Can you think of a better health and fitness ambassador for the American Association of Retired Persons than tennis legend Martina Navratilova?

I can't.

First of all, she's actually retired from the women's pro tour twice - the second time was just last year one month shy of her 50th birthday. Secondly. she defected from communist Czechoslovakia in
1975 and has been a proud - and outspoken - American citizen since 1981.

Martina called me the morning of the AARP announcement last week for a quick chat.
"I sort of represent longevity and the face of health and fitness," she said. "I'm in the middle of the baby boomer generation and AARP is going back to prevention of problems rather than fixing them with
drugs. The baby boomer generation is a big target for AARP, trying to prevent problems down the road. It's about making members as active and vital and healthy as possible. I've been living that lifestyle for a long time now."

When Martina retired from the women's tour in 1994, she did so shortly after reaching her 12th Wimbledon singles final at the age of 36. That was considered quite an accomplishment for someone of such advanced tennis age. So people thought she was a little nuts when six years later, she decided to rejoin the tour as a doubles player.

"So what if I didn't play as well as I did when I was 25," Martina said of her second tennis cereer. "I've never let the naysayers get in the way. I've sort of done my thing, obviously, and never let age define me. I sort of believe in doing what you love to do and really going after what your dreams are. Go after what you are passionate about."

She went on to win many more titles in her 40s, including mixed doubles crowns at Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the U.S. Open. Her second retirement from tennis came in September 2006 - one month shy of her 50th birthday.

How did she celebrate? By winning the U.S. Open mixed doubles title with Bob Bryan.

Martina's had a few knee surgeries since then and, well, there have been other life changes: "I've been going through menopause and put on a few pounds this year," she said. "I wasn't able to do as much physical activity and I was traveling a lot. That's no way to stay healthy. I had to get rid of a few pounds, I got fed up with not feeling as well or moving as well."

So, like millions of other Americans - retired or not - she had to get back into shape.

"I started running again, for five minutes the first day and was too tired," she admitted. "Two days later I went 17 minutes. I worked up to an hour. The legs are starting to look better and I lost a few pounds. But my preference is doing organized sports - soccer, softball, basketball. Get me on a treadmill and it's like torture.
Don't do what's torturous for you do what you really enjoy and make sure you don't overdo it at first."

To read the first part of my interview with Martina, which deals with being an out athlete in a hostile environment, click HERE.