“The Long Run” – NSGA’s Monthly E-Newsletter
The NSGA is dedicated to keeping you up to date on all the events and excitement surrounding the National Senior Games and our partners!Our free e-newsletter will feature stories of inspiration from senior athletes around the country, keep you informed of events occurring at The Games, provide you with new health updates, offer you exciting recipes from our athletes, and so much more. Sign up today!
Use the search box to find keywords or athletes names mentioned in the newsletters.
The Long Run October 2023
“What’s Next” Episode Spotlights National Senior Games Athletes
Spotted: National Senior Games athletes in the limelight!
Growing Bolder, the NSGA’s Official Media Partner, recently aired a special episode of their “What’s Next” television series sharing exciting moments from the 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana.
Watch interviews with multiple athletes and commentary from Growing Bolder hosts in the inspiration-packed show.
Athlete of the Month
“I Was Never Alone”: Softball Team Bolsters Player Through Breast Cancer Journey
Just three months after undergoing a bilateral mastectomy for breast cancer, Janet Mitchell hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with her Maryland Roadrunners softball teammates – the same teammates who supported her through every step of her cancer journey.
“I was never alone. There are women on my team and many of my age in the softball community who have had the same experience, so I was able to get advice before the fact and the support afterwards has been great. On the field we are competitive as all get out, but off the field we have friends for life…”
Read about Janet’s love of team sports (she has played on a team every year since age 9!), what motivated her during recovery and how the Roadrunners’ positive chemistry contributes to their success in this Athlete of the Month feature.
Note: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Learn about risk factors, when to start screening mammograms and more here.
Health and Well-Being
Active Aging Week Resources for Wellness
Active Aging Week, celebrated earlier this month, promotes the benefits of healthy, active lifestyles. Check out these resources to help you on your active aging journey.
- Want to move more? Read 6 steps to try a sport for the first time.
- Learn about the seven dimensions of wellness.
- Share which element of wellness you want to work on with the National Senior Games community on Facebook.
Advancing Positive Aging Through Sports
Many older persons are often discriminated against and unfairly stereotyped due to their age. Worldwide, there’s growing recognition of the harmful effects of ageism on older adults and our society as a whole and the need for change.
Senior Games athletes have challenged ageist stereotypes for decades through their commitment to staying active and competing. Read more about ageism, how we can all help change the narrative and the important example athletes ages 50+ set in this blog from NSGA Health & Well-Being Director Andrew Walker.
Games Updates
Results Book – Digital Version Expected in November
The results book from the 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana is in production and expected to be available on the NSGA website in November 2023. Printed results books will be mailed to individuals who purchased copies soon after it is published online.
Sponsor Spotlight
Why SilverSneakers Members Love Our Classes
Whether you’re starting an exercise routine for the first time or looking to mix up your workouts, SilverSneakers classes—online or in person—have something for you. Find out what they love about our older adult exercise classes and the wide variety of options that are available.
NSGA Official Partners
Thank You to Our Official Partners!
Health & Well-Being Partners
NSG Sport Partners
- Published in Newsletter
The Long Run September 2023
Susan Hlavacek Named NSGA President & CEO
We’re thrilled to announce Susan Hlavacek as the National Senior Games Association’s new President and CEO. Sue was appointed to the position by the NSGA’s Board of Directors on Aug. 18, 2023, after serving as Interim President & CEO since Oct. 2022. She has been with the organization since 2013.
Sue is a seasoned athletics professional – from her start as a player in the first U.S. women’s professional basketball league to working as a coach, educator and athletic administrator at the high school and collegiate levels before joining the NSGA.
Meet Sue and learn about her vision for getting older adults active and involved in competitive sports in this Q&A.
Athlete of the Month
James Lewis Finds Senior Games – and a Beautiful Box of Crayons
James Lewis, 68, is a newcomer to the National Senior Games, but a lifelong devotee to the game of basketball. The sport helps the Illinois native work on different aspects of his life – physical, mental and social – and he is committed to getting other seniors moving.
Read how James, a Masters Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, maintains a healthy perspective on competing in this Athlete of the Month feature. You also need to read to find out why he talks about Crayons when describing The Games!
Games Updates
Anchors Away! Mediterranean Cruise Winner
Congratulations to Darrel Artrip for winning a Mediterranean cruise from Team Travel Source, the NSGA’s Housing Partner for the 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana. Darrel is a Golf athlete and was entered in the drawing when he booked lodging for the National Senior Games through TTS. Happy sailing!
More Opportunities to Compete in 2023
There are still opportunities to compete in your favorite sport or try a new game at a State Senior Games this year. See if a Senior Games are happening near you or find another state to visit on our website.
Note: 2023 is not a qualifying year for the 2025 National Senior Games, but there are still plenty of reasons to play!
Health and Well-Being
More Than Exercise: Seven Dimensions for True Wellness
Although exercise truly is medicine and sports contribute to better physical health, athletes can still benefit from enhancing their overall wellness. Recent emphasis on mental health by Olympic and professional athletes illustrates the importance of a wellness mindset in sustaining the ability to compete at optimal levels.
Explore the seven dimensions of wellness through examples from National Senior Games participants and identify areas to improve your personal well-being in this blog from NSGA Health & Well-Being Director Andrew Walker.
Practical Steps to Reduce Your Risk of Falling
Myth: Falls are a natural part of aging.
Fact: Many falls are preventable.
While research from the Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE) found National Senior Games athletes report falling less than the general population, it’s important to take steps to reduce your risk.
- Add strength and balance exercises into your routine. Tai chi and yoga are great options.
- Have your vision and hearing checked annually.
- Remove tripping hazards from your home.
Read more fall-prevention strategies from the National Council on Aging this Falls Prevention Awareness Week.
Sponsor Spotlight
5 Things SilverSneakers Instructors Know That Other Trainers Don’t
What makes SilverSneakers classes so special? They’re led by supportive instructors who are specially trained in senior fitness.
No matter what your goal, SilverSneakers classes—in person or in your living room—can help you reach it. You’ll have SilverSneakers instructors who are specially trained in senior fitness to guide and support you.
Association News
NSGA Staff Updates
After serving 10 years as the NSGA’s Director of Communications & Media, Del Moon has stepped down to a part-time capacity to open space to pursue other passions. Del shared the stories of countless athletes over the years and garnered major media attention for The Games. In his new role as NSGA Public Relations Specialist, Del will write athlete features and consult on special projects.
Mary Johns is now serving in the Director of Communications & Media role. She is already strongly connected to the NSGA’s mission, having worked on the Media Center team for every National Senior Games since 2015. Mary’s background includes working in strategic communications, public affairs and storytelling for nonprofits.
NSGA Official Partners
Health & Well-Being Partners
NSG Sport Partners
- Published in Newsletter
The Long Run August 2023
Thank You for the Memories, Pittsburgh! Next Stop: Des Moines
The 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana were an unforgettable 12 days of competition and camaraderie in the Ste
el City. The Pittsburgh community welcomed athletes with open arms as they displayed their personal bests, reunited with old friends, built new connections and bridged champions through the ages.
Thank you to our athletes, sport officials, volunteers, supporters and everyone else who made this year’s Games possible. We can’t wait to do it all again in Des Moines, Iowa, in 2025!
National Senior Games Recap
American and NSGA Records Set at 2023 Games
The City of Champions added many new champions to its sports history during The Games last month with athletes setting 76 pending American records and 150 new NSGA records. Pittsburgh native Jack Eckenrode also cycled into the history books as the oldest athlete to complete a National Senior Games 20K Cycling race at age 95. Read on to see which sports had the most new marks.
And the NSG Cup Goes to…
Congratulations to the Washington, D.C. Senior Games for winning the NSG Cup for the second year in a row! This award was introduced in 2022 and recognizes the state with the highest percentage of medals per athlete at the National Senior Games.
See how your state ranked in the overall medal standings by visiting the 2023 results page.
Athletes Make National Headlines
National Senior Games athletes continue to attract media attention as they smash stereotypes around aging. Competitors were recently featured in People Magazine, CNBC.com, NPR, NBC News NOW, Fox News and more. Check out some of the best features below, and find more media coverage here.
- “Ageless Athletes (Like a 90-Year-Old Pole Vaulter!) Go for Gold in Senior Games: See the Photos” (People Magazine)
- “West Virginia woman who is blind runs 5K race, ranks in her age group: ‘This is just the beginning’” (Fox News)
- “This 95-year-old is competing in a 10k bike race: How he’s physically and mentally prepping for the challenge” (CNBC)
- Older athletes find competition and community at the National Senior Games | NPR
Relive The Games through Stories & Photos
Missing The Games or need a little inspiration this week? Read through our Games Daily News archive!
Each edition features video interviews with athletes and stories produced by student reporters and our media partner Growing Bolder. Also visit the 2023 photo gallery to browse beautiful images of sport action.
Order Printed 2023 Results Book by Sept. 18
NSGA will produce a digital results book to commemorate the 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana. The digital 2023 results book will be available for download from the NSGA website in the fall of 2023 free of charge.
If you missed purchasing a printed book during registration, printed copies of the 2023 results book can be ordered from our 2023 results webpage and will be mailed in the fall of 2023. Cost is $15 per book, including shipping & handling.
Online orders for printed 2023 results books will be accepted through Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. Individuals who purchased a printed results book during registration for the 2023 National Senior Games do NOT need to place another order unless you wish to purchase additional books.
Sponsor Spotlight
4 Surprising Reasons to Work Out Today (Losing Weight Isn’t One of Them!)
SilverSneakers trainer Lionell Pate knows: The benefits of exercise for older adults go far beyond what you see in the mirror.
Exercise means different things to different people. Whatever the method, working out is an excellent way to promote overall health and well-being.
Senior Health and Well-Being
Senior Games Produce Social Capital & Health Dividends
The National Senior Games proposed to generate community and participant benefits beyond dollars and cents at the 2023 Games. Partnering with local organizations in Pittsburgh made it possible to impact participant well-being and to promote aging well. NSGA Health & Well-Being Director Andrew Walker shares a recap of these initiatives, making the case that the 2023 Games generated community and health benefits in this blog.
NSG Official Apparel
2023 National Senior Games Merchandise Still Available Online
If you missed purchasing your gear in Pittsburgh, 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana merchandise is still available from the NSGA online store.
NSGA Official Partners
Thank You to Our Official Partners!
Health & Well-Being Partners
NSG Sport Partners
- Published in Newsletter
The Long Run May 2023
GAME ON!
Competition, Fun Highlight Softball Championship
The 2023 National Senior Games Softball Championship has been completed in Columbus and champions have been crowned. The weather started cold and wet but was followed by three great days of play. The Berliner Sports Complex did not disappoint the athletes, and the athlete celebration and Parade of Teams by state was spirited at the Columbus Clippers game. Watch the scoreboard video of the parade here!
We have also opened 2023 Softball Photo Gallery – check it out at this link.
Read about the event and find media coverage links and a list of the Gold Medal teams in our wrapup story on NSGA.com.
NSGA News and Events – Softball Championship
2023 Registration – Nearly 11,500!
We’re happy to report that nearly 11,500 athletes have registered to compete at the 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana! We’ll have an exact number for you next month. This total includes the participants in the Softball Championship. On to Pittsburgh!
Pittsburgh: Online Hotel Booking is Still Available
* Terms and conditions apply.
You’re registered – now where to stay? If you haven’t already used our online booking service, there is still some inventory of guaranteed low price rooms available. Our Official Housing Partner Team Travel Source negotiated blocks of rooms at properties around Pittsburgh, and you won’t find a better price for them than here.
