Don Howell – an ageless wonder

Ageless wonder

HOWELL, 80, DEFIES HIS AGE WITH NO PLANS TO SLOW DOWN

Don Howell is running out of space for all of by Mike Ramczyk his awards. CORRESPONDENT

The Burlington resident turned 80 years old on Dec. 31, and he has no plans to act his age and stop running, biking and skiing.

His finished basement is littered with bib numbers from decades of competing in the American Birkebeiner, an acclaimed cross country ski race, along with trophies, skis and ribbons.

Down the hall is Don’s “man cave,” where the walls are covered with more bib numbers and awards, and there are literally bowls filled with ribbons from all of the years of competition.

Howell says he currently skies three times a week, and he owns several heavy-duty mountain bikes for warmer weather.

He hits the water, too, as three large kayaks hang up in his backyard.

above: In addition to competing in a variety of events – including cross country skiing, mountain biking and running – Don Howell (right) enjoys recreational rides with family members. at left: Mountain biking is among the preferred athletic activities of Burlington resident Don Howell. The octonegarian says activity is key to staying healthy in old age.

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top: Don Howell’s cross country ski equipment stands at the ready in his Burlington garage amid memorabilia from past events and competitions in which he’s participated. above: The walls of Don Howell’s home are decorated with the mementos of his athletic achievements, including these bib numbers from previous American Birkebeiner ski races. For Howell age is a state of mind and staying active helps his bones and makes him feel great. “I skied about 55 days last year, and I’ve already skied five days this year up at Lapham Peak,” Howell said. “I feel so good after I ski. I’m not as fast, but I’m still OK. I’m an inspiration for other skiers. They come all around for the Birkebeiner. I’ve done 32 of them, the full Birkie, which is 31 miles, up and down.” Howell intends on competing in the Birkie again in late February, and he is coming off the best finish for any competitor over the age of 65 in the recent Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Day run in Burlington. Howell won the 75+ age group several years ago, and he is planning on winning the 80-84 age group this year. Also, Howell will race in his 32nd Chequamegon Fat Tire bicycle challenge after having won his age class at 70 and 75. To train for these events, Howell skies nine miles a day, three or four times a week. He started cross country skiing at the age of 41. It’s not just walking on skies, it’s more like skating, Howell says, and speed is the goal.

Howell says the younger guys in the skiing community are inspired that he’s still doing it at age 80.

Guys in their early 50s see him, and they believe they will be doing it forever.

“There’s a lot of good skiers that can’t ski anymore,” Howell said. “Either they died, or they quit. If you stop doing this, you can easily quit.”

“I run, I bike a lot, I’m a better biker than I am a skier, I won a national mountain biking race at 70 and 75. My principle is I want to stay in the pleasure zone. When I was young, I would push as hard as I could.”

“I want to stay vertical, and I want to enjoy it.” Comfort over competition

At his age, Howell knows of the danger spots, and he isn’t afraid to take it easy. He wants to be comfortable and not get hurt.

He has lost a tooth and separated a shoulder while competing.

The pandemic has prevented him from doing as many races in 2020.

But he still enjoyed the Turkey Trot, something he’s done all 10 years.

“I’ve slowed down,” Howell said of the Trot. “When I was 69, I ran an 8-and-ahalf minute mile pace. Now, I’m running

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11 minutes, and I’m enjoying it more. I finished in the middle. I don’t like to finish last.”

Mostly, Howell has avoided major injury.

But one time, he crashed hard on his bike eight years ago while traveling as fast as 35 miles per hour.

“I could see the finish line, and guys were saying I had a separated shoulder,” Howell said. “And I hurt my ribs. This is common to a lot of bikers.”

Howell also paddled his kayak nearly 50 days this year. He goes far up north and is joined by friends.

“You don’t hear anything about Trump or what’s going on or anything. You can’t get a cell phone signal. I love doing that with my friends,” Howell added.

Howell also plays tennis.

Athletic beginnings

The Iowa native retired at age 67 as a plant manager at a factory in Elkhorn.

He moved to Burlington in 1974 after taking a job in Delavan. He graduated with an MBA from Iowa State University.

When he’s not staying active, Howell is around the local sports scene, as he enjoys attending Burlington High School games.

The love of sports started in high school, when he didn’t lose a game on the pitching mound.

“When I was young, I was scouted by the Chicago Cubs because I was undefeated in high school,” Howell said. “My first game in college was a no-hitter. It was the 1960s, and I threw wicked stuff. They asked me if I ever threw a fastball. Why should I?”

Howell always strived to be the best in any sport he tackled.

He is meticulous with his records, as he keeps a log for how far he travels each day. Also, he frequents the Aurora Wellness Center, where he plays pickup basketball.

Howell says you have to have stress on your bones, or you can break something. That’s part of the reason why he pushes himself at age 80.

“You can be prone to broken bones if you don’t exercise your bones,” Howell said. “After I skied Monday, I went out and hiked because I felt so good.”

“Exercise builds up your immune system, too.”

Howell said he’s cut down on his sugars and he’s avoided any major illness.

“My cholesterol is good, I go to sleep at 10:30 and wake up at 7,” he said. “Every other day, I eat whole wheat blueberry pancakes with lots of blueberries. Also, I’ll eat cereal with blueberries. I like to snack on dry roasted peanuts. I try not to eat after 7 p.m., and anything is either whole wheat or nutritious, not fat.”

Howell says he weighs a healthy 167 pounds.

He says 40 years ago, he weighed 225 pounds, and his daughter noticed how he was out of shape playing basketball.

“I was feeling a little sluggish, and that’s when I decided to change,” Howell said.

Family first

Howell has been married to LaVonne for 56 years.

They met at Iowa State.

“My wife must’ve been desperate,” Howell joked. “I met her during the last week, when I didn’t have any finals left, and I was just having a good time. I met her in June, and we got married in December.”

Don and LaVonne have a daughter, Becky, 51, who lives in Gurnee, Ill. Also, a son, Brian, 53, has done Birkies with dad.

“My son has done the Fat Tire race with me and beat me,” Don said.

Don has five grandchildren, and he is proud to be a grandpa. He was gone on runs and races with the kids.

The family did a Zoom hangout for Thanksgiving.

For Christmas, Becky came home on Christmas Eve, and everyone wore masks.

LaVonne is now two years cancer-free after surviving breast cancer, which entailed three surgeries.

“She had a PET scan to tell her she was completely free, so we’re kind of blessed,” Howell added.

For now and in the future, Don isn’t going to stop.

He wants to keep enjoying himself, and it isn’t necessarily about winning anymore.

“It’s an addiction, and I love it,” Don said about his love of athletic activity. “I want to enjoy it. I’m not trying to beat anybody. It’s my passion, and I feel so good. I feel great. If you’re going to exercise, do something that you love to do.”

at left: Howell has competed in 32 American Birkebeiner cross country ski races – a 30-mile endurance test in Northern Wisconsin that attracts the best skiers in the world. He has a goal to win his 80-plus age group at the 2021 event in February.

MIKE RAMCZYK Spirit of Geneva Lakes