent years and says she’s regained her explosiveness, for the most part.
“I’m probably about 95% now,” she says. “So, in spite of what people say, ‘Oh, you’ll never be back to normal,’ I disagree. I think you can heal yourself. Just kind of give it time.”
Rita says there’s simply no benefit to her being inactive.
“People will take a month off to deal with aches and pains,” she says. “After a big meet once, I decided to take a month off and things still got sore. You know, you still get aches and pains when you’re not doing anything.”
Sometimes if ‘exercise’ is too much today, try a little ‘movement’. Just staying active in some capacity is what matters most.
Rita will probably be ranked No. 1 in the pentathlon when the World Masters Athletes meet this month again in Florida.
The Path to Independence and Health
As impressive as Rita’s accomplishments are, remember her main goals and think about how physical fitness can help you reach them: health and independence.
Many of our members come to us with similar goals – they want to maintain their quality of life, stay active with their grandchildren, continue their favorite hobbies, and remain self-sufficient as they age. That’s why Temple Terrace training is the perfect fit for adults over 40.
The Florida weather gives us a perfect environment to stay active year-round, whether you’re working out in our air-conditioned gym during summer heat or enjoying outdoor small group training sessions in our beautiful Tampa winters.
Your Journey to Fitness Starts Here
Rita’s journey shows us that age is just a number, and our bodies are capable of amazing things when we commit to staying active. Here at MMFitness Tampa, we see our own local success stories every day – from those who want to keep up with their grandchildren at local parks to others who want to stay strong enough to enjoy fishing off the Courtney Campbell Causeway.
Your journey to health and independence starts with a single step. Whether you’re 27 or 70, whether you’re recovering from an injury or just getting started, we’ve got small group training programs tailored specifically for you and your goals.
For women looking to maintain strength and vitality, our strength training for women over 40 program offers specific techniques that account for changing hormones and body composition.
Ready to write your own success story? Contact us at (813)618-7882 to schedule your session, or visit us at 8602 Temple Terrace Hwy D-36. Check our schedule for availability Monday through Friday, and Saturdays starting at 9am.
Remember, the greatest gift you can give your family is your health and independence. Come to MMFitness—we’re here to help you achieve your fitness goals! View our pricing and membership options today.
Find us Here:
8602 Temple Terrace Hwy D-36,
Tampa, FL 33637
Get In touch:
(813)618-7882
MMFitnessTampa@gmail.com
Training Hours:
Mondays – Fridays
Saturday: 9am
#StayStrong #TampaFitness #AgingStrong #FitnessMotivationForSeniors
