For Active Academic Couple, Retirement Means Upping the Ante.

For Active Academic Couple, Retirement Means Upping the Ante. HUNTINGTON, Ind. -- Everyone has a different idea of whatretirement will be like, but slowing down isn't part of the planfor Lyle Langlois and Pat Sparks. Langlois and Sparks are former professors who have become moreactive than ever. Since retiring two years ago -- Langlois from Glendale CommunityCollege Glendale Community College can refer to one of two colleges in the United States. Glendale Community College (Arizona) Glendale Community College (California) in Phoenix and Sparks from Arizona State University Arizona State University,at Tempe; coeducational; opened 1886 as a normal school, became 1925 Tempe State Teachers College, renamed 1945 Arizona State College at Tempe. Its present name was adopted in 1958. -- thecouple have logged several thousand miles on their bicycles. They havetrekked across the United States United States,officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. three times and have pedaled acrosssouthern New Zealand New Zealand(zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. and parts of China. They left recently for Turkey, where they will spend three weeksbicycling 600 miles with 12 other riders and a Turkish guide. "We're really looking forward to it," Sparks said ofthe trip to Turkey. "We'll be visiting places where a lot ofNew Testament history occurred." Langlois and Sparks were each married 40 years before losing theirspouses. They met while participating in various bicycling and runningactivities and were married in December 1997. "We've been married 45 months," Langlois said,"and we celebrate every month." Sparks is originally from Huntington County and graduated from theformer Rock Creek Rock Creek may refer to: Communities: Rock Creek, Alabama, a census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson County High School near Markle in 1946. He still has familyin Huntington. Shortly after they were married, the two went bicycling in Hawaii.Their most recent ride was in Colorado. "Last week we went over Vale Pass," Langlois said."The elevation elevation,vertical distance from a datum plane, usually mean sea level to a point above the earth. Often used synonymously with altitude, elevation is the height on the earth's surface and altitude, the height in space above the surface. is 12,000 feet." The two have made their way through 29 states and Ontario, Canada,on their three trips across the United States. "We've done a central route, southern route and northernroute," Langlois said. Each trip took between 42 and 46 days. The couple videotaped many of their trips, and they share the tapeswith retirees and various groups. "People really enjoy watching the videos of our trips,"Sparks said. "It's kind of an incentive for others." The couple admits, however, that they haven't always been soactive. "We got started in our 50s," Sparks said. She andLanglois will both be 73 when she celebrates her birthday in November. "We both have been running about 20 years," Langloissaid. "Then we combined biking and running. We've both donetriathlons. Pat won a triathlon triathlon,athletic event made up of three contests. Since the 1970s the term has come to mean especially a race combining swimming, bicycling, and running. A notable example is Hawaii's Ironman Triathlon, held since 1978, which features a 2. in Chicago in the women over 65 agegroup." Sparks also broke a record for a race up Pikes Peak Pikes Peak,14,110 ft (4,301 m) high, central Colo., in the Front Range of the Rocky Mts.; discovered by U.S. explorer Zebulon Pike in 1806. There are many higher peaks in the Rockies, but this is the best known and most conspicuous because of its location on the . "It's 14 miles uphill," Langlois said. "Pat wonfor women over 70 and she was featured in Runner's World Runner's World is a globally circulated monthly magazine for recreational runners, published by Rodale Press in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States.In addition to the printed magazine, the magazine's web sites have provided a valuable resource for runners, ." "I cut the old record by 20 minutes," Sparks added."It stood for 10 years." From there, "one thing just lead to another," Langloissaid. Because of their teaching careers, they were able to ride a lotduring the summer, and retirement gave them even more time. "We kind of feel like every bike ride is a spiritualtrip," Sparks said. "You see it, feel it, smell it and tasteit." The two stop at small, hometown home��town?n.The town or city of one's birth, rearing, or main residence.Noun 1. hometown - the town (or city) where you grew up or where you have your principal residence; "he never went back to his hometown again" cafes and enjoy talking with localresidents. They also enjoy other people they meet along the way,especially other bicyclists. Langlois said traveling by bicycle reminds him of what it must havebeen like during the covered-wagon days. "You talk to people you meet and share tips about the roadahead," he said. "We also figured out that one hour in a caris roughly one day on a bike." Sparks says the best part about traveling by bicycle is "beingable to be together and sharing all these adventures. We feel thequality of life is better when you're active."