OSU employee stays fit training for the Highland games
Friday, March 16, 2018
Terri Ventress, a design engineer at Oklahoma State University, is always preparing for the Highland games, where she’s already earned three consecutive Masters World Championships (2012 to 2014) in North Carolina, New Mexico and Inverness, Scotland.
The Highland games are major competitive events held to celebrate Scottish and Celtic culture in the U.S., Scotland and other countries. They include tests of strength and agility such as the stone put, 56-pound weight for height, caber toss, hammer throw, weight throw and sheaf toss. Each event requires a great amount of physical upper and lower body strength.
“It’s a lot of fun, and it keeps you coming back … it’s constantly challenging, the techniques are complicated, and not easy to master,” Ventress said. “Everyone gets that you’re pretty much in competition against yourself and the whole idea is to do better than you’ve done before.”
Ventress was the first Highland games athlete to simultaneously hold all the event records in an age group, which she accomplished in two to three years in the 50-plus age group. Her current goal is to do the same in the 55-plus age group, where she’s well on her way. She first broke the Women’s Open World Record in the sheaf toss in 2001 in Kansas City. The sheaf toss involves using a pitchfork to throw a simulated hay bale as high as possible.
While she’s been competing in the games for 21 seasons, Ventress and her husband, Larry, were introduced to them in Midwest City at a Scottish festival in 1997. Originally there to watch the games, Larry was so excited about what he saw that he actually competed for the first time that same day in the C class, which is similar to a beginner’s level. He won, and the couple decided to compete in future games.
Ventress’ passion for powerlifting and interval training helped her transition into the physically demanding aspects of the events. When training, she lifts weights three or four times a week and performs high intensity workouts about seven times a week to increase her speed and stamina.
“If I don’t work out, I’m not a happy person,” Ventress said. “I need to be doing something fairly physical, but I don’t think everyone is that way. I think some people can benefit from yoga, stretching or maybe walking is their passion, but it’s not enough for me.”
Always striving to find the right balance between strength and speed, Ventress recently joined the OSU wellness program called SWEAT (Stronger with Exercise and Training). The 17-week program incorporates high-intensity exercise while utilizing different modes of resistance. Groups meet twice a week at 5:45 a.m., which Ventress enjoys because she has enough time to get ready before starting her work day.
“I am absolutely loving the SWEAT class,” Ventress said. “We are 15 classes in, and our trainer is great. As a strength athlete, the classes are a different kind of tough, and are exactly what I was looking for. The entire range of exercises change each session, which helps keep the high level of intensity fresh. I look forward to each and every one!”
While having complications with her hip, Ventress attended Carol Bender’s yoga class in the student union. She enjoys how yoga keeps the body symmetrical and improves mobility, and she credits Bender for keeping her moving.
In addition to physical health and event training, Ventress is also passionate about nutrition. She believes eating wild, organic vegetables, and non-hormone free-range chicken or beef gives her body the nutrients needed to participate in the physically demanding aspects of the Highland games.
Ventress is excited to continue competing. Since moving to the 55-plus age group, she holds six out of the eight records and is working toward setting more.
“It gives me more energy for life, everything I do and all of those I love,” Ventress said. “Just keep looking until you find that thing that you love to do. It’s important to do those little things and find out what it is that keeps you going and makes you happy.”
Over the years, Ventress has competed all over the world while getting to share her passion with other competitors. A few of her competitive destinations include Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and of course, Scotland. She said there are always sites to see when traveling to games.
Ventress is a senior design engineer for OSU’s New Product Development Center, where she is also a designated America’s Healthiest Campus Wellness Innovator. As an innovator, she provides tools, resources and support to encourage colleagues to facilitate healthy lifestyles.
PHOTOS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ostatenews/albums/72157664163910517/with/38708544350/
Story by Cassidy Williams and Michaela Gleason