Fresh Start Fitness

I don’t need to follow fitness influencers on social media because I am lucky enough to have people in my real life that inspire me daily.

My father-in-law, Jim, is one such person. While a transformative weight loss story like mine is fun, I’ve realized that it’s more impressive to be someone who has always recognized the value in regular exercise and has done it for a long period of time. Jim played baseball and ran cross country in high school. He continued to run while in college, after he got married, when he was a father, while he was grieving the loss of his first son, when he was also coaching his other sons’ baseball teams, while working full-time as an electrical engineer. He ran his most recent marathon in 2015, well into his sixties, and he beat both of his sons in running pace! Jim also has been riding his bike for at least fifty years: a 200-mile bike tour in his twenties, and he biked my first 25-mile bike race with me just last week.

Jim’s commitment to his own exercise regimen isn’t the only thing I admire about him. He is also a kind, genuine person. He has been supportive of my fitness journey from the beginning, gently coaching me on my runs and slowing down to run with me. The first time I taught a cycling class, he came to take the class.

If you know someone in your life who has been committed to fitness for a long time, ask them about it and welcome their coaching and advice. If you don’t have someone in your life, you can often find my father-in-law on the trails and he would love to share his experiences with you!