Check out the remaining options and save. Also, remember that when you book online with Team Travel Source you are automatically entered into a drawing for a Mediterranean Cruise for Two!
Here’s a Sneak Peek at the Gold Medal!
It’s always cool to see what the medals will look like for each National Senior Games. The logo and medal design for each Games is always different with elements that highlight the host city. Pittsburgh is the City of Bridges, so the bridge image was an easy choice.
Pittsburgh is also known as the City of Champions, and we are bringing thousands of champions devoted to successful aging to add to the legacy. There’s your Gold – Go get ‘em!
Flame Arrival Ceremony to Feature Rooftop Drone Show
The trend is growing to present beautiful drone flight light shows as an alternative to fireworks. The Flame Arrival Ceremony is set for Saturday, July 8th and will be held in a new rooftop terrace space at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The drone show provided by Sky Elements will be in a spectacular setting overlooking the Allegheny River and downtown.
The Torch Run will begin at the Willie Stargell statue by PNC Park and cross the Rachel Carson Bridge into the convention center and will arrive at a cauldron specifically homemade in the Steel City.
Also, save the date for the Celebration of Athletes on Friday, July 14th which will be hosted by the Pittsburgh Pirates at the iconic PNC Park, with on-field recognition and the Parade of Athletes happening prior to the game. Athletes will be admitted free with reserved lower level seats. Discounted friends and family tickets in our sections will be $15 per ticket (normally $40+) before fees. Registered athletes with a valid email address in our database will be sent an email in the next week or so to claim their free ticket and to purchase friends and family tickets.
The Andy Warhol Museum
Get Ready for a Sensational Summer in Pittsburgh
Plenty of exciting new experiences wait for you in Pittsburgh. From engaging cultural exhibits and friendly golf competitions to KidsBURGH celebrations and new craft food and beverage locations, your Pittsburgh itinerary is about to get a boost in fun!
Opening in May at The Andy Warhol Museum, The Velvet Underground & Nico: Scepter Studio Sessions will allow visitors to experience audio and visual highlights of the band, including music from its early recordings in 1966, as well as unseen footage from the band’s live performances and Warhol’s screen tests. The exhibit will run from May 12 through Sept. 25, and more information can be found at warhol.org.
New upscale mini golf venues in the Strip District put a modern spin on this typical leisure activity. Exclusive to visitors 21 years and older, the recently opened Puttery offers a variety of cocktails and small plates paired with three themed, nine-hole course. Similarly, Puttshack, slated to open later this summer, will allow a family-friendly mini golf experience with modern technology, colorful lights and great food – until 8 p.m., when it also shifts to a 21+ model, adding a variety of crafted cocktails to the mix.
Recent enhancements made at PNC Park are sure to delight foodies and sports fanatics alike throughout the 2023 Pittsburgh Pirates season. Eating at PNC Park is a culinary adventure, and now, guests will have access to several new beer markets and eateries as well as a walk-in, grab-and-go market with touchless self-checkout. Plus, the stadium also is utilizing Evolv technology to simplify and speed up the entry process at each gate.
Additionally, Pittsburgh’s food and craft beverage scene continues to grow throughout Pittsburgh’s 90 neighborhoods. There are numerous new dining experiences that will excite the tastebuds of every foodie, including: Ritual House Downtown, Viet Nom Nom in Squirrel Hill, Sultry F&B and Piper’s Pub in South Side Flats – and, Fish Nor Fowl recently reopened! New additions in craft beverage include: Aslin Beer Co. in the Strip District, Big Sewickley Creek in Sewickley, Back Alley Brewing in Dormont and a new East End Brewing Company location in Mt. Lebanon.
Finally, this summer is a big milestone for two of Pittsburgh’s family-friendly attractions, as Kennywood and the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium are celebrating 125 years with visitors. Kennywood boasts exciting additions this season, including a new, thrill-seeking ride, Spinvasion, the return of popular Raging Rapids and a variety of new food and beverage options.
Learn more about these new experiences, attractions and more at VisitPITTSBURGH.com.
MAY ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Keryl Rustin, 74
Kearneysville, West Virginia
Running Blind…with Faith, Motivation and Tenacity
By Del Moon
You won’t find a more determined person than Keryl (pronounced “Curl”) Rustin. She adapted to being born visually impaired, finished school, raised three children and had a satisfying working career at a VA hospital in West Virginia.
Then, at the age of 52 a rare neurological condition gradually took the rest of her sight. Now what?
“It was challenging for me to go through losing my sight before I began running,” she recalls. “I was fighting depression and wondering where my life journey would go. But I pulled myself back up and did not want to play the pity game any longer. Even though I was blind I am capable of doing things and I had the initiative and the motivation to learn and participate in society.”
Keryl started running in 2020, enjoyed the experience and has since completed 15 races, mostly 5Ks. She could not find a trainer who would work with her, but she found a powerful ally and spirit coach who helped her become a competitive runner – her granddaughter.
“It wasn’t pre-planned. During COVID my granddaughter Gabbi and I went out for regular walks, and one day I told her I wanted to run,” she shares. Gabbi said, ‘You can do it Grandma!’ and it started that way.
“I have never been tethered,” she continued. “Gabbi would just give me instructions like, ‘Grandma, go right’ or ‘Grandma there’s a car coming’ or ‘Grandma, there’s gravel on the road.’ Imagine that – a seven-year-old girl was giving me cues!”
For her races Keryl would find a guide to run alongside, which is permitted in the rules. In 2021 she became the first blind person to run the Maryland Senior Olympics 5K. Next was the 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana, where she was unexpectedly faced with the ultimate challenge she could imagine.
“My friend Kat Hansen accompanied me to Florida. She’s not a runner but she found an app that I could use to direct me on the course. But the day of the race she couldn’t get it to work and told me there’s no way I could do the race. I replied, ‘I’m here and I’m going to do it even if I have to crawl.’”
Incredibly, Keryl said a prayer and ran the 5K along the beach in Fort Lauderdale unassisted and unnoticed.
Her plan was to listen and follow the footsteps of the other runners. “It was challenging for me to stay in the middle, and I wasn’t able to keep up at times,” she says. “I knocked down a few cones on the way when I got behind. But I’m so grateful to the other runners because they were yelling at me to go to the right or the left to get by. They didn’t even know I was blind, or how much they were helping me complete the race.”
Keryl had no words to describe the experience. “I cried like a baby after it all. The people I met didn’t question me about my abilities, they accepted and embraced me as an individual. The conversations were about camaraderie more than about my blindness.”
She now sees a bright future with running and can’t wait to run the 5K in Pittsburgh. “I am definitely hooked! There’s nothing like it,” she proclaims. “If I’m feeling sad or pessimistic I go out and run or do brisk walking and I feel so free. The ‘runner’s high’ people talk about definitely happens for me.”
What is her advice for others wanting to try something new? “They need to have faith in oneself, motivation, and tenacity. If they incorporate even one of those things they can overcome. But people are visual and just saying words to them doesn’t always have an impact. When I use myself as an example and share the challenges that I overcame, then they get it.”
What’s YOUR story? To nominate a fellow athlete…
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A STORY
SENIOR HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Help The Games, Help Pittsburgh and Help Yourself to a Good Feeling!
By Andrew Walker, MPH; Director of Health & Well-Being
With 11,000+ athletes from all over the country competing in the 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana, more than 3,000 volunteers will be needed to create a successful event in Pittsburgh, PA.
While the deadline to register for this year’s competitions has passed. Pittsburghers and others can still participate by registering to volunteer. Historically, we always see athletes who want to help when they are not in competition, and we are inspired by their spirit of serving their peers.
The benefits of volunteering are well documented. Health science research shows that volunteering improves lives. You will get a boost to your well-being in many ways, including:
- contributing to mental well-being
- providing long term health benefits
- generating social capital
- gaining new skills
- increased social interaction
- creating corporate and nonprofit visibility
In addition to boosting your well-being, your presence and assistance as a volunteer substantially contributes to one of the largest age friendly events in Pittsburgh since the Games were last hosted there in 2005. The Games will produce significant economic impact and generate social capital for the City of Champions.
The Western Pennsylvania region will witness the beauty of active aging, building on efforts of the Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh initiative. The Games can make a significant contribution to one the goals of the initiative, which is to change perceptions about older adults and combat ageism. More than 10,000 athletes over the age of 50 will show Pittsburgh and the world the joy of active aging, thus making a positive contribution to their campaign.
“Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
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Enterprise would like to wish all participants Good Luck during the 2023 National Senior Games in Pittsburgh!
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NSG OFFICIAL APPAREL
2023 National Senior Games Merchandise Available Online!
2023 National Senior Games merchandise is available from the NSGA Online Store. You can also check out 2023 Softball Championship apparel.
Get in gear – Click here for the NSGA Online Store.
NSGA OFFICIAL PARTNERS
HEALTH & WELL-BEING PARTNERS
NSG SPORT PARTNERS
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THE LONG RUN – APRIL 2023
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Personal Best: A Three Generation Legacy
The 2023 theme “Bridging Champions Through the Ages” came to mind because we have seen so many children reach 50 and eagerly join parents in the Senior Games Movement. With so many two generation athlete families, we wondered if there is a three-generation family coming to compete in Pittsburgh? There is!
Dwight Smith (94) is a longtime participant in Senior Games basketball. His son Terry (74) also plays roundball, but he is excited to play pickleball mixed doubles with his daughter Christi Daigle Smith (51). In this new Personal Best interview feature, the trio from Baton Rouge, Louisiana talk about the influence of “Paw Paw” Dwight on their lives and how sports can bring families together.
The Smith Family – 2023 Personal Best
ABOUT THE NSGA
Last Chance! All 2023 Registration Ends May 2nd
It’s hard to believe, but time is flying by and registration for the 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana will be closing May 2 at midnight.
Also remember that due to the pandemic disruption NSGA has again offered an “open entry parameter” registration option to accommodate athletes who wanted to qualify but were unable. Under this adjustment, anyone age 50+ as of December 31, 2022, is eligible to enter any of the 20 sports being offered in Pittsburgh. The open entry parameter ends with the close of all registration on May 2nd. The maximum number of registrants is limited for certain sports and capacity could be met at any point during the process. Complete information and online registration is available at NSGA.com/Registration.
2023 Games Quick Links:
- Registration Page
- 2023 Hotels and Lodging Page (You may win a Mediterranean Cruise when you book with us!)
- Competition Schedules
- Sports Pages
- Rule Book
Vendor & Sponsor Opportunities
Promote your brand, product or service to the nation’s top senior athletes! The NSGA offers a variety of vendor and sponsorship opportunities at the National Senior Games. For detailed information and pricing, please click the links below.
- Columbus Softball
- Pittsburgh
For more information, contact Business Development.
Columbus, Pittsburgh Will Put the “Special” in Special Events
NSGA and our hosts always prepare a great welcome for our athletes, and the special events we have planned will not disappoint!
In Columbus, Ohio, the 2023 National Senior Games Softball Championship Athlete Celebration will be held Friday, May 5th and will take our athletes to Huntington Park, home of the Columbus Clippers, the Triple A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians Major League baseball team. Attendees will receive details by email on the fun to come.
In Pittsburgh, the Flame Arrival Ceremony is set for Saturday, July 8th and will be held in a new rooftop terrace space at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The view overlooking the Allegheny River downtown and the river will be spectacular as we welcome the torch to officially start The Games!
Also, you will want to save the date for the Celebration of Athletes on Friday, July 14th. We’re excited to announce that we will be hosted by the Pittsburgh Pirates at the iconic PNC Park, with on field recognition and the Parade of Athletes happening prior to the game. Then throughout the game, the NSGA athletes will be ‘randomly’ chosen to participate in the mid-inning entertainment. Athletes will be admitted free and will have reserved lower level seats. Friends and family tickets in our sections will be $15 (regular price range from $32 – $51 per ticket before fees). Watch for more details on our Pittsburgh special events!
