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It’s a Thursday afternoon and Alta Gaines and Lu Kline are in their happy place.

The duo step into Echo Lanes and it’s not long before the crack of the bowling pins has them smiling. Gaines, who is 94 years-old, tosses a strike, and Kline, who is 92, knocks down most of the pins in front of her.

The duo recently won Echo Lanes Senior League, which features players who are 55 and older, and they’ve been bowling together for over 40 years.

Gaines and Kline also won the doubles event for senior women at the Minnesota Seniors State Bowling Tournament.

Kline had put up series scores of over 600 and Gaines has had some success as well, but both joke that their best days are behind them.

That doesn’t mean that they aren’t having a blast.

“We’ve been bowling forever,” Gaines said. “We have fun with it. When we stop having fun, we’ll quit playing. That might be tomorrow.”

Kline and Gaines have both bowled with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They can still hold their own and roll with the best of them, no matter the day.

“I’ve got good genes, I suppose,” Kline said. “Bowling is a great way to be social and that’s a big part of it.”

Gaines said that bowling keeps her in shape and it also keeps her out of the house.

“You get a lot of friends through bowling, and sometimes you get competitive enemies,” Gaines said.

While some people give up their favorite pastimes or sports early in life, Kline and Gaines are proof that you don’t have to quit due to your age. Their secret to staying active is as simple as the old Nike saying.

Just do it.

“Get out, get up and get going,” Gaines said.

Kline throws on Thursdays and Gaines throws on Tuesdays and Thursdays.