Keeping in Step with Carol Frohlich

Writer  /  Kara Reibel

Photographer  /  Brian Brosmer

By believing in herself, Carol Frohlich is inspiring others by competing in triathlons at the age of 75.

As a professional violinist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) for 38 years, Carol Frohlich played hundreds of concerts featuring the music of Bach, Tchaikovsky and Brahms. The mental focus, attention to detail and patience with the process, constantly pushing herself to be better, to hit that next note and to finish strong has prepared her for something she could not have imagined 10 years ago.

TRI FIT CAROL 10Carol Frohlich, at the age of 75, is now a triathlete. Determination and strength of will was instilled in her as a child. She comes from a musical family, growing up outside of Detroit. Music was the main family activity with lots of music lessons. Organized sports for girls were virtually nonexistent in those days.

Frohlich received a music degree from the University of Michigan and then went on to play in the Evansville Philharmonic and String Quartet. She achieved her master’s in violin from Indiana University and joined the ISO in 1967, retiring in 2005. Frohlich met her husband Ed, also a violinist, when she joined the ISO.

In 2008, after Ed passed away, Frohlich went to Orlando and visited Disney World with the aid of a motorized scooter. “I was bone on bone in both knees,” says Frohlich, “so I came home and scheduled my surgery.” She had both replaced at the same time.

Staying dedicated to her physical therapy, Frohlich experienced an excellent recovery, becoming more mobile than she had been in years. “Playing a musical instrument in a symphony orchestra is a mental and physical workout and is emotionally exhilarating,” says Frohlich. “But it’s not a gym workout! Endurance yes, but not cardio or strength.”

Motivated by a mission trip to Kenya through her church, Frohlich joined the Jordan YMCA in November 2012. “I knew I was one of the oldest people going on the trip, and I wanted to be strong enough to get up if I fell,” shares Frohlich. She was encouraged because her minister, Terry Thomas, of Northminster Presbyterian is also a member of the Jordan Y.

Frohlich started working with trainer Mark Ewing, whom she credits for encouraging her to keep striving to do more. “He would train me to reach a certain goal, and then I would say, ‘What’s next?’ And I keep asking ‘What else can I do?’” says Frohlich, who lost over 50 pounds in the process.TRI FIT CAROL 13

“Carol takes every challenge that I give her and rises to meet it,” says Ewing. “She will look at me thoughtfully as she considers what the next challenge is and comes back with questions the next day.”

“The encouragement part is huge,” shares Frohlich. “Whether you are two years old, a 73-year-old in physical therapy, or a highly trained 28-year-old athlete, we all need the ‘high five.’”

One year after the Kenyan trip which went smoothly, Frohlich was encouraged to join Multifit, a program at the Y for running, biking and swimming. “I thought Mark was nuts to refer me to MultiFit. His response was ‘It’s only three sports,’” shares Frohlich, who initially felt overwhelmed with the challenge.

However, after working with a walking coach, swimming with the Master Swim Club coach and training with a cycling coach, Frohlich completed her first sprint triathlon in July 2014. She has since completed three.

“I always come in last, and that’s fine with me…I finished!” says Frohlich proudly. “MultiFit is a wonderful group of athletes, and it doesn’t matter if you are fast or slow; everyone has their own challenges, and everyone is supportive of one another. I want to finish every race I do, and this is what I keep in mind: DEAD LAST is greater than DID NOT FINISH, which trumps DID NOT START.”
She has won three age group awards and even has a bobble head for being the oldest female swimmer at a swim meet.

This year, she participated in the 5K walk in the Mini Marathon. She completed it with a speed of 18 minutes per mile, which is amazing since she was on treadmill a year ago walking at a 24 minutes per mile pace. Frohlich continually challenges herself to improve her time through interval training.

TRI FIT CAROL 21Perhaps the biggest benefit of Frohlich’s fitness commitment is that she has the endurance to play with her young grandchildren. “My oldest grandson, James, used to ask me to play Legos, and I found it awkward to get down on the floor,” shared Frohlich. “Now when I visit him and his sister in Iowa, we go biking!”

Frohlich has taken a seven-day bike trip on a fully recumbent bike in the Outer Banks and now is able to ride a Townie Electra two wheeler, 7 speed. The pedals are slightly forward which aligns perfectly with her 90 degree range of motion in her knees. She leaves for a five-day bike trip on Nantucket Island in June with WomanTours.

“Having someone tell you that YOU CAN do something and challenging you to do that is incredibly empowering,” says Frohlich. “There are never any negative words from our trainers. I find myself saying, ‘I can’t do it YET,’ and I just keep trying. I encourage others to do what you can. Do not give up. I used to do crochet, and now I don’t have time to sit,” confesses Frohlich with a smile and a hearty laugh.

“Carol started training in January 2014 and in August of the same year, she competed in her first triathlon. She inspires me so much with her determination and consistent improvement,” says walking coach Wanda Ocasio who is an IRONMAN triathlete. “I hope when we are all 75, we have Carol’s positive attitude. She is funny, jokes around and is simply inspirational! I love being around her.”

Another member of Team Frohlich is Artie Clark, a massage therapist at Heal Thy Self, who helped Frohlich work through and heal her frozen shoulder.TRI FIT CAROL 24

“She had been in quite a bit of pain, and we were able to work through gentle stretches and strengthening techniques. After she improved a bit, I suggested a MELT class,” says Clark. “A person taking the class must get down to the floor and back up several times. This was almost impossible for her to do, but Carol was determined. She had to use two different bolsters and the wall to get up and down and over, so she wouldn’t fall off. Very soon, she was in the middle of the room with no help at all.”

“I never knew that something this hard could be so much fun and rewarding,” says Frohlich after completing her third sprint triathlon. “I am having a ball!”

Comments 4

  1. Susan Raccoli says:

    Yea Carol. We both love the Jordan Y. We do different things, and that is why the Jordan Y is so wonderful. It can appeal to all of us. You are truly an inspiration, Carol. Keep it up!

  2. Jennifer (McKibben) Talavage says:

    What a fabulous and inspiring story. Great job, Carol!

  3. Sue Epple says:

    My dear friend Carol. You barely mentioned this wonderful article to me. How typical of your modesty. What an inspiration you are to all of us who are 70+ and suffer the aches and pains of over weight and age. I'm now working out with Mark at the Jordan Y and the changes are quite amazing. I'm with you girl, keep n keeping on. I'm so proud of you!! Susie

  4. Heliene Houdek says:

    You go girl! This is a great accomplishment and inspiration.

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