When it comes to fitness, Ben Sanchez considers himself an Average Joe.

By that, he isn’t a manic marathon runner or does he do Spartan races.

At least, not yet.

Instead, Sanchez, 49, is a working guy – he’s employed doing orthotic and prosthetic – and family man while maintaining a busy schedule.

“You make the time,” he said.

Making that time can be tough, especially since Ben and his wife, Gee-Anne, are parents of a traveling softball player Laurenne Sanchez of the Firecrackers. His youngest of three recently agreed to attend Mercer University, playing softball at the Macon, GA campus this fall thanks to a combination of athletic and academic scholarships.

During a trip to Southern California for his daughter’s softball tournament, Ben Sanchez recalled brining along a skateboard along with his TRX full-body suspension trainer.

From his hotel, he found enough time to squeeze in a TRX workout at a nearby park.

During another out-of-town trip, Sanchez did a morning run on the Las Vegas strip.

On other excursions, he brought along one of his bike to not only get in his cardio but also to explore the unfamiliar area.

“It’s tough for me to just sit around all day (at the softball tournaments),” Sanchez said. “I like hanging out and drinking beers with the rest of the parents.

“I enjoy it more knowing that I’ve earned it with a workout.”

He’s tried to keep up with an active lifestyle over the years.

Sanchez, who attended Franklin High in Stockton, enlisted in the armed services after graduation.

He was stationed in stationed in San Francisco back when the Presidio was a military installation of the U.S. Army.

He also enjoyed doing runs along nearby Crissy Field, which is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Sanchez continued to keep active as he grew to raise a family. Many of those times involved his sons, Tiano and Alec.

For example, they would play sports, ride the wild terrain on mountain bikes, or snowboard in the Sierras.

As a family, they continue to do many of those activities today – Tiano is graduate of California State University-Monterey Bay, working in Monterey, while Alec is currently attending San Jose State – including a couple of recent outings on the slopes.

At home, Ben Sanchez keeps his workouts interesting with a variety of activities.

On some days, he’ll make use of gym membership with an indoor workout.

On other times, he might do a few laps around Victory Park.

Sanchez, who lives not too far from the Calaveras River Bike Path, will peddle from his home to Ladd’s Marina for an outdoor workout at the adjacent Buckley Cove Park.

“I think it’s important that you change up your workouts,” he said.

Sanchez is planning to expand his workout horizons.

He and wife will soon be empty nesters with their daughter leaving out-of-state for college.

“I’ve always wanted to try rowing,” said Ben Sanchez, who did an indoor workout with the Stockton Rowing Club in order to learn the proper rowing form.

He also wants to try doing a Spartan Race, which is a series of obstacles races of varying distance and difficulty.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com