Jean Coon

Steve Virgen

When Jean Coon takes a walk through her neighborhood she sees the

beauty and serenity of Corona del Mar.

She becomes one with her surroundings. While walking a rush will

come over the 81-year-old and she will begin to jog. Then she runs,

and runs.

“I run about four times a week,” Coon said. “The days I don’t go

to the gym I walk.”

While Coon enjoys to run to maintain good health, she also loves

to compete. She won the Corona del Mar Scenic 5K last month finishing

in 45:08. She was the only competitor in her age division, but she

was excited to go up against runners in the younger age divisions.

Coon was the oldest female competitor.

On the Fourth of July, Coon finished second in the annual Surf

City 5K. She’s grateful she’s able to compete, and takes pleasure in

the results that come from her active life.

“I never had many [health] problems,” Coon said. “I’ve been

extremely blessed. I have had very good health. I have very good

genes. I’ve been exercising and running for a long time. I really

enjoy it. I’ve done it so long that I’m not happy when I don’t do it.

I don’t want to miss a workout.”

When Coon is not running, she trains at a local gym. She usually

exercises 15-20 minutes for her cardiovascular workout. Then, she’ll

go to the treadmill. She finishes up by going to five or six

weight-lift machines, doing three sets of 15 each.

Rather than sit or play cards as a hobby for her retired life,

Coon will go to the gym or take a walk around the neighborhood. Coon

will sometimes walk or exercise with her husband, Jim.

“It makes me feel good,” Coon said of running or walking. “I feel

much better. I like to do it first thing in the morning and it sort

of starts your day out right.”

Coon said she has been running and staying active for the past 20

years. She is originally from Oregon. She moved to Tucson, Ariz. 18

years ago, before coming to Corona del Mar.

While in Oregon, the Coons would vacation near a lake and they

taught themselves how to water ski.

“We were always doing something,” Coon said.

Coon and her husband weren’t the only ones who stayed active in

the family. Of their five daughters and one boys, there are three

girls, Peggy, Sally and Joe, who competed in marathons. The trio

continue to run and also pushed mom into staying active.

“They really keep me going,” Coon said. “They really got me into

running. They say, I can go faster if I keep doing it. It motivates

me and I really like to run. I’m at the point that I’m going to do it

as long as I can.”

Coon also has 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild on the way

next month.