PARKVILLE, MD—Many people have a hot and cold relationship with exercise. A few weeks dedicated to pedaling on a bike or doing sit-ups turns into months of inactivity.
But a group of residents at Oak Crest, the Erickson Living retirement community, has made trips to the gym such a regular routine that they could only be described in Baltimore as Ripken-esque.
Six residents were honored for completing over two thousand (2,000) workouts in the fitness center of Oak Crest and another, Sid George, for achieving an amazing 3,042 workouts.
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The recognition came on August 7 at the 1st Annual Fitness Center Member Appreciation Day. Over one hundred residents attended the luncheon ceremony, which included a screening of Age of Champions, the award-winning PBS documentary that followed five competitors at the National Senior Olympics.
Serving as the emcee of the celebration was Temica Carter, the Wellness Manager at Oak Crest. “Exercise is a vital component of a balanced health and wellness regime,” she noted. “Whether it’s walking along our loop road, playing bocce or making a trip to the fitness center, these residents are fitness role models.”
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Resident members of the 2,000 Workout Club include Hope Contox (2,046), Harry O’Neill (2,146), Mary Jane Foster (2,303), Kitty Hughes (2,800), Jean Clinnin (2,838) and Jim Risacher (2,937).
Additionally, many Oak Crest residents actively participate in sporting events. Walt Stawinski has managed the Oak Crest softball team for four years, earning three championship titles. Bob Gralley, the Marathon Man of Oak Crest, crossed the 50,000 mile mark for miles run in 2009 and still enters the Baltimore Running Festival held each October. Both were recognized during the ceremony.
Complete with cardio and strength training equipment, the 1,800 square-foot fitness center at Oak Crest is staffed by four certified trainers who provide individual and group wellness sessions. The center maintains 24-7 operating hours.