At 81, Linda Foster is still on the go — literally. From fitness classes three days a week to cardio and weight-bearing exercises, gardening at home, and even participating in the annual Sugar Run 5K, she has made staying active an important part of her life.
Linda’s journey began with an osteoporosis diagnosis around 2004. She was initially placed on oral meds by her primary physician, and later Prolia injections were added every six months. She also received Reclast in the hospital for a short time. In 2006, she began seeing Dr. Kashif Latif at AM Diabetes & Endocrinology Center in Bartlett after her primary physician became concerned that she was not responding adequately to these treatments.
In 2024, Linda began a year of Evenity injections; following that treatment, she was diagnosed with osteopenia (lower bone density than normal but not severe enough to be osteoporosis) and no longer needed oral osteoporosis medication. “Success after many years of treatment!” Linda exclaims. Her treatment currently consists of Prolia injections every six months.
Although Linda clearly credits her improvement in bone density in part to medical treatments, her commitment to better health extends well beyond medication. In January 2022, she began attending fitness classes at AM Diabetes with coach Brittney Jones three days a week. These classes focus on flexibility, strength, balance and cardio — important components of maintaining mobility and independence as a part of healthy aging.
“When Dr. Latif opened the gym, I signed up for the Healthy Aging classes they offered,” Linda explains. She attends both classes on the same day, and during the 30-minute break between them, she opts to keep moving, riding the bicycle for 15 minutes and walking for another 15 minutes before starting her next class.
Linda also follows Dr. Latif’s recommendation to walk 10 miles each week. She completes much of her walking at the gym, arriving early and jogging for about 15 minutes. At home, she stays active by working in her flower gardens and points out that even a task like pulling weeds is good exercise in the form of squats.
In November 2022, at age 77, Linda participated in her first 5K, the Sugar Run 5K. She had never been a runner, but her grandson who runs offered pointers, and an AM 360 coach also helped her prepare. She has participated every year since and looks forward to jogging it again this November.
For Linda, healthy aging comes down to one simple message: keep moving. “If you don’t use it, you will lose it,” she says. Linda encourages older adults to try senior fitness classes, walking, chair yoga, or tai chi. Just as important, she believes, is having the right attitude. “I have grandchildren and great-grandchildren that I want to see prosper and grow up. I want to be an active part of their lives,” she explains.
The finish line is not the end goal for Linda — it is simply another reason to keep moving forward.
The 20th Annual Sugar Run 5K will take place Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 8 a.m. at the Wolf River Nature Area in Germantown. Registration can be found at Sugarrun5k.raceroster.com. The race supports diabetes research through Breakthrough T1D while encouraging youth athletics.
