Who’s your favorite superhero? Maybe it’s Wonder Woman, Thor, or Superman. But if you’re over 50 and working on your health, you’ve already earned the cape, even if you’ve never worn one.
Real-life superheroes show up, day after day, and do the hard things. And in fitness, that means working out even when it’s uncomfortable or you’d rather be doing something else.
Take Jerry, for example. He ran his first Spartan Race at age 75. He trained for months, modified movements to protect his joints, and proved that grit doesn’t age.
Jerry’s Superpower: Perseverance. He could’ve quit a thousand times but says that’s not the way he lives.
“I don’t want to grow old sitting on the couch eating potato chips,” Jerry says. “I’ve got to be out doing something.”
Then there’s Betty, who was hit by a car in her 60s. Her injuries were serious. But once cleared by her doctors, she returned to her workouts. It wasn’t about bouncing back fast. It was about coming back at all.
Betty’s Superpower: Courage.
“Exercise makes me feel better, which is, of course, an indication that I should do it more,” she says.
Renee wanted one thing: to play with her grandkids without getting winded. She cared about energy, mobility, and being present for her family. That clear sense of purpose fueled her progress.
Renee’s Superpower: Focusing on her mission, staying active with the grandkids.
“You don’t want to be the Nana in the rocking chair,” she says. “Not at 60.”
These ordinary people became superheroes because they chose to act. They embraced the same core traits we admire in the comics and on the big screen:
- They know why they’re working toward a goal and keep the motivation in mind.
- It’s more than muscle. It’s consistency, discipline, and holding onto the right priorities.
- They lift up others, knowing that anyone pursuing health and fitness is an inspiration to others.
- They keep going, even after setbacks. Like Spider-Man, they always swing back.
- They acknowledge who they are today rather than trying to recreate the past.
Does any of this sound like you – or like the kind of person you’d like to be at this stage of life and beyond?
You don’t need a secret identity or a magic hammer to be a superhero. You just need to keep showing up — for yourself, and for the people who look up to you.
Every time you stretch, lift, walk, rest, or eat something that nourishes your body, you’re writing your origin story. Every small act of self-care is a heroic choice.
Trainer Nate Wilkins came to fitness late in life after making key changes to his lifestyle.
“It’s a mindset that you don’t have to be 69 years old — you get to be 69 years young,” Nate says.
So, the next time someone asks who your favorite superhero is — don’t be afraid to say your own name. Call us and we’ll get that cape on just right!
Holly Kouvo is a personal trainer, functional aging specialist, senior fitness specialist, brain health trainer, writer, and speaker.