Therese ran to Rocklin to run a 5k last week with her friend Betts and they made the paper today!!

By Aurora Sain of the Auburn Journal

Supporting both her love of exercise and giving back, one Auburn resident came to Rocklin to run.

85-year-old Betts Stroh participated in Run Rocklin on April 8, one of many races and runs she competes in.

“Anytime there’s a run, I do it,” she said.

Run Rocklin supports the Matt Redding Foundation which encourages the pursuit of education in Protective Services. This includes the pursuit of education related to the medical field and the protection and security of local, state and national security. The Foundation provides financial support to graduating seniors through scholarships to Del Oro High (Redding’s high school) and to the Rocklin high schools.

“Kudos to Larry Osborne, director of the race, he did a great job promoting, organizing and staffing,” Betts said.

Betts ran her first 5K race at 79-years-old and started sprinting when she turned 80 years old.

“I guess it just takes dedication,” she said.  “I’m used to sprinting, not endurance.”

Both Betts and her friend 80-year-old Karen Reitz won first place in their categories.

Betts started her training for Run Rocklin in January by hiring a personal trainer and working out six times a week.

After her husband died she went to watch her friend run a race and that’s where the passion started.

“I just thought, well I can do this,” she said.

She likes the exercising part of the races, but she really does them to support the organizations that benefit.

“I just want to be a part of the community,” Betts said. “I do it for the purpose of the charities.”

Betts soon recruited her friend Therese Johnson into running and participating in the various events.

“She has such a great attitude,” Johnson said.

Betts now works out for an hour and 15 minutes, six days a week and has added weights to her routine.

“She’s an inspiration for others,” Reitz said. “And she’s so much fun.”

When she isn’t exercising, Betts spends her time volunteering for her church, doing pet visits at Auburn Ravine Terrace and volunteering for the Petal Connection.

“When you get older and retire, you want to give back to the community,” she said.

One of the things she is most proud of about Run Rocklin was the fact she improved her time by 10 seconds.

“I do it because I’m interested in a goal,” she said. “I think it’s so important for older people to have a goal.”

 

Read the article HERE