Schenley Park
Venue Spotlight: Road Races
National Senior Games Road Races are always colorful and exciting to be in…and to watch! For 2023 we have a visually attractive run in the parks! Visit the Road Race Sport Page for details.
5K RR – Schenley Park (starting at Flagstaff Hill)
Schenley Park is a large municipal park in downtown Pittsburgh located between the neighborhoods of Oakland, Greenfield and Squirrel Hill. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district. The 300 acres of park was donated by Mary Schenely in 1889 and borders the campuses of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.
North Park
10K RR – North Park (starting at the North Park Boathouse)
North Park is a 3,075-acre county park in the greater Pittsburgh area that is the largest in Allegheny County. Completed in 1931, North Park features the largest man-made body of water in the county, over 75 acres, bordered by four miles of woodlands. The park also offers a golf course, large ice skating rink, swimming pool, movie theater, picnic groves, tennis courts, basketball courts, kayak rentals, a treetop obstacle course with zipline, and several miles of trails for walking, hiking, bike riding, and mountain biking–including trails for the visually impaired, known as the “Braille Trail.”
Fun For All Ages Awaits in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is especially family friendly thanks to the many unique, affordable Only in Pittsburgh attractions and activities for all ages, from riding thrilling coasters to discovering exotic birds, walking among the dinosaurs and much more. With an experience fit for every member of the family, Pittsburgh is bursting with history, science, entertainment and adventure just waiting to be discovered.
This summer, both Kennywood and the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium celebrate 125 years of family-friendly fun!
The Moonshot Museum
Minutes from Downtown, Kennywood is one of Pittsburgh’s best-loved historic landmarks, with three wooden roller coasters, Pennsylvania’s fastest (Phantom’s Revenge) and tallest (Steel Curtain) coasters, and dozens of other great attractions for all ages. Plus, in celebration of the milestone anniversary, Kennywood will launch Spinvasion, the first multi-action spin ride of its kind in the U.S., in addition to new unique food, entertaining games and engaging special events throughout the year!
Other longstanding family-friendly attractions to check out while you’re in town include the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, the Heinz History Center, the National Aviary and more.
There are also numerous new attractions for the whole family to enjoy. The Moonshot Museum is Pennsylvania’s first space museum and the first museum in the world to focus on career and community readiness for the 21st century space industry. Via a unique partnership with Pittsburgh space robotics company Astrobotic, Moonshot Museum pulls back the curtain on the contemporary space industry, offering the unparalleled opportunity to see real spacecraft be built through a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows – an experience unlike any other in the world. Visitors will embark on simulated lunar missions inspired by real space industry challenges, meet space professionals and find their place in the future of human space exploration from Mission Control in Pittsburgh’s Northside.
The Carnegie Science Center also has a new 7,400 square foot permanent exhibit, titled Mars: The Next Giant Leap, which launches visitors on a 300-million-mile journey to Mars, where they will explore relevant, contemporary issues that surround space exploration. It’s the most expansive new experience added since the Science Center opened in 1991.
If your family prefers outdoor , there are also plenty of fun activities, from hiking and biking to kayaking, paddleboarding and boating, that can be enjoyed throughout the city. See how many of the more than 700 outdoor stairways and 446 walkable bridges within Pittsburgh’s limits you can tackle during your stay.
Lastly, don’t forget to take a ride on one of our famous inclines! Enjoy a spectacular panorama of Pittsburgh and its three rivers from the observation deck and check out the historical exhibits in the waiting rooms for entertainment between rides.
Learn more at VisitPITTSBURGH.com.
APRIL ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Dr. Leopoldo Gracia Vilches, 64
Navajoa, Sonora Mexico
This Doctor Delivers Babies- And Records
By Del Moon
Power Walk has been around for a long time as a fitness exercise but is new as a medal sport, having been introduced nationally at the 2019 National Senior Games presented by Humana. In the second gathering in Fort Lauderdale in 2022, it was therefore hard to know just how good “good” is for finish times in the budding sport.
Until the Doctor made his rounds.
Leopoldo Gracia Vilches etched his name deep into the NSGA record books with his Gold Medal performances in Fort Lauderdale. It was impressive enough that he easily won his 60-64 division 1500-meter and 5K races, but jaw-dropping when it was clear that the Mexican pacesetter had clocked the best overall times for all ages in both of the races (8:40 in the 1500, 31:36 in the 5K).
It was also the fastest time in NSGA’s Power Walk history to date. By more than a minute in both races. That’s enough to shout ¡Ándele!
“I was not surprised that I could win my own races,” he told us with translating assistance from his daughter Marina. “I knew my times and the times of my peers. So I got there very positive I would get a good result. But to be the best for all age categories impressed me and made me very proud for myself.”
Leopoldo started playing soccer and baseball in Mexico when he was 8 years old, then played basketball for exercise. He became a gynecologist and has had his practice for nearly 40 years in the state of Sonora about six hours south of the Arizona border. “I’ve delivered more than 1,000 babies and performed many ‘C sections’,” he proudly states.
Feeling the need to up his exercise game, Leopoldo found a new track to follow. “I discovered track and field at 42 and fell in love with it,” he recalls. He loved sprints and started competing in races in Mexico, and became an international competitor in 2014 entering the Arizona Senior Olympics in 2014 and competing in his first National Senior Games in 2015. Leopoldo showed flashes of potential winning medals in his 400-meter events, but then sustained an injury that sidelined him in 2018.
His focus changed – same track, different approach. “While I was healing I started to research race walk and power walk, and it was what I needed to continue. Sports for me is not only a hobby. I enjoy practicing and playing.”
Leopoldo knows that he is a role model for his community to follow. “I incorporate a health message by telling others that sports go hand in hand with a healthy lifestyle. I try to motivate all of my patients to move their bodies, focusing on physical activity to preserve health. The foundation of what I tell them is to have regular physical activity, a healthy diet, avoid any type of addiction whether it’s drugs, alcohol or tobacco, and to keep a healthy weight, which varies from person to person.”
It can be daunting traveling to another country where you don’t know anyone and don’t speak the language well. But Leopoldo has found a nurturing community at state and national Senior Games. “I’ve been amazed at the fraternity that my peers have shown not only to me, but to others,” he observes. “I get by and I’m trying to speak English whenever I can. The main challenge for me is to not worry about the language challenge and to focus on not getting injured.”
He paused and added, “I’m really honored to compete with and against these people.”
What’s YOUR story? To nominate a fellow athlete…CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A STORY
SENIOR HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Last Chance to Play, Walk or Run – Train Well!
By Andrew Walker, MPH; Director of Health & Well-Being
The last window of opportunity to participate in the 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana ends when registration closes on May 2. This year, as in 2022, NSGA has offered an Open Entry Parameter due to the interruption of COVID-19 on State Games hosting qualifying events. In addition to accommodating athletes who did not have a chance to qualify, new athletes who only recently learned about the Games can also participate.
Many of the newcomers will be highly skilled, fit adults who are prepared to compete. If you are one of those people, you have time to maximize sport performance by emphasizing resistance/strength training, cardiovascular training, recovery training and movement/agility training, see last’s month health and well-being article.
For those individuals who are not highly conditioned and skilled at a sport, but who are highly motivated, your best chance to experience the thrill of victory is to try a more accessible sport. A 1500M or 5K Power Walk are good gateway activities into The Games. You can reasonably expect to train for walking with only three months to prepare. You will need to pay close attention to the key aspects of the art and science of older adult sports performance covered in last month’s health and well-being newsletter article.
Paying attention to how your body is responding to your workouts is especially important so you can gradually and safely train. It’s paramount that you participate in resistance/strength training consisting of at least 2 full body workouts per week for 30 to 60 minutes.
Click here to build your weekly activity plan from the Move Your Way resource center.
For the first two months build a solid fitness foundation. During the last month prior to The Games, consider including high intensity interval training (HIIT), a highly efficient conditioning training method. A detailed HITT program can be found at this link. Alter either the time interval or increase the intensity so you minimize the potential for injuries. And as mentioned previously, it’s especially important that older adult athletes plan enough time for recovery between workouts.
Mindfully applying these key training principles will create your best performance at the 2023 National Senior Games. In the process, you should notice a boost in mood, decreased stress, and improved sleep.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Arnicare
NSGA is pleased to announce a new partnership with Arnicare, a plant-powered topical pain reliever. Arnicare topicals help relieve muscle pain, stiffness and swelling from injuries, and bruises. Under the terms of the agreement, Arnicare will sponsor National Senior Games events in Columbus and Pittsburgh.
This #1 homeopathic Arnicare brand offers many benefits to active seniors. It comes in a gel, cream, and ointment, as well as oral tablets and an arthritis pain formula.
Benefits and Features:
- The single active ingredient is Arnica montana, a mountain daisy known for centuries for its pain-relieving properties
- Non-greasy topical formulas with no traditional strong medicine smell
- Free of fragrances, dyes, and parabens
- Won’t mask symptoms of a more serious condition
Arnicare samples will be provided to all participating athletes in Columbus and Pittsburgh as part of a special welcome gift. Additionally, Arnicare will be exhibiting in the Athletes Village in Pittsburgh.
To learn more about Arnicare and to find a retailer near you, visit Arnicare.com.
NSG OFFICIAL APPAREL
2023 National Senior Games Merchandise Available Online!
2023 National Senior Games merchandise is available from the NSGA Online Store. You can also check out 2023 Softball Championship apparel and limited items from the 2022 Games!
Get in gear – Click here for the NSGA Online Store.
NSGA OFFICIAL PARTNERS
HEALTH & WELL-BEING PARTNERS
NSG SPORT PARTNERS
- Published in Newsletter
THE LONG RUN – MARCH 2023
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Personal Best Feature: Reversed Roles
Our next athlete feature highlights the 2023 theme “Bridging Champions Through the Ages” which shows the intergenerational impact of Senior Games. Jody Smith was a standout high school and college basketball star and was excited to find that she could still play ball at 61. Her 28-year-old daughter Kylee also had a college basketball career and played internationally for several years. In our feature “Reversed Roles” Kylee talks about now being the one in the stands cheering and coaching her mom, and how her parents instilled motivation in her. Enjoy!
GAME ON!
Early Entry Discount, Softball Registration End March 28th
Are you registered yet? If not, please remember that the Early Entry Discount for all events will no longer be available after Tuesday, March 28. Sign up now and save!
SOFTBALL: There are now over 95 teams registered for the 2023 National Senior Games Softball Tournament presented by Humana coming to the Berliner Sports Complex May 3-7 in Columbus, Ohio. Athletes, get ready for the celebration event on Friday, May 5! Please remember that Softball’s Final Registration deadline is also Tuesday, March 28.
‘Open Entry Parameter’ Registration For All Begins March 30th
Because some states could not stage all of their qualifying events for the 2023 Games, NSGA is offering an “open entry parameter” for the final month of registration; after qualified athletes have had ample time to register. It also opens a rare window for any senior athlete curious about Senior Games to participate.
Under this adjustment, anyone age 50+ as of December 31, 2022, is eligible to enter any of the 20 sports being offered provided that the event has not reached registration capacity. The Open Entry Parameter begins March 30th and ends with the close of all registration on May 2nd. Complete information and online registration are available at NSGA.com/Registration.
“Required qualification is a unique and important aspect of our Games, but as with all other events, our entire network of 52 state and affiliate member games was deeply impacted by the pandemic,” said NSGA Interim CEO, Sue Hlavacek. “Offering this opening ensures that none of our past athletes will be left out, and it’s also an opportunity for new athletes to compete who may not have heard about us, particularly people who live in close proximity of The Games.”
