Association News
Let’s All do the Step Up Your Game Challenge!
How about having a fun and free competition with other senior athletes and friends from around the country? Compete as part of your state team in the National Senior Games Step Up Your Game Challenge!
This is a virtual challenge between the State Senior Games organizations and will take place from July 23-August 21. But you can set up your profile now.
Click Here to create a user profile, and when asked “Which Group Do You Belong To” from the drop down menu, choose OYOH Physical Activity New Registration. When prompted, enter the Challenge password, seniorgames.
Starting July 23, record your exercise, steps, and various forms of physical activity. Lots of things count as physical activity — even things you have to do anyway! Gardening, housework, and even shopping are all great ways to get moving, and all can be converted into steps. You can also sync your fitness tracking device (i.e., Fitbit, Google Fit) to the program! Click Here for sample directions with screenshots on how to sign up, record activity and sync your fitness tracking device to the program.
The challenge is also open to individuals of all ages, so encourage your children, grandchildren, neighbors, family and friends to participate with you by sharing this website link and Challenge password, seniorgames.
NSGA partnered for this challenge with the Louisiana Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, which has been offering this time-tested virtual platform with great success, according to Andrew M. Walker, NSGA Director of Health and Wellness. “We have been doing things to keep athletes moving during this slow-down period, like offering alternative exercise and well-being resources on our website,” he said. “This Step Up Challenge is a logical next activity for the summer, especially since it’s also a competition and we know everyone is wanting to scratch that itch. I am curious to see what teams claim the top spots and which region will produce the top teams.”
Let’s all step up this summer!
Game On!
State Games Page Has Most Current 2020 Information
This has been an unprecedented qualifying year for NSGA and State Senior Member Games to respond to the unpredictable impact of COVID-19. Unfortunately, many Games have been canceled, but there are some others who still intend to conduct competitions. The best resource to check on the status of games is the State Information page at NSGA.com. This section is updated as NSGA receives notice from states, so it is the most current place to look up your state to check status and find links.
State Games Information Page
July Athlete of the Month
Joe Moyer’s “Hardest Triathlon” Overcomes Life Challenges
When Joe Moyer looked forward to his fourth straight trip to the National Senior Games, all he was thinking about was getting in shape to make a good time in the Triathlon event in Albuquerque. One year later, he would marvel that he even made it to New Mexico at all after life served up two major family challenges.
“Three months before The Games, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer,” Joe says. “Then, my 11-year-old son Andy had a seizure at school, and the MRI found he had a brain tumor.” Joe had begun radiation therapy, and Andy was scheduled to have the tumor removed in early July. He considered canceling the trip in June, but his wife Julie insisted that he go if he was physically able.
While not a gifted athlete, Joe has been active for much of his life, so he felt he had a chance to get ready. He participated in Basketball and Track and Field in high school, fraternity sports in college, and after putting his energy into years of building a successful asset management business, Joe knew he was slipping. “When I turned 40 I realized I was getting heavy and should be doing something, so I started doing duathlons in 1987, which is a run-bike-run type of event.”
Eight years ago, he was convinced to go to Florida for his first triathlon at age 64, and he learned about Senior Games. “I decided to go for it because I ‘only’ had to do 2 triathlons the year before the games to qualify,” he relates, adding with a laugh, “That sounded easy.”
Joe made it to Cleveland in 2013 and kept going, despite recalling the frustration of watching an 82-year-old streak by him. While he has not stood on the medal stand, he has thoroughly enjoyed his National Senior Games experience. But 2019 was a different animal, as he had to regain strength after five radiation treatments and was further burdened by a father’s worry for his son. “You don’t think that it does that much to you, but boy I was really tired in Albuquerque,” he recalls. “That was my hardest triathlon, with the altitude and getting over my treatments and everything.”
Joe had a positive outcome, and Andy is doing fine now after a seven-hour surgery that left him with a six-inch incision scar. “I think his experience was tougher than mine, and that’s how dads think I guess,” he says.
Joe is also very aware of the example he is setting. “We had Andy when I was 60, and it really made me think about wanting to stay in shape to be there for him,” he says solemnly. “When he looks at the fathers of his schoolmates, who are all much younger than me, he sees a lot of them are way out of shape,” he continues. “It feels good now to be able to haul bricks and cement and build a fire pit with him in the back yard.”
The message got through. When asked by his father what he thought about his dad doing triathlons at his age, Andy’s reply was simple: “Holy Crap, Dad. I cannot believe you do that!”
Joe is looking forward to returning next year to the state where he first started tri’s. “I have clients in Florida, so it will be a great trip to Fort Lauderdale next year.” In addition, Joe’s wife Julie has done some triathlons and recently turned 50. “I think it’s just difficult for her to accept the fact that she’s old enough for participation in the Senior Games,” he chuckles.
We knew about this story because Joe shared it with us! We’d like to hear about you or an interesting athlete you admire-it just might be selected for a story! To submit yours, or to nominate another, Please Click Here.
Senior Health and Wellness
New Partner Offers Opportunity to Join “Heartline Study”
While it feels like the world has pushed pause right now, it is more important than ever during these uncertain times, that we continue to take care of our physical and mental health and support one another. Even though we’re staying indoors and suspending our normal routines, heart health should still be a priority. One simple way to jump start your heart health, without ever leaving home is to learn more about the Heartline™ Study.
Johnson & Johnson, in collaboration with Apple, is offering eligible U.S. adults 65 years and older with an iPhone the opportunity to join the Heartline™ Study, a nationwide heart health research study. The study is designed to explore if the Heartline Study app on iPhone and in some cases, the heart health features on Apple Watch can potentially reduce the risk of stroke, with earlier detection of an irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation (AFib).
Did you know that despite the fact that AFib is a leading cause of stroke, people often do not experience symptoms? More than 33 million people worldwide and up to six million Americans live with AFib and sadly, up to 30% of them don’t even know they have it until a serious cardiovascular event, such as a stroke, occurs.
Through this app-based approach, you never have to leave your home and can participate right from your iPhone rather than travel to a clinical study site. Once enrolled, you will receive heart health education, wellness tips, surveys, and questionnaires across multiple topics related to overall heart health in the app each week. Individuals with and without a diagnosis of AFib are eligible to join.
There are a variety of ways to participate in the Heartline Study. All who join will need to have an iPhone 6s or newer. Some participants will take part using only their iPhone. Some participants will also be asked to wear an Apple Watch. Those asked to wear a watch will be offered two options: purchase one, or get one on loan for the duration of the study and return it when your participation in the study ends. Johnson & Johnson and Apple are committed to ensuring that participation in the study is not limited based on financial need.
Just because we can’t go out and engage in our normal activities right now, it doesn’t mean we can’t take virtual steps from home to focus on our health. If you’re 65 or older and interested in being a part of this study, visit Heartline.com.*
*Key eligibility criteria include: you must be 65 or older, a U.S. resident for the duration of the study, own an iPhone 6s or later (with iOS 12.2 or later) and have Original Medicare. Other eligibility participation requirements will apply.
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