Member Spotlight: Susan Peck
We are very happy to feature Susan Peck for our Member Spotlight this month. This has become one of my favorite parts of my job as it is such a fun way to learn more about our amazing members. Susan took some time to share with us some information about herself before she coming to Forward Fitness, here is what she shared, “I grew up in north Dallas with my parents, an older brother, and a twin (fraternal) sister. I’ve always been the more active twin. According to the doctor who delivered us, my sister Julie was supposed to be born first, but at the last minute, I flipped, kicking her in the face (leaving a bruise you could see in her newborn photo) and arriving 6 minutes ahead!
My family enjoyed watching sports, but I liked to play them. While my sister knew all the stats about the Dallas Cowboys, screaming at the “terrible, blind, stupid refs” as she watched their games, I’d be outside playing flag football with the neighborhood boys. A bike ride was never just a ride, it was a race. But my favorite sport has always been gymnastics. I started competing at the age of 9 and continued through high school. It kept me very busy and I loved every minute of it! Unfortunately, I had to quit after my senior year, due to a back injury, so as I moved into college and adulthood, I spent more of my time singing in various choirs and vocal groups.
I studied elementary education and special education at Baylor University and The University of North Texas, then I taught for a couple of years in my hometown. In 1997 I married my amazing husband Mark and we proceeded to have 4 children over the course of 7 years. We moved to Maplewood in 2006 after Mark took a job with a startup in Clayton. I homeschooled our kids, which consumed a huge part of their childhood years, and then after they all graduated from high school, I started working at Ronald McDonald House charities as a Family Room Associate.
In my early 20’s and 30’s, I’d play the occasional co-ed game or start a work-out plan that didn’t last. Otherwise, I didn’t stay very active. I took up running for several years in my late 30’s, running a few 5Ks, a 10K, a couple of half marathons, and then trained for a marathon in Minnesota. But I seriously injured my IT band a couple of weeks before the marathon, and over the next decade following that injury I was mostly inactive.”
Susan shared this about why health and fitness are important to her, “Good health and fitness have been essential in slowing the effects of aging, getting me out of bed in the mornings, giving me energy throughout the day, and helping me structure my days better. I just turned 54, and I want to live an active lifestyle with my kids (and hopefully future grandkids) for many years to come.”
We always enjoy learning what brought people to Forward Fitness and most importantly what keeps them with us, this is what Susan shared, “In August of 2021, I was determined to find some kind of gym or work-out plan that I would stick to, but I knew that I’d only work out at a gym that was nearby. When I googled local gyms, Forward Fitness came up right away. From my first visit, I was struck by the enthusiasm of the staff, the small, more communal feel of the space, the welcoming spirit toward all kinds of people (ages, fitness levels, etc.), and the opportunity to craft a program that worked for me. I was hooked – I went home and told my husband I wanted to pay for a whole year of FF right away! He suggested I start with a three-month commitment, but when he saw the difference FF was making in my life and health, we both knew this was going to last. Over three years later I’m still going strong.”
Susan shared this about how she has made fitness a priority in her life, “I’m definitely a social person, and the friendships I’ve formed at FF are very important to me. The relationships with other people, as well as the staff, give me a strong sense of accountability to the goals I set for myself. At the same time, I get a lot of encouragement from everyone, which helps when I’m feeling tired or sore. Then of course there’s the competitiveness factor…”. I’m starting to sense a competitive edge to Susan that I wasn’t aware of before.
When we asked what accomplishment, she was most proud of, Susan shared about a very impressive program that she helped start. “I’m very proud to be one of the co-founders of MapleGOOD, an organization that a neighbor and I started at the onset of COVID. Our motto is “Neighbors helping neighbors” – we’re a network connecting people to help each other get through hard times. We’ve been able to activate the community’s innate desire to help others to provide repairs, errands, food, yard cleanup, encouragement, advocacy, protection, and other forms of service to all kinds of people in the community, who often are motivated to pay it forward themselves.”
Susan has this advice for someone thinking about adding a fitness routine to their life, “I would definitely say to start small. My first year I started in summer with big plans, but I had lots of gaps in my workout schedule due to health and travel, and I wasn’t used to getting up so early on a consistent basis. My husband encouraged me to keep at it, to always be ready to make a fresh start, and the staff were always encouraging and supportive each time I showed up.
Additionally, in beginning a routine, be mindful that consistency and accountability are essential, but don’t forget to give yourself grace when you’ve having a bad day. I suffer from frequent migraines and sometimes I’ll go days at a time unable to work out. After one of those bouts, I’ve come to realize how valuable it is to get back in the gym and get back to my workouts, not to think about the days I missed.”
We always ask if people have any “fun facts” they would like to share with us. This has to be one of the best fun fact yet. “I enjoy being part of the music team at my church, occasionally singing or playing the piano. More recently, I’ve been learning to play the ukelele, and I absolutely love it.
Finally, one of the MapleGOOD programs started during COVID, is the MapleGOOD Dino Dancers. We wear inflatable dinosaur costumes and dance for students, patients, visitors, and folks in nursing homes. I love how my fellow Dinos and I can easily share a little joy with people in the community, and it’s also a really good workout!”
Thank you Susan for sharing your story!