Media Release – Open Entry Parameter
Venue Spotlight: Golf
Montour Heights Country Club
Golfers will find great competition at the three courses selected for National Senior Games play. Course age division assignments will be posted soon on the Golf Sport page.
The Montour Heights Country Club Golf Course – is a private, 18-hole championship golf course that stretches across 6,632 yards from the Black Tees. It’s the only Pete Dye Design Golf Course in western Pennsylvania. From its rolling hills to its green complexes, it is truly a one-of-a-kind golf experience every time, mixing traditional southwestern Pennsylvania golf terrain with the signature style of Pete Dye.
Quicksilver Golf Club
Quicksilver Golf Club – was founded in 1988 and is a former host of the PGA Senior Tour. With generous fairways, receptive greens and the best course conditions in Western Pennsylvania, Quicksilver Golf Course is impeccably maintained and is only 30 minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh and 7 minutes from Pittsburgh International Airport.
Shadow Lakes Country Club
Shadow Lakes Country Club – The Club at Shadow Lakes sprawls across lush, rolling hills, sprinkled with pristine woodlands. The course is challenging with not only the trees and hills coming into play, but water hazards and strategically placed sand traps as well. It is a layout that rewards accuracy off the tees over distance. Golfers will have to strategize and shape their shots in a variety of ways on this tough golf course.
Green Pittsburgh
Wrapped in rivers, intertwined with trails and packed with parks, Pittsburgh is not only green in a sense of scenery. From ongoing modernization efforts at Pittsburgh International Airport to various attractions, restaurants, shops and more, the region’s commitment to the environment is profound.
Pittsburgh is incredibly walkable with more than 180 miles of trails throughout the nine Allegheny County Parks, 700+ public stairways and numerous walkable bridges, making it easier than ever to take to the streets to experience Pittsburgh’s natural beauty, unique terrain and diverse offerings at every turn.
Western Pennsylvania also has become one of the nation’s best examples of rails-to-trails conversion, with hundreds of miles of rail trails, including the Great Allegheny Passage, which links Pittsburgh with Washington, D.C., and stands out as one of the country’s great trail systems.
Plus, did you know that Pittsburgh ranks among the top cities in the United States for green-certified building space? There’s even a self-guided walking tour dedicated to spotlighting them!
Beyond trails and parks, many area businesses and must-see Only in Pittsburgh attractions embody the region’s commitment to the environment, like the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ Center for Sustainable Landscapes, the Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh Glass Center and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center (DLCC).
After getting your fill of Only in Pittsburgh attractions, sustainably minded travelers won’t have any trouble finding a place to relax and have a drink or grab a bite to eat. From vegan, vegetarian or locally-sourced options to sustainably-produced craft beverages, popular sustainable dining options include Bridges & Bourbon, ShuBrew, The Porch at Schenley, Burgh’ers Brewing and more. For dessert, try Leona’s Super Premium Ice Cream or Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream. Need a boost? Grab bird-friendly, artisan coffee from Redstart Roasters.
For additional relaxation, visit The Pittsburgh Center for Complementary Health and Healing, an award-winning environmentally friendly wellness spa dedicated to peace and relaxation.
Prefer to shop until you drop? From traditional thrift shops and vintage gems to upcycled materials, Pittsburgh has a variety of businesses to satisfy those looking to take home a sustainable memento to remember their trip. WOC-owned Knotzland Bowties creates low-waste, high-fashion bowties and other sustainable treasures by recycling textile discards. Hey Betty! Vintage Clothing is a popular vintage store with an ever-changing assortment that receives regular visits from actors and costume designers filming in the Pittsburgh area, including Oscar winner Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr., Dakota Fanning and more.
Learn more at VisitPITTSBURGH.com.
MARCH ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Paula Franetti, 67
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Driving Force of Positivity
By Del Moon
To see Paula Franetti mixing it up in women’s basketball competition at the National Senior Games last year, we marveled that the Pittsburgh native had worked her way back to a fully active life after a horrific car crash.
In September 2016 Paula was driving to her Pittsburgh office when she was blindsided by a speeding driver who ran the light. The impact was so violent her Honda CRV spun across the road and struck a rowhouse before coming to a rest on the other street. Paula said she felt she had died. “I had no pain,” she says. “I was in a really peaceful place – my car wasn’t even there.”
Paula sustained seven pelvic fractures, five spinal fractures, a collapsed lung caused by a ruptured diaphragm, a punctured bladder, internal bleeding, and a concussion. After three surgical procedures and a stay at a skilled nursing facility, she returned home to a wheelchair and remained on the first floor of her house. It would be 57 days before she could stand up.
There were setbacks as she transferred to a walker and found she had a left knee ligament injury and cartilage tears, bone bruises and microfractures. Another came as she returned to driving and doctors found she had vestibular dysfunction, which affects balance and eye movements. She was also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder that required psychotherapy treatment. A fourth surgical procedure in late 2017 fixed an issue with her diaphragm.
In her book Driving Force, Paula describes how she overcame her challenges and fears, having an epiphany that she was the only person who could really take the wheel and she had to get back into the driver’s seat. “The steering wheel represents the way for me to regain my wellbeing…I can be the planner, designer and the owner of whatever I want to be in this new reality,” she wrote.
Exactly one year after the crash, Paula returned to the scene at her psychologist’s advice and re-enacted going through the intersection, making it safely. “I just knew that I had to conquer this fear,” she recalls.
So exactly how did she think she was able to fully recover? “I think the primary driving force to motivate me was that I have been a positive thinker for as long as I can remember. I always look for the better side of things. My sports background taught me discipline, teamwork and having a plan for how to train and when to peak. So combining those two gave me an advantage over most people.”
“Everyone assumes that somebody who recovers fully has some magical edge,” she quickly adds. “That type of perspective gets a lot of people into the problem area of giving up. ‘So and So can do it because they’re an athlete but what about me?’ My sports factor of perseverance comes into the picture, but I don’t want people to think that’s the only way people survive. Anyone positively focused on living a fulfilling life can reach any type of remarkable comeback.”
With a master’s degree in exercise physiology and a past career in rehabilitation, it was not a big leap for her to want to help others overcome similar challenges. In 2019 Paula started a health coaching business called The Rebound Planner, helping others plan their recovery and being a support person through their challenges. “I’ve seen people give up prematurely on the rehab side,” she says. “The key is to get people to understand how you think creates what happens in your life. Your body is going to heal regardless of whether you pay attention or not. But combining a positive outlook with a goal to achieve with the timing of your body’s healing factors, that’s where remarkable outcomes can happen.”
Paula, a lifelong sports lover who played basketball at Penn State, is grateful she can continue in National Senior Games and thrilled that her hometown is hosting them again. “I had just turned 50 and could not qualify when Pittsburgh hosted in 2005. But I did volunteer as a first aid assistant for men’s and women’s basketball so I could watch. I met the Butler Cubs team and started competing with them starting in Louisville in 2007. It was just like a dream come true to continue in sports.”
Paula did probably have a fitness background advantage, but is adamant that factor alone would not have gotten her well. “What really got me back was the mentality of wanting to get back. My injuries were such that no one was willing to tell me I would even be able to run again, let along play basketball. It was really up to me.”
What’s YOUR story? To nominate a fellow athlete…CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A STORY
SENIOR HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Older Adult Sports Performance Training Keys
By Andrew Walker, MPH; Director of Health & Well-Being
Previously I reminded readers that they had time to enter and compete in the 2023 Games and offering suggestions to create a pathway to participation through mentorship or self-enrollment. Now it’s time to consider key aspects of the art and science of older adult sports performance.
Maximizing sport performance in every Senior Games sport is ideally based on a foundation that includes resistance/strength training, cardiovascular training, recovery training and movement/agility training. All these elements rests on the principle that the body will adapt to gradually increasing load or intensity within each of these areas, otherwise known as progressive overload.
Strength training for older adults is essential. My exercise scientist colleagues at IDEA, one of the oldest personal trainer certification organizations, consider resistance training as the most critical element for peak performance, no matter what sport you play. It is recommended that all older athletes participate in a resistance/strength training consisting of at least 2 full body workouts per week for 30 to 60 mins. When time permits, 3 times per week is suggested.
Ideally, the most effective routine consists of 6 – 8 multi-joint exercises done as a circuit or sequence, with each circuit repeated 3 to 4 times. Your first circuit acts as a warm-up. Resistance of any type is good, but free weights provide the advantage of activating the muscles that stabilize your body. Exercises should include squats, lunges, and deadlifts for the lower body. Standing dumbbell curls, rows, and cable exercises round out the upper body routine. See NSGA Videos for examples.
High intensity interval training (HIIT) is regarded as the most efficient workout for endurance training for most Senior Games sports. Remembering to apply the principles of progressive overload within the HITT program where intervals in time and/or intensity are mindfully adjusted. A detailed HITT program can be found at this link.
Many Senior Game sports include multi-dimension movement, making it important to develop agility, mobility and power in many directions. This is especially true of sports that include lateral movements, jumping, throwing and multi-directional power movements. Effective routines include using agility ladders, medicine ball throws, pushing exercises and plyometric movements which can be included as part of a day’s routine.
It’s especially important that older adult athletes pay attention to recovery. Hormonal changes that come with aging requires us to monitor our response to intense workouts. Rest between workout sessions is essential so that our body is allowed to adapt to demands we create as we apply progressive overloads with increased intensity, speed, and resistance.
The science of exercise shows that older adults in all Senior Games sports will enhance performance by including resistance training, cardiovascular HITT work, multi-directional movement, and attending to our recovery needs. Mindfully applying these key principles of science will surely improve your performance for the 2023 Games.
4 Bladder Control Exercises for Women
The following information is being provided to you by our partner, Because Market.
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a challenge for over a third of older adults, so if you live with UI, you are not alone. Knowledge about UI is increasing, but despite how common it is, there is still a damaging stigma around this challenge.
If you live with UI, it can also become a challenge to feel in control of your own life. However, there are exercises and tips to help you regain this control and get back to doing the things you love! This guide will help you understand your pelvic floor muscles and how bladder exercises can help you regain strength in these muscles and control your bladder. CLICK HERE for the complete article with detailed exercises.
To get your FREE Because Starter Pack, visit this link exclusively for NSGA Members: www.BecauseMarket.com/NSGA.
Are you interested in being sponsored for the games?
Our partner, Because Market, is offering five $500 scholarships to athletes who are participating in the games this year. If you’re interested in applying, please take a look at the details in the form below and complete/submit by Friday, April 7, 2023.
NSG OFFICIAL APPAREL
2023 National Senior Games Merchandise Available Online!
2023 National Senior Games merchandise is available from the NSGA Online Store. You can also check out 2023 Softball Championship apparel and limited items from the 2022 Games!
Get in gear – Click here for the NSGA Online Store.
NSGA OFFICIAL PARTNERS
HEALTH & WELL-BEING PARTNERS
NSG SPORT PARTNERS
- Published in Newsletter
The Long Run February 2023
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Fountain of Youth Podcast Enters Season 2
The Fountain of Youth Podcast is one of the many offerings that Growing Bolder has brought to life since becoming NSGA’s Official Media Partner. The podcast features interviews by Emmy award winning host Marc Middleton with a wide array of senior athletes, most of whom compete in Senior Games.
Season 2 has just started with interesting guests like longtime athlete Flo “The Pole Vaulting Granny” Meiler and national and world champion sprinter Michael Kish, with a new podcast coming every week of the season. You can listen to any of the past shows from this and Season 1 archived on the program page. Bookmark it and enjoy listening to some of our amazing athletes
Fountain of Youth Podcast Page
GAME ON!
