89-year-old athlete always finds ways to stay fit, lively

Her mother's admonishments to "act like a lady" always rubbed Reenie Daines the wrong way.

"I didn't want to be a lady," said the 89-year-old Salt Lake woman with a laugh. "I wanted to be a tomboy. I think that was my lifesaver. I have always been active."

When most girls were worrying about how they looked, Daines was trying to figure out how to have fun. Long before organized sports made room for women, Daines was finding ways to stay fit and enjoy life.

"I was a wonderful runner," she said. "In grade school, I outran all the boys. I just think our bodies are the most incredible pieces of art. We should take care of them."

With her 90th birthday approaching this December, Daines isn't even thinking about slowing down. In fact, she's trying to figure out how to get more out of each 24-hour day.

"I wake up and I think, 'Wow! What am I going to do today?' " she said. She takes art classes, tai chi, walks several times a week and plays competitive tennis three times a week.

"The thing that's sad," she said, "I don't think I'm old. I grew up in an age where we just tried to age gracefully. I never stressed over turning 50 or 60 or 70. I am just enjoying life. I am so blessed."

Daines, an avid tennis player, participated in the Huntsman Senior Games for many years, earning a trophy case full of hardware. This year, however, there was no one even close to her age competing. She currently plays with women 25 years younger.

"I still take lessons," she said, admitting she is still competitive.

Her daughter, Margie Lyman, is constantly amazed at her mother's stamina.

"I play with her on and off, and she's pretty amazing," Lyman said. "She's a real inspiration to people."

Lyman said members of the family and extended family have followed her mother's lead. They have seen the real-life benefits to staying active and eating healthily.

"I have a niece, and she always exercises," said Lyman. "She'll say, 'I have the worst headache, so I'll go for a walk.' My mom always says, you don't need an anti-depressant, you need to go for a walk."

Daines admits there is little in life that laughter and exercise won't cure.

"When we are happy, the body works the way it should," she said. "So I laugh a lot. I bond with people. I'm just a people lover. No one is a stranger to me."

Daines spent 10 years volunteering at an elementary school, maintains her home and yard alone and took up painting "just to see what she could do."

"I went to the Huntsman Games for 17 years," she said. "I always had to play 10 years down."

She is disappointed and saddened to think her peers "have just given up."