“I imagine why I am still on this earth is the fact that I have always been active and interested in life. I love living.”

101-year-old Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota member Marion Peck stays active by attending the SilverSneakers Classic class at the Le Sueur Community Center four times a week.

“My SilverSneakers class, I really rely on and never miss it if I can help it because I need that to keep my body active,” Marion says.

The class focuses on simple exercises to boost and manage mobility. With chairs, light weights and resistance bands, participants practice everyday movements like getting up from a seated position or avoiding tripping hazards.

“We incorporate that reasoning into the class, to explain why we’re lifting our toes — to be able to step over a curb — or why we’re reaching over our head — to be able to pull stuff off the top shelf,” Instructor KrisAnn Krause says.

KrisAnn has been teaching the fitness class for 14 years and says Marion has been participating her entire tenure, “Marion brings energy, she brings the motivation, she’s an inspiration to people.”

Despite needing knee replacement surgery at age 100, Marion made a quick recovery and said she experienced minimal pain. She has otherwise had very minimal health complications throughout her life and still lives independently.

KrisAnn is so impressed with Marion’s fitness and positive outlook on life that she teamed up with Le Sueur Community Center Recreation Programming Specialist Jennifer Trimbo to nominate her for the 2024 SilverSneakers Member of the Year Award.

“When you get to be up in that age and you’re still doing everything on your own, you’re pretty famous. She’s a great motivator for everyone,” Trimbo says.

While she didn’t earn the top prize, Marion was named a finalist for the award and the recognition for her inspiring lifestyle didn’t stop there. Earlier this year, Le Sueur Mayor Shawn Kirby declared October 3 Marion Peck Day.

While others are in awe of the things Marion is still accomplishing at the age of 101, she doesn’t pay much attention to the number, “I think age, there is no such thing as age. Just live in your surroundings wherever you are and enjoy every minute of your life that you’ve been given.”

Learn more

While getting regular exercise is one element Marion credits with living a long, mostly healthy life, she also cites healthy eating, getting proper sleep, staying social and her love of learning. To learn more about Marion’s inspiring outlook on life, including her grand travel plans for the future, check out the latest issue of thrive. magazine.