“Carving the Lanes – and Birds” – April 2015 Athlete of the Month

Jim Barksdale, 80 and Jan Weisel, 55 – Steeleville, Missouri Some people take up sports as a hobby. Jim Barksdale of Steeleville, Missouri certainly has fun bowling, but considers his five decades of rolling the rock as a bit more than a hobby. Along the way he has collected a 25 year American Bowling Congress

A Different Kind of Fish Story

A Different Kind of Fish Story – Alexandra Stafford, 54, Metairie, Louisiana NSGA’s Personal Best initiative seeks to inspire an attitude for lifelong health and fitness in everyone by presenting profiles of Senior Games athletes who are successful examples of healthy, active aging. Having a sensible approach to nutrition is one aspect of maintaining a

Cycling Away From Cancer

Cycling Away From Cancer – Michael Adsit, 65, Milford, Pennsylvania Statistics tell us that one of two American men and one of three American women will personally encounter cancer. The good news is that with research and medical advancements, a diagnosis doesn’t always carry the “automatic death sentence” connotation it once had. There are more

The Power of Love

The Power of Love – John C. Taylor, 94, Atlanta, Georgia It’s not just anyone who can say they have done a triathlon in the National Senior Games at the age of 90 or older. In fact, no one but John C. Taylor can make that claim, which was accomplished in 2011 in Houston. Even

Of Mentors, Mountains and Marathons

Of Mentors, Mountains and Marathons – Della Works, 80, Casper, Wyoming At each phase of her life, Della Works hasn’t begun to imagine what the next turn would bring. As a farm girl in Wisconsin, she never saw a mountain while growing up, yet she would find herself avidly hiking and climbing them after she

“Fleet Fox” – March 2015 Athlete of the Month

Vicki Fox, 56, Huntington, New York People not familiar with the Senior Games Movement often assume that all of the athletes have been active in sports for their entire lives, or at least were once elite athletes who returned to compete as seniors. While this is true for many who participate, especially for those who

“‘Team Conaway’ Supports a Victor” – February 2015 Athlete of the Month

Victor Conaway, 75, Escondido, California Victor Conaway is a retired mechanic and continuing education teacher who once owned his own motorcycle shop. Known among endurance racers, his favorite challenge was the grueling Baja 500 desert run in Mexico. He admits to not always taking the best care of himself, but when he needed heart surgery

“Without a Wagon” – January 2015 Athlete of the Month

Inez Ross, 84, Los Alamos, New Mexico Inez Ross of Los Alamos, New Mexico is a self-described “wild and crazy 84 year old retired teacher, writer, jogger, star gazer, tap dancer, and ukulele player” who enjoys traveling to state and National Senior Games with fellow runner Carolyn Robinson of Santa Fe. She trains for the

“Setting His Own Pace” – December 2014 Athlete of the Month

Harry Carothers, 71, Pinellas Park, Florida Recently, the syndicated Daytime TV morning show, which is based with WFLA in Tampa, Florida and airs in 102 cities, featured a basketball shooting display by 71 year old Harry Carothers from nearby Pinellas Park. The spry marksman did not fail to impress the show hosts and audience, and

“No More Regrets” – November 2014 Athlete of the Month

Susan Adams Loyd, 56, Edina, Minnesota When Susan Adams Loyd competes in senior track events, she proudly sprints in an official University of Minnesota women’s track team uniform complete with her name on the back. She jokingly tells people “I’ve got four years of eligibility left – I redshirted for 38 years!” Fact is, the