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True StoriesRunner Tom
Pontac:
 Tom Pontac, 64, is a resident of Leisure World, a
retirement community in Southern California, but he's anything but retired (or retiring),
and leisure is not on his radar screen. In fact, Tom, a runner who has completed "at
least" 125 marathons since his 40th birthday, is training for the London and Paris
marathons that he intends to run with his new bride, Jeanne. They are part of
‘Fred’s Team’, a group which raises funds for each mile they run to help
treat and defeat pediatric (children’s) cancer.
Another goal is to change the perception of retirement communities, starting from within. In June 2000, Tom founded the Leisure Leggers, a running team with members between ages 55 and 90, because "I didn't want to be the only one running around in my shorts." He coached a group of 30 for four months, preparing them to compete in the Long Beach Marathon in November. His personal daily routine includes 450 situps, 60 pushups, and a hour of running. "I'm doing things I could never have done 40 years ago,"he says. Things haven't been the same at Leisure World since Tom Pontac moved in. More of the 9,000 residents have become active -- skating, cycling, walking and running -- and he has become the local guru on exercise and diet. For his "contribution to the running community," Tom received Runner's World magazine's Golden Shoe Award. "Exercise makes you feel stronger and better. And most importantly, you don't feel helpless. That's one of the greatest fears of aging," he told the magazine. The motto of Leisure Leggers: "Growing old is not for sissies." A former salesman (furniture and furnishings to hotels and restaurants), Tom ended his successful career in his late 50s, immediately enrolling at California State University at Long Beach to complete a college degree. Last year, he graduated with a BA in psychology, with an emphasis on kinesiology and gerontological sports, and is now working toward a Masters degree. Ultimately, he hopes to help create a new "sports and elders" focus within the gerontology department. In his spare time, Tom also authored a book, "Movies in a Minute," and is looking for a publisher. Tom also found himself a new job at Cal State Long Beach, through a series of serendipitous events even his optimism might not have foreseen. One morning, he ran into the university's president, Dr. Maxson, who was also exercising his right to exercise by running up the stairs. As Tom tells it, that quick encounter soon led to other conversations and before long, Tom had "designed" his own job to "serve as a channel between Cal State Long Beach and the senior community." Those goals included bringing courses, such as the recently completed "Financial Health" class, into Leisure World, which represents about 35% of the population of Seal Beach. He is now working with the university to create a series of senior exercise programs within the University. Tom has now become "a full fledged employee of the state of California" with the title of Senior Community Liaison in the Cal State Long Beach university relations and development department. Tom reports that, "The 'Financial Health' class at Leisure World has been such a success, that we are taking applications for both the next semester as well as a 'Financial Health 2' for those wishing to learn more. There will also be a physical health and training series of classes here in the next few months. I love this job!"
Getting Started If you’ve been thinking about regenerating yourself, physically or mentally, Tom Pontac’s advice is, well, Get Started: "It ‘s never to late to get started doing what you want to do. Most of the Leggers were in their 60's and 70's, never competed before and, with less than six months training, were able to compete in a marathon. Starting with regular walking, almost anybody can change their lifestyle and their lives. If you want to stretch your mind as well as your body, universities now offer special tuition rates for seniors that make it possible get the degree you’ve always wanted at almost no cost at all. This can definitely be the time to fill all of your dreams." Home | True Stories Copyright 2001 2Young2Retire.com, All Rights Reserved
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At age 60, Tom met Jeanne,
fellow marathoner and "The love of my life," after he placed a singles ad in a
local paper. They met at the gym for a "workout date" and he instantly
recognized that "She was the one." They sealed their commitment by "burning
old love letters on the barbecue the next week," and three years after they met, they
married. Jeanne, a clinical psychologist in private practice, recently took First Place in
the 50-54 age division at the 50K run in Cuyamacha. Her motto: "It's never too late
to be what you might have been." Tom agrees. "This is definitely the Very Best
Time of my life," he says. "No doubt about it!"