Images of the CC Fit 4 Life program. Photos by Megan Clancy ’07.
When Horst Richardson retired from his role as a professor in CC’s German department, and then from coaching the CC Men’s Soccer team, he found himself still spending a lot of time on campus. “I was coming into the fitness center a lot and noticed the space was empty when students were in class,” Richardson says. “I thought, why not use it?”
So, in 2018, Richardson and his wife, Helen, along with Chris Starr, CC’s Director of Campus Recreation & AFP Fitness Center, started Fit 4 Life. Initially it was a small group of eight or nine people who would occasionally come together to exercise, continuing during the early years of Covid with socially-distanced workouts and hikes outdoors. “Initially it was an informal gathering with no targeted approach,” says Richardson. The group has now grown to over twenty regulars that attend structured sessions, focusing on fitness, strength, endurance, and balance.
Fit4Life is a free fitness program that aims to help CC retirees and their partners establish a healthy and fun fitness routine. Sessions take place Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings and take between 30-45 minutes, including a warm-up, a demo of the exercises, and a full-body workout. The group, led by CC’s Campus Rec Athletic Trainer Christina Lorete, learns how to perform bodyweight exercises and use strength equipment (dumbbells, kettlebells, and fixed barbells). Lorete stresses that no experience is needed to join and all workouts can be adjusted for each individual’s abilities.
“The whole idea is to extend the quality of our lives through exercise,” says Richardson. “But it’s not just a workout for the body. It’s a chance to socialize. Old friendships have been rekindled.”
To expand upon this idea of enhancing their overall lifestyle, the group also gets together outside of their gym time. They have social gatherings, dinner get-togethers, and, once a month, they meet for a presentation by a former or current CC faculty member.
Are you a retired CC staff or faculty member who wants to get involved with Fit 4 Life? Contact Christina Lorete.