Tipbit #44 - Bennies
Beverly Shepherd, Harold Tiffany and I started to play pickleball here in River Falls way back in 2013. We started to play on the single old tennis court in College View. We were able to round up about a half dozen players, but then we heard of an experienced group of Baldwin residents that played pickleball on a regular bias. So, the three of us took turns driving to Baldwin a couple of times a week where we met, Tom Delong, Teri Anderson, Karen Weaver, Rosemary Donahoe and the late John Walters, etc.
The thrill of this new competition and the joy of social interaction undoubtedly contributed to the three of us organizing the RFPBA. We convinced the city to allow us to use the dilapidated tennis court at Glen Park and gave us priority hours if we could raise the money to build the courts. Thanks to a starting donation of $10,000 by Harold the fund raising began. Some time just stop at the southeast entrance gate to our Glen Park courts and there’s a placard showing all the contributors.
Since then the popularity of pickleball has made it the fast-growing sport in the United States and growing here in River Falls; just ask Brent how many new members have joined in the last month or two. For me personally, pickleball provided a fun way to embrace physical activity. It was way too easy to lose interest in an exercise regimen characterized by time on a bike and my traditional strength training at Anytime Fitness. Plus, the thrill of competition and the joy of social interaction undoubtedly contributed to my participation in this fast-growing sport. In addition, there are many potential health benefits to pickleball as well.
The socialization benefits of pickleball should not be overlooked when discussing the health attributes of the sport. Now, that I’m single and living in a basement apartment, loneliness can increase my risk for mental health issues like depression and additional problems like heart disease, dementia and stroke. By engaging myself in pickleball, I’m hoping I can improve my overall quality of life and lower my chances of developing these potentially deadly health problems.
Pickleball can lead to a healthier heart; which I needed after my sudden death heart attack. A study from Apple that examined the effects of pickleball participation on heart health found that playing pickleball helps players reach moderate to vigorous heart rate zones. Vic Mehr, a RFPBA member and focus of this weeks’ cartoon, tells me that his step tracker records from 2-3 miles per two-hour session of pickleball nightly at Greenwood. When you play pickleball, your heart rate and breathing rate are up and you’re burning calories. That translates to better heart, lung health and weight management. Pickleball stresses your muscles and bones, but your body responds by making them stronger. Weaker muscles and bones can lead to fractures (so can falling off your trucks’ tailgate onto hard concrete).
Pickleball can also benefit brain health; just look at me :-) That same Apple study's found that pickleball improves memory and recall over time. It’s a neuromotor activity that stimulates your brain that helps sharpen the connections between your brain, eyes, and body giving you better balance and coordination. It also helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, improves sleep, and improves your mood; which several of our members need :-) Try to remember all the above the next time you need to be reminded of the score at Greenwood!
Lastly and most important to me, is that research shows that exercise can help you live longer. Again, this Apple study showed that the life expectancy of pickleball players is nearly ten years longer than people who don’t exercise. The researchers noted that activities involving more social interaction showed the greatest longevity effects. That’s why I top of each pickleball session at Greenwood by going to Emma’s, just for the social interaction of course!!!!
Hope to be back on the Greenwood courts soon, President Lueck