Ledyard — When people think of their golden years, thoughts often wander to time spent relaxing, enjoying time with family, traveling or having that extra time to pursue their favorite hobby.

But it's probably uncommon that the hobby involves landing hard punches on a 100-pound heavy bag. Besides, even Rocky Balboa left the ring at 60.

At 77, Maxine Shepatin is a proud mother and grandmother, and a swim referee with a hobby that many people half her age would struggle to do: she boxes.

Four, five, six times a week — and sometimes even twice in the same day — Shepatin can be found inside Main Event Boxing in Gales Ferry. Sporting pink and black gloves, she could be working through 10 rounds of boxing on a 100-pound bag, all the while working in exercises like pushups, burpees or even deadlifts throughout.

"I'm 77, turn 78 in July ... I'm not going to do anything to hurt myself, trust me," Shepatin said laughing on a Wednesday night after her workout. "I don't have to impress anybody at this point or at any point, for that matter."

"I do it just because I get to feel better and I get to meet people of all ages and backgrounds," she said.

Although boxing is kind of a new endeavor for Shepatin, her hobbies have run the gauntlet of things that many people would find incredibly challenging. But physical activity and fitness have really been common themes throughout her life.

Growing up in New Haven, Shepatin developed a passion for swimming at a young age, a passion that she maintained throughout her life and later shared with all four of her children. She coached swimming at the youth and high school level, and continues to be a swim referee for the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference.

She said part of the reason swimming remained her fitness activity of choice as an adult was that when she was married it was often easy to just find a place to swim. But still, she dabbled with different activities, such as tennis, and picked up other activities from her kids.

But when her kids grew, she decided to try other things. 

Over the years she picked up a bit of yoga and even gave Muay Thai a try, becoming a black belt several years ago. However, she credits her branching out to her efforts to ensure she was prepared for what may be her most intensive hobby: rowing.

For the past 16 years, she has been a rower — and a very good one, at that. She was even profiled on CBS Evening News's "Living Stronger" series.

"As a rower you have to cross-train and you have to be fit," Shepatin said of her dedication to a variety of workouts. "And it's fun, it's not like I have anything more exciting to do."

And nearly two months ago she found her way into Main Event Boxing after seeing an ad in the paper.

"When I initially saw her, I thought she is one and done, she's going to take the class and I'll never see her again," said Chris Pennenga, owner of Main Event Boxing. "That was actually the exact opposite of what happened."

"I've got people who are 25 years old who can't keep up with her," he said. "I've yet to have an exercise that I've given her that she can't do."

Pennenga said that in his 30 years teaching martial arts, Shepatin is the oldest student he's had. But from day one, her technique has been fantastic, hitting the bag with great form and force.

Shepatin said that although she doesn't consider herself a skilled athlete, she really enjoys the boxing. She said that it's a great stress reliever, it helps with balance and it's something she can do on her own.

"I played tennis, and I played golf a little bit, but you just had to have somebody," Shepatin said. "This way I just pick up and I go. I know people here, I know people there and it's good."

She said that she really enjoys the social aspect of the boxing classes and, sitting in on a class, it is clear that her fellow students are fond of her, as well.

And Pennenga said that although Shepatin hates the spotlight, she is very inspirational both for himself and for his other students.

"Other students look at her as an inspiration," Pennenga said. "I have people recovering from injury or maybe are overweight, and then they look at her and she's doing this and (they) say, 'There's no reason I shouldn't be doing this.'"

For Shepatin it's just about the activity and people trying to be healthy in whatever way they can.

"You know it's not about me," Shepatin said. "It's about these people that have never done any kind of fitness and to try the boxing that seems really out there, but it's fun!"

c.clark@theday.com