Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

High Country Senior Games: Age is Just a Number to Participants

Story by Corinne Saunders

“I haven’t missed a year in 15 years,” said Beth Carrin, a 73-year-old participant in the High Country Senior Games. “I usually do at least 12 to 14 events.”

Carrin’s enthusiasm is obvious as she smiles continuously while talking about the senior games. She is an ambassador for the senior games, along with Jack Shirey, a 71-year-old who has participated in the games for the past four years.

They speak at senior centers and other venues to encourage participation for reasons that include fun, social opportunities and a healthy lifestyle.

“The highlight of the spring for me is playing at the senior games,” Shirey said. “It’s so much fun, you have to call it playing.”

Early bird registration for the senior games ended May 14, but seniors ages 55 and older who live in Watauga, Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties can still register for $12.

The games are also open to out-of-area participants, who can sign up for $20. Out-of-area participants who were not able to attend their local senior games can pay the additional fee and qualify for the state games through the High Country Senior Games.

Age categories are grouped by five years and participants must use the age they will be by December 31 of this year.

“With the senior games, you actually look forward to getting older, to be in the next category,” Shirey said.

Participating in the senior games “does change your whole perception about aging,” Carrin said. “You think that [your age] is a number but it doesn’t apply to you,” she said, adding that she certainly doesn’t feel like she used to think someone of her age probably would, and there is still a lot to look forward to.
The games provide a fun atmosphere where there is always an opportunity to try new events.

“There’s something anyone can do with any level of athleticism,” Carrin said.
Both she and Shirey look forward to trying new events at upcoming senior games.

“If there’s going to be a motto for the senior games, it’s this: ‘You don’t quit playing because you get old; you get old because you quit playing,’” Shirey said.
Older age is not necessarily the determining factor in the competitions.
“You assume that you have the advantage over someone older, but that’s not true at all,” Carrin said, adding that she once was beaten in racquetball by a woman more than 15 years her senior.

Registration for the games ends three days before the event(s) in which seniors wish to compete. The fee covers participation in any and all of the more than 40 events in the senior games, except bowling and golf that have additional fees of $6 and $35, respectively.

About 200 participants are expected for the High Country Senior Games that run from Saturday, May 17, to Sunday, June 8, said Holly Gates, assistant athletic director for Watauga County Parks & Recreation.

The events are held at multiple locations throughout the area and include everything from spin casting—casting a fishing line toward a target—to horseshoes to basketball to painting.

The SilverArts side of the senior games accepts entries in literary arts, performing arts, visual arts and heritage arts, such as quilting, woodwork, crochet, basket weaving, pottery and hooked rugs, to name a few.

Artwork will be displayed at Appalachian Brian Estates from May 19 to May 29 and medals will be awarded at the SilverArts banquet that will be held Thursday, May 29 at 5:30 p.m. at Watauga High School. The banquet also celebrates all seniors who participated in sporting events and costs $10 in advance or $12 at the door. It is open to the public and will be catered by Bandana’s Barbeque.
Around 20 seniors from the High Country qualify annually to go to the North Carolina Senior Games, held in the fall in Raleigh. The 2008 state games will be held September 22 to 28.

Carrin and Shirey qualify for the state competitions every year, Gates said.
“You want to see how you compare to people in your age group,” Shirey said. “I came in second last year in the 5K by two seconds.”

He had gone out to do his best and see how he stacked up against the competition, and he is determined to finish first the next time he competes, Shirey added.

Carrin has gone on to compete at the National Senior Games six times, at one of which she was given the honorary role as the torch bearer for the state of North Carolina in recognition for her athletic accomplishments.

At the local games, the male and female first, second and third place winners in each age category of every event are honored with medallions and plenty of hugs from the volunteers, Gates said.

Volunteers hand out medals and keep score during senior games events, and more volunteers for various events are still needed.

“At the football throw last year, members of the ASU football team were teaching seniors how to hold and throw the ball,” Gates said.

The High Country Senior Games are a much smaller event than those held in Raleigh or other large cities, and this fosters close relationships between participants, Gates added.

