SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!
Contact Us: NSGA@NSGA.com
  • HOME
  • NSGA OFFICIAL STORE
  • PARTNERS
  • VOLUNTEER
  • DONATE TODAY

National Senior Games Association

National Senior Games Association

The NSGA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of competitive sports, physical fitness and active aging to adults ages 50+.

T (727) 475-1187
Email: NSGA@NSGA.com

National Senior Games Association
PO BOX 5630, Clearwater, FL 33758 USA

  • ABOUT
    • About the NSGA
    • How To Qualify
    • FAQs
    • History of the NSGA
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Sports Chairs
    • National Games Awards
    • Contact Us
    • Career Opportunities
    • 30th Anniversary
  • STATE GAMES
    • State Games Information
    • National Senior Games Week
    • State Regions
    • Team Partner Finder
    • NSGA Award Winners
  • NATIONAL GAMES
    • How to Compete
    • National Games Information
      • Athlete Check-In
      • Registration
      • Competition Schedules
      • Hotels & Lodging
      • Limited Events Verification Form
      • Rules & Minimum Performance Standards
      • NSGA Official Merchandise
      • Results & Records
      • Special Events
      • Team Partner Finder
      • Transportation & Parking
      • Venue Information
      • Volunteer for the Games
      • How To Qualify
    • Mile for the Ages
    • NSG CUP
    • National Senior Games Partners
    • 2027 NSG Tulsa
    • 2029 NSG Birmingham
  • SPORTS
    • Individual Sports
      • Archery
      • Badminton
      • Basketball – Shooting Skills
      • Billiards – 8 Ball
      • Bowling
      • Cornhole
      • Cycling
      • Disc Golf
      • Golf
      • Golf (Scramble)
      • Pickleball
      • Powerlifting
      • Power Walk
      • Race Walk
      • Racquetball
      • Road Race
      • Shuffleboard
      • Swimming
      • Table Tennis
      • Tai Chi
      • Tennis
      • Track & Field
      • Triathlon
    • Non-Ambulatory Sports
      • Non-Ambulatory Bowling
      • Non-Ambulatory Cornhole
      • Non-Ambulatory Pickleball
      • Non-Ambulatory Shuffleboard
    • Team Sports
      • Basketball
      • Beach Volleyball
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • Volleyball
  • HEALTH & WELL-BEING
    • Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE)
    • Exercise Resources
    • Fitness Videos
    • Well-Being Resources
    • NSGA Ambassador Program Activities
  • MEDIA
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Photo Galleries
      • 2023 Photo Gallery
      • 2023 Softball Championships Photo Gallery
      • 2022 Photo Gallery
      • 2019 Photo Gallery
    • Videos
      • NSG Video Stories
      • 2022 NSG Video Recaps
      • 2019 NSG Video Recaps
      • #StayFitSeniors Athlete Videos
    • Press Room
    • Archived Press Releases
    • Athlete of the Month
    • NSGA Newsletter Archive
    • Personal Best Features
    • Games Daily News Archives
      • 2023 Games Daily News
      • 2022 Games Daily News
      • 2019 Games Daily News
      • 2017 Games Daily News
    • Senior Games Blogs & Podcasts
REGISTER
NOW!
 May 21, 2025

January 2019 Athlete of the Month

January 2019 Athlete of the Month

by Del Moon / Tuesday, 08 January 2019 / Published in Athlete of the Month

Heide Moebius, 80, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

80-Year-Old Makes Birthday Run in the Cradle of the Marathon

What does your average person think about doing when they turn 80? Heide Moebius is definitely not average, because she set a goal of running a marathon in Greece and finished in Olympic style.

The feat is remarkable, but not surprising once you know the background of the retired export executive. Heide had little sports opportunities as a child in Germany during and after World War II. That did not prevent her from applying her natural ability to downhill skiing, swimming and tennis, and she enjoyed success as an adult competitor on the tennis court after she emigrated to the U.S. with her husband at age 22.

Heide didn’t run her first race until she was 55 and entered a 5K on a whim. She discovered a natural “heel striker” gait suited for distance running, and that launched a running career that has resulted in more than 100 half marathons and ten full marathons. She also took on track competitions in the 400-, 800- and 1500-meter events and has been a frequent face at National Senior Games since 1997.

