Feeling sporty for your age? Senior Games may be for you

Feeling lucky and over 50? Maybe the Senior Games are for you. (Herald file photo)

Over 50 and feeling your oats? Well there are lot of Baby Boomers who are.

You may have vaguely heard of something called the Gulf Coast Senior Games. The series of athletic competitions have been around for 24 years in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

One of the perks of reaching 50 is that you are finally grown up enough to enter the Senior Games.

The next games are set for Feb. 19 - 24, 2013, and registration has begun.

The local games are one of 19 regional qualifying events across Florida for the statewide games which will be held next December in Polk County. The top five finishers in each event will advance.

Here are the events: golf, archery, shuffleboard , basketball, bocce, bowling, cribbage, cycling, golf, horseshoes, pickleball, racquetball, a 5K road race, swimming, table tennis, tennis and track & field.

Someone just asked, is there an eating competition? No sorry, I don't see that listed.

Registration fee is $12 and includes an event T-shirt. There is also a $3 fee for each event an athlete participates in.

Register by visiting www.mymanatee.org/parks, and clicking on Register Now. Registration must be completed by Feb. 1, 2013. There will be no registration on the day of events.

Are you thinking about it? I am. Maybe I'll see you out there.

Jim