“Once you participate, you will continue to participate,” Carrin said. “Once you try it and see the benefits and joy you get from it, you come back.”

Several seniors who regularly participate in the games that have had accidents and/or major surgeries claim that their participation in the games has helped them recover more quickly than their peers who do not play, Carrin said.

The games are locally only held in the spring, but they promote year-round fitness. Seniors must keep up their activities year-round, both for an edge over the competition and for their own health. Carrin plays racquetball and Shirey runs throughout the year in preparation for the games.

Over the Creek & Through the Woods IX is the qualifier for the N.C. Senior Games 5K race and is also a senior games fundraiser that is open to the public. On Saturday, May 31, a 10K race will begin at 8:30 a.m., a Kids Fun Run at 9:30 a.m. and a 5K race at 10:00 a.m.

All participants will receive a race t-shirt and there will be a variety of prizes. The entry fee is $15 for either the 10K or 5K races, but free entry for those registered for the senior games. The KIDS Fun Run costs $10.

For more information about the High Country Senior Games, to register to run at Over the Creek & Through the Woods IX or to volunteer, call 828-264-9511.

The 2008 Schedule of Events

The 2008 High Country Senior Games will not only be fun for those competing, but also for spectators. Here’s the list from which to choose events you would like to watch and support your High Country seniors!

Saturday, May 17
1:30 p.m. Horseshoes Appalachian Brian Estates

Monday, May 19
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Enter Silver Arts Visual Entries Appalachian Brian Estates
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Bowling - Doubles Boone Bowling Center
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Bowling - Mixed Doubles Boone Bowling Center

Tuesday, May 20
9:00 a.m. 1500 M Race Walk ASU Track
12:30 p.m. Table Tennis Avery Senior Center
1:30 p.m. Bridge Appalachian Brian Estates

Wednesday, May 21
9:00 a.m. 1500 Meter Run ASU Track
9:15 a.m. 800 Meter Run ASU Track
9:30 a.m. 5K Race Walk ASU Track

Thursday, May 22
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Bowling Singles Boone Bowling Center
2:00 p.m. Billiards Family Billiards Country Retreat

Tuesday, May 27 (Rain Date: Tuesday, June 3)
9:00 a.m. 100 Meter Run ASU Track
9:15 a.m. 200 Meter Run ASU Track
9:30 a.m. 400 Meter Run ASU Track
10:00 a.m. Awards for Track Events ASU Track
10:15 a.m. Bocce Singles ASU Track
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Spin Casting ASU Track
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Softball Throw ASU Track
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Football Throw ASU Track
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Discus ASU Track
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Shot Put ASU Track
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Standing Long Jump ASU Track
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Running Long Jump ASU Track
12:00 p.m. 1 Mile Fun Walk ASU Track
1:30 p.m. Awards for Field Events Yosef Room
3:00 p.m. Racquetball Tournament ASU Quinn Center
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Basketball Shooting ASU Quinn Center
4:00 p.m. 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament ASU Quinn Center

Wednesday, May 28
2:00 p.m. Shuffleboard Tournaments Linville Land Harbor
5:30 p.m. Volleyball Old Cove Creek Gym
5:30 p.m. Softball Big Industrial Field

Thursday, May 29
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Pick-up Silver Arts Entries Appalachian Brian Estates
5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Grand Celebration Banquet Watauga High School -
Silver Arts Visual Display Catered by Bandana’s Barbeque
9:00 p.m. Pick-up Silver Arts Entries Watauga High School

Saturday, May 31
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Swimming Watauga Swim Complex
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. On-Site Registration for 5K & 10K Run and Kids One Mile Fun Run Wynne Picnic Shelter - WCP&R
8:30 a.m. 10K Road Race Greenway Trail
9:30 a.m. Kids One Mile Fun Run Greenway Trail
10:00 a.m. 5K Road Race Greenway Trail

Monday, June 2
9:04 a.m. Golf - First Tee Time Boone Golf Course

Saturday, June 7
9:00 a.m. Tennis Sugar Mountain

Sunday, June 8
2:00 p.m. Tennis Sugar Mountain