Are you 50 and female? Thinking that your sports life has ended? NOT SO! Now more than ever, there are a variety of chances and opportunities for you to get out there and enjoy your favorite sport or to find new ones. I’m here to tell you, the world does not come to an end when you turn 50. In fact it just begins. Case in point: One of my best friends is a 75 year old woman. Small and petite, she still gets out there and runs every day. She goes to the gym three times a week to work with a trainer, and competes in the local 5K races. She may not come in first, but she’s not last either. Fact is she’s tops in her age group, beating out at least five other woman in the age 70-85 age group. She doesn’t stop there either, she looks for other sports to try, some she likes and continues and some she doesn’t. Point is, she gets out there and does it. You can to.

There are many resources for the sports minded woman. When I look for new sports to try, my first resource is the Internet. The Internet is full of running clubs, hiking clubs, horse and other sport organizations. We woman have more available to us today than ever before. We have woman only gyms, and world of woman health and sport magazines. My favorite is Her Sports – www.hersports.com. We have 50 plus organizations with loads of ideas and support. So don’t allow anyone tell you that turning 50 is the end and you can’t complete anymore. Or that you just need to get out to exercise – but be careful you might break something. What is that all about? Get out and prove them wrong. Join a local gym, get out there and show that them that this tough old bird still has a lot going on.

I’ve never been real competitive in sports, but I do love a good challenge. And with a military injury, it is hard for me to do some sports like running. Sometimes hiking, biking and even dancing throws me out for a while, but that doesn’t stop me and an injury shouldn’t stop you. Heavens no! Ladies, as the old saying goes – “if you fall off the horse, get back on”. If your injury keeps you on the sidelines for a while, find another sport to try that doesn’t require you to stress your injury. I have learned and excepted that running is not for me and I just don’t like golf. So I let others run for me and I am a great cheering section. Same goes for them, many are scared of horses or guns, but they are right there watching me compete. I have found a whole another world of women sports – sports where I don’t have to run. Sports that normally you wouldn’t think to find women. Sports like orienteering, archery, and skeet shooting are great for woman who like to challenge themselves. Yes, I said shooting. Target shooting is great fun and easy to learn. Most of these sports have women competitions and encourage women to join their programs. There is more to sports than running, hiking and golf. Don’t settle for less than what you want.

Here are a few Internet links for woman interested in trying new or different sports.

Her Sports www.hersports.com

Active.com www.active.com

Woman’s Sports Foundation www.womanssportsfoundation.org

Woman’s Trail Bikes and Tea Society www.wombats.org – this is a fun site

Woman’s Sport Net www.womanssportsnet.com

Becoming and Outdoors Woman www.uwsp.edu/cnr/bow/ – another fun site

The Outdoor Woman www.theoutdoorwomen.com