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<\/a>BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. \u2013<\/strong> About two years ago, The Vermont Journal published a story about a group of powerlifters, mostly in their 60s and 70s, who were breaking records in competitions across Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
Last month, many of those same competitors celebrated more wins at the 2026 annual Can-Am Championships, held at Supreme Fitness in Brattleboro.
Their trainer, Meg Letson, said, \u201cOne of the things I\u2019m most proud of is that the [2024] competition\u2026wasn\u2019t a \u2018one-hit wonder.\u2019 Two years later, these athletes are still training consistently, still competing, and in many cases lifting better than before.\u201d
Martha Rowley and Pamela Parant, ages 76 and 66 respectively, say they owe so much of their overall good health to regular strength or resistance training, especially as they get older.
\u201cI feel that the consistency has kept me pretty healthy, both physically and mentally,\u201d Parant remarked. \u201cI am stronger now than when I started strength training.\u201d
Parant said she is inspired by other lifters, like Rowley. \u201cI think that I will continue weight training and powerlifting as long as I am able. I have already set a goal for my 70-year-old self. She will be here before I know it.\u201d
Letson lives and works on a lovely property in Bellows Falls, located in the hills above Rockingham Boulevard, with trails, gardens, and two cats. She converted her garage into a gym about six years ago, and the space is cozy but well-outfitted. During the warmer season, Letson opens the overhead door and takes her workouts outside.
An increasing amount of research points to the benefits of resistance training as we age. According to an article published by the Mayo Clinic in 2024, \u201cIn addition to building strength and muscle mass, you\u2019ll also slow the aging of your brain, blood vessels, and bones.\u201d
The piece further states, \u201cresistance training could slow, and in many cases, reverse the changes in muscle fibers associated with aging. This was even true in people who didn\u2019t start resistance training until after age 70.\u201d
For the athletes that train and compete under the leadership of Letson, those findings do ring true. Rowley maintains the Vermont and American Powerlifting Association records for her division in both deadlift and bench press. Parant holds the national record for squats, and at May\u2019s Can-Am competition achieved her personal best, breaking her own state and national records. Their teammates, Chris Lundberg, 71, Mike Foster, 63, and Ashley Cole, 36, also broke or held state records at the event.
Letson emphasized, \u201cTo me, that\u2019s the real measure of a successful strength program \u2013 not just peak performance, but sustainability, resilience, and long-term health.\u201d
She continued, \u201cEven better than a single competition result, this is evidence that strength training improves quality of life, preserves independence, builds confidence and community, and, done intelligently, it\u2019s something people can continue for decades.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n