2023 Registration is Going Strong!
Are You In?
Registration for the 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana continues to pick up as all State Games results and qualifying information has been submitted and remaining sport venues are being finalized.
Pittsburgh registrations continue to grow, and more than 80 Softball teams are already signed up for the 2023 National Senior Games Softball Championship presented by Humana in Columbus, Ohio. Softball’s Early Registration Discount deadline is Tuesday, February 28, with the Softball Final Registration deadline set for Tuesday, March 28, the same date that Early Discount Registration ends for Pittsburgh sports. Final Registration for Pittsburgh ends Tuesday, May 2. Complete details are on the Registration Page.
Special Event Dates – More Details Coming Soon!
NSGA Staff and our local partners are working hard to complete details for social events and activities. The Softball Celebration of Athletes will take place Friday, May 5th in Columbus and there’s other activities, vendors and exhibits that will be found during the event at the Berliner Sports Complex. .
We have already noted in our master schedule for Pittsburgh that the Flame Arrival Ceremony will be Saturday, July 8 and the Celebration of Athletes is set for Friday, July 14. Watch for more details soon!
Venue Spotlight: Archery
Wright Fields at Veterans Park in Beaver Falls features one turf field, six grass fields and two baseball/softball fields. It also has a central building that is utilized for event space and party rentals.
For the National Senior Games, archers will be using Field # 6 in the northwest corner of the complex. There is ample parking and permanent restrooms close by. The surface for competition is natural grass, and the direction of shoot will be from east to west.
New Experiences and Adventures Await in Pittsburgh
From welcoming neighborhood breweries and intriguing dining concepts to stimulating cultural exhibitions and more – a new year brings new, exciting experiences and attractions sure to enhance any Pittsburgh itinerary.
Housed in a renovated building that dates back to 1826, CADENCE+ At The Strip is an event space, speakeasy and bike/run shop all under one roof. Imbibe underground at CADENCE+ Cellars, a modern-industrial speakeasy restaurant and bar that boasts multiple tasting rooms. Strip District visitors can pop into Cellars seven days-a-week for premium dishes and creative cocktails, plus live entertainment on select days. And, outdoor enthusiasts will want to browse Pro Bike + Run, a retail storefront featuring a large selection of bikes and gear to run, ride or race.
There’s a new reason to visit Acrisure Stadium year-round with the opening of the Steelers Hall of Honor Museum. The addition honors the rich history of the Pittsburgh Steelers, highlighting the best Steelers’ players, coaches and front office personnel through displays, photos and video exhibits.
Bonafide Beer Co., also located in the Strip District neighborhood, is a refined taproom and cocktail bar that aims to produce authentic experiences for its patrons. Sip and enjoy Bonafide’s modern takes on everything from IPAs to Scottish ales, Irish dry stouts and American lagers.
Christian James, the newest restaurant concept housed within Joinery Hotel Pittsburgh, shows that behind every great dish is an even better story. By creating a fictional character reminiscing about his travels, James’ menu features fare from around the globe all paired perfectly with personal anecdotes and history.
Bombay to Burgh, a trendy Southeast Asian bistro located across from the Edgewood Towne Center, brings complex flavors combined with the comforts of a home-cooked meal. The restaurant partners with local farmers and makers for the best ingredients which are then transformed into authentic dishes from the Indian subcontinent.
Dive deep into The Viking Age at VIKINGS: Warriors of the North Sea at the Carnegie Science Center. This limited exhibition, in Pittsburgh from Feb. 11 – Sept. 4, features never-before-seen jewelry, clothes, weapons and much more. Visitors have their pick of immersive experiences as they can build their own Viking ship using a touch screen, hold a Viking sword and even try on traditional garb and roleplay as a Viking.
Old-school entertainment has found a second home in Homestead with the opening of Shorty’s Tap x Taco. This two-story venue features classic games scattered throughout including dartboard lanes, shuffleboard tables, pinball machines, a karaoke room and more. The food and beverage menu includes shareables, local brews and, of course, plenty of tacos.
Learn more about these new “Only in Pittsburgh” experiences, attractions and more at VisitPITTSBURGH.com.
Village Vendor Opportunities Available for the 2023 National Senior Games
Promote your brand, product or service to the nation’s top senior athletes in 2023. The NSGA offers a variety of exciting vendor and sponsorship opportunities at the National Senior Games in Columbus and Pittsburgh. For detailed information and pricing, please email NSGA Business Development.
FEBRUARY ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Chuck DiMeglio, 62
McLean, Virginia
Around the World in Wavy Ways
By Del Moon
Chuck DiMeglio admits he’s a detail-oriented guy who is driven by challenges. Like keeping records of his lifetime swims and achieving the goal of “swimming around the world” in 2022 at age 62.
If you’re counting, that’s 1.75 million pool lengths to get around the globe. And Chuck loves to count. “I’ve set a goal for two million lengths to get to a nice even number,” he says. “That should take me another five years to do.”
“I guess I’m just an analytical person,” he muses. “I started thinking about how far I’d swam and how much it would take to go around the world. I decided I could do it.” Chuck had been recording his swims in a day planner since post-college days, and the task has been easier in recent years. “I was swimming so much I found it was actually easier to count the days I didn’t swim my routine.”
The idea was natural for a guy who earned degrees in engineering and finance and is a certified public accountant (CPA). In case you’re wondering, Chuck didn’t stop at counting pool lengths. He estimates his circumnavigation also involved 180 swimsuits, 150 pairs of goggles, 80 gallons of shampoo, 30 gym bags, 15 pairs of paddles, 10 pairs of fins, four pull buoys, three kickboards and a half gallon of Visine. Oh yes, plus seven padlocks and 4,000 quarters for lockers.
“No, I didn’t keep a log of how many towels I used,” he says with a laugh.
Chuck, an active masters swimmer since 1984 who has competed in three National Senior Games, swims five days a week, 51 weeks a year. He had to make up time in recent years. “I had orthoscopic surgery on my elbow in 2013 and sat out for three months,” he recalls. “I calculated how much I had lost during my recovery and swam extra lengths to catch up, going up to 5,000 yards a day. I did the same thing again when COVID shut down my pool, upping my sessions to 6,500 yards or 18 miles per week. I thought I would drop back down after I caught up, but I have kept up that pace.”
The distance goal was reached last July at the place where he started swimming in 1963 – the pool of the historic La Fonda Hotel in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico, where his father was the general manager. “We didn’t have much as kids for recreation growing up in the hotel,” he recalls. “The pool was just a great place to be.”
Chuck and his twin brother swam competitively in clubs and high school. Moving to Williamsburg, Virginia, Chuck captained the high school team. “We had 30 swimmers and divers using a four-lane pool that was 20 yards long to train. Not the best conditions.”
In college Chuck trained with the swim team at the University of Virginia until an illness and the pressure of completing an engineering degree altered his plans to only swim on a club team and in intramurals and focus on studies. After college he kept swimming thanks to his employer. “I went to work for a Big 8 accounting firm that participated in ‘Battle of the Corporate Stars.’ I was on that team for five years and we won a couple of national championships. My workload was heavy, but the swimming actually helped me through it.”
He found National Senior Games beginning in Houston in 2011 where he was “fairly surprised” to win Gold medals in both the 50-meter backstroke and butterfly and in the 100-meter individual medley event, plus a Silver in the 100-meter freestyle. Chuck looks forward to competing in Pittsburgh in 2023. “My aunt and her family lived there for decades, and I have a relative still there. I’ve also done some work as a consultant in Pittsburgh for a major airline. My wife and I are both excited to go.”
Golf is a close second sport for Chuck, who has a single digit handicap. Has he kept track of how far he has gone hitting golf balls? “No, but that’s a good one! I have considered going around the world in a golf cart. I usually swim five days and then play golf on the weekends. I figure I’ve put down 300 to 400 miles a year in a cart. That adds up.”
Chuck is also proud to be a role model for his three children. “They all swam for clubs, summer leagues and high schools and have been coaches and teachers,” he says. “My son David broke a few Northern Virginia Swim League relay records, and one still stands today. He was also on the club team at the University of Virginia. My daughter Sarah says she got her position in pediatrics at a big hospital here partly because of her experience as a swim coach and teacher where she learned how to manage little kids well. She also said she learned how to manage parents well too!”
What’s YOUR story? To nominate a fellow athlete… CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR ATHLETE STORY
SENIOR HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Mentor Friends/Family: Support The Game’s Active Aging Nation
By Andrew Walker, MPH; Director of Health & Well-Being
While working at events during the 2022 Games in Fort Lauderdale, I was reminded of the “thrill of victory” watching the iconic TV program Wide World of Sports. The difference was that I did not find much of the “agony of defeat.” Senior athletes experience a deep sense of reward and inspiration as a result of competition or volunteerism in National Senior Games and State Games.
Senior Games are overwhelmingly positive, providing the thrill of competition for thousands of participants and demonstrating the benefits of active aging, creating social capital with outstanding return on value, and generating millions of dollars in community economic impact where they are hosted.
The NSGA Mission is to enhance the well-being and fitness of older adults through sports and physical activity. We are doing our part to support Active People, Healthy NationSM, an initiative to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027.
Despite the substantial health benefits of physical activity one out of every four U.S. adults report being inactive during their leisure time, and only about half of U.S. adults report levels of aerobic physical activity consistent with national guidelines.
With the Games only five months away, I challenge you to remember that it is not too late to share the joy of The Games mentoring family or friend in finding their best way to move through playing a Senior Games sport. Start by reviewing this rough guide to mentoring:
- Identify a family or friend to mentor and remind them that everyone needs physical activity to stay healthy.
- Review the registration process at NSGA.com.
- Encourage them in selecting their favorite physical activity and ways to move.
- Connect a favorite way to move with a sport they would like to try and suggest an open sport. (Open Sports being offered at the 2023
- National Senior Games are Cornhole, Power Walk, Recumbent Cycling, 8v8 Soccer and Triathlon Relay. Qualification is not required for Open Sports/Events. Athletes must be at least 50 years of age by December 31, 2022 to be eligible for Open Sports.)
- They can look at a list of sports by physical activity level. There are 21 different sports in the 2023 Games. State Games often have other sports not currently in National Games as additional options.
- Complete a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q). See your doctor if required,
- See a Physical Therapist if you have a pre-existing injury.
- Work with a certified personal trainer or exercise center staff if needed.
- Encourage building a sports fitness program that includes activities to enhance basic fitness with strength, balance, cardio, power, reaction time and muscular endurance training. (A recent National Cancer Institute study found that participating in activities like running, cycling, swimming, aerobic exercise, racquet sports, golf, and exercise walking showed a relationship with enhanced longevity and heart and cancer death reductions.
- Join a sport club/association to assess your competition readiness.
- Beat the registration deadline; return to NSG.com and complete the registration process.
Train smart, remembering less is sometimes best.
NSG OFFICIAL APPAREL
2023 National Senior Games Merchandise Available Online!
In case you missed it – 2023 National Senior Games merchandise is now available from the NSGA Online Store? You can also check out limited items from the 2022 Games!
Get in gear – Click here for the NSGA Online Store.
NSGA OFFICIAL PARTNERS
HEALTH & WELL-BEING PARTNERS
NSG SPORT PARTNERS
- Published in Newsletter
The Long Run January 2023
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Astronomical 2023 Personal Best: Making Space for Sports
The NSGA Personal Best athlete feature series, now in its tenth year, exemplifies the many ways that athletes find their path to ongoing fitness and well-being. This time, the story takes us into space with multisport athlete Larry DeLucas, a bioresearch scientist and optometrist who beat out 50 other astronaut hopefuls and launched into space to conduct his experiments onboard Space Shuttle Columbia in 1992.
