- April 24, 2024
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“I go at a pretty fast pace, so it’s not a leisurely social activity; it’s a workout,” Mary Conzemius said.
Mary Conzemius puts on her helmet before beginning her workout for the day. Photo by Paige Wilson
Mary Conzemius said she's used the same rollerblades since she started skating around age 50. Photo by Paige Wilson
Mary Conzemius skates eight miles two to three times a week, depending on the weather. Photo by Paige Wilson
Mary Conzemius speeds along the sidewalk on her rollerblades. She knows every crack on the surface, every dip in the concrete. She could skate this path blindfolded.
At age 74, Conzemius rollerblades about eight miles two or three times per week. She begins her workout at the four-way stop by Palm Coast Marina, then travels back and forth on the wide sidewalk that leads to European Village for about an hour.
It keeps her young.
“Sometimes on the path, somebody will say to me, ‘Oh, I wish I was your age so I could do that,’ and I’ll say to them, ‘I’m older than you are,’ and they never can believe that I’m 74 and out there flying on these rollerblades,” she said.
The Palm Coast resident started rollerblading around age 50 when she lived in San Diego, California, and she’s only ever fallen once. Still, Conzemius makes sure to wear elbow and knee pads, gloves and a helmet as a precaution.
Her husband, Dan Smith, said he worries about her falling, but he supports her. Smith works out at the gym, despite being about a decade older than Conzemius.
“I’m ecstatic that she’s being active,” Smith said. “I’m very proud of her. Especially at her age, not many women would be going to the gym or out rollerblading like she does.”
Conzemius said she started rollerblading as a way to lose weight, and now, she continues doing so to maintain her 122 pounds and stay healthy for her three daughters, 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
“The gym, to me, is just kind of boring and seems like work, and this is fun,” Conzemius said. “I just love it, and I get kind of a high from it and get that endorphin release.”
She said she’s lost 60-80 pounds a few times over her life by rollerblading.
“I go at a pretty fast pace, so it’s not a leisurely social activity; it’s a workout,” Conzemius said.
She said she hopes other people her age realize that they can be active, too.
“I just really want to keep at it so I can do it when I’m 80 and 85,” Conzemius said. “I’ve asked the doctors, at my age, at 74, do I have to worry about falling and breaking a hip or something? They’ve all encouraged me to continue. I have very good bone density.”
