Westport Island’s Dick Tucker joined Wiscasset Community Center’s FitCLASS Challenge to help make it enjoyable for his wife Pat Smith to take it. She had knee surgery in December.

But in a walk portion of a walk-run around the gym to start the class’ March 31 session, Tucker, 72, said he’s gotten a lot out of the class himself. As a runner and cross-country skier, his activities are more muscle-specific than the cross-training the class has given him.

“They do a lot of different exercises here, like abdominal, upper-body and things that I normally haven’t done in a long time,” he said.

“It’s harder than I thought. I used to think I was in good shape. But it might have something to do with my age versus everybody else, but that’s OK,” Tucker added, smiling as he continued at the walk.

It was week six of the eight-week class with 31 members in a range of ages, from Tucker’s to as young as the 20s, Chelsea Haggett said. She and Cedric Maguire instruct the class, which adapts to members’ needs. If someone can’t squat due to a back problem, they can do something else, Haggett said.

“Most (participants) are more interested in improving their fitness than in simply losing weight,” she said. They want to walk or jog longer, or do more push-ups or other exercises.

Haggett knows what it’s like to want to get fit and stay there. She was an athlete in her school years, but after that she fell out of shape pretty quickly, she said. “And it didn’t take me long to figure out I didn’t like that.”

She started running and later got her personal trainer certification from the American Council on Exercise. Now she gets to help others with their goals, Haggett said.

“This time of year, everybody’s ready to make a change, and get outside and get active ... And just seeing everyone make positive changes in their health and fitness is rewarding to be involved with.”

Lisa Woodman of Wiscasset said she took the class to meet new people and to get healthy; it has been a success on both fronts, she said.

Wiscasset Parks and Recreation is planning a special finish for the class, a four-mile road race that participants can run, jog or walk; and the department has opened the race to anyone, whether they took the class or not. The race will benefit the Cooper-DiPerri Scholarship Fund that helps Midcoast families take part in programs, Parks and Recreation Director Todd Souza said.

“It’s just a chance for people to try out a four-mile race, if they want to challenge themselves, or they can get a group together for a walk. It’s for a great cause,” Souza said.

Entry is $10 in advance or $15 on race day. Pre-register at the center or at www.wiscassetrec.com. Prizes are planned for the first male and female finishers, FitCLASS participants, and winners by age group: 14 and younger; 15 to 19; 20 to 29; 30 to 39; 40 to 49; 50 to 59; and 60 and over.

The race is helping FitCLASS members push themselves in the class’ final weeks, Haggett said. “They want to finish this, and it might be a distance they haven’t walked before, or jogged before,” she said.

Check-in at the center starts at 11:30 a.m.; the race, at 1 p.m. A flier describes the FitCLASS Challenge Four-Miler Road Race & Walk as four rolling miles of paved and dirt roads, in a loop from the center parking lot, onto Route 27, then Foye and Dickinson roads, onto Willow Lane, Churchill Street, Route 27 again, then back to the center for the finish.

Another FitCLASS Challenge class and road race are planned for fall; a summer session may also be set, if there’s enough interest, Souza said.