Enjoy our edited conversation where Larry explains the nature of his research, the grueling astronaut selection process, and his overriding love of sports, especially basketball, that kept him in good shape to be selected and then endure the astronaut training. Larry is a good storyteller and shares some interesting memories and perspectives.
Larry DeLucas – 2023 Personal Best
GAME ON!
2023 Pickleball Registration Begins
Monday, Jan. 16th
Registration for the 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana continues to pick up as most State Games results have now been submitted and verified. Pickleball registration opens tomorrow for the massively-popular sport that maxed out court capacity for the 2022 Games. “Because of the high likelihood of pickleball filling up quickly again, we delayed opening this sport’s registration until all of the qualifying games results were in,” NSGA Interim CEO Sue Hlavacek said. “We need to ensure this is a fair process for the athletes.”
You can check qualifying results status for every state on the Registration Page by clicking on the blue box to get real-time verified information.
Exhibitor Opportunities Available for the 2023 National Senior Games
Promote your brand, product or service to the nation’s top senior athletes in 2023. The NSGA offers a variety of exciting vendor and sponsorship opportunities at the National Senior Games in Columbus and Pittsburgh. For detailed information and pricing, please email NSGA Business Development.
Venue Spotlight: Bowling
Mt. Lebanon Lanes is an AMF facility that sits about 20 minutes south of downtown Pittsburgh. It features 52 lanes, a pro shop, arcade, grill and full-service bar. The venue is fully wheelchair accessible and will accommodate our non-ambulatory division competitors. All 52 wood lanes will be available for the Senior Games, and a house shot will be used for all competition. Parking is plentiful and free for all players and spectators.
Brew Masters and Friendly Spirits
Continually ranked as a best city for beer drinkers by SmartAsset, Pittsburgh’s craft beer scene is booming. In fact, American Craft Beer referred to Pittsburgh as a “craft beer destination” in 2021, and Fodor’s Travel included the region in its 2021 Best Craft Beer Cities list. Thanks to the more than 50 craft breweries and award-winning distilleries throughout the Pittsburgh region, visitors can easily find high quality, thirst-quenching beverages.
Recently, Aurochs Brewing Co.’s Hazy IPA and Amber Ale earned gold and silver medals in the 2021 U.S. Open Beer Championship, and Cinderlands’ Gregg scored a gold at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival. Other award-winning brews, including Church Brew Works’ Pious Monk Dunkel, Helltown Brewing’s Mischievous Brown and Brew Gentlemen’s General Braddock’s are among the many quality beers visitors will find in the city.
Visitors will find no shortage of unique brewery options in Pittsburgh. Penn Brewery, the oldest and largest craft brewery in Pittsburgh, specializes in German-style beers brewed in the tradition of German immigrants, while Strange Roots Experimental Ales Brewery is a unique style brewery that specializes in foraged ingredients, spontaneous fermentation and experimentation.
New to the scene in 2021, Nercromancer Brewing Co. in Ross Township and Trace Brewing in Bloomfield made an immediate impact, as both were named to Hop Culture’s nationwide Best New Breweries list.
The Pittsburgh Brewers Guild makes it easy for visitors to explore the many area breweries with the Pittsburgh Brewery Guide. The guide includes details like outdoor seating, pet-friendly designations and menu offerings along with a brief background on each brewery. Seven suggested trails are geared to help plan excursions to various areas of the city.
Craft beer culture is celebrated in Pittsburgh, and the city’s craft beer community is garnering national attention for promoting inclusivity. A 2021 article in Forbes said Pittsburgh is “leading the world in brewery diversity and inclusion.” From Barrel & Flow Fest, the nation’s first Black brew festival, to the Pittsburgh Brewery Diversity Council, Pittsburgh’s craft breweries are a welcoming, diverse community.
Pittsburgh also boasts several local distilleries that have perfected the art of a friendly drink. Learn about Pittsburgh’s unique spirits history at Wigle Whiskey, the first distillery in the City of Pittsburgh since Prohibition, in the Strip District. Neighbors include Kingfly Spirits and Allegheny Distilling, creators of Maggie’s Farm Rum, the first commercially available, Pennsylvania-made craft rum since Prohibition.
Learn more about Pittsburgh’s spirits and brews offerings at VisitPITTSBURGH.com.
JANUARY ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Gene Berg, 70
Margaret Berg, 61
Litchfield, New Hampshire
Pickleball + Airstream = A Lovely Way to Play
By Del Moon
Many senior athletes travel to multiple events each year to enjoy the competition and camaraderie. Noticing a shiny Airstream travel trailer with New Hampshire plates glinting in the sun at the 2022 Georgia Golden Olympics reminded us that some go the RV route and travel in style. We had to find the owners.
Turns out Gene and Margaret Berg are just what you would imagine a traveling couple to be like – friendly, inquisitive, good humored and passionate about life. In this case, pickleball fuels the passion.
“We make a very odd couple,” Gene says. “She looks fantastic in tennis wear and I’m a lumpy sort of guy.”
“It was time for us to do something together, and we both love sports,” Margaret adds, apparently agreeing with his appraisal. “Gene really wanted to do pickleball and we loved it in an instant. I think he loves it more but I enjoy playing and really love meeting the people.”
Both are previously married and have six children between them. They got together 16 years ago and married in 2012. Both love sports – field hockey, racquetball and cheerleading are in Margaret’s history, and Gene played squash in school and played adult hockey up until 2019. Both had busy careers, hers with the IRS and Gene as an orthopedic surgeon. As retirement approached they felt the need to refocus.
“Our lives were centered around youth sports,” Gene notes. “When the kids left for college we missed chasing them around all the time. I told Margaret we better find something good for us.”
“Litchfield had two indoor courts and we borrowed equipment and learned there in 2014,” Gene continues. “We played our first tournament one year later and haven’t slowed down since.” With state senior games in New England closely located, they got to know many people in the region and even hosted a party for out of staters when the New Hampshire games were near their hometown.
The Airstream came in 2018 when Gene retired. “I qualified for the 2017 and 2019 National Senior Games, but I was still working and could not take that much time to play three events,” he explains. “When I retired we looked at each other and said, ‘Let’s play the other states.’”
The couple has checked off 22 so far. “We try to plot and plan when games take place and what’s along the route,” Gene says. “We have a lot of states left to hit, especially out West. We’d also like to play all the Canadian provincial games.”
When they finally got to the 2022 National Senior Games, the 3.0 rated couple did not medal. “We got smoked in mixed doubles,” Gene admits. “But she’s two age groups younger than I am so I play at her level. But otherwise it was like old home week really because we saw people we played with in the state games.”
The two also joke about giving marriage counseling to couples who play together. “When it’s competitive neither of us is very demure, so when we are not winning friction can occur,” Gene says diplomatically. Margaret adds, “When you’re partnering with a stranger you’re nicer about a missed shot. When you’re married, that doesn’t necessarily happen. We all laugh about that. Besides, I can hit him with a paddle and no one will say anything!”
Two competitive types traveling long distances in tight spaces might test a relationship, but they report it’s been a smooth ride. “The camper is our favorite spot, our little home on wheels,” Margaret says cheerily. “Honestly, we never argue in it and love having our routines. I can cook our meals in it, and after dinner Gene might read a book and I’ll go out to meet other campers. It’s just so much fun.”
Gene has a simpler equation for happiness on the road. “When we’re traveling, I’m just obedient so there’s few issues.”
Obviously the element of love brought them together and continues to pave the road ahead. Gene will tell you he ‘married up’. Margaret has her pet expression. “I tell people when I’m asked if I got a ticket for a big lottery prize and I say ‘No, I used up all my luck when I met Gene!’”
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR ATHLETE STORY
SENIOR HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Senior Games Movement: Be Well By Doing Good
By Andrew Walker, MPH; Director of Health & Well-Being
“The Champion of Economic Impact Award” for mid-size multi-sport events was recently awarded to National Senior Games by Sports Travel magazine for generating 30 million dollars in economic impact during the 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana in Fort Lauderdale Florida.
In addition to economic impact, the Senior Games and other similar events yield additional benefits to athletes, community, and society. Health impacts are generated through fitness, sport and public health programs. Volunteerism and community engagement can yield meaningful social capital.
Although social impact of sporting events can be difficult to assess, more event host and sports commissions are looking at social impact on participants and communities. In an article in a recent issue of Sports Travel, it was noted that the “next great study will be the one that figures out the cost savings for getting people moving.” The author of the article, Dr. Heather Gibson PHD of Ohio University, goes on to note the emerging number of sport commissions who are reshaping their views to include considerations of health and quality of life.
In recent years the health care system has paid more attention to the influence of social determinants of health (SDH). These are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies and political systems which are important non-medical factors that influence health outcomes; especially ones regarding social norms.
Positive health impacts of qualified athletes in The Games are well documented by findings from several published reports by researcher Becca Jordre Ph.D., DPT, from our Senior Athlete Fitness Assessment (SAFE) project. Additionally, Dr. Jordre is leading a cross-sectional study with Hongdao Meng MD, and myself in analyzing results of a survey of qualified participants in the 2022 Games. Findings from the survey confirm results from the SAFE regarding the association between Games participation and positive health impact despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Positive trends in several areas such as physical activity, health habits, preventive health and quality life have emerged among over four thousand study participants. In addition to COVID-19 related findings, quality of life and social indicators from the study are closely connected to social impact.
NSGA will extend its social capital yields by building on recent community and athlete engagement efforts from the 2022 Games. This will be accomplished by leveraging partnerships with organizations including Fearless 261/Katherine Switzer, Art Of The Olympians (AOTO), United States Olympic and Paralympian Committee (USOPC), University Of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and others. Exploring programming opportunities integrating social impact activities into our athlete and community engagement model for the 2023 National Senior Games will be key to creating both short term impact and long tern legacies in Pittsburgh this summer.
Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
NSG OFFICIAL APPAREL
2023 National Senior Games Merchandise Available Online!
In case you missed it – 2023 National Senior Games merchandise is now available from the NSGA Online Store? You can also check out limited items from the 2022 Games!
Get in gear – Click here for the NSGA Online Store.
NSGA OFFICIAL PARTNERS
HEALTH & WELL-BEING PARTNERS
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- Published in Newsletter
The Long Run December 2022
GAME ON!
2023 Registration Update – We’re Just Getting Started
Registration is going at a strong pace for the 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana, including 20 sports scheduled in Pittsburgh and our 2023 Softball Championship in Columbus, Ohio.
It’s still early, and some state final results have yet to be verified, so do not fear if you have not yet received your qualification notice. You can check your state’s results status online, which NSGA updates as soon as results are verified for qualifications. Go to the Registration Page and click on the blue box to get real-time updates.
Venue Spotlight: Swimming at University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh’s Olympic-size Trees Pool serves as the home to the varsity men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams. With a capacity of 770,000 gallons, it was the largest indoor pool in the United States when completed in 1962.
The venue recently completed a $4 million renovation that now includes updated locker rooms, team meeting room and lounge, and upgraded circulation and draining systems. The pool can be set for eight 50-meter lanes, and twenty 25-yard lanes, when set for short course. NSGA will be utilizing 9 lanes with starting blocks for their competition. The aquatic complex comes equipped with both a separate and attached warm-up pool area, men’s and women’s locker rooms, large digital scoreboard, Daktronics timing system and an elevated spectator seating area. Pool temperature will be set to 80 degrees for the National Senior Games swimming competition next July.
