She appears in our ads. She’s the real deal. And with her impressive continuing commitment to physical activity in her 90’s, she’s an inspiration to so many.
Dot Sowerby was born in White Plains, N.Y., in 1933, but she has spent the better part of her life in Greensboro. The Well-Spring resident says she loved playing football in her neighborhood as a child with her two older brothers. She always had a tremendous amount of energy and remembers there being no running events for girls, not even in college where she studied Sociology at Hollins University in Virginia. However, while there she played tennis, basketball and golf before later moving to Greensboro where she worked in adoption and foster services.
Dot – now an amazingly active 90-year-old – was always moving. She said her husband, due to his height and long steps, contributed to her being a brisk walker before her running days began. After Dot had kids of her own, it became obvious that they inherited her energy. Her daughter, in particular, has taken an interest in running, and Dot and her granddaughter ran a race together, with both winning in their category.
Dot started her first race at age 50. She competes in about 20 races every year. In July, Dot participated in the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh, Penn. In her age group of 90-94, Dot brought home five gold medals in running. She won in the 50-, 100-, 200-, 400- and 800-meter run. She also brought home a gold medal in the shot put. A few weeks later, Dot went on to participate in the USA Masters held at A & T Stadium in Greensboro. In her age group, she won silver in the 100-meter run and gold in the 400-, 800- and 1500-meter runs. In addition, she took gold in shot put and the running long jump. Dot set an American record for women 90-94 in the 400-meter run and went on to set a World record in the 1,500-meter run.
Many of her friends discouraged her from running once she got to age 70 as it was seen as “unsafe” as you age. However, her orthopedist disagreed and told her to keep running! She now knows that we are never too old to try new adventures – keep going no matter what. We all get caught up in being complacent yet there is so much to do, see and experience. When asked about the switch that we often need to get up out of bed and make things happen, she explains that waking up to a run as the very first activity is the only way for her. “Then I have coffee– that is my reward!” Dot says.
Right around her first run in the 1980s, Dot was diagnosed with Spasmodic Dysphonia, a neurological voice disorder. She was a charter board member of National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association Board and has served as President of NSDA. Dot is also an author of a book and ambassador to this worthy organization. She says running has always been freeing for her especially as she experienced a gradual change in your voice. Physical exercise is simply what works in feeling good overall.
“Keep going!” Dot says, with her typical enthusiasm.