Georgia Magazine - May 2017 - 17

Andrea Harrison, 83, Newnan
Andrea Harrison is set to compete in
the 2017 National Senior Games in Birmingham, Ala. But her athletic career got off to a
late start.
"I began running when I was 50," she
says. "At the time, my son was on a crosscountry team, and I started running around
the neighborhood with them."
And she hasn't stopped. In 2014, she
heard about the Georgia Golden Olympics
from a friend and signed up for the 5K. At
the 2015 national games in Minnesota, she
came in third in her age class, finishing in 38
minutes and 13 seconds. Now she runs at
least 2 miles six days a week.
"I've slowed down a bit, and I shuffle
more than I run," Harrison says. "But I'm
very thankful I'm healthy, and my knees
have been fine. I've been very fortunate."
Harrison has also inspired some of her
six children. Last September, her daughter,
Ruthanne Wilson, qualified for the National

Senior Games and will be running in the 50
to 54 age group and playing mixed doubles
with one of her brothers in Birmingham.
Harrison's husband, Terry, 85, entered the
Georgia swim competition last year.
"It's turned into a bit of a family affair,"
she says. "It's fun to be active together.
They're also my biggest cheerleaders. In
Minnesota, a bunch of them showed up with
signs and T-shirts that said 'Gammy's Groupies' on them!"

Donald Hall, 68,
Dunwoody
At 40, Donald Hall
got into triathlons, but
he hadn't been on a
bike since childhood.
Taking up cycling
turned out to be a
life-changing choice.
In 1991, the "reformed
More

COURTESY DONALD HALL

Below: Runners kick off the 10K road race,
held at the Minneapolis State Fairgrounds
in St. Paul, Minn., during the 2015 National
Senior Games.

Supporting Andrea
Harrison, second from
right, at the 2016 Georgia
Golden Olympics are,
from left, her son Will
Harrison, granddaughter
Maddie Harrison, daughter Ruthanne Wilson and
husband Terry Harrison.

COURTESY ANDREA HARRISON

Over the years, the purpose of
the games has remained constant,
she says.
"It's always been to keep older
citizens active and moving to prevent chronic diseases or maintain
their current fitness levels. But when
I ask them why they participate, the
No. 1 answer I get is 'for the competition.' It's not about wellness or
socialization or improving health. I
think that's amazing!"
The games are still held in Warner Robins, and events are staged
at venues around town. Last year's
contests in September attracted 785
participants, and the most popular
competitions were golf, swimming
and cycling. In fact, the cyclists are
usually the largest group in any
given year, ranging from 80 to 120,
says Pilgrim.
But not all events are as demanding as a 500-meter freestyle
swim. Among the less taxing are
basketball free throw, checkers,
horseshoe toss, pickleball, football
(Continued on page 18)

Donald Hall

Learn more

May 2017

BENJAMIN MORRIS

* National Senior Games:
June 2-15, Birmingham, Ala.
nsga.com
* Georgia Golden Olympics:
Sept. 27-30, Warner Robins.
georgiagoldenolympics.org

More online at www.georgiamagazine.org

17
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - May 2017
