The morning sunlight floods into Anytime Fitness as members exercise on machines, their dangling headphone cords shifting with their strides. The floor shines, and the equipment sparkles from constantly being wiped down. Within the gym’s walls, a strong community exists.
Belen Martinez, 85, is part of a group of seniors who come into Anytime Fitness most weekday mornings. She is small but strong, dressed in black capri leggings and a dri-fit tank top that reveal her fit physique. Her biceps flex as she hoists herself up on the assisted pull-up machine, performing multiple repetitions before moving on to the next. Steve Moore, the gym’s owner, says, “She’s on every machine, doing her workouts, doing her circuit.”
“She's the grandmother of our group and extremely important to all of us,” says Reuben Tamez, 74, and everyone in the gym looks out for her, according to Moore. “She's a great example of what you can do at an older age with weights,” Tamez says. Martinez started working out in her mid-70s and shows up during mornings at the gym five days a
week. She exercises on the elliptical machine twice a week, however, her priority is weightlifting. “For me, I love — it’s the best exercise,” she says. She can lift 220 pounds on the leg extension machine. “She does the entire stack here,” Tamez says. “Not many people can do that.”
Tamez has been working out since he was 10 years old. Seven years ago, he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and was so weak, he could not lift up his arms. Tamez says, “My wife had to brush my teeth. When I got to where I could get in here on a cane, I promised myself I was going to be the strongest I could be” He wants to be sure that if he faced another health crisis, he would recover more easily. “If you can establish a pattern of working out, no matter if it’s two days a week or five days, if you can stick with it for the rest of your life, you’re going to be much more healthy and self-confident,” he says. In the last two-and-a-half years, he has lost 52 pounds.
Tamez’s daughter, Tammy Reeves, 55, the youngest of the group,
started coming to Anytime Fitness to train with her dad. Reeves had cancer in 2017 and the chemotherapy left her joints in bad shape. Reeves says, “My body was just real fatigued. I never really recovered from that.” Her lack of energy is what made her start working out and walking everyday. Her mom, Pat Tamez, is also a regular. “Reuben is training her, and it’s cool to see them still at that age bonding over what they’re doing,” says Moore. Reeve’s son, Matthew Lomon, 20, now a Marine, weight-trained with his grandfather and also works out at the gym.
The younger gym members are a much-appreciated part of the gym’s fellowship. Being petite, Linda Cook, 72, can not reach some of the equipment to do her arm workouts. “They’re so willing to help me do things I can’t do,” she says. Last November, she had to have a total knee replacement. After her physical therapy treatments had ended, she knew she had to continue to remain active to make herself feel better. Cook, whose husband, Barry, also works out at the gym, says, “I came over here, and I love it. It’s wonderful. And it’s really helped me.”
Not everyone enjoys the group atmosphere, however. Ed Wren, 66,
best known as “The Climate Doctor,” prefers to exercise alone and goes into the gym around 12:30 a.m. “I don’t want people to be here when I’m here,” says Wren. “I prefer it being empty. I like to sing. I like to dance.” Wren tried on a suit one Sunday and realized it fit snugly. “I’m not buying new suits, you idiot!” he told himself. “Get in the gym and start working out!”
Doug Hayes, 65, who walked 3,974 miles last year during the pandemic, averaging anywhere between 9 and 12 miles a day, says, “I think it kind of migrated through the years where we all come at similar times because we enjoy the company with each other.” Tamez says, “If I come here and none of these folks are here, I get in a workout, but it’s not nearly as much fun.”
Moore, who has owned the gym since 2016, says you don’t find camaraderie like this very often. “They really do drive each other, and look for each other's support, pat each other on the back, and hold each other accountable,” he says.
The bottom line for all of them, however, is the most important reason why they are there. “The best thing for your body and mind is working out, '' Martinez says. “You’re positive when you’re working out.” IN
Anytime Fitness is located at 951 William D. Fitch Parkway and is open 24/7. For more information, visit anytimefitness.com.
