Hello, My name is Rick Roop from Cumberland Gap, Tn. Senior adult who was inspired by memorial thoughts to lose weight and become more active later in life. After inspiration from family friends and my dad, I decided to try cycling, running, hiking, and healthy eating habits.
My inspiration came from my dad, who loved to ride his bicycle and also wanted me (his son Rick) to enjoy his grey steel bike just the same. He gave me needed advice and important instructions about riding his bicycle. He explained that I could ride in the park on the greenway around and around as long as I got a good workout. This conversation was very beneficial for him and myself seeing that he left this life sometime afterwards.
It had been a while since he had spoken those words to me on that important day. Time had a vested interest to remove them from my memory. However, they were powerful, deeply engrained, and passionate, and I never forgot them. It was my Dad, you know sometimes they have important things to say! Those things you never forget 🤔Further down the road after my dad had passed away and I had received his bicycle. I noticed the grey steel bike, and I began to hear the words spoken by my dad. I remembered the instructions on how I could ride his bike anytime. This was an important turning point in regards to my weight loss experience and my fitness journey. That’s when I decided to honor my dad with a ride around the block on his bike as a special memorial ride. I was inspired to continue riding as a way to honor my dad.
After riding my dad’s bike that day, I decided to keep riding in honor of him and for a thoughtful effort to lose weight and become fit. Bought a faster bicycle and continued to ride!
Bought a road bicycle found new cycling friends and continued to ride!
Started running as a supplement to cycling!
I have now logged about 10,668 miles on my bicycle. I have run about 2,543 miles and lost about 70 pounds all starting at the senior age of 54 years young. However, it’s not the miles or the steps that are the most enjoyable, but it’s the new found friend I call myself. Please join me on this journey I think I can help.
Memorial Fitness 