Pushup pro aims to inspire lifelong fitness via ‘Leighton’s Longboat Legends’ | Your Observer
Pushup pro aims to inspire lifelong fitness
By sharing his journey of working to do 1,000 pushups every day, Longboat Key resident Leighton Allenby hopes to motivate others.
- ByDana Kampa
- | 10:00 a.m. August 19, 2026
- Longboat Key
- Neighbors
One thousand pushups sounds like an intimidating goal, but Longboat Key resident Leighton Allenby said he works toward it every day by tackling one set at a time
Allenby, who also runs the popular “We Love Longboat Key” Facebook page, is broadcasting the message that fitness is for everyone in his beach workouts, which help him reach his daily goal of 1,000 pushups a day.Â
As a “bit of a health nut,” he said he first got into the daily routine as a beneficial habit after navigating a divorce in 2010
“I went to the gym and met this military guy who was a trainer,” he said. “He started pushing me. In 2018, I moved to Naples for a project management contract, and I was in a hot, sweaty gym. I asked myself, ‘What am I doing here when I live on a beach?'”
When seeking out beach-friendly workout routines, he found videos of an 88-year-old gentleman who did 1,000 pushups a day
That jump-started what has become a daily routine of chasing the goal number
He explained his method for building up to a big daily tally is starting with small sets. He typically tries to do two sets of 25 pushups spaced out every three to five minutes
“It can take two hours, sometimes an hour and a half,” he said, noting he will occasionally do part of the workout in the morning and part in the afternoon. “It’s probably one of the best ways to wake up in the morning.”
Though he is originally from Massachusetts, the longtime Floridian said he doesn’t mind the midday heat during his workout
Between sets, he strolls up and down the edge of the surf, occasionally pausing for his wife, Michele De Luce, to pick up an interesting seashell. De Luce is a strong supporter of her husband’s fitness goals but, while strangers may hop in for a set, she declines.Â
Allenby may also stop to pull out his Nikon and snap a photo of a black skimmer flying over the roiling waters of the gulf
“They’re the hardest to film, but I have some great video footage,” he said, going on to describe manatee and dolphin sightings as well
Once he does his first lap, he knows where to drop and finish another set by the impressions left in the sand. After another set of pushups and a quick rinse in the ocean, he gets back to his surfside walk
Taking time to relax and enjoy his surroundings is part of what helps keep him going and his workout from feeling like a tiresome chore
However, he notes the surroundings aren’t always so scenic. Sometimes, meeting his daily goal means doing pushups in the airport or atop a roof while on a break from powerwashing it.Â
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Allenby has made friends along the way while doing his routine on the public beach, and is happy to invite onlookers to join him for a set
He warmly remembers a father and son on vacation who, after learning what he was doing, joined him every morning for a few sets
“I’ve made two close friends here doing pushups,” he said, explaining spending so much time outside is a great way to meet more of his Longboat neighbors. “He is 77 years old, and he’s lost four belt sizes. He already does 300 a day.”
In that spirit, Allenby has launched an informal group called “Leighton’s Longboat Legends.” He invites everyone to start their own daily habit, even starting with 10 pushups a day, and share a photo in the Facebook group he manages
However, he cautions against ramping things up too quickly. He recommends setting a baseline, reaching that number daily for a full week, then gradually adding more reps
Allenby also has a personal goal
He is celebrating his 73rd birthday on Sept. 12, and he aims to finish 2,500 pushups before the end of the day. If he’s successful, he has a sizzling steak and cold Guinness planned for the after-party
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