Age No Barrier for Lexington Runners

As Marty Smith approaches her 68th birthday this summer, she’s not looking for a rocking chair.
Instead, she’s planning to roll in the mud and crawl through culverts in the Dawson County “Cowpoke” Mud Run and continue her morning group exercise classes with the twenty and thirty-something crowd at the Orthman Community YMCA.

Sue Kloch, 63, also enjoys the morning group exercises at the Y and became friends with Marty through their involvement at the Y. They encourage each other and have now participated in 5Ks, bike rides, the mud run and other events together.
Sue said that Marty is her inspiration.
“These past few years we have been at class together, and she is amazing,” Sue said of Marty. “I don’t even try any more to keep up with her. She’s in excellent shape.”

The two typically exercise every morning at the Orthman YMCA and enjoy the 8:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. classes, including Fit Camp, 3-2-1, Super Circuit and Fit Max usually followed by Butts and Gutts, Pilates or Yoga. Or, sometimes they run or walk together on the track.
Both Sue and Marty say their health is important to them, and they encourage each other on their journeys.
Sue said she has always loved to run and experience that “runner’s high.” She also enjoyed watching her three children run and became even more inspired when she watched them participate in the Lincoln half marathon by seeing people with disabilities or people in their 80s running half or full marathons.

“I thought if they can do this, I can do this,” Sue said. Plus, she said running just makes her feel great.
She has completed a half marathon and still enjoys participating in 5K and 10K races.
Sue encouraged Marty to join her for the 2015 mud run, and they had such a great time they will participate again this summer.
“I enjoy just being out there with my friends and being able to do this at my age,” Marty said.
Marty said her inspiration for staying active and healthy is her children and grandchildren.

“I want to grow old with my grandchildren and my children,” she said. “I want to see them graduate from school and get married.”
Two of her grandchildren, ages 5 and 7, live just down the street from her.
“I still go out and play football and wrestle with them,” she said.
In addition to their daily exercise at the Y, Marty and Sue also both focus on healthy eating. And, it pays off.
“At my age, I feel like 54,” Marty said.

Both Sue and Marty have been members of the Orthman Y since it began in Lexington and are grateful that it brought them together.
“The Y is such a good place to meet people and just to improve your health,” Marty said. She enjoys getting to know people in her community better through exercising with them and socializing after her workouts.
“Where else can you go and have a free cup of coffee with your friends,” she said.

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