Recovering from surgery and searching for a new athletic outlet, 75\u2011year\u2011old Becky Lane turned to powerlifting \u2014 and quickly shattered a national dead lift record. <\/p>\n
This page contains a video which is being blocked by your ad blocker.
In order to view the video you must disable your ad blocker.<\/p>\n
How a Fairfax Co. woman secured a new national powerlifting record<\/p>\n
Becky Lane was recovering from surgery in February 2021 when she started strength training at the gym, but it was very basic.\n<\/p>\n
She\u2019s always been a runner, but within the last year, she\u2019s had to stop, which left her itching to find something else to satisfy her desire to exercise.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, a friend encouraged her to consider powerlifting. She didn\u2019t give in until the same friend dared her to participate in a powerlifting competition.<\/p>\n
Three weeks later, on Valentine\u2019s Day in Pennsylvania, Lane broke a national record in dead lift, pulling 140 pounds in the qualifier event. Now, at 75 years old, Lane will participate in the U.S. Powerlifting Association\u2019s 2026 Ultra Nationals competition in California this May.<\/p>\n
\u2018You can better yourself\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cToo often, if someone has a medical condition, once they receive that news, they just go down,\u201d Lane told WTOP. \u201cWhereas if they take that news and allow it to build themselves up, they can be anybody they want to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lane trains alongside Pete Gallelli, the head trainer at the YMCA in Reston. The pair met over four years ago, and Gallelli said strength training became a focus when Lane\u2019s arthritis, aged joints and spine surgeries resulted in some limitations.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t let life, don\u2019t let arthritis, don\u2019t let age, don\u2019t let injuries limit your success,\u201d Gallelli said. \u201cYou can achieve huge things. And Becky is \u2026 strong, but she\u2019s not Superwoman. She is the same as a lot of people in this gym that I think if you put your mind to it, the goal is you can do this. You can better yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lane focuses on weights three days a week, and cardio, abs and stretching for another three days.<\/p>\n
Her husband ran for Georgetown University, Lane said, and she recalled the time she did her first run. He motivated her to have fun. Instead, she was focused on winning.<\/p>\n
Focusing on \u2018bringing forth the best\u2019<\/p>\n
Lane characterized herself as mature instead of aged, because, \u201cI don\u2019t like the word aged, so I am a mature, smaller person.\u201d<\/p>\n
That means her weights are lighter compared to women in other age categories. Competitions are organized based on age and weight.<\/p>\n
To practice, Lane encourages whoever she\u2019s with not to tell her how much weight is being added. It helps her overcome the mental aspect of the exercise. The approach paid off in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe try to bring forth the best of ourselves that we can be,\u201d Lane said. \u201cAnd this is what I\u2019m trying to do now, to bring forth the best I can be at this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Outside of the gym, she helps with a nonprofit that\u2019s created \u201ca group of thought leaders\u201d from around the world who come together to discuss security and life safety. But the competitive approach in powerlifting brings an added benefit.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecky sees a natural spill over to that. I see my clients, they tell me, \u2018When I lift, I\u2019m better at my job. I think a little clearer. I can organize better,’\u201d Gallelli said.<\/p>\n
Lane is scheduled to participate in the YMCA Reston Powerlifting Meet on Saturday morning. Competitors range in age from 14 to 83. Donations from the event will go toward the YMCA\u2019s annual Send a Kid to Camp programming.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always am nervous about meets of any sort,\u201d Lane said. \u201cSo I won\u2019t sleep most likely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Local news outlet Fairfax County Times<\/a> first reported Lane\u2019s record.<\/p>\n