SEQUIM — Bea Cleveland, 80, and Shelley Haupt, 45, just wanted a place to work out — a place to jump up their heart rates, steel their abdominals, lean up their legs.
They found it at the Sequim Community Church.
Monday through Friday, step aerobics is their way to start the day.
This Monday was out of the ordinary, though, if you ask Haupt.
Half an hour before the 9 a.m. class, Cleveland was setting up everybody else’s step bench, as she always does. No mention of anything special.
But this, Haupt said, was Cleveland’s 80th birthday; a surprise party was planned, but the guest of honor figured out what was up when she saw the big fruit plate on the table.
And after an hour of step-kicks, knees up corner to corner, then sit-ups, ab twists and planks, Cleveland reluctantly paused to receive birthday cards, bouquet of flowers and a blueberry smoothie just blended by classmate, Wendy Goldberg.
Cleveland’s not the type to loiter long, though. At 10:05 a.m., she said, “I’ve got four errands to run by 10:30.”
But then she opened her first card and cracked up at the off-color message inside.
Cleveland is the elder among the women who faithfully join Haupt’s exercise classes in the Sequim Community Church’s wood-floored fellowship hall at 950 N. Fifth Ave.
Younger women also take part, while Cleveland is the inspiration for all, with her quick step and perfect plank posture.
“On my 80th, I’ll be here with you,” Marsha Melnick, 64, told Cleveland after class.
Haupt, for her part, said the women keep her coming back. She started teaching step and other fitness classes three years ago, with no previous experience.
But “I’ve always been an encourager,” Haupt said. “It’s always been easy for me to lift people up.
Cleveland said she didn’t feel any different on her 80th birthday; she was as energized as ever by the workout.
“I have to come,” she said. Some mornings, she tells herself she’ll loll in bed instead of driving to class. But then she listens to the clock ticking — and gets up and goes.
Classes are $5 each, and those wanting more information can phone Haupt at 360-477-2409 or e-mail shelley.13@live.com.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
