Yes I Can: Maryrose Martin’s Life in Motion at UK Campus Rec Written by Susan Meredith
For Maryrose Martin, fitness is not a phase. It’s a way of life.
Since she first began working at the University of Kentucky, Maryrose has made Campus Recreation a consistent part of her daily routine. Through decades of change, both in life and in UK’s facilities, her commitment to movement has remained constant.
“I stay active and injury free with increased strength and endurance,” she says, reflecting on the long-term benefits of her routine.
“I’ve been in these gyms forever, back when Alumni was just a small fitness room, and you had to wait 20 minutes for a treadmill.”
Now retired and living in the neighborhood, she walks to the gym almost daily. Her favorites? Group fitness classes, especially Les Mills BodyPump, and running, both on the indoor track and with local running groups.
“I knew I was a runner from first grade on. First grade recess, the teacher had us run a race and I won, but I went past the finish line.” Maryrose began running in 1982, a choice that sparked a lifelong connection to the activity and the community it builds. She’s run countless 5Ks, competed in half-marathons, and challenged her two sons to family fitness goals. “We motivate each other,” she says. “Even if they beat me now and then.”
Over time, she’s come to appreciate the power of cross-training and group accountability. She schedules her classes just like appointments and shows up even when she’s tempted to stay home. “Sometimes the only reason I go is because I know someone’s expecting me,” she admits. “But once I’m there, I’m always glad I came.”
She lives it every day. “I have to be active. If it’s not walking, then I do allow myself rest days, or cycling or whatever, but ‘no’ is not an option. I do it every day like brushing my teeth.”
It’s this blend of discipline and joy that helped her win UK Campus Rec’s "Muscle of the Month" plank challenge. “Do you wanna guess how long I held it?” she asks. “Seven minutes. Two seconds.”
“I couldn’t believe it,” she remembers. “These young guys were checking the leaderboard and there I was at the top.”
She’s seen the power of encouragement. “We all have strength, physical and mental. Improving my mental strength has helped improve my physical strength. And that’s why I challenge myself, because then it reinforces that, yes, I can.”
Through challenges, changes, and even injuries, Maryrose has never lost sight of why she keeps going. “Campus Rec has become part of my identity,” she says. “It’s not about looking a certain way or lifting the heaviest weight. It’s about feeling strong, staying sharp, and living fully.”
She knows firsthand how intimidating starting can feel. “I used to walk in and think I didn’t belong,” she says. “But I’ve learned nobody’s watching you. Everyone is focused on their own growth. And the instructors? They’re amazing. Supportive, patient, and they meet you where you are.”
Maryrose radiates positivity and strength, and she’s quick to pass that encouragement on to others in class. “We’re in this together,” she says. “It’s not just about exercise. It’s about connection.”
She puts it best with her personal mantra:
Yes I can.
And she’s not stopping anytime soon.
“I’ll keep moving until I’m 100.”
