Thursday morning Sarah and I loaded up the car and headed to Huron for the State Senior Games. Between us were events we’d done for years…and events we’d never even tried before. There would be basketball shooting, strength contests, road races, power walking, softball throw, and javelin. We weren’t chasing medals. We were chasing something much more valuable…the opportunity to learn. The biggest things for me, with my health issues these past few months, and the knee injury, I was just thankful that “I got to do this!”
Sarah did the 5k and 10k run, where I did the 5k run. The win for me with this…I ran the whole thing without having to walk! I was trying or planning on doing a walk/jog just to see how the knee would do. I just kept an easy pace, and did not have to walk at all because of the knee. I am making headway! We both did very well with the strength contests, setting personal best in many of the events. For me, 71 pushups, Sarah did 60, both bests. Sarah had a plank of over 6 minutes, and I was over 4 minutes. Even Sarah’s mom, who is 83, participated, and did many events. She had never done a plank before, and we had to show her how right before it was her turn to compete, and she went just over 2 minutes! Holy cow!!!
A prior Watertown run club member Paula was there for both the 5k and 10k as well. We had a great time! If you have never heard of the senior games, or have never participated, you don’t know what you are missing. Everybody cheers each other on! The goal is to move, and maintain your health. Learn new skills and abilities you never knew you had in you. It is a great way to make friends as you see many of the same people each year. We are all there to compete, but more important, to move and make friends. I was in 14 events, medaled in 12, 8 gold, and 4 silvers. But, when I looked back over the weekend, I realized the medals weren’t what stayed with me. It was the privilege of still being able to participate. At almost 62 years old, after everything life has thrown our way over the past few years, I kept coming back to one simple thought…”I got to do this!!!”
Keep moving everybody!!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of newest Streak: # 894