An older woman and two younger women pose together and smile. The older woman is wearing athletic apparel and a bib number from a road race.

Ready, Set, Move! How to Prepare for Mile for the Ages

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being Something new is coming to the National Senior Games! The Mile for the Ages will debut on Friday, July 25, 2025, at the Iowa State Capitol Grounds as part of the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana. This age-friendly, intergenerational event invites athletes, friends,

Ann Hegstrom sports her signature red, white and blue look with pigtails during a race at the National Senior Games.

Overcoming Fear by Example

April 2025 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Ann Hegstrom, 69 De Soto, Iowa The National Senior Games showcases older adults performing impressive athletic feats, but some, like Iowa native Ann Hegstrom, stand out from the crowd with their personality and presence. Ann captured our attention in Albuquerque in 2019, dressed in

A physical therapy student walks briskly alongside a National Senior Games athlete as part of the Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam. A banner for the SAFE program hangs in the background.

First Tool to Evaluate Senior Athlete Fitness Published in Journal of Aging and Physical Activity

Research conducted at the National Senior Games over 12 years has led to the publication of the first tool available to evaluate the physical fitness of athletes aged 50 and older. Becca Jordre, PT, DPT, PhD, and Wendy Viviers, PT, DPT, MPhil are lead authors on “The Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam – Outcomes of U.S.

An older woman with sits smiling. Her arms are held up with numerous sports medals draped across them.

P is for Perseverance…and Patsy

By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Patsy Lillehei, 81 Edina, Minnesota Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. Some people face more obstacles than others, and it’s easy to give in and leave dreams and goals on the shelf. Not Patsy Lillehei. This might have been a lifetime athlete story as evidenced by her intense

An older athlete leaps to hit a volleyball over the neck on a beach volleyball court.

Train Smart for National Senior Games Open Sports

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being With four months to go, there are still opportunities to participate in the nation’s premier celebration of active aging through sports – the National Senior Games. Anyone age 50+ can participate in select Open Sports at the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana. The

A woman and man in their 60s both sit on bicycles, lining up for a race.

One Sport Leads to Another

March 2025 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Treba Young, 60 Eric Young, 62 Mobile, Alabama Many older adults find recreation and sports are a healthy way to pursue an active life with social connections. For Treba and Eric Young of Mobile, Alabama, Senior Games has opened a new vista for enjoying

Nine older women in red and black basketball uniforms stand together with gold medals around their necks.

A Classic Recipe for Success

February 2025 Team of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Legendary UCLA Men’s Basketball Coach John Wooden once famously said, “If you want to watch pure basketball, watch the women play.” If you want to watch women play Basketball in the National Senior Games, look no further than the Connecticut Classics 2. Team sports

WesleyLife Joins as Sponsor for 2025 National Senior Games Presented by Humana

The National Senior Games Association is proud to welcome WesleyLife as a sponsor of the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana. WesleyLife is the Midwest’s largest and most comprehensive non-profit provider of health and well-being services for older adults since 1947. They believe everyone should have the opportunity to live a life of continued

Two men and a woman walk together on a baseball field holding a large blue flag with a white palm tree. A group of people walks behind them.

Celebrating the Heart and Soul of The Games

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being Athletes, volunteers, vendors and officials were the heart of the many awe-inspiring moments in Senior Games sports nationwide this past year. Having witnessed the amazing display of talent at Stade de France in Paris during the athletics competition at the last Olympic Games, it is

An older woman with a road road bib number pinned to her shirt holds her arms up triumphantly while smiling.

Keys to Choosing an Open Sport for the 2025 Games

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being The final article of 2024 provided readers with a general overview of how to participate in the National Senior Games through an Open Sport. Our first Health and Well-being article during this Games year shares more guidance in choosing the right competition for you, whether you