Active Champions

Diane Campbell

The first woman to row the Atlantic from mainland to mainland.

What Activities Keep You Fit and Active?
The new Walk Your Way into Sport and Physical Activity was a great program to keep me on a fitness routine. I would like to thank everyone who supported the "Walk Your Way into Sport and Physical Activity" program.

The timing of this program could not have been better for me. I decided to take early retirement November 1, 2010 and was looking for a fitness routine to help me get back into shape and be physically fit for years to come. I read about this program asking for participants and thought it was exactly what I was looking for. The program turned out to be even more than I expected. Every person who retires or is 55+ should take this program to learn how to be physically active, enjoy exercise and sports and improve their quality of life for years to come. I did not realize the number of fitness and sport activities that are available for women over 55. I also learned that it is never too late to try something new and improve your body's strength and flexibility while having fun especially the sports activities.

What Motivated You to Become Active?
I started the program a little anxious because a little over a year ago I had both my hips replaced and was told to take it easy and stay within my boundaries. Because I do not have any more pain in my hips and I feel I have my life back I did not want to do anything that would damage my hips. The Doctors don't really give you a lot of guidelines so I started out a little cautious.

What Are the Benefits of Being Fit?
Monday's program was stretching and walking. I use to be very flexible and have lost my flexibility thru the years. The instructor reassured me that at any age you can improve your flexibility. We walked in different locations every week, some weeks with walking poles. The program introduced us to different areas in the city that are available for interesting walks which was good for me because I am just getting back into longer distant walking and needed some more variety.

Wednesdays was our sports day and this turned out to be a fun day. When I told my friends I've been playing pickle ball, net ball, soccer, basketball, curling and golf they all wanted to join the program. It was fun to get back into sport and see that I could still enjoy these sports.

Saturday was our strengthening day at the gym. I have been going to the gym for awhile because it allowed me to exercise before the surgeries within my movement limitations. The upper body strength helped me recover from my surgeries and after the surgeries I went to the gym to build up my legs and hips muscles. I would like to encourage everyone to go to the gym because of the equipment available that can improve muscle tone even with different health limitations. This program taught me that I can try different activities even with my hip replacement and that I will physically improve. I saw the improvement from my first fitness test to my final fitness test and was pleased with the results.

Future Fitness Plans
I hope that this program can be offered to as many people as possible. This program was very beneficial for me and I know it would be for others. Park Board's Recreation Services Coordinator, Cindy Crapper, put together this excellent program. All the instructors were amazing and passionate as they passing-on their skills and knowledge. They were encouraging and showing us that exercise and sports can begin at 55+. I did not want the program to end but now have the skills to set-up an exercise and sport routine for myself.

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