How Do You Geezer Jock: Rosie Schutte

 Rosie Schutte
69
Richmond, Va.

Is there a favorite exercise you have?

"I didn't start running until I was 50 years old. In my youth, I always swam in the summer and walked when it could be squeezed in while raising a young family and working full-time, but I always wanted to run, it just looked so freeing.

"Now, almost 20 years into the sport, it still calls me out the door. My whole social structure has developed from running. I have a long-time training partner, and have a special supportive women's group I run with, and love the new adventures my feet take me on."

When you absolutely don't feel like doing any thing how do you push yourself out the door?

"Everyone has days that you just don't feel like getting out the door for that run (like today). Those are the days I make myself run my most difficult routes. I tell myself it won't matter if I have to walk some or take a breather because it's a really tough workout.

"It's the fantastic feeling of self-pride in tackling something difficult and challenging and finishing that workout, that just can't be beat. It's chasing those endorphins that make it worth it."

Is there any exercise or activity you do that is out of the ordinary?

"Lately I have been challenging myself at the gym on the rowing machine. It's a great full-body workout that's also low-impact. Each time I hit the rowing machine I set the bar a bit higher in my mind like adding additional minutes, or rowing additional meters, or keeping it above a certain intensity level. It certainly has paid off by strengthening my core, and making me sleep much better at night!"

Do you have a story of a Geezer Jock moment where someone was amazed you did something "at your age"?

"My similarly aged running buds and I were out for a night time run through the quaint streets downtown. This run took us through the city campus of one of the state universities. As our group (bedecked in high-vis clothing and running lights) ran on through the student filled campus, one cluster of students stopped and stared at us exclaiming "Look old people running!". The group of young people laughed and we did too, except for very different reasons!"

Is there a revelation about yourself that came through exercise, something unexpected?

"Running has given me an inner strength that was lacking. There's something about feeling strong and challenging myself physically that translated to my inner self as well. I have a type "A" personality and more than a touch of ADD. A run, either with a group or by myself, tempers both of those personality traits for the better."

Rosie's Running Buds. Left to right: Dawn Eberhard, George Turner, Rosie Schutte, Elaine Casper, Jeff Luke, Mike McCloud.