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The Next Chapter: How Sarah and Damon Chose Each Other — and Themselves
In September of 2025, Sarah and Damon Wilcox sent their youngest daughter off to college.
The house was quiet.
For the first time in decades, it was just the two of them.
And almost immediately, they made a decision.
“We had just sent off our youngest to college and decided that we needed something for each other,” Damon said.
They had spent years putting their kids first. Running to games, building schedules around everyone else, making sure the people they loved had everything they needed.
Now it was their turn.
“We were starting a new chapter ourselves,” Sarah said. “It’s time to start focusing on our health and getting stronger. Building for our future. Just like our kids are.”
Nine months later, Sarah’s knees feel better than they have in years. Damon is keeping up with athletes half his age on the football field. And both of them feel more energy, more strength, and more optimism about what’s ahead than they have in a long time.
A LIFELONG LOVE OF SPORTS
Sarah and Damon aren’t strangers to being athletic.
They met when they were teenagers — at the same high school — and have been together ever since.
Sarah played volleyball and softball. Damon played baseball in college. Sports have always been part of who they are, part of their family identity, and part of how they stay connected to each other.
But between careers, kids, and the demands of everyday life, the consistency of training had slipped.
Damon is in sales, on the road often, flexible with his schedule, but was without structure to his workouts. Sarah is a teacher with early mornings, long days, and the kind of mental and emotional load that leaves little left over at the end.
They had tried other gyms, but nothing stuck.
“They were great places, and they were great workouts,” Sarah said. “But this just fit more for where we were with our bodies.”
“I needed some instruction to help me get through my workout,” Damon added. “When Sarah found PowerStrength, it just fit what we were looking for.”
SARAH’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE
For Sarah, coming into PowerStrength wasn’t just about getting stronger.
It was about doing it safely — and that was a real concern.
She had been through two ACL reconstructions and was living with a partial tear in her knee.
“I needed something that I could do to get my body stronger and not worry that I was going to re-injure it and have another surgery,” she said.
From day one, the coaches were aware of her history. They adapted. They modified exercises, adjusted movements, and kept the focus on building the strength around her knee rather than avoiding it.
The results surprised her.
“The things that I can do with my legs now are so much different from what I could do when I started,” she said. “I don’t have any knee pain.”
DAMON ON THE FIELD
Damon has his own reason for needing to stay strong.
In addition to his career in sales, he officiates college football. On Saturdays in the fall, he’s on the field with Division I athletes — young, fast, powerful players who are bigger and more explosive than ever.
Keeping up with them isn’t optional.
“It’s a lot harder to keep up with these kids today out on the football field,” he said. “They’re bigger, faster, stronger. And my hamstrings were tightening up. I just couldn’t keep up.”
As a result of consistent training, that changed.
“My hamstrings — I don’t have any issues, knock on wood,” Damon said. “I feel more prepared going into my Saturdays out on the field, knowing that I can run around with these young kids.”
Sarah noticed the difference before he had to say a word.
“Before, he’d come home and say his hamstrings were tight or whatever it would be,” she said. “I didn’t really hear that as much this Fall. He would just come home, and body-wise, he didn’t really say as much. That’s just a testament to all of the hard work he’s putting in.”
MORE ENERGY EVERY DAY
The benefits haven’t stayed in the gym or on the football field.
Both Sarah and Damon have noticed something that neither of them expected — more energy throughout the day.
“Both of us have shown on a daily basis more energy,” Damon said.
“Especially in the school year, when I work out first thing in the morning, that just kind of stays with you throughout the day,” Sarah added. “Teaching is great, but it can be exhausting — mentally, physically, emotionally. Working out in the morning is a great way to start the day.”
For Sarah, seeing results quickly was important.
“I’m not the most patient person,” she said. “I kind of want to see things quickly. And it was kind of quick for me. I was like, wow — this is great.”
Part of what kept her coming back was the coaching itself.
“The coaches are fantastic. They’re always asking how you’re feeling today. You don’t feel like you’re just a number at the gym. You feel like they are invested in you.”
BETTER TOGETHER
One of the things that makes Sarah and Damon’s story different from most is that they’re doing this together.
They come to the same session and train side by side in the same space.
They might be in different groups or working through different exercises. But they’re there.
And that matters.
“It is fun to finish an exercise and, as you’re walking to get some water, see your spouse over there killing it,” Damon said. “To be able to do that together is something we committed to when we decided to come here.”
Sarah feels it too.
“It’s fun to look across the gym and see him there.”
They also push each other in the way that only people who know each other completely can.
“The amount of weight she was doing was pretty impressive,” Damon said. “I was like, oh dang. I knew she was strong and athletic. But when you get back into it, you realize our bodies can do a lot. What she can do in this gym is impressive to me.”
PLAYING THE LONG GAME
When Sarah and Damon talk about why they’re doing this, the answer goes beyond feeling good today.
They’re thinking about what’s coming next.
Their oldest daughter lives in Minneapolis and is working in research. Their youngest plays soccer at Davenport. Both are busy, building their own lives.
And Sarah and Damon want to be there — really there — for all of it.
“We want to be able to run around with our kids’ kids,” Sarah said. “I don’t want to have to worry about my knee or getting a knee replacement. I want to be strong enough to be able to do that.”
“You want to do it for yourself,” Damon added. “But when you’re married and have kids, you want to do it for others as well.”
WHAT THEY’D TELL YOU
If Sarah and Damon could talk to someone who is thinking about making the move — but hasn’t yet — they’d tell them to stop waiting.
“With people our age, there can be an intimidation factor just starting something new,” Damon said. “But just give it a chance. Put the work in. What we found was, over the first even week or two, it felt like family. Everyone here is trying to accomplish something — maybe a little different in different areas — but you’re all here for the right reason.”
Sarah’s advice is simpler.
“If you’re thinking about it, there’s a reason why you’re thinking about it. It’s something that you do want to do. You just have to jump and try it.”
“You’re never going to regret something that you find out is amazing. Just don’t wait — if you’re thinking about it, just do it.”
Nine months in, they have no regrets.
“PowerStrength is empowering,” Sarah said. “Not only physically — but mentally and emotionally. When you walk out the door, the accomplishment and feeling is a pretty cool thing.”
“PowerStrength is family,” Damon said. “The togetherness you feel when you’re here is pretty cool.”
READY TO MAKE YOUR NEXT CHAPTER YOUR STRONGEST YET?
Men and women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s who want to get stronger and have more energy can join the Personal Training Program at PowerStrength at any time. No previous workout experience is required — each program is customized to the fitness and ability level of each individual.
Multiple personal training sessions are offered in the early morning, mid-morning, late afternoon, and evening. Find your nearest PowerStrength location — Alpine, Kentwood, Jenison, Plainfield, Holland, or Byron Center.
Click powerstrengthpro.com/adult/contact-adult to learn more and schedule your risk-free consultation.