'It's never too late …" is one of those tenacious clichés I seem to use quite often, reminding seniors that they are never too old for physical fitness.
Dick Graves, 81, of Traverse City, however, puts the cliché to good use, as he participates in athletic competitions, not only in Michigan, but around the nation and world. He'll be competing in the Northwest Michigan Senior Games in September.
Dick has run the Boston Marathon three times and has won the World Senior Games in the triathlon for his age group. Dick and his wife Sylvia have gone to the World Senior Games in St. George, Utah, for 10 years and are going again in October.
The Senior Games' founders believed that the golden years are better when good health and physical fitness become a way of life, not an occasional hobby.
"Talk about people who inspire you," Dick said. "We were out watching the track and field events. I introduced myself during the 100-meter run and a runner pointed to a participant and said he was 72, which I thought was no big deal, and then he said, 'By the way, his father is here competing also.' His father was 102 and he beat two 90-year-olds in his running event."
Besides winning the triathlon gold medal, Dick placed first this year in the 5K, 10K, 20K and 40K cycling races at the Michigan Senior Olympics in his age group, 80 to 84. He qualified for the National Senior Games in Houston, Texas, in 2011, the largest multisport event in the world for seniors.
"Being rather harsh, I think some seniors are just a little too lazy and too complacent about their health," Dick said. "That was my field when I was in graduate school — the preventive aspects of health … so, I have been very health conscious ever since then. It hurts me to see people just sitting around …"
Dick graduated from the University of Michigan dental school and went into the Air Force after graduation. His next career move was into a private dental practice in his hometown of Flint. Twelve years into his practice, he decided that regular dentistry was too confining. He returned to the University of Michigan for graduate school at the age of 39 and received a master's degree in public health. He decided to stay on in Ann Arbor for a doctorate in epidemiology (the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations). He was on the University of Michigan faculty for five years before moving onto other universities.
"When I was in my graduate program, I was sitting in a classroom one day and experienced an arrhythmia disorder of the heart — tachycardia. My heart started racing like crazy," Dick said.
His physician asked if he was drinking too much coffee and Dick said yes; asked if he was getting enough sleep at night and he said no; asked if he was under any stress and he said yes; asked if he was getting any exercise and he said no. The doctor pointed out he had to change some aspects of his lifestyle. That's when he started jogging. He eventually progressed into marathons, thus his challenge of the Boston Marathon. Ever since his heart episode, he has tried to keep active physically.
"My grandfather thought one of most foolish things you could do was go out in the morning and run down the road," Dick said. "If you had that much energy, you could go hoe some corn — something productive. Although my grandfather was a fit man because he worked hard on the farm, he would never think of exercising for fun or fitness."
Just before they retired to Traverse City 15 years ago, Dick and Sylvia hiked the Appalachian Trail in one season. That's 2,179 miles, passing through 14 states. The majority of the trail is in wilderness terrain.
"I think keeping fit inspires you to do other things that require physical fitness," Dick said. "For instance, I have gone to Africa with my two sons to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Last September we went to China to hike the Great Wall of China. Those are the kind of things a lot of people my age would not contemplate doing, just because they think it would be too strenuous."
Five months ago, Dick had rotator cuff surgery and was knocked off his training schedule. He is just getting back into where he is competitive again. He's mounting his comeback at 81, although he is under his doctor's orders not to swim vigorously.
Dick's motto is: Just do it!
"Just like a lot of older folks, I have arthritis," Dick admitted. "Sometimes when I get up in the morning, I am pretty stiff and I don't feel like running. I stretch a little, limber up a little, and tell myself, I guess I'd better just do it. Once I'm moving, I feel much better, especially after a swimming workout."
"I'm going to take up golf when I get older." Dick quipped.
After one semester at Eastern Michigan University, Sylvia married Dick and made her career out of raising seven children. Sylvia competes in her age group, 70 to 74, but held the record for the 40K road cycling race when she was competing in the 60-64 age group. This year at the Michigan Senior Olympics she placed second in the 5K and 10K cycling in her age group.
"I participate mostly for the physical fitness … because I enjoy bike riding," Sylvia explained. —¦ I have a friend that says she rides at the speed of fun and that is how I like to ride now. So, when I have to do competitive races, I have to push myself a little harder."
"I would encourage people to come and give the Senior Games a try," Sylvia said.
For more information on the Senior Games, scheduled for Sept.15-16, call the Senior Center at 922-4911.
or e-mail lwells@tcseniorcenter.com.
Senior Games registration and complete details can also be found at www.tcseniorcenter.com.
Kathleen Bellaw Gest is a local freelance writer.
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