Stay strong with Iowa Senior Games

Editor's note: Mike Gunn, a junior at Cedar Rapids Prairie, is working a 45-hour internship with The Gazette through Kirkwood's Workplace Learning Connection.

By Mike Gunn, The Gazette

CEDAR RAPIDS - Athletes have a competitive fire inside that drives them the extra mile.

For some, that fire never dies.

The Iowa Senior Games provides an opportunity for more than 1,000 athletes to compete in 30 different sports and 100 different events.

The athletes are all 50-years-old and older and range from those trying to stay in shape to those who wish to feed their competitive fire.

The goal of the Senior Games is to build a healthier lifestyle for Iowans over 50.

'We feel that there is a growing population of the over-50 crowd,” said Chuck Long, Executive Director of the Iowa Sports Foundation, which runs this event along with the Iowa Games. 'Many have stayed active, but we want to get more of them active.”

The Senior Games may help contribute to this goal, but the it focuses on building a healthier lifestyle for Iowans.

'We want to make sure we teach all Iowans, in this case seniors, to live a healthier lifestyle,” Long said. 'We are trying to introduce games to the seniors so they can keep it going after they are done with us.”

The Senior Games are June 10-14 in West Des Moines. Registration still is open. Click here for more information.