Her husband Richard, himself a former semipro soccer player, has been her constant coach and record keeper. He proudly states, “Counting all distances from the 400 meter up, the detailed record shows she has a batting average of .890 for winning her age group in the 714 races she competed in.” Her many accolades include an NSGA Top Ten Performance ranking of #2 in the 1500-meter event.

As she approached her 79th birthday, Heide heard members of her Lancaster Roadrunners team talking about running in the 2017 Athens Classic Marathon, which follows the original route of the first Greek marathon. “When I heard it was on November 10th I said, ‘Oh my goodness, that is my birthday!’” she says in a still-noticeable German accent. It had been 12 years since her last 26-mile race, but Heide could not resist the chance to have a “last hurrah.”

Heide Moebius (in yellow) captured at her finish in photo by husband Richard

Heide made the trip last November with three other team members. The 2018 event was one day after her 80th birthday, and she was delighted to finish just under her six-hour goal and place second in her 75+ age group. “A lady from France beat me, but all of the others in my group were way, way behind us.” She is also proud to finish ahead of nearly 5,000 other runners, some less than half her age.

A lingering memory for Heide was running four miles of the original route that had been devasted as a result of many wildfires that occurred in Greece last year. While the road was restored, that stretch was an eerie experience. “Everything was still black and smelled like smoke,” she recalls. “The Greek people were great. They lined the entire race, but along those four miles most of them were still wearing black in mourning for the many who had died in the fire. It was very touching- I think all of the runners cried when they went through that portion.”

Marathons are the only races Heide has retired from. “I’m still doing half marathons – 13 miles is not a big deal for me, but a full marathon requires an enormous amount of training.” She still plays tennis regularly and works out at the fitness center at Willow Valley Communities in Lancaster, PA, which the Moebius’ moved across town to last year. “Willow Valley Communities is really dedicated to the well-being of residents and supports their National Senior Games athletes. The fitness trainers and amenities are excellent.”

She’s looking forward to the 5K and 10K races at the 2019 National Senior Games presented by Humana, where she will also run the 400-, 800- and 1500-meter track races. “I don’t train for the track runs. I do them to keep me occupied at Nationals.” Richard concurs, saying, “If she doesn’t get out and do something she gets nervous. Her body was meant to move!”

  • Tweet

About Del Moon

What you can read next

Fran Myer hold her arms up to triumphantly flex her muscles. She has three pickleball competition medals around her neck.
The Pickleball Pioneer: Fran Myer’s Unexpected Journey
Mother Follows her Children to Get on Track
Around the World in Wavy Ways Athlete of the Month February 2023

Recent Posts

  • Get in the Senior Games and Flip the Script on Aging

    By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health ...
  • Mind Over Racket

    May 2025 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA...
  • Ready, Set, Move! How to Prepare for Mile for the Ages

    By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health ...
  • Overcoming Fear by Example

    April 2025 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NS...

Archives

Categories

FOOTER MENU

  • About
  • State Games
  • National Games
  • Sports
  • News and Events
  • Partners
  • Donate Today
  • Press Room
  • Coordinators Homepage
  • QG Coordinators
  • How to Use the NSGA Website

NSGA “The Long Run” & General Interest Signup

GET IN TOUCH

T (727) 475 1187
Email: NSGA@NSGA.com

National Senior Games Association
PO Box 5630, Clearwater, FL, 33758 USA

  • GET SOCIAL
National Senior Games Association

Non Discrimination Statement |Copyright Notice | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use  
Accessibility Statement | Linking Policy | Help/Contact
© 2024 National Senior Games Association. All rights reserved. Designed by JayBirds Co Inc.
A 501 (c) 3 Charitable Organization | EIN: 43-1488742
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR CONTACTING THE DIVISION IS 1-800-435-7352 AND REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED BY VISITING THE DIVISION’S WEBSITE AT https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Consumer-Services
National Senior Games Association`s Florida Charity Registration Number, CH62417

TOP
NSGA Uses Cookies
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
2025 National Senior Games Presented by Humana - July 24 - August 4, 2025 65 Days 4 Hours 16 Minutes 51 Seconds