Exhibitor Opportunities Available for the 2023 National Senior Games
Promote your brand, product or service to the nation’s top senior athletes in 2023. The NSGA offers a variety of exciting vendor and sponsorship opportunities at the National Senior Games in Columbus and Pittsburgh. For detailed information and pricing, please email NSGA Business Development.
Pittsburgh: A Cultural Phenomenon
The vibrant arts and culture scene is alive and thriving in Pittsburgh. Throughout the city and the region, galleries and museums offer everything from the cutting-edge to the classic.
Set in the heart of the city, Downtown’s lively, 14-square-block Cultural District is home to nine theatres that showcase a world-renowned symphony orchestra, opera, dance and award-winning plays that enliven Pittsburgh.
The GRAMMY® award-winning Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performs in the elegant Heinz Hall, while the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Dance Council and PNC Broadway Series take the stage at the beautifully-restored Benedum Center for the Performing Arts. The August Wilson African American Cultural Center welcomes a variety of performances, from concerts to theater to influential speakers and more. And, contemporary and classical performances from the Pittsburgh Public Theater also can be found at the O’Reilly Theatre.
Among the highly acclaimed museums and galleries to explore is The Andy Warhol Museum. This Only in Pittsburgh gem, the most-comprehensive single-artist museum in North America, celebrates the life and work of the Pittsburgh native, one of Pop Arts’ founding fathers.
Just down the road you’ll find the Mattress Factory Museum of Contemporary Art, a unique and captivating museum hailed as one of the world’s best facilities for installation art.
The Carnegie Museum of Art, arguably the first contemporary art museum in the United States, features a collection of more than 30,000 objects in a range of different media. And, the attached Carnegie Museum of Natural History allows visitors to step back in time and walk among the dinosaurs and other ancient creatures in the Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibit, one of the country’s largest collections of dinosaur bones.
The Frick Pittsburgh is a five-acre complex of museums and landscaped grounds, which includes Clayton, home of Henry Clay Frick from 1882-1905 and one of the nation’s most well-preserved Gilded Age estates.
The Senator John Heinz History Center, Pennsylvania’s largest history center and an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, tells the story of life in the Western Pennsylvania region and features both rotating and permanent exhibitions, including the biggest collection of original items from the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood television set.
Visitors also can explore the beauty and wonders of nature at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, a 15-acre attraction which includes a historic 14-room glasshouse and 23 distinct gardens. Also in Oakland are the Nationality Rooms at the University of Pittsburgh, where 30 rooms depict Pittsburgh’s ethnic heritage.
Pittsburgh also is home to public art that adds character to already unique spaces, including Katz Plaza, Downtown and the Southwestern Pennsylvania World War II Memorial and the Tribute to Children in the North Shore.
Just outside Pittsburgh are stunning examples of Frank Lloyd Wright’s amazing architecture, including Fallingwater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Kentuck Knob, as well as Mäntylä and the Duncan House.
Learn more about Pittsburgh’s phenomenal arts and cultural offerings at VisitPITTSBURGH.com.
DECEMBER ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Gary Patton, 77
Rock Springs, Iowa
Gary Patton Refines and Finds Success
By Del Moon
Gary Patton never dreamed he would one day be an elite athlete. “I was 4 foot 11 in high school and underdeveloped. I was not athlete material at all.”
Now 5’4” at the age of 77, Gary has become a tall figure in mid distance running, finding himself on the medal stand regularly and setting records in national and international masters competition. At the National Senior Games in May, the retired engineer set the National Senior Games #1 all-time record in two 75-79 age events, besting the 800-meter record by 15 seconds and crushing the 1500 mark by almost 25 seconds.
Gary Patton never dreamed he would one day be an elite athlete. “I was 4 foot 11 in high school and underdeveloped. I was not athlete material at all.”
Now 5’4” at the age of 76, Gary has become a tall figure in mid distance running, finding himself on the medal stand regularly and setting records in national and international masters competition. At the National Senior Games in May, the retired engineer set the National Senior Games #1 all-time record in two 75-79 age events, besting the 800-meter record by 15 seconds and crushing the 1500 mark by almost 25 seconds.
He’s thrilled to have competed against the likes of U.S. Olympian Gary Hall, Boston Marathon champion Bill Rodgers and world masters’ record holder Nolan Shaheed. At 70 he won the USATF Masters Road Race Grand Prix for his age group, garnering 490 of a possible 500 points in 5 races. He set the 70-74 world record mark for the indoor mile in 2017, and in 2018 was named USATF Masters Men’s 70-74 Athlete of the Year.
Gary may not have considered himself an athlete, but he always enjoyed jogging and running. “Then in my 40’s I got started doing local road races and progressed into track and field, and I’ve done some half marathons and three marathons,” he says. “But I discovered I don’t enjoy long distances and the 10K is the farthest I do now. It’s been a slow progression over years and years, and I just kinda found my niche for what I excel in with running. It’s been so much fun.”
The lifelong resident of Rock Rapids, Iowa did not show his potential when he began to compete, but found that adding cross training and strength work produces better results than running alone. He continually refines his body and training schedule as he ages. “The last five years I’ve had a three day per week schedule. Five to seven miles of running every third day, some kind of strength work, and then some kind of aerobic cross training -elliptical, swimming, biking, that sort of thing.”
“The fact that I mix up my training is why I don’t get injured, which is probably my primary advantage over my competition,” Gary explained to Runners World in 2017. “I haven’t missed a masters indoor or outdoor national meet since my first one in 2008. Fifteen miles a week or so is easy on the legs.”
Gary enjoys racing as often as he can. “There aren’t that many masters track events around the country,” he notes. “I like to get out and do enough road races to satisfy my competitive nature and keep life interesting. I get bored easily and enjoy the intensity of doing a lot of races.”
Now the man to beat, Gary is ranked #2 in the world for this year’s outdoor track season in the 800 meter and the mile by Mastersrankings.com and embraces the role. “I had major ambitions for coming into the 75 age level with nine USATF records and those two National Senior Games records in mind. I’ve set 6 of the 9 records in the past year and a half. I’ve got plans for getting the last three.”
Senior Games hold a special place for Gary. “I didn’t know about masters track until I got into Senior Games, which brings so many more people into competition through the state-based system. Plus there’s stuff going on all over the place. I don’t typically go to more than my own events but I made it to some tennis games and the swimming this year. I swim for cross training and usually just do a lap and take a few breaths each time, and these people were just going back and forth and back. I couldn’t stand up to my age group in a swimming competition!”
Gary is proud of the example he is setting for others, especially his two sons. “They’re big fans and brag that “my dad is a world class runner’ with friends and coworkers. A what?” (Laughs)
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR ATHLETE STORY
SENIOR HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Sustaining Women’s engagement in Active Aging Sports
By Andrew Walker, MPH; Director of Health & Well-Being
The first sports bra was believed to be created in 1972 with two jock straps tied together. Since Title IX was put in place 50 years ago, literally millions of opportunities have come into play for women and girls to participate in physical activity and sports in their own light.
The National Senior Games (NSG) is honored to have the largest number of female athletes from the Title IX era still active to be found. And in this 50th anniversary year, NSG has reached an almost even gender split, with women representing 49 percent of the participants and men representing 51 percent.
Art Of The Olympians Artist, Ronald Bradstock
NSG has created space for these women to enjoy the thrill of competition while reaping the benefits of well-being that come from fitness through sports and social connectivity. The Games offers social interaction through team and individual sport engagement; a place where participants can build and deepen social connections during special events and creative programming. Outside of the Games NSGA has joined Humana’s efforts to address social isolation among older adults through the Far From Alone initiative.
Hosting events that salute NSGA’s female pioneer athletes and participating in this year’s 50th anniversary of Title IX has deepened our awareness of women’s health and well-being in the Senior Games movement. A recent article on women’s sports injuries in the International Dance Exercise Association Journal reminded me of a statement attributed to Stacy T. Sims. PhD: “Women are not just little men.”
Of course, there is room for improvement in gender equity in scholastic and women’s sports. This encourages NSG to be more engaging regarding services that female athletes are able to receive when participating in the Senior Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE). Currently SAFE is our best option for functional fitness assessments and to prevent injuries most common to women including overuse injury, anterior cruciate injury, patellofemoral injury, ankle sprains, chronic ankle instability, and shoulder instability.
To further illustrate the potential for closing gender gaps in sports, a recent article in Sports Engineering asked some interesting questions regarding technology and engineering in women’s sports, among them:
- How has religious inclusion been considered in soccer kit manufacturing for women?
- How are sports bras designed to match women footballers’ needs?
- Does it impact playing performance that women play with the same footballs as men?
- How can menstrual cycle tracking apps be employed to manage elite women footballer’s wellbeing and performance?
These questions indicate and affirm that closing the gender gaps between women and men’s sports is still a goal to be achieved. This is a call for a collaborative process among female athletes and programming at both the State and National Senior Games that reaffirms the importance of gender specific procedures. We all must work to maintain a collective effort, deepening our understanding of the changes needed to proactively sustain current sports participation by active aging women.
Help Keep America Active – Support NSGA
NSGA’s Mission goes beyond just putting on games for older adults. It’s about spreading the message that our athletes are proving true every day – stay active and involved in life and you will enjoy the benefits of healthy aging.
NSGA does not receive any federal funding. Sponsorships, merchandise sales and entry fees comprise most of our revenue, but there is another important source where we receive support that has been growing, and that is generous donations from individuals.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the National Senior Games Association to improve and enhance our mission to keep America moving. Thank you!
NSG OFFICIAL APPAREL
2023 National Senior Games Merchandise Available Online!
In case you missed it – 2023 National Senior Games merchandise is now available from the NSGA Online Store? You can also check out limited items from the 2022 Games!
Get in gear – Click here for the NSGA Online Store.
NSGA OFFICIAL PARTNERS
HEALTH & WELL-BEING PARTNERS
NSG SPORT PARTNERS
- Published in Newsletter
The Long Run November 2022
ASSOCIATION NEWS
NSGA Announces 2023 Games Theme at Annual Conference
NSGA held its Annual Conference in Pittsburgh last week with education sessions, meetings and awards recognition. State Games representatives and key partners learned more about our Host City and plans for the Games. It also provided a platform to hold a local media event to put our membership on display.
One of the big announcements was the 2023 Games Theme BRIDGING CHAMPIONS THROUGH THE AGES to honor Pittsburgh’s reputation as a city of bridges and champions. The theme also highlights the intergenerational impact of the Senior Games Movement. Four local senior athletes were spotlighted as examples. In the photo above are (l to r): volleyballer Lori Plunkard, who is now 50 and following her 82-year-old mother Carol McCollough into The Games; cyclist and 2022 Personal Best athlete Jack Eckenrode, whose example of fitness and positive outlook has made his large extended family fitness-conscious; and triathlete Lynn Roman who is a high school basketball coach and teacher. Media Director Del Moon shared their stories with the audience and media.
Read the Official Media Release, and here’s an example of the coverage by WPXI (NBC).
In association business, NSGA Board of Directors elections returned Brad Allen (NC) and Mark Schmitz (MO) for another term, and three new members are Deanna Pack (AL), Rosey Rosander (UT) and Elise Yanders (PA). The body also recognized and thanked departing members Kyle Case, Tom Stillwell and Chris Shirring for their board service.
NSGA Media Awards were also determined by vote of the membership. Oklahoma earned both awards for Games Specialties (Medals and T-Shirt) and other winners were Michigan (Website Design), Huntsman Games/Utah (Health and Wellness Innovative Program) Maryland (Games Promotion $50,000+) and Alaska (Games Promotion $49,000 and under). Congratulations to our dedicated Member Games!
