Most people are enjoying retirement at 75. But for Reston native Becky Lane, that milestone marked a new beginning: On Feb. 14, she stepped onto a powerlifting platform for the first time and broke the national record three times.
With that, Lane is headed to Anaheim, Calif., near the end of May to compete on the national stage. While there’s a good chance Lane could set the record once again, this time in a world competition, Lane is blown away by where she is now.
“I was shocked,” she said. “I didn’t go into this other than having fun, learning something new and being challenged.”
Records don’t mean anything to Lane. She’s passionate about loving powerlifting itself rather than setting a new benchmark.
Given her age, Lane said she never expected to break a national record, even with a background in distance running. But she said she had to give up the sport over the past year.
“I was like, well, I gotta have something,” she said while searching for a new opportunity to stay active.
It wasn’t until she found the YMCA in Reston. Lane’s trainer, Peter Gallelli, helped her and many other active individuals prepare for upcoming meets while maintaining health.
Lane said she appreciates that Gallelli focuses not only on the physical side of training, but also on the mental and nutritional components.
“He brings a lot to the table for us,” she said. “We’re very fortunate to have that caliber of professionalism there to support us.
“It’s outstanding what we have at our fingertips, and we have to pay attention and be thankful for that,” she explained. “Not every place or organization can offer the quality that we get.”
Lane also trains at RepFit in Herndon, but said what stands out the most at the YMCA is the sense of community support.
Still, she expressed her appreciation for both facilities, crediting them with helping her pursue her goals.
Lane didn’t even plan to compete during Valentine’s Day weekend. Laughing, she said she was initially dared to enter the meet but embraced the encouragement.
“I was like ‘No, no, no… You don’t want to do that with me because you know now I’m gonna do it,’” she said. “It’s become fun and an adventure now.”
For the new powerlifting champion, the lesson is simple: have fun. If it’s not fun, she believes, it’s not worth your time.
A longtime runner unfamiliar with the powerlifting world, Lane stepped outside her comfort zone in search of a new challenge and found a higher ceiling.
“It’s a different type of training and a different understanding of how your body works,” she said, noting that running and lifting demand completely different approaches.
Before stepping onto the platform, Lane repeated a simple motto to herself: “Let’s just go out and do it.” She avoided thinking too far ahead, reminding herself she could give her best effort without focusing on records.
Outside of competition, Lane trains three days a week in strength work, balancing the rest of her schedule with recovery, abdominal work and cardio.
Weighing about 100 pounds, Lane often challenges assumptions about strength and age. Rather than feeling pressure, she has embraced the opportunity to prove that limits are often self-imposed. She hopes her story encourages others to try something new — including powerlifting.
“If you’re looking for change… just give it a whirl. What’s the worst that can happen?” she said.
Lane said she feels a responsibility to show others that age need not be a barrier. No matter the stage of life, she believes, people can still step into arenas just as she did.
“Society has to go over the myth that there’s a stopping when there really isn’t,” she said. “We’ve seen that with the Olympics, professional athletes and elites globally. It’s society that has to change that, not the individuals.
Lane will now turn her attention to the USPA Ultra Nationals, scheduled for May 26-30. It will mark her first time preparing for a national-level competition.
