Rita Gives You A Big Reason To Be Fit

Rita Hanscom in the high jump at the USA Track & Field Masters Indoor Championships in Gainesville, Fla., last weekend. Rita won gold in the high jump and won gold and set an American record in the pentathlon. Photo by Rob Jerome.

By Ray Glier

There is a sustained magic of life for older people who celebrate Independence Day every day. They get themselves up. They get themselves fed.

So, if you are 50, 60, 70 years old, and want to remain a healthy independent as you age consider the motivation behind Rita Hanscom’s gold medal and American record in the pentathlon (W70-74) at the USA Track & Field Masters Indoor Championships in Gainesville, Fla., last weekend.

“One of my main goals for all of this is to live a healthy life and one of the greatest gifts you can give your children is to remain healthy and independent,” said Rita, 70. “I have two grown children, and they've got families, and I don't ever want to be a burden. I don't want to be dependent on them. 

“So I think if I have something like sports to keep me active that's really what I'm striving for.”

Many people who lose their independence and need public/private support have no fault. Accidents, injuries, random disease, and low wages, among other things, have forced them to accept aid. Many more are cared for by their families. 

Geezer Jock should stop right there, but I can’t. Some people lose their independence because they do not take care of their bodies. 

I will stop right there because this is a story about the energizing Rita Hanscom, who is still working part time for the California attorney general investigating fraud in health care, appropriately.

In Gainesville, Rita did the five events in the pentathlon (60 meter hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put, 800 meters) and then took gold in the high jump and silver medals in the 200-meter dash and pole vault. 

Hanscom will likely be ranked No. 1 in the world in the pentathlon when the World Masters Athletes meet in Gainesville, March 23-30.

Rita has been at the Masters game since she was 55 years old. She set a world record at the WMA world championships in Lahti, Finland in the heptathlon in 2009. Hanscom won five gold medals at the worlds that year (heptathlon, 80m hurdles, 300m hurdles, long jump and pole vault) and was selected the Best Masters Female Athlete in the World.

She could probably tell you how many fraudsters she has helped put away, but she has no idea how many WMA gold medals, or USATF national championships she has won.

That's ok. We’re here with this story to do more important things than to count gold.

We’re here for insight and tips.

Rita has had two Achilles injuries in recent years. Popular opinion is you never regain explosiveness or speed following an Achilles injury. Don’t listen. It’s bunk, says Hanscom. 

“I'm probably about 95% now,” she said. “So in spite of what people say, ‘Oh, you'll never be back to normal’, I disagree. I think you can heal yourself, just kind of give it time.”

There was this nugget about the pentathlon that most veteran Masters runners know.

Even though the 800 is part of the pentathlon, Hanscom never, ever practices it.

“Practicing for a long race like the 800 ruins your speed,” Rita said. “And I need speed for the hurdles. I need speed for the high jump. I need speed for the long jump. You know, I need speed.”

This was illuminating:

“People will take a month off to deal with aches and pains. There is no benefit to me to not being active. After a big meet once, I decided to take a month off and things still got sore. You know, you still get aches and pains when you're not doing anything.”

Rita has some built-in advantages others don’t have. Her mother lived to be 97. Just as important, Hanscom’s mom raised her on a plant-based diet.

Twin the exercise with genes and diet and you are more likely to get independence. The more rigorous the exercise the more independence.

The thing about the pentathlon—and the heptathlon outdoors—is the diversity of skills required and the technical workload. Hanscom’s event requires speed, agility, strength, balance, and the endurance to wrap it up in one day.

“It's not linear, it is a wide assortment of skills and I've just really enjoyed the physical challenge,” Rita said.

So, the message is accept more of a physical challenge. Bad luck can force you to accept public and private aid. Don't add bad choices to the mix.

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