Watch: Sask. senior wins gold at 55+ games in North Battleford

On an overcast, blustery morning in North Battleford, Bill Luzecky prepared for the run of his life.

His navy tracksuit sheltered him from the chilly spring air he paced the track and performed a strategic series of stretches.

“It’s very important to warm up my muscles before the run,” he explained. “The last thing I need at my age is an injury!”

The 79-year-old Regina man made his triumphant return to the track for the Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association 55+ Games.

Bill Luzecky has overcome many medical hurdles on his journey back to the track. The 79-year-old has had two open heart surgeries, and relies on a pacemaker. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

The last time Luzecky strapped on a pair of cleats, John Diefenbaker was still the Prime Minister of Canada.

“When I was in elementary school I was the fastest runner in the school,” he recalled with a smile.

His love for track and field stayed with him through his high school career, but he walked away from the sport after he graduated.

Luzecky decided to get back into running in January, inspired by the physical struggles faced by many other people his age.

“A lot of my school buddies have had knee replacements and hip replacements, and aren’t able to run anymore,” he said. “A lot of them can barely even walk. They have a walker for support or a cane. Some of them are even in wheelchairs.”

Luzecky, who hadn’t been active in decades, decided it was time to get moving.

His first stop on his journey of physical fitness was at his cardiologist’s office to get the all-clear following two open-heart surgeries and the implantation of a pacemaker.

“He said ‘Bill, if you train properly, you go right ahead and go full force,'” Luzecky recalled. “I got the green light and away I went!”

With his cardiologist’s blessing, Luzecky hired a coach and began training five days a week.

“My body really feels good. I feel better now than I have for the last 20 years,” he said.

Luzecky hasn’t ran competitively since 1963, but jumped at the opportunity when he heard about the Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association 55+ Games.

Margaret Gailing, provincial president of the Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association, says staying active has many benefits as people age. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Margaret Gailing is the provincial president of the Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association, a group that advocates for active living for all senior citizens. They hold the provincial 55+ games every other year in different municipalities around Saskatchewan.

Gailing says staying active has many benefits as people age, noting that she can see a difference in people who start incorporating some of the many activities available through the association into their lives.

“They’re much happier,” she said. “And staying active doesn’t have to be within the confines of physical activity!”

While running in a track meet may not be for everyone, the group also puts on cultural, social, and intellectual activities.

“We introduced photography this past year, and I was just overwhelmed with the number of people that have entered and are participating,” Gailing said. “And of course we have short story writing and poetry so there’s always an aspect of our games where you don’t have to be physical.”

North Battleford was bustling this week as 647 participants over the age of 55 arrived in the community to compete in 12 different events — 8-ball-pool, cribbage, five pin bowling, golf, kaiser, poetry and short story writing, slo-pitch, swimming, pickleball, photography, lawn bowling, and track and field.

“You know, there’s something for everybody,” Gailing said. “Our events are set up by age category, so that makes a choice for them that they can choose something that’s appropriate for them. It can be physical, social, whatever, and it’s just being involved and being engaged in the community. I’m finding that while everybody’s participating in an event, that social part really takes a lot of precedence. You know, meeting old friends… and making new ones.”

Luzecky arrived at Centennial Park in North Battleford nearly an hour before the 100 metre dash was set to begin on Wednesday.

Nerves and anticipation climbed as he ran through the set of warm up exercises he’d performed countless times throughout his months of training, and he used mental preparation techniques from his coach to help steer his mindset in the right direction.

“Once that gun sounds, everything is blocked out and I am focused on proper technique,” he said with a determined look in his eye.

Eight runners lined up for the men’s heat of the race, with Luzecky being the only competitor in the 80+ age category.

The starter pistol fired and the racers were off.

While their times varied, each and every man successfully crossed the finish line.

Luzecky spent the moments after the race catching his breath and shaking the hand of every other runner, congratulating them on a job well done.

He earned the gold medal in his age category with a time of 19.85 seconds, but said getting to be a part of the community of active seniors feels like a win in itself.

“It’s almost like a family. There’s never any animosity. Whether you come in first place or last place, nobody really cares. The main thing is, you did it!” he said.

Luzecky’s first-place finish in his age group has qualified him to attend the national games in Quebec this fall. While he isn’t sure if he’ll make the trip east, he is certain that he will never walk away from the sport of running again.

“As long as my body holds out, I’m going to continue,” he said.