Viki Fairchild, 94 and going strong in Silver Sneakers Class
The Key Fitness Center in Rock Spring offers a Silver Sneakers class for senior citizens four days a week and the room where the class is held is almost always full of both men and women, using weights and other exercise equipment while doing aerobics with some uptempo music playing in the background.
And right there in the middle of all the action is Viki Fairchild.
Fairchild, or “Miss Viki” as she’s known to gym regulars doesn’t slow down as she keeps up with her instructor and the other class participants as they go through their exercise routine. Not even at age 94. Fairchild, a resident of Chickamauga, has been a member of the gym since it opened some six years ago and she was surprised this past Thursday morning with a birthday party thrown by her Silver Sneakers classmates and gym managers.
“I love it,” she beamed after blowing out the candles on a plate of cupcakes. “I just can’t believe that all these kids did this.…and I can call them kids because they are all a lot younger than me.”
Fairchild said staying in shape is part of her daily routine.
“I try and work out every day,” she said. “Diet and exercise. That’s what keeps you going. Plus, I enjoy meeting all these people and I love making new friends. I moved (to northwest Georgia) not long ago and this is a great way to meet people.”
While she takes part in the classes and does other workouts, she says walking is one of her favorite ways to exercise.
“I used to walk a lot with my father,” she explained. “He was in the military and even as a little tot, I walked fast and walking fast is always good exercise.”
Class instructor and personal trainer Lorrie Edwards says Fairchild is “an inspiration to everybody that graces our gym that sees her”.
“She’s an extremely vivacious woman and just full of energy,” Edwards said. “She’s a spitfire and a handful and she touches every person that she meets. She’s great in class, uses the weights and does everything that everyone else does. She’s here most every day of the week, rarely misses a class and we just love her. Everyone talks about how wonderful she is and how fantastic that it is that she still comes and works out.”
LaFayette resident Linda O’Brien attends the classes with Fairchild and calls her “an amazing woman”.
“I’ve only known her for a few years, but she just amazes me,” O’Brien said. “She told me once how she was in Paris at the age of 18 with just her and her sister and how she used to be a reporter in Florida, but she’s been everywhere and done everything. If you mention skiing or sailing or just about anything else, she’ll say she’s done it.
“I remember a few years ago, I did a zip line course at Rock City and they told me that a 91-year-old lady and been there and done it once. Well, I’m sure it was Viki because she told me how she had done that zip line challenge before. There’s nothing she won’t do.”
That includes running in LaFayette’s annual Reindeer Run.
“She said she used to be a runner and she did that run about three years ago,” O’Brien recalled. “It’s a 5K race and it was 32 degrees outside that morning, but there she was, dressed to the nines like she always is, and she came in right in the middle of the pack.”
Originally born in Chicago, Fairchild came to Chickamauga from Naples, Florida. She is a published author with four books to her credit and also something of a fashionista with an extensive collection of exquisite hats she wears on a daily basis, even to the gym.
Most of the time, Fairchild will bring her a dog, a Shih Tzu named Oscar, to the gym with her. In addition, to Oscar, she has a Great Pyrenees dog named Sparky, along with a menagerie of other pets, including cats, birds and fish.
“She’s an inspiration to everyone,” O’Brien added. “She 94 years old and still coming to the gym. I know that there are other women who are 94 and still swimming and things like that, and kudos to them too, but I happen to know Viki and she’s just a big motivation for everyone.”