Ellen Jaffe Jones is an athlete, author, real estate agent, personal trainer, media consultant, and coach, among many other things. Her achievements are numerous, and they include winning over 278 age group awards in 5K or longer races since 2006 on an all-vegan diet. In last year’s US National Senior Games, she placed in three out of seven track events. She is a vegan advocate and the author of several books that dispel myths about veganism and provide practical tips on how to eat healthily on a budget.

Ellen started her career as an investigative consumer reporter and anchor for 18 years in Miami and St. Louis TV news, where she won two Emmys and a National Press Club award. She then became a successful, socially responsible financial consultant at Smith Barney before traveling the world for 13 years as a keynote speaker and conducting one-on-one on-camera breakouts for corporations, CEOs, and nonprofits.

Ellen’s passion for healthy eating and fitness led her to write her first book, Eat Vegan on $4 a Day, in 2008. She wanted to prove that eating healthily on a budget was possible and even inexpensive. She is also a trained “Food for Life” cooking instructor for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and an accredited La Leche League leader, volunteering and teaching new moms how to breastfeed.

At 72 years old, Ellen has completed two marathons and 13 half marathons as some of the over 278 awards in races since 2006. In 2014, she was named PETA’s “Sexiest Vegan over 50.”

Ellen is a returning GetSetUp Athlete, and she encourages other seniors to push their boundaries and break stereotypes about what they can achieve. She says, 

“My goal really is to inspire others to know that they're stronger than they think and may be able to do so much more to enjoy a better quality of life through staying fit. I see so many people deteriorate fast for various reasons, but with a little training and physical therapy, many injuries, obstacles, and challenges can be met head-on and overcome.”

Ellen’s message is clear: age should not limit anyone from pursuing their passion and achieving their goals. She is a living example of what can be achieved with determination, hard work, and a positive attitude. 

Gaining Sponsorship As An Older Athlete

This year Ellen will be representing not only her state of Florida but also, for the second year in a row GetSetUp,  the online learning and discovery platform designed for older adults, as she competes in all seven of the track events at the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh from July 7th-18th. 

Ellen’s top events at the upcoming event are the distance events in the 800m and 1500m. 

“I think in the past, I was one of only two people who did all seven track events in my age bracket. I generally look at the 50m and the 100m as a warm-up for the longer events.” 

Ellen is a firm believer that her health and wellness routine, combined with her vegan diet, help to keep her muscles less inflamed and keep her healthier all around. 

“I run to show that vegans get enough energy and stamina to be competitive. This year my goals are to not get injured, maintain my health, and have the strength and endurance to do all seven events.”

While Ellen has lofty goals for the track event, she’s out to inspire her peers when she’s not racing in the wind. Learners can ask her questions and learn more at her GetSetUp sessions where she will speak about vegan diets, fitness, and staying healthy. 

“My goal is to inspire others to know that they're stronger than they think and may be able to do so much more to enjoy a better quality of life through staying fit over the years.” 

Thanks to GetSetUp’s partnerships with health plans and local area agencies on aging in Florida, many older adults age 60+ can enjoy GetSetUp classes at no additional charge. 

GetSetUp is sponsoring GetSetUp Athletes as an initiative designed to inspire and support older athletes by providing them with sponsorship and a platform to promote their passion for sports in order to empower their peers. GetSetUp Athletes are sponsored by GetSetUp, and each athlete will receive a $1000 stipend to help with their training and competition expenses, along with a full GetSetUp branded kit for their sport. These athletes will be sharing their journeys and insights with the GetSetUp community as they promote healthy and active lifestyles.