For me – Half of a National Outdoor Meet 😔
My discharge from the hospital was on June 7, 2023. The USATF Masters Outdoor Meet in Greensboro, NC was to be July 20-23.
Since I was using a walker when first discharged, the probability of my going to the Meet was not good.
By June 10, I was able to go to Whole Foods to return an Amazon pole lamp, using the cane to walk. I began going up the driveway to the mailbox using the cane. By the 15th or so, I started walking in the area, using or carrying the cane. I progressed to longer walks that included some mild inclines. Very mild. I was still having breathing issues. It was very hard to go on that block long very slight uphill without having to stop and catch my breath. That became my measuring criteria – could I walk that block without having to stop. That day came but I was for sure huffing and puffing at the end of the block.
I began walking just carrying but not using the cane. It was my security blanket. Then came the day, when I went for longer walks which included a much longer, uphill walk with a steeper incline. That one was very tough. I was very slow going up it. It became my new measuring mark.
By month’s end, I still carried the cane but my stamina had improved such that I knew I could get up the incline more easily. However, this did not look good for the Greensboro Meet. For sure, running was out of the question. I still had the bad knee issue but lack of stamina – endurance – was an issue still to be contended with. Throwing was a question as well. I remembered the prior October at Huntsmen Games in Utah when my knee was so bad I could not run at all to throw the javelin. I was back to that hindrance again, plus the breathing issue. Shot and discus did not require running nor did hammer. I also was not ready to even practice throwing yet.
I kept walking and increasing distance, mainly so that my end of the month pulmonary visit would be okay. When I did go on June 29th, it was more of a review of my situation. The pulmonologist said they would not run any tests until two months further down the line so as to give the lungs time to heal. The blood thinner I continued to take (until year end) would work on dissolving the clots that remained (unknown, actually).
I decided to sign up for just the throwing events because even though I would be a blah, I could enjoy seeing the other tracksters.
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| LG Angela Staab Mary Robinson |
Into July, I just kept walking. Every day at least two miles, sometimes up to four. About a week prior to the Meet, I tried some throwing. The javelin was a stand and throw – I could not run and balance would be a problem if I even tried. The other three implements were just so so. I could not practice the weight but that would be bad regardless.
Because just about all of the throwing events were scheduled for early – 7 or 7:30, I had to go to packet pickup on the 19th, the day before the first event. Angela Staab was not sure she could make it during the hours it was available to also check in any implements (starting at 2pm) she asked it I could meet her beforehand and take her stuff there. So we decided to meet there around 1pm so she could give me her implements and then run off.
When I got there, Angela was there talking to some folks. (As I am late in doing this – it is now the end of March 2024, my recollection for this Meet will be spotty.) I think we both got our implements down to the inspection place then Angela took off. I left right after for my hour and a half or so drive home.
The day of my first event, Friday, I believe was the hammer. I thought this would be my better event but for the first time, on one of my attempts, the hammer hit the ground as I was swinging it. So that was a dud. I am pretty sure I did lousy in that event but I got to talk to my pals which was a positive. (10.98m for 3 out of 3) I wore my heavier Bayleaf shorts because they have great pockets for cell phone and keys, but when someone asked if I was hot, I realized they were a bit heavy for the weather we were having.
After the hammer we had shot put. I came in third only because Angela Staab had to pass on one throw because she was on the track running and then fouled on another because she rushed. My shot was 4.38m to Angela’s 4.34!
The twins, Linda Harper and Laura Hessel were there to throw, though in the younger age group.
I drove home after the Meet, taking the hammer with me. I mention this because later in the Meet I had a brain drop. I was putting the javelin in the car as well as the shot etc and then realized I did not have the hammer. I was thinking that I might have left it in the parking lot while talking to a pal parked nearby. I went to lost & found etc and worried and wondered. Only to have someone mention I might have taken it home that first day. I did not know for sure until I returned home on that Sunday to find, that, yes, I had indeed brought it home.
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| Barbara Warren |
who had had a knee replacement around April 19th was there and she did the pent , which she won in her age group. It included the 80m hurdles (probably stepping over them), but not the pent’s 800m. Later on Sunday she did the 200m hurdles coming in third. She did all of the throws. and attempted the pole vault. She also did all the jumps! triple jump coming in second. Long Jump coming in third. And the high jump coming in third. Come on! Yikes!
Saturday was the
javelin throw and I was 4 out of 4. I did not run just threw
(8.52m). For comparison, Kathy Bergen Kathy Bergen
who got first threw
14.88m (48’10”). Barbara Warren in the younger age group
got second to Mary Trotto, throwing 11.69m to Mary’s 14.30m.
I don’t recall if Barbara ran for her throw. We were all happy to
see Katherine Radle after her dreadful health experience
during the Indoor Championships. She so wanted to do the pole vault
but was not ready yet. My weight throw got 4th out of 4
(4.72m)
Sunday I came in fifth in discus throw with 10.98m.
I sort of missed running but not too much because there was no way I could run. My breathing was still too limited to get very far.
