April 2019 Athlete of the Month

Debbie Klecan,  64, Edgewood, New Mexico Chama the Charmer Debbie Klecan is a multi-talented person – masters swimmer, photographer, illustrator, art teacher and expert dog trainer. Her best attribute, however, is how she has met extreme physical challenges brought on by a horrific car accident 18 years ago with a smile and more determination to

Holy Power Walk, Batman!

Well, I’ve navigated my two tune-up races before the National Senior Games in June and have once again proven I can’t do anything normally.  Something weird usually happens wherever I go. While I confess a lot of times the weirdness is instigated by me, serendipity often visits with a smile. To the point, in my

Quiet Courage

Bonnie Coleman, 64, Bernalillo, New Mexico “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” ― Winston S. Churchill When we asked New Mexico Senior Olympics to recommend a female athlete who exemplifies the journey to persevere through obstacles and challenges to enjoy their own optimum health and

“When I walk, I think about my tribe – I think about the youth”

Ralph Paytiamo, 81, Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico Ralph Paytiamo is proud of his heritage. With history dating back 2,000 years, New Mexico’s Acoma Pueblo is said by many to be the longest continuously inhabited community in America. While many traditions and cultural practices have survived and there are many strong and wise members to carry

March 2019 Athlete of the Month

Zoltan Zsohar, 71, Dallas, Texas Competing from Z to A What makes for a competitor? There are many possible answers to that, but for cyclist Zoltan Zsohar, it might just have started with his name. “I was last kid in line in a lot of situations,” he explains. “When I started college they assigned seats

Power Walk 101

I’ve cruised this far with my blog without actually offering readers background on what power walk is, and just as importantly, what it is not. The confusion is understandable because there have been no formal rules or guidance on having power walk competitions. Several NSGA state qualifying games have held fast walk or power walk

February 2019 Athlete of the Month

Sue Benjamin, 57 | Karen Strittmatter, 58 | Diane Pevny, 59 | Jersey Strong 50+ Softball   For Jersey Strong, it’s Deja Vu in ABQ It’s hard to imagine any athletes being more excited to be going to the 2019 National Senior Games presented by Humana than three special teammates on the Jersey Strong women’s 50+

Family Matters

Hope Casias, 76, San Antonio, Texas Sports offers the individual many rewards through setting goals, training and competition. It provides exercise with a purpose, and brings the added benefit of camaraderie among athletes who share the same experiences. Team sports provide an even deeper connection and the added satisfaction that comes from working together. For

Love Finds A Way to Hit the Mark

Ron Gauvin, 60 & Patti Gauvin, 58, Milton, New Hampshire When Ron Gauvin enters an archery competition, it’s quickly noticed that something special is going on beyond shooting arrows. Despite balance challenges and a paralyzed right arm, Ron manages to get to the line and let fly using a stabilizer bar and a special strap attached

Deeper Dedication – Hand Me Down My Walking Shoes

We interrupt our regularly scheduled blog subject for the following Special Report: This blog entry is a bit more serious, but that won’t keep me from having some fun. When I got past cancer in 2005, I came up with my own humorous expression about how to live in the light: “Life is too serious