Jill Williams, the oldest participant in this year's Times Colonist Health Club Challenge, has something to prove.
Williams, 62, wants to show everybody past or passing middle age that they can exercise and really benefit from it.
"I hope that I can be an encouragement for someone in my age group to not be afraid to go to a gym," she said. "Particularly for women, it's so easy to get intimidated by the younger men who are huffing and puffing and trying to lift their own body weight."
Williams is one of five people now in their sixth week of the Times Colonist Health Club Challenge. It's a 12-week program of assessments, dietitian consultations, counselling and training sessions worth more than $3,000.
Co-ordinated by the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence, whose fitness technicians conducted the initial physical assessments, the physical training has been turned over to community fitness facilities.
Also, about 350 people are registered with the Times Colonist At Home Challenge. They are following directions and advice printed in the newspaper and online at timescolonist.com/healthclub. They will also qualify for great prizes at the end of the 12 weeks.
Williams is conducting her training at the Oak Bay Recreation Centre with personal trainer Graham Lamb, who specializes in working with older clients. (Other participating rec centres are in Victoria, Saanich and the West Shore.)
Seniors may be a professional specialty, but Lamb doesn't like the word "senior" to set limits. After all, his oldest client is a man who is 101, and he has others in their 30s. "What classifies as a senior now? I don't know," he said.
But speaking generally, Lamb said seniors are often taking multiple medications. So he asks for their health background and recommends a talk with their doctor before seniors embark on physical training.
When it comes to women, Lamb said he is mindful of the inactive upbringing many have had.
"A lot of women I work with were only ever allowed to do baton twirling when they grew up," he said.
And once the training starts, Lamb said he is more mindful of recovery time for an older person. Older muscles need a little bit longer recovery time than with young people.
He also said a major consideration for people who are getting older is balance to prevent falls.
A fall can result in broken bones. It may not be the broken bone that kills a person, but being laid up for a lengthy period can lead to a deadly infection such as pneumonia.
So Lamb has Jill trying to improve the sensitivity of the muscles in her feet. He gets her to perform some exercises on the tips of her toes, others on her heels. "I've even had her try a few things with her eyes closed."
Meanwhile, partly because she likes it, Lamb has Williams walking, and slow jogging around the outdoor track. While there, she will do other exercises, some with weights.
At the end, there is always a stretch-out session for the muscles that have been worked out.
Lamb said progress is coming. Last week, Williams managed to complete a mile around the track, the farthest she has run in years.
"Respect" is a word Lamb uses a lot when discussing his work as a physical trainer who specializes in working with seniors.
He says he has to respect his clients, respect their physical limits, their mood that day and respect what they are trying to accomplish for themselves.
Williams said Lamb's respect for her limits is greatly appreciated.
"I'm not a pansy and he doesn't treat me like a pansy," she said. "He does push me, and every week he pushes me a little bit harder."
"But he is very respectful of my age and my limits and my abilities."
Meanwhile, she can also feel the improvements.
She said her cardio capacity has improved especially gratifying for someone who was once a committed long-distance runner, now sidelined because of foot injuries.
Williams said she is breathing more deeply and feels less out of breath. "I'm down into that lower part of my lungs that haven't seen any action for a while."
This return of fitness is also gratifying since it was always her goal to bring herself back to a level where she can comfortably care for her two toddler grandsons, as their nanny/granny.
"I'm not ready for my rocking chair yet," said Williams. "You have to keep moving, you just can't stop.
"If you stop, you are only going to end up costing that health-care system gazillions of dollars."
rwatts@timescolonist.com
