Carl Alonzo Grubbs

Born in Cleveland, Ohio on March 13, 1934, Carl loved sports. But being raised in a predominantly white neighborhood, it wasn’t easy to participate in neighborhood baseball games or ice hockey. His uncles taught Carl to box to protect himself because the older white boys would wait for him when he got to school. The same thing happened to him when he played in the high school band and chorus. He continued to have challenges in business and political ventures.

This helped shape Carl’s desire to get involved in civil rights and health. Carl was 50 when he decided to get back in shape and do his best to run, run, run. Inspired by Jesse Owens, whom his family knew, and who spoke at his high school: “Do what you have to do, when you have to do it, whether you like it or not”. Carl began walking, jogging to gradually running 5K’s, 10K’s to full marathons.

Reaching retirement Carl focused on the Senior Olympic track meets in the 400, 800, 1500 meter races. He won a collection of gold, silver, and bronze medals which qualified him to compete in the state and national competitions.

A special treat came when Carl could be part of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic torch relay from downtown Oceanside to Carlsbad. That torch ended up in the hands of Mohammad Ali in Atlanta, giving Carl a sense of accomplishment in athletics and civil rights.

Carl was encouraged by the American Council of Exercise to pursue the growing senior market with low impact exercise routines. He started working for Oasis, YMCA and 5 different health clubs. After that he decided to go independent and set up classes with churches, senior centers, senior communities and assisted living facilities. He was teaching weekly classes at 10 locations in the North County.

Carl was baptized while learning more about the Lord Jesus Christ at New Venture Church in Oceanside.

He had a new passion to share his love of Christ to all who would listen, especially his wife and her Okinawan family. When his wife, Michi, believed that Jesus died for her and could save her soul, on her death bed 2 years ago, he told her to wait for him at the finish line in Heaven, as she had done so many times during his races.

Now Carl has finished his race and the Lord has said “Well done my good and faithful servant!”