Senior Planet Sponsored athletes describe how getting active opened the door to new friendships, new experiences and improved performance.

The National Institutes of Health – among many other  organizations – has long been advocating exercise for older people, not only for the physical benefits but for the social ones. In fact, according to the NIH, social engagement in exercise actually boosts performance. And according to the Senior Planet Sponsored athletes, this benefit occurs whether the exercise is competition-based or communal – and age is no hindrance.

Della Adams and Richard Westbrook

A decade ago, in her early 50s, 5’1” tall and 215 pounds with health issues including diabetes, Della Adams was facing a medical crisis. It drove her to (reluctantly) sign up for CrossFit classes – and ultimately, become a Sponsored Athlete. (Read her story here and here.)

Della’s reluctance was hardly allayed on her first day: everyone was 20 to 30 years younger. “I didn’t feel I had anything in common with anyone,” Della remembers – but she was wrong!

Unknowingly, Della and her husband, Richard Westbrook, who likewise signed up for CrossFit because of his health problems, had stepped into a vibrant community of people whose camaraderie and friendship has enriched their lives for over a decade. (Read his story here.)  “We still socialize with people we met in our very first class all those years ago,” says Della.

While Richard prefers track and Della enjoys weightlifting, both relish socializing — parties, picnics, dinners – with friends met at the gym.

Carol Klenfner

Carol Klenfner’s journey is different. Her life was upended after back surgery, losing her husband, then her job, and followed by moving into a smaller apartment — all within months. “I felt isolated,” she remembers.

That’s when Carol, now 79, stumbled across a documentary on the global World Veterans Championship Tournament in Ping Pong. The four featured competitors’ ages ranged from 80 to 100 – and all four had health problems.

It was a light bulb moment.

Ping pong appeared to be just the right social activity for her age, physical ability, and life situation. Today Carol plays up to five times a week. Ping pong friends have invited her to join a women’s league, a book club, and introduced her to new clients.

Ping pong also ignited her competitive fires and took her to the next level.

Thanks to fellow players’ encouragement – and hours of coaching – Carol began entering tournaments…and then began winning. Last year she took home a gold medal playing in the National Senior Games.

Extra Benefits of Fitness

All three Sponsored Athletes’ expanded social lives include travel. Carol occasionally flies to different cities for national competitions. This summer she flies to Italy to join 6,300 seniors in a major international competition.

When word got around that Della and Richard were Senior Planet Sponsored Athletes, their gym’s PR division asked them to fly to Los Angeles as brand ambassadors. They were filmed for Life Time Fitness’s partnership with HOKA shoes and apparel. “How crazy is that?” asks Della, still marveling at the unexpected fun of spending two days filming in the west coast.

Asked to reflect on their expanded social experiences, Della is thoughtful: “Our lives can get smaller as we get older,” she says. “This hasn’t happened to us.  We’re in our 60s and 70s. Thanks to the people we’ve met in our fitness journeys, our world has expanded.”

Carol Klenfner didn’t have to think twice: “I never expected to have so much fun at this point in my life!”

Carol’s right – and according to the NIH, “Social factors were associated with greater subjective enjoyment and energy. Higher subjective energy, in turn, was associated with faster run times, without any corresponding increase in perceived effort. “

So if you want to improve your run times, increase your endurance and boost your performance…get active – and get social!

Nona Aguilar is an award-winning writer of numerous magazine articles and two books. She has also edited four specialty business newsletter publications. Her work has appeared in Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, Family Circle and Cosmopolitan, and in The Business Owner.