When Jeanette “Jeannie” Groesz was in high school back in 1963, there were no women’s sports for her to participate in. Now 73, Groesz is considered a world-class runner in her age group.

At 31, she decided to try her hand in soccer for the first time, joining a community team with other women. She played for three years, but when her third child came around, it became to hard to commit to games and practices.

“So I quit the soccer team and then I decided I needed to keep something to keep active and that’s when I started running,” she said.

Her first race was a 5k in Eugene, and since then, Groesz estimates she has run approximately 500 races — and counting — in her lifetime.

“I love just running,” she said. “I love running trails because I’m out in nature. I just feel like I’m using the gifts God’s given me via really good body mechanics. I love just the freedom of it. Just being out there using my body and just feeling God’s smiling on me. Using the gifts he’s given me. Just love it.”

Groesz trains six days a week — everything from long runs along Dry Canyon Trail to cross training.

She stays consistent and in good racing shape. She is what her club coach Rick Lovett likes to call, “a smart runner.”

Lovett has known Groesz for about 10 years. They met when she joined Team Red Lizard, a running club based in Portland.

He said that “there is a tendency for people who watch the Olympics to be into the younger runners,” but “the masters runners (runners over the age of 40) are often really good and don’t get enough attention.”

“(Groesz) is a wonderful person and she is as dedicated as a young elite pro in her approach to (running),” Lovett said. “It is really nice for people to get attention for that in the running world.”

Often at races, Groesz gets comments from other competitors who are shocked that she is still running at a high level.

“‘You’re still running at your age?’ they ask, and I think, ‘How old do you think I am?’” she comments. “But I know people get that a lot. Sometimes they say ‘at your age’ but it’s more like ‘Wow, you’re amazing.’”

Throughout her running career, Groesz has had the opportunity to travel across the country and abroad as well.

She has attended three international championships in Italy, Finland and most recently, Poland where she won individual silver medals in the 3K and the half marathon, as well as a gold medal for their team in the half marathon.

She’s collected countless medals, but Groesz recalls a few that stand out to her in Northern California.

At age 48, she ran her longest race from Arcata to Willow Creek. And at age 57, she ran her fastest marathon at the Avenue of the Giants.

Her hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. Groesz’s oldest daughter, Michelle Swift, said, “anyone in my family would tell you that she’s the most disciplined of all of us. I admire her commitment.”

“And even if she’s injured — she’s had some years of injury — She will swim and bike and whatever,” Swift said. “She’s very, very driven to exercise.”

Groesz’s next race will be the Redmond Half Marathon on Saturday, June 17.

“What I would like to emphasize is not my own accomplishments but to encourage others to keep active — that we are never too old. Don’t stop moving,” Groesz said.

 “I love running trails because I’m out in nature. I just feel like I’m using the gifts God’s given me via really good body mechanics. I love just the freedom of it.”

— Jeanette Groesz