My fitness resume

If you are thinking of hiring a personal trainer, I think it is fair to ask: what is your experience?

So I took a look back at my own resume. I am 65 years old, but I cannot honestly say I offer you 65 years of fitness experience. I can, however, offer you 46 years of fitness experience.

I first took fitness seriously when I was 19. Along with a bunch of my friends, I took a college course in fencing at the University of Kentucky. A lot of great friends in this picture of the UK Fencing Club! I am the dark-haired guy just to the right of the tall guy in the center. I loved it. And I wound up winning my first state championship before the class was completed. I went on to win several more state championships in both foil and epee.

Not long after that picture was taken, my friend Dennis Blais and I got interested in rock climbing. This picture was taken on an expedition to the Red River Gorge in Kentucky.

Dennis and I went on to climb the five highest mountain peaks in the contiguous 48 states: Mt. Elbert, Mt. Massive, and Mt. Harvard in Colorado; Mt. Whitney in California; and Mt. Rainer in Washington. Here is a picture of me on the summit of the Grand Teton in Wyoming.

Dennis and I soon realized we needed to take up running if we wanted to climb mountains! I'm still running today. Here is a picture of me at the end of a 10K race in Lexington, Kentucky, when I was 29 years old. So far, in my lifetime I have run four marathons, more than a dozen half-marathons, and more 10Ks and 5Ks than I can remember.

When was 27, I took up boxing at the Hamilton Community Center in Louisville, Kentucky. I am the taller guy on the right.

In this picture, my opponent is tagging me. But I went on to win the fight. I had three AAU-sanctioned fights, and won all three.

And I never gave up on fitness. Here I am around 50 years of age,  still

in good shape.

Lastly, here I am today, at 65 years old.  Today I am using everything I have learned in 46 years of fitness to help my fellow seniors get in shape!