Phyllis Knudson celebrated her 90th birthday with YMCA members May 1.

Phyllis has been a member for more than 30 years. When she first joined the Y, she and other members would play racquetball in the gym hitting the ball against the wall; at that time the Y didn’t have racquetball courts. She use to swim, participated in exercise classes and walked on the treadmill. Phyllis likes to keep track of how many miles she walks and sets goals for herself.

One year, she mapped out the miles she had walked and realized she would have walked to Seattle, Wash..

Phyllis continues to be a goal-oriented person setting short and long term goals. She visits the Y Monday-Friday, completes her two miles on the treadmill and then attends the AOA fitness class.

She used to be a part of the walking club here at the Y.

“I remember one summer I walked 400 miles,” Phyliss said.

Phyllis has been through 11 surgeries and battles with arthritis daily, but doesn’t let that get her down.

“You learn to deal with it,” she said.

She has three children who all live in Wisconsin. With no family in the area, she considers the Y her family.