Sandra Klassen of Niverville is a prime example of staying fit and having fun, even as we age. This was her first year signing up to compete in the annual Manitoba 55+ Games, and she came out a winner in every category in which she was entered.
“I was getting bored with my exercise routine, so I thought I needed a challenge,” says Klassen. “Everybody’s there just to have a good time and everybody’s cheering everybody else on. It was really a good time.”
This year’s games, held in Glenboro, Manitoba from June 12–14, included competitive events such as swimming, pickleball, slow pitch, and track. Klassen took gold medals in both the 100-meter run and ladies golf.
She also received a bronze medal for her third-place win in an event called the “predicted walk.” Klassen describes this event as a one-kilometre walk through the beautiful Spruce Woods park using walking poles. Speed, in this event, doesn’t determine the winner. Each entrant must submit a prediction in advance, based on the time they think it will take them to complete the walk. The winner is the one who comes closest to finishing within their predicted time.
Of the 100-metre race event, she says, “I figured there’d be some young puppy coming in at 55 [years of age] and just beating everybody.”
Klassen surprised herself with her medal wins. Although she’s still one of the younger competitors at 60 years of age, she hadn’t competed in events like this since high school.
“In some of the longer races, they combine the men and the women,” Klassen says. “Some people were at least in their seventies and they were running the 1,500-metre [or even longer].”
Klassen estimates that there were around 300 participants in this year’s event, along with a large contingent of family and friends to cheer them on. Events took place within the community and surrounding area. The track events and opening and closing ceremonies were held at the Glenboro high school.
While she trained for her track events on hard surfaces back home, she was surprised to find that the school had no official track. She’d failed to bring cleats for the grassy section provided by the Glenboro school and didn’t anticipate the hilly, sandy trek which would affect her time in the predicted walk.
“When we all lined up, I leaned over and said, ‘If any of us falls, we’ll stop and help the other person up and then we’ll all run to the end, okay?’” says Klassen, making light of the casual nature in which the track races were set up.
The competitive spirit doesn’t only encompass physical challenges. Skill-testing games such as Whist, Cribbage, Snooker, and Scrabble brought in competitors from around the province, too. And, for the creative participants, a variety of arts and crafts were provided to round out the varied interests of today’s seniors.
The Manitoba 55+ Games are an initiative of the Active Living Coalition for Older Adults (ALCOA), which is comprised of 53 partner and supporting partner organizations committed to encouraging and promoting active aging in Manitoba.
“Our population of older adults is growing and we need to find solutions now to ensure that seniors are healthy, active, and able to fully participate and contribute to their communities,” states the ALCOA website. “With financial assistance from Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat and other funders, we act as a catalyst for change.”
With her recent wins and newfound zeal for competitive senior sport, Klassen has already booked her flight to the Canada 55+ Games being held in St. John, New Brunswick from August 21–24.
“It’s going to be beautiful, and so far they’re so welcoming,” Klassen says. “I paid $143 for [enrolling in the games], but you get the shuttles, a luncheon, a parade that we all come in with, a T-shirt, and there’s a gala supper.”
She teases that her husband is her only official sponsor, although he’ll be in Saskatchewan cheering on his beloved Roughriders during her Canada Games excursion later this summer. She’s booked herself into the Villa Madonna Retreat House during her stay in New Brunswick. Situated right on the ocean, she hopes a little rest and relaxation will be included in the adventure.
