Stronger with Age

At 89, Eleanor’s dedication to fitness and others inspires those around her

Photo by Mandy Sue Glaser,Wild WILD light Photography

The alarm blared at 5:15 a.m. It was a summer morning, and getting out of bed that early seemed a little crazy, especially for a teacher enjoying summer break. But I dragged myself out of bed, brushed my teeth and put on the workout clothes I had laid out the night before. Coffee in hand, I headed to the YMCA for the 5:40 a.m. Body Pump class.

“I’ll be thankful later that I did this,” I reminded myself.

There weren’t many people willing to start their mornings with an intense workout before the sun came up. But a faithful group of early risers — Randall, Felicia, Kim, Louis, Kathy, Angie, Sarah Beth and Eleanor — regularly showed up, ready to work hard and encourage one another.

They were the morning warriors, always willing to offer a friendly greeting or help someone gather equipment. Each was dedicated in their own way, but one stood out among the group.

Her name was Eleanor, affectionately known as “Ms. Eleanor.” She was 88 years old when I met her and quickly became one of the most inspiring people I had ever known.

I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. On several occasions, classmates shared how much Eleanor motivated them simply by showing up and giving her best.

Kim, one of the regular participants, admitted there were mornings when migraines made it difficult to get out of bed. But when she considered skipping class, she thought about Eleanor.

“If Eleanor can get up and do this, I can too!” she said.

Anyone who has participated in Body Pump knows it isn’t an easy workout. The strength-training class challenges every major muscle group through sets of repetitive movements, often lasting five minutes with only short breaks in between. Even with lighter weights, arms and legs can begin shaking before the set is over. And the soreness can last for days.

Yet there was Eleanor, working right alongside people decades younger than she was.

As I completed the workouts beside her, I couldn’t help but admire her determination. She occasionally modified an exercise or used less weight, but she still placed the bar across her shoulders for squats and worked through lunges with the rest of us.

She might not have lowered herself quite as far during a lunge, but after five minutes of lunges combined with arm extensions, I can assure you that everyone in the room was feeling the burn.

What impressed me most wasn’t how much weight Eleanor lifted or how many repetitions she completed. It was that she kept showing up.

Midway through the summer, Eleanor experienced an injury that prevented her from participating in the regular workout. But rather than staying home, she found another way to exercise.

She moved a chair to the back of the room and completed her own 45-minute workout using resistance bands while the rest of us continued with Body Pump.

Even when she couldn’t do everything she once had, she did what she could.

And when class ended and everyone began putting away equipment, Eleanor often celebrated with her familiar words.

“Well, we got ’er done!”

But Eleanor’s morning routine didn’t end there.

After Body Pump, she headed to the YMCA’s massage chair, which she considered her special treat. Then she made her way to the warm-water pool for another round of exercise.

While most of us were ready to call it a morning, Eleanor was still going.

Her dedication to staying active was remarkable, but as I got to know her, I discovered that what made Eleanor truly special extended far beyond her commitment to fitness.

Carrie LaMar, a longtime YMCA instructor, shared stories that revealed another side of Eleanor — one filled with kindness, generosity and genuine concern for others.

At home, Eleanor tended beautiful flower gardens. During the blooming season, she brought fresh bouquets arranged in pretty vases to the YMCA each Monday for others to enjoy.

It was a simple gesture, but one that spoke volumes about the kind of person she was.

Eleanor also had a way of bringing joy and laughter to the group. After a particularly good workout, she sometimes celebrated by exclaiming, “Whoop-Dee-Doo!”

The phrase became a running joke among her classmates, and Eleanor even discovered a flower variety named “Whoop-Dee-Doo,” which seemed especially fitting for someone who brought so much joy to those around her.

When asked what made Eleanor so inspiring, LaMar didn’t hesitate.

“There are so many ways she inspires us. She could do burpees into her 80s, but I think it is her genuine interest in other people that stands out to me the most,” LaMar said. “She is always asking about our lives and our families. It is never about her. She has a positive attitude too! You will never hear her complain, and even when she is hurting, she is encouraging others.”

That was the Eleanor I had come to admire.

She wasn’t looking for recognition or praise. She simply showed up, worked hard, cared about others and found reasons to celebrate the little things.

Unfortunately, an injury has recently kept Eleanor at home and away from the early morning workouts that had become such a familiar part of her routine.

Although she hasn’t been able to join her YMCA friends, the example she set continues to inspire those who worked out alongside her.

Her story reminded me that strength isn’t always measured by the amount of weight we can lift or the number of exercises we can complete. Sometimes, strength is found in our determination to keep going when things become difficult. Other times, it’s found in the kindness we show others, even when we’re facing challenges of our own.

In our school system, we operate under seven core values, and this year’s focus is “Inspire Human Greatness.”

When I think about what those words mean, I think about Eleanor.

She inspired greatness not through grand accomplishments or extraordinary recognition, but through everyday actions. She encouraged others simply by being present, by refusing to let age define her abilities and by showing genuine interest in the people around her.

As we entered a new year, many of us began thinking about ways to improve our health, become more active or make positive changes in our lives. Eleanor’s story offered a reminder that we didn’t have to do everything perfectly or keep up with everyone around us. We just had to be willing to start and do the best we could.

At 89, Eleanor had already taught her classmates something far more valuable than how to complete a challenging workout. She showed us that staying active, maintaining a positive attitude and caring for others could make a lasting difference at any age.

I’m thankful I chose to get out of bed on those early summer mornings. What started as an effort to improve my own health became an opportunity to learn from someone whose example I won’t soon forget.

And although Eleanor’s spot in our early morning class is currently empty, the lessons she shared through her actions remain.

I hope her story inspires others as much as she has inspired me — not just to become healthier versions of themselves, but to become the kind of people who encourage others along the way.

After all, sometimes the greatest inspiration comes from someone who simply shows up, gives her best and leaves everyone around her a little better than she found them.

And in Eleanor’s words, “Well, we got ’er done!”