Precerpt from Grandma's Ninja Training Diary: Running Hot

 

They say a 75-year-old woman shouldn’t be clocking a 10-minute mile. They also say your heart rate shouldn’t hit 183 unless you’re being chased by a bear. But here I am—petite, cardio-cleared, and apparently part furnace—turning beet red on the treadmill while my heart hums along like a racehorse.

I don’t sweat. Never have. Not in Army drills, not in summer heat, not even during childbirth. My body prefers to radiate heat like a wood stove: silent, efficient, and alarming to onlookers. After two miles, I look like I’ve been boiled. People panic. I feel fine.

My resting heart rate? Mid-50s. My recovery time? Back to baseline in 30 seconds. My doctor? Slightly baffled but respectfully hands-off. “If you’re not uncomfortable,” he says, “you’re fine.” I take that as medical clearance for ninja status.

Menopause? It snuck past me like a cat in the night. No symptoms, no drama—just one day, as I approached 63, I stopped needing Tampax. I was glad to give up the expense but mildly annoyed that I had no warning. A whole box went to waste. My friends say I was probably too busy to notice. They’re not wrong. Why is that important? Because menopause often means loss of muscle. Very late onset really has helped. So have those gym workouts!

I’ve got a heart murmur that runs in the family, a left bundle branch block that’s never caused trouble, and a cholesterol profile that makes nutritionists weep with joy. I eat avocados like they’re going out of style and run like I’m chasing my 20s.

So no, I’m not overheating. I’m just running hot—in every sense of the word.

Grandma’s Ninja Training Diary is the inspiring true story of a septuagenarian grandmother who dares to dream big—by training for American Ninja Warrior. Teaming up with coach and trainer Brittany Renz, she embarks on a three-year journey to build strength, resilience, flexibility, balance, and endurance—starting from scratch.

Told in a dynamic mix of diary entries, coaching insights, and behind-the-scenes reflections, this book chronicles the ups and downs of late-in-life athletic training. From gym workouts to rock climbing, yoga to injury recovery, sleep to mindset—every aspect of the transformation is explored with honesty and humor.

Grandma shares what she’s learning; Coach Brittany explains why she’s right—or wrong. Together, they offer a realistic, encouraging look at what it takes to pursue an extraordinary goal at any age.

Part training manual, part motivational memoir, Grandma’s Ninja Training Diary is packed with practical tips for readers over 50 who want to improve their fitness, health, and confidence. You’ll also get insider insights into the world of American Ninja Warrior, strategies for balancing real life with ambitious goals, and hard-won wisdom about success, failure, and the joy of simply showing up.

To read more precerpts from Grandma's Ninja Training Diary, click HERE.

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