By BEN KLEINE

Staff writer

Randy Crawford and Don Noller agree weightlifting is a good stress reliever, but other than that you couldn’t find two more differing views about working out.

For Crawford, weightlifting is nearly an addiction.

“(For) some guys with high stress jobs,” he said, “it replaces drugs and alcohol. It’s a big stress relief. You leave everything at the gym.”

He enjoys the camaraderie of other weightlifters and knowing that he is in good shape for his early 40s and can outperform nearly everyone in his age group.

Crawford got into weightlifting after wrestling in high school and admiring the strength of his coach, especially since that coach had a polio disability in one arm.

As owner of Marion Wellness Center, he can work out any time, and it brings out the youth in him.

Noller, 52, a member of Marion Wellness Center, started working out with weights after stress on his knees left him unable to unwind with a long run.

He works out more in the winter because he would much rather be hitting the links than pumping iron when the weather is warm.

“I hit it pretty hard from October through March,” he said.

Noller uses weightlifting to stay in shape and combines it with biking and flexibility training. It also has added a few extra yards to his drive.

“I always feel I need to do something active,” he said.