He’s not an easy man to catch up with, but 85-year-old Lake Orion athlete, Alan Raynor, was at a gas station when we caught up to him before he headed out to a local gym.
We recognized him from his regular appearance at The Michigan Senior Olympics, and we had the following discussion with him.
LOR: You’re on your way to the gym- does that mean you’re ready for a strenuous workout?
AR: Definitely not. They have an indoor track where I’ll do some running and walking, and when I’m about to perspire I’m done, period.
LOR: And that’s enough to keep you ‘at the top of the heap? for your age group?
AR: Well, that’s my plan for a workout- make it a short one. Just add some basic exercises to the walking and running- exercises that don’t require special equipment, but will address the all-important functions of flexibility and balance. My father probably got me started on that thinking years ago. He said it was better to wear out than to rust out. He was a good role model and he lived ’til age 99.
LOR: Alan, you say that heavy workouts aren’t a big priority with you. But is fitness within the range of all of us?
AR: Yes, fitness should be an important subject for everybody. With the help of our local TV station I produced a workout video titled Stay Flexible Longer. I set up a 15-minute routine that requires no gym, no special equipment, and doesn’t ‘wear you out.? It helps with flexibility and agility- and this adds to our general lifestyle, not just our participation in sports. Fitness for seniors didn’t draw a lot of attention until a generation ago when a man came on the scene and advocated simple routines that everybody can do. He became America’s voice of fitness and he modestly but firmly kept at it, giving out the message. His name was Lack LaLanne, and he did a lot to put us on the path for fitness.
LOR: You’re looking forward to competing again this year in track and field. What about the new running event that you started doing just a few years ago?
AR: The national track association wanted to encourage more seniors to compete in the hurdles; they changed the distance from 300 to 200 meters. I could see that this event called for jumping ability, speed, and balance, and I wondered how many guys my age would turn out for that. Well, I was the only one. I don’t like to give out my age- just say I am over 75- but there are 5 million guys in my age group, and more and more they should be doing something about fitness.
LOR: When race day comes, do you have any ways- you might call them tricks- to get into the heads of the competitors?
AR: Not really, but I saw a grammar school kid who had a slogan on the shirt he wore while playing basketball against bigger kids. This was a bit of gamesmanship; this slogan was, ‘You had a CHANCE until I stepped out here.? And so I adopted that for my practice shirt. You never know, it might just slow down one of my competitors.
LOR: Do you have a favorite place, a tournament, where you like to compete?
AR: There’s a place I’ve been to many times and the whole experience is about perfect. It’s the World games held in a little town in Utah. For example, there’s an evening ceremony, just like at the Olympics, where they put on an opening program in a stadium, and there’s a grand parade of all the athletes- not just track and field but 17 other sports. There’s a nice international flavor. Surprisingly, the foreign country that sends the most athletes is Trinidad.
LOR: When did you begin taking part in track and field?
AR: I started 16 years ago. That’s long enough to have earned 175-200 medals.
LOR: 175-200? You’re not exactly sure?
AR: Hey, they’re in boxes. I don’t spend a lot of time counting.
LOR: Well, time moves on, and you’re not getting younger. Do you think 2016 will be a good year?
AR: 2016 will be a very good year. I’m moving into the next age group and I’m on target to set three new records- at least I think so. I have my sights on two national records and a world record.
LOR: In the process, do you put time or interest in any other athletics?
AR: There’s a new sport similar to tennis, called pickleball. You can play singles or doubles, and it keeps your coordination and flexibility in good shape.
LOR: Are you any good at it?
AR: Well, the state competition is held in Rochester and I came in second for the last two years. In my age group there were only two of us competing, so I won the silver medal by coming in last place (frowning). Sort of like kissing your sister, wouldn’t you say?
LOR: Anything else that you do to ‘wile away? the long winters here?
AR: I reinvented myself as a sculptor after I retired. I can’t paint or draw, so I work in clay and glass. I particularly enjoy making versions of exotic sea creatures; I started that while living in Florida on the coast.
LOR: You lived there how long?
AR: 17 years. I enjoyed the warm sun on my body and that’s when I took up track and field. Now I’m too stubborn to give it up.
LOR: What races are you concentrating on?
AR: I’m going to ‘expand? and try two new ones: the javelin throw and the pole vault. My wife isn’t too pleased about that last one. But we’ll see.
LOR: All right, but don’t break your neck. Are you enthused that this is a year for the Olympic Games, in Brazil this time?
AR: Oh sure. I’ll probably follow four or five sports, if only in spirit.
LOR: Great. It looks like you’re ready to get to the gym. Have another good workout.