2022 National Senior Games earns Economic Impact Award
We are honored to have the 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana recognized as the 2022 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism Award by Sports Destination Management Magazine.
As the largest qualified multisport event in the world for adults 50 and over, our Games generate a great deal of economic benefit to the host city. This year we estimate the Greater Fort Lauderdale region saw $30 million in economic impact. This is not the first time we have earned this award, but it feels just as good every time. Thanks to Sports Destination Management for the great work they do to promote the event industry.
NSGA CEO Resigns, Hlavacek Named Interim
The National Senior Games Association (NSGA) announces the resignation of President and CEO Marc T. Riker, who served in the position since 2012.
The Board also named NSGA’s Chief Operating Officer Sue Hlavacek as interim President and CEO. Hlavacek will lead the team to prepare for 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana, and a search for a permanent CEO will take place in 2023. “Sue has been with NSGA for nearly ten years and has a wealth of experience on all phases of our association,” Shinnock said. “She is the ideal person to lead staff to prepare for the next Games, and it allows our organization the time to make the best choice for the next CEO.”
GAME ON!
2023 Registration is Underway
The 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana is less than eight months away and the window has opened for qualified athletes to register for The Games!
The first athlete to complete registration is Renee Zavolta of Pittsburgh! She actually registered TWO teams for the 2023 National Senior Games Softball Tournament being held in Columbus, Ohio May 3-7. Her teams qualified in 2022 at the Pennsylvania Senior Games.
Qualified Athlete Notifications continue to go out as soon as NSGA receives and confirms each state’s competition results. NSGA updates the website regularly, and athletes can check a state’s results status by visiting the Registration Page and clicking on the blue box. If your state and sport are checked as complete, you can proceed to register. Please visit the Registration Page for complete information.
No Stress, No Worry and Guaranteed Low Rates by Booking Online with Us!
The online Hotels and Lodging link allows athletes to search and book rooms from a special block of participating hotels that provide us with lowest available rates. Team Travel Source (TTS) promises lowest guaranteed rates for individuals or groups and a smooth process to book your stay.
See all of the benefits on the 2023 Hotels and Lodging Page. There’s also a great giveaway- athletes who book rooms through TTS will be automatically entered for a chance to win a Mediterranean Cruise for Two!
2023 Venue Spotlight: Track & Field
Track and Field competitions (All Track & Jump Events) will be held at South Fayette Track & Field Stadium in McDonald, located 13 miles from the convention center. It was constructed in 2006 and is located in South Fayette Township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The stadium is a 5,040-seat facility and contains an artificial turf multipurpose playing field surrounded by an eight-lane running track with a polyurethane synthetic surface.
Please note that the Throwing Events for the 2023 National Senior Games will be held at Robert Morris University’s Island Sports Center/P3R Track & Field Complex in northwest Pittsburgh.
Blast Off to New Adventure in Pittsburgh!
A number of attractions, exhibitions, restaurants and more opened in Pittsburgh recently, highlighted by Moonshot Museum, Pennsylvania’s first space museum and the only museum in the world to focus exclusively on career and community readiness for the 21st century space industry.
Moonshot Museum is co-located at the headquarters of space robotics company Astrobotic in Pittsburgh’s Northside. This Only in Pittsburgh attraction provides hands-on, interactive encounters as soon as visitors enter the museum. Space explorers of all ages and backgrounds will marvel at the sight of the assembly of a real lunar spacecraft while also navigating one interconnected experience that puts them in charge of a simulated space mission.
When it comes to space exploration, why stop at the Moon? Mars: The Next Giant Leap, opens at the Carnegie Science Center on Nov. 19. The new exhibition launches visitors on a 300-million-mile journey to Mars, where they will explore relevant, contemporary issues that surround space exploration. This new 7,400 square foot permanent exhibition gallery is the most expansive new experience added since the Science Center opened in 1991.
August Wilson House officially opened its doors on Aug. 13. Located at 1727 Bedford Ave., in the Hill District neighborhood, the restored childhood home of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson is now an arts center for programming, workshops and panel discussions while also serving as a destination for resources related to Wilson’s life and work.
Rolling out four hundred cans of beer per minute, Pittsburgh Brewing Co.’s new stainless steel brewing facility in Creighton features state-of-the-art technology. With brewery tours, a restaurant, an onsite store and a distillery in the works, Pittsburgh Brewing Co. will be an exciting addition to the region’s established craft beverage scene.
Foodies have yet another reason to flock to Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood with the opening of The Parlor Dim Sum, the new restaurant from chef-restaurateur Roger Li. The retro neon sign and unique Mahjong tile art beckons diners to a Cantonese and dim sum menu with elevated flavors. Dim Sum is ordered via checklist including Li’s upscale versions of everything from siu mai to roasted pork buns, crystal shrimp dumplings and fried wontons. An extensive menu of Cantonese BBQ, noodle dishes and from the wok favorites will keep diners coming back (reservations highly recommended).
Learn more about these new Only in Pittsburgh experiences, attractions and more at VisitPITTSBURGH.com.
Photo Credits: Growing Bolder
NOVEMBER ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Charlotte Sanddal, 100, Helena, Montana
100 Reasons to Keep Swimming By Del Moon
When she first jumped into a pool to learn to swim at the age of 72, Charlotte Sanddal was only thinking about finding a way to stay healthy and active. Then when she began competing in the Montana Senior Olympics in 1994, she earned her first medal and was hooked for life with the community she found.
The retired clinical social worker and World War II veteran has been attacking the lanes ever since. Now at 100, she has amassed several national and world age group records from more than 400 career races, and people are taking notice as she enters the rarified air of a centenarian athlete.
Earlier this year Charlotte swam well as the oldest pool competitor at the 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana, but because her birthday fell after the actual competition date none of her swims qualified for 100+ records. Last month she rectified that at the Huntsman World Senior Games, which has submitted six of her swim event times for pending FINA world record certification- in the 200, 400 and 800 meter Freestyle, 100 and 200 meter breaststroke and the 100 meter Individual Medley.
But setting records and winning medals, while motivational, were never the biggest factors for her. “It’s a byproduct of doing the right things,” she says. “I’ve gotten records so now I have them. There’s no point in me making it a big thing. You don’t have to pretend you’re someone else. Look at what you’re able to do and enjoy and not just think about breaking somebody’s record.”
Charlotte has always preached choosing an activity that provides enjoyment, and not to worry about competition and results. “If I can do it other people can do it too,” she states. “I’m here not for me, but to let others know to get off their you-know-what and have some fun. If you don’t enjoy it there’s not a point in doing it.”
Noticing that Charlotte had painted her toenails in rainbow colors for her races, we know she is practicing what she preaches about making it fun. To keep herself moving she also loves travel, playing bridge, kayaking, and has been a longtime volunteer at the Montana Historical Society.
The Wall Street Journal has taken notice, recently publishing an informative and revealing profile you can read here. Growing Bolder included her in a recent feature about smashing stereotypes where she explains how central swimming is to her well-being. “I’ve outlived all my ancestors and I owe it to swimming. Swimming gets me up in the morning. I do my stretches and my exercise, and then I get to the pool. That’s what’s good about swimming. You never have to quit. you can keep going and you meet people from all over. It’s a good way to spend your time and it keep me out of the bars.”
Charlotte also notes that her regular swimming workouts helped her overcome a broken hip sustained in a bike accident when she was 88. Instead of spiraling downward, the rebound gave her more confidence to keep pushing.
As she plans her big 2023 meets for the FINA World Masters Championships in Japan and the 2023 National Senior Games in Pittsburgh, she reflects how glad she is that she had the courage to ignore conventional thoughts about aging. “I grew up in a time when you believed everything slowed down when you are 50 and you behaved yourself and looked proper and prim. That doesn’t work anymore.”
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SENIOR HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Title IX: Sports Inclusion and Equity Through the Lifespan
The end of the year concludes the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX. This landmark legislation and sports related civil rights law has positively impacted access, equity and justice. Since the passage of the law many have been working toward justice for women and girls in sports. One such organization that has lead this effort is the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF). Throughout the year the National Senior Games joined WSF in celebrating this golden anniversary. The United States Postal Service (USPS) added their special signature when they introduced the Title IX Forever Stamp.
Prior to the law taking effect in 1972 there were pioneers who laid the ground work for sports equity. Many of these athlete participate in the National Senior Games. They persisted in playing sports during a period when there were little or no opportunities for women.
Realizing that the Senior Games Movement has more active female athletes from the Title IX era than any other event or organization, Communications and Media Director Del Moon collected unique stories to inspire younger athletes. Senior Games Ambassador and swimmer Madeline Rabb participated in a National Public Radio Story Corp interview sharing her experiences as a young women of color swimming for her father’s segregated aquatics team in Baltimore. Growing Boulder and NSGA co-hosted a Facebook Live presentation Before Title IX: Tales from Senior Athletes, featuring reflections from Kathrine Switzer, De Ette Sauer, Leurene Hildenbrand, Alice Tym and Jo Dill.
During the 2022 National Senior Games, with a backdrop of “nine” pieces of visual art from the Al Oerter Foundation/ Art Of The Olympians (AOTO) collection, Health and Well-being Director Andrew Walker hosted a community conversation reflecting Olympic values and exploring the intersection of Title IX, civil and human rights with Kathrine Switzer, Author/First Official Women in Boston Marathon/Activist; Carla Ruff, Track Official/ NSGA Board; Bruce Wigo, J.D., Historian, International Swimming Hall of Fame; Erica I. González, Team ONIX Pickleball/Athlete and Cathy Oerter, Art Of The Olympians C.E.O.
Health indicators also trended positive with researchers finding increases in positive body image among girls. The numbers of those who believe sports have positively benefited their health and well-being improved. Many also believed sports helps maintain body weight and keeps their bodies healthy. Physical education, high school athletics, women’s professional sports and sports administration opportunities improved significantly since the inception of the law. During the late ‘60s and early ‘70s there were limited opportunities for girls to participate in sports with only about 7% of high school females participating in varsity sports. Today, literally millions of opportunities exist for physical activity through sports for high school girls. Recent numbers show a 43% participation level.
While greater opportunities exist today, there is room for improvement in retaining girls who start in scholastic sports but later quit. And girls high school sports lags behind boys when it comes to `funding. Closing the gender gaps in sports involvement between women and men’s sports is still a goal to be achieved. One opportunity that shows promise is based in intergenerational coaching. Women of the Senior Games and their male allies can create opportunities to amplify and sustain the impact of Title IX through introducing their particular sports to younger athletes. Recently, National Senior Games Ambassador Leurene Hildenbrand started coaching a group of girls in the game of pickleball. And not unlike other volunteer experiences, Ambassador Hildenbrand gets as much or even more out this experience.
NSGA salutes our female pioneer athletes this year, and every year!
Support NSGA on Giving Tuesday, November 29th
Donate Today – National Senior Games Association
GivingTuesday is a global movement that reimagines a world built upon shared humanity with a common mission to build a world where generosity is part of everyday life. Every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give.
If you agree that the Senior Games Movement is a vital force to get older adults moving and enjoying healthy, active lifestyles, please consider making a tax deductible donation to the National Senior Games Association. THANK YOU!
NSG OFFICIAL APPAREL
2023 National Senior Games Merchandise Now Available Online!
We’re excited to announce that 2023 National Senior Games merchandise is now available from the NSGA Online Store!
Also, have you regretted not getting that 2022 shirt or hat you wanted in Fort Lauderdale? Want to give your favorite senior athlete a great holiday gift? You can still get 2022 National Senior Games wearables at the NSGA Online Store, too!
Get in gear- Click here for the NSGA Online Store.
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- Published in Newsletter