By James Raia
Twice a week for the past several years, Paul Camerer has risen long before sunrise with a dutiful task. He quickly transforms the garage of his home in Sacramento, Calif., in the Pinkhouse Gym.
After he backs his 1991 Chrysler Salon into the street, Camerer makes certain the garage refrigerator is stocked with replenishment drinks. He also makes sure the clipboard that holds his heart rate statistics is handy.
Several bicycles and various wind trainers stored in the garage are also properly position and are ready for their respective riders.
Fitness posters decorate the Pinkhouse gym/garage walls. The renderings represent some of the artwork of one of his workout partners, Ardis Bow. She's often joined by Sally Edwards, Cheryl Summers and Marsha and Doug Arnold.
The diverse group is diligent and has welcomed the task of motivating Camerer. In return, Camerer motivates the group with his accomplishments and perseverance as one Sacramento's enduring octogenarian athletes.
For an hour or slightly longer and before all of their daily "real worlds" commence, the friends (sometimes there's an absence or two) pedal away together beginning at 6 a.m.
It was Edwards, the Sacramento fitness pioneer, who nicknamed Camerer and his house, Pinkhouse. The house is one of two houses across the street from each other painted pink. Camerer also has a pink-toned complexion.
A retired Air Force officer and Sacramento area high school teacher, Camerer had the house painted pink to honor the favorite color of his current wife, Helen.
With targeted heart rates set by Edwards, the author of nearly two-dozen fitness books, Camerer often also runs on the nearby Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail. He's often joined by one of more his fellow garage-pedaling colleagues, but he makes the journey solo, too.
On one recent solo training run, Camerer recalled having the best run he's had in several years. While running in accordance to his heart-training system, he averaged 165 beats per minute for the duration his run and peaked at 187.
A retired Air Force Major (he was a maintenance expert), running came to Camerer in middle age. He began a long teaching career at Sacramento High School in 1964, but after a few years he accepted a position to teach auto shop at Folsom High School.
Two of Camerer's students were on the school's track team and because of the trio's budding friendship, teacher-student roles were reversed. Camerer became a runner via his experienced pupils.
"The bug bit me," recalls Camerer who speaks softly and smiles often. "And I decided one night after I had shut the door to the shop, 'What the hell. I'm spending too much time here. I should give myself a little more time.' "
"It was about 1969 or '70. I was working on my master's then at Sacramento State, and I gave that up to run marathons."
A few years later, when Camerer had become a regular on the Northern California running circuit, he had his career year. Although he doesn't keep meticulous records of his running performances, Camerer remembers running a marathon a month for a year.
That was more than 30 years ago. By the time he'd celebrated his 85th birthday a couple of years ago, Camerer had run more than 60 marathons and a half-dozen 50-milers. He has no idea how many shorter-distance running events he's completed, but Camerer has won his age group division in numerous local events.
Throughout his now nearly 35 years as a runner, Camerer has remained fit. At 5-foot-9, he weighs 145 pounds, two pounds less, he recalls, than he weighed in high school.
Camerer has been honored several times, including an acknowledgment in Seattle by Heartzones, the fitness and education company owned by Edwards, his more than 30-year friend.
Camerer was impressed by the detail and organization of his friend's international conference. It was Camerer, however, who received the bulk of the attendees' respect, appreciation and admiration as an athlete who's still seeking to achieve.
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James Raia, a freelance writer based in Sacramento, Calif., publishes the free electronic newsletters Tour de France Times and Endurance Sports News Both are available on his web site, www.ByJamesRaia.com