Nancy

 

I challenged the students in one of my classes to think of that "one thing" they had always wanted to do, and to make it happen before they left their current decade.  Nancy Monson is a trooper, as you're about to see and took the challenge to heart.  At the age of 56 she hiked Mount Timpanogos, a grueling hike at any age. In her words:

Yesterday Greg and I hiked to the summit of Mt. Timpanogos for the first time. It was a grueling  14.3 miles with an elevation gain of 4900 feet.  The wild flowers were pretty much gone and Emerald Lake was really low, but the views were awesome!  We began at Aspen Grove and ended at Timpanookee in American Fork Canyon.  We are very tired and a bit stiff, especially if we try to go up or down stairs, but WE DID IT!  I have thought about it for a long time and decided it would only get harder for us as we get older so we went for it and lived to brag about it.  (Just wish we’d done it at age 20 rather than almost 60!)

Suzanne

 

Suzanne began taking classes at She and Company, a women's gym my husband and I owned at the time.  She came to a strength training class with her daughter, Lucy and from the first time she stepped into the gym, she became a friend and inspiration to everyone.  She is one of the most positive people I know.  I am so proud of her and look forward to many more miles of highway with her.  In her words:

"At my yearly check-up, my doctor spoke sternly to me about my future. He told me that at 58 years old, I might live a long life, but I would not enjoy it. I weighed 238 lbs. and was at risk for diabetes, heart problems, stroke, etc. I told him that I was walking the dog for exercise and he said I had to do a lot more than that. So I joined Denise’s gym. It is difficult being so overweight walking into a gym full of fit people but Denise made me feel welcome. I began taking Denise’s “Definition” class which involved lifting weights. The first few classes I did not make it through the entire class. For many months, I went home and went to bed for an hour after each workout. Through it all Denise was a light in my life. She encouraged me, helped me and was glad to see me there.

I began to take Denise’s nutrition and exercise class at the gym There I began to understand that all my hard work would pay off only if I began to eat right. So I made the connection between eating and exercise. By now I was exercising regularly and I was losing weight. Denise was there to help every step of the way. She challenged me to join with her to ride bicycles in the MS 150 ride in June. The first year I was too scared to even think of it. But by the second year, I was ready to move out of the gym and onto the road. Once again, Denise helped me with my fears and kept telling me that I was stronger than I thought.  So the year I was turning 60, I began to bike on the road. The first time I road in the MS ride, was a peak experience in my life. I was very proud that I had overcome so much and achieved this ride that had terrified me. This has been so much fun, and now I have begun to ride longer and longer rides. I feel like a kid again when I’m on my bike. Last year Denise and I rode almost 80 miles in the “Little Red Riding Hood” in Logan. Recently, I joined Denise on a ride in Southern Utah to start this year’s season. It was hard but fun. As always Denise was there to be a positive role model, coach and cheerleader.
 
I am more fit and positive than I have ever been. Denise Druce has helped me to achieve that. She still motivates me and helps me whenever I have questions.
Thank you, Denise."