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She has climbed up and down many stairs in her life, literally and figuratively. Some of these stairs brought sadness and led to great adventures in her life. Others led her to the Guinness Book of World Records! Everyone knows Natalie at the Santa Monica stairs and beyond. Her life could be a movie since she lived it and continues to live it with great passion, despite her 80 years.
She has travelled the world, including Greece and every time that she sees me she calls me “Greek goddess.” I’m talking about Natalie Lewis, whom I met at the Santa Monica stairs and who sets an example to follow even for those who are much younger.
Q: Natalie, when did you first become so active?
I started exercising when I already had my 5 children and I was over 40. But in my young life I had studied dance, I was an ice skater, I was always very physical. But it was nice to find running: First of all, I found the outdoors and I just love being outdoors. And, I have to admit, I became a drinker and a smoker. I had smoked for 30 years so you can believe that I was huffing and puffing when I first started running. But, little by little, it was first a mile, then 2 miles, then when we moved to California it became 7 miles and then I would be talking to people and they said “why don’t you do more?” and it became 10 miles,thenitbecameaMarathon! Actually,Iwasinajoggingclass.Andthemanwhohadthejogging class had been a football coach. And he said that he had signed me up, he had paid the money, for me to go to this Marathon. I was so embarrassed, I really didn’t want to do it, but the fact that he had put up the money was the reason that I showed up. And actually, I won a trophy that day. Marathon running was actually quite new), particularly for women.
Q: So how long have you been doing the stairs?
I have been doing the stairs for over 20 years. After the Marathon running, I ran a 50 miler, then I ran 100 mile races twice – I was nearly 50 when I did that. It was difficult to find a race that was challenging. They have since come out with lots of challenging races, but they didn’t have them back then. They had planned on having a run across the country. It didn’t happen, but I had an English boyfriend and he had a little motorbike and he said that he would run his motorbike. So we went down to the AAA (which gives out road maps) and they put out a route for me to take to run across the country. And it was quite difficult; it wasn’t difficult running; but getting up every day to repeat the same thing was difficult.
Q. How many times per week do you do the stairs?
Every day.
Q. Evenonthe weekends?
Every day.!
Q.Andyouwere doingsomethingelse,ifIremembercorrectly;youwere doingyoga?
I do a lot of yoga classes. I belong to the YMCA. I have a lot more time now that my 5 sons have grown up and I brought my granddaughter up and she has two little ones, I have two great grand children now.
Q. Whe re from do you extract that stre ngth and that powe r?
To be perfectly honest with you (laughs), I would have a hard time justifying it to the general population. But the fact that I am 80 and I feel great, and a lot of people tell me that I look good, that’s reason enough. It’s just to really feel good. I think I have the type of personality that can get very depressed but with the running, with the step climbing, with the hiking, being physical has taken away those bad feelings. I just feel a lot better for it.
Q. And how many times do you do that up and down every day?
I do 6 days 15 times and one day I do 20.
Q. I can’t even do 10!
I would have to say that it’s not that I’m unique; it’s just that I’ve been doing it for so long. My muscles are used to it; my body is used to it; my mind is used to it.
Q. That’s great. What is your nutrition? Do you eat something specific?
I’m pretty much a vegetarian. I do eat a little chicken and I do eat a little fish; I’m not terribly fussy. I have to admit that I love sugar. I do try to stay away from it because it’s like drinking: if you stop having sugar you want it five minutes later. Basically I try to eat good, I do buy a lot of nuts and almonds and pecans so when I want snack food I’ll go for something better than a cupcake. Actually, I gave up bread; that was interesting. I found out that my stomach went down. When I discovered that, I said, enough of the bread and the bagels; every once in a while, I’ll have a pizza. But, on the whole, I actually recommend giving up bread. I do eat rice crackers.
Q. What is the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning?
I do so many things. Like I said, I do yoga, and my “Y” class (YMCA) and then I have to go pick up my mail. I actually prepare my whole day with my different outfits. When I go home from the steps I change into another outfit to go to the yoga class; after that I have to change again. Today, for example, I have to go see a doctor. I really do have to see doctors. I’m also a big advocate of taking vitamins. I do take vitamins. Even though I eat healthy, I’ve been doing it for so many years, so why would I give up something when I have not had problems?
Q. What about this Guinness Book you were telling me about?
When I did the run across the country, I did not do it to get into the Guinness Book of World Records, but my son worked at a newspaper and he told me about 3 women a year after I had done it; it took me 75
days, it took them 130 (or 120, I’m not sure). In any case, they said that they were going to get into the Guinness Book of World Records. When I heard that I said that I have a lot of proof and a lot of articles that were written and I actually showed it to the people at the Guinness Book and they put me in!
Q. How does it make you feel that everybody here admires and praises you? I remember that you actually celebrated your 80th birthday in November.
It’s actually the other way around. I enjoy being around you young people because you have a lot of energy and a zest for life. So it’s more of what I’m getting than what I’m giving. I’m certainly not here to be a star or anything and I enjoy being around all of you.
Q. You are by nature a star; you were born a star… This is what I think by seeing you.
Thank you. By the way, I also have an identical twin and she works out in Chicago. We both have 5 children and grandchildren and great-grand children.
Q. That could be an article in itself…
We both have 5 children and grandchildren and great-grand children.
Q. And you look identical?
Oh, very much so. I ride my bike because I don’t have a car and I enjoy riding. I live for the outdoors, I can’t say enough for good fresh air. My building makes me very aware: there are many people my age, older, or younger who are pushing walkers, that are in wheelchairs. For some people maybe something did happen that caused them to be there; but there are some people who, I feel, put themselves there.
Q. Do you think that you owe this to your way of life that you’re still so…?
Very definitely; I feel that it’s a lifestyle. When you start working out and you start feeling good, looking good, it becomes a lifestyle. You have to think of what you eat. It gave me a reason to live. I did the child rearing and I’ve done work, various jobs.
Q. Thank you so much Natalie ! You’re a treasure, you are amazing ! I admire you very much! You impressed me since the first time I came to the United States. My god, I am freezing, I have to go! Go! Go! (Says the 80 year-old Natalie, who was very comfortable and not freezing as a cool breeze from the Pacific Ocean blew over the Santa Monica stairs…)
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