Westfield Resident Shows that "Being Too Old" is Only an Excuse

In 2007, the life expectancy for adults in the U.S. was 77.9 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At 83 years old, Westfield resident Mary Rivett has been training to grab life by the sneakers and participate in the 10th Annual Downtown Westfield 5K and Pizza Extravaganza this Wednesday, July 20th.

Rivett has been training for eight to nine months with running coach and personal trainer Mike Czech, owner of Tristate Multisport in Springfield. Although, Rivett was active even before she met Czech.

“I started exercising at the [Westfield] YMCA about a year and a half ago,” Rivett said. “I was using the strength machines and building up my body and losing weight—I took off 40 pounds—and I was going to try one more thing.”

Running.

Rivett met Czech with no prior running experience, but a hefty goal. She told Czech that she wanted to run a 5K in 30 minutes. Czech, who said that for all he knew 30 minutes could be world class for someone Rivett’s age, told her that the primary goal should be to finish the race without walking.

“He had to bring me back to reality…. I don’t know if I’ll ever get that far along, but I’d still like to work at it and see if I can get better,” Rivett said. “I want to run a lot faster,” she added.

Rivett and her husband, Ken, work out together three days a week at the ‘Y’ and three days at the track at Kehler Stadium for at least an hour. She credits her success to the support she’s received from the ‘Y’ staff. “I probably would have quit long ago if it wasn’t for the people cheering me on,” she said.

The 35 year Westfield resident said she was motivated to begin such an intense program in part because Ken has had two knee replacements. “We’ve had to keep his health up and keep him working out,” she said. “For our age, I think we’ve done well.”

Czech, who said he would grade Rivett in good to excellent physical condition, will be running alongside her during this week’s race. On Rivett’s other side will be her daughter, Janet, who will be up from South Carolina. Rivett’s goal is to finish the race in 50 minutes, which is about a 16 minute per mile pace.

“I don’t think she’s out to be a role model per se, but she kind of is,” Czech said. “She is proof that anyone can start getting in better shape at any time.”