Many of you know that I am not the only blogger in my family. Last September, my husband Jack launched a Substack blog called Aging … better. True to its name, it focuses on topics such as nutrition and exercise that support active older living, and also often looks at caregiving for older adults.
Recent posts, for example, have included the cognitive benefits of healthy sleep habits, whether fasting leads to better health and faster weight loss, and what kinds of exercises have the most benefits. I’ve learned a lot from his research already, but I found his most recent post especially interesting.
It’s titled “Want to keep moving? Keep up those social ties,” and it talks about how social engagement can encourage older people to keep exercising more consistently. He looks at some studies which conclude that
…factors such as expansive social networks, supportive family environments, social support, neighborhood communities regarding physical activity, and favorable social interactions were positively associated with physical activity among older adults. The converse also was true, they found: lack of social support, loneliness and isolation all were associated with lower levels of activity.
In other words, the social aspect of group exercise encourages more regular activity than the relatively isolated nature of individualized workouts.
Boy, can I attest to that. Every single Tuesday night this winter you’ll find me jogging along with my Webster Village Runners club, putting in somewhere between two and three miles regardless of the dark, below-zero wind chills, heavy snow or ice in the roads. If I didn’t know for a fact that there would be a dozen other crazoids like myself braving the same elements, I would almost certainly opt out more often than not. (I actually don’t like running that much.)
But I DO know that my friends will be there. We’ll chat and laugh and endure the weather together, then reconvene at Ploty’s for more laughs and stories … and beer. The close friendships I’ve forged in the group almost make the running part fun.
And then there’s the Webster Recreation Center. Jack and I joined the Rec more than a year ago, and I almost immediately fell into a routine of attending circuit workout classes three times a week. While the class roster shifts from month to month, a core group has been there since day one. I’ve come to know them, expect them, and count on seeing them each time I walk in. It’s become a kind of workout family, and I genuinely look forward to seeing them every morning.
Jack began his blog by noting, “Some people are exercise ‘loners’ while others are exercise ‘joiners.’ For example, some like to run, walk or bike by themselves, while others join walking groups or bicycling clubs.” Well, clearly I am a joiner, and I owe a debt of thanks to all of the friends and workout buddies I’ve made who are helping encourage me to keep active, engaged … and healthy.
If you’d like to check out Jack’s blog, Aging … better for yourself, click here. (You don’t have to subscribe.) And if you’d like to join us Webster Village Runners some Tuesday evening to run or walk, you’d be very welcome. We meet at 6 p.m., and it’s totally OK if you want to wait until it gets warmer out.
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(posted 2/8/2026)
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