There's no excuse now for Tri-City adults not to exercise after Port Moody's Mary Anne Cooper showed us how it's done by setting three U.S. swimming records at the tender age of 101 years.
And with the 55+ games coming up in Coquitlam in September, there's no reason not to try out a sport or two.
The Try-it events, which took place this spring, are an inspiration and a reminder that you're never too old to learn and get involved in a new activity.
But all too often exercise or sports take a back seat to other important activities such as raising children, attending their sports, work and taking care of the home front.
When there is some free time, all too often, adults spend their leisure time in front of Netflix or the computer, according to a recent report, which found that adult sports participation is dropping.
Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way. As Coquitlam is finding out with its own recent report on plans for a new seniors strategy for parks, recreation and culture. The city is finding that older adults are interested in exploring new pursuits once they have the time.
What this means for city planners is that there needs to be a variety of options and recreational facilities — from moderate to low cost and no cost — to give people of all incomes a chance to stay active.
And the more choice, the better.
For many adults, the post-retirement age is a time to get back into sports and activities that were given up years ago for other obligations. It can be a flowering of new passions, new obsessions, new interests.
What we are now finding is that people like Mary Anne Cooper, who inspires us all, need not be an anomaly because the more active a person is the longer they live and the better their quality of life.
So Mary Anne may be unusual now, but in the future, there may be many others like her in the Tri-Cities, swimming, playing racquet sports, running, doing archery, lawn bowling and getting involved in any number of activities.
Is there a time when people are too old for an active lifestyle? No, apparently, there is not.
