Huntsville. Did I run like a rocket? No.
Again, this is pulled from memory and photos since I did not take many notes. Maybe one iphone screen of notes. Event highlight – Heat RAIN and lighting.
Before I get into Huntsville, I need to mention what happened to me on April 26th. I usually vacuum on Sundays but this time I decided to do so on Saturday. I was done with the living room and decided to do the hardwood hallway. I started to move forward with the vacuum then found myself going down, landing mostly rear right. I still can’t figure out how I landed on right butt with head hitting plastic crate ahead of me to the left. My body must have twisted right as I fell forward at an angle. I had tripped over the vacuum cord which was caught around my foot, Vacuuming can be quite dangerous unless cordless. Later, I checked for a bruise but didn't see one.
The next day I went to the track My notes indicate that left butt hurts (peculiar since I landed I thought on my right but maybe when I texted Angela of the incident, I had a brain slippage. But I don’t think so because I looked for bruise on right side.) I continued going to the gym doing dead lifts, glute and hamstring strengthening etc. However, on 4/30 I noted that the SI joint area, sacroiliac, hurt. By 5/27 I noted that I was starting to use lidocaine patches on the sacrum area. By this point I was having lots of discomfort just sitting on edge of bed when I arose. During this time and before going to Nationals I was having shockwave treatments near SI joint etc. I stopped going to sprint practice on Sundays after June 1. I began eliminating some gym activities, eventually the dead lifts and pulling the loaded sled. The sacrum area continued to be a problem but mostly okay after 15 minutes of walking. I have consumed much Ibuprofen, Advil Dual, and Tylenol 650 or 500 since April 26. Yes, Bobby, I take Tylenol.
Wednesday July 16
After dropping off dog for boarding and arriving at RDU airport, I picked up a cold brew coffee and a LeFarm scone at the airport. I ate one or two bites of the scone before departing Raleigh for Atlanta on July 16 at 11 am. (I have sworn off the huge pretzels LeFarm sells, minding my sodium intake. (Good girl!) I met Angela Staab in ATL where we took the same flight to Huntsville. Angela had already determined that the Huntsville airport was not far from the venue so we would be able to do packet pickup. Our flight landed at approximately 3:19. When we got to packet pickup, at Milton Frank Stadium, we realized how hot it really was. I have no idea what the temperature was but, wow, just walking on the track in the sun was an awakening. Barbara Warren who always updates us had texted it was 100 degrees. Angela was not going to like her longer track runs. I felt sorry for the folks staffing the packet pickup table. Yes, they had shade from a tent but
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| Mary Robinson |
the heat seeped in. As I recall, Robert Thomas arrived with a few others to prep for the event. Mary Robinson arrived before we left.
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| Angela and I laughing about the heat |
We stayed at the Embassy Suites, 800 Monroe St. We ate at the Olive Garden that evening as well as stopped and picked up lots of food – snacks etc – from Whole Foods (me yogurt and maybe fig newtons. We probably got cheese as well.)
Thursday July 17
Most of the senior group that hang out together had hammer at 07:45. Not hot. There were ten of us,
W75 up through W90 (Flo Meiler, 91) So it was a long competition. In the W75 AG, Myrle Mensey did her usual– out throwing everyone with a 42.99m (141 feet!) throw.. Mary Hartzler came in second in that AG, throwing 34.12m, and Barbara Warren came in third with 22.19m, followed by Mary Trotto throwing 17.54m. Catherine Bishop, whom I did not know, rounded out the age group, throwing 12.63m, I am glad I am not in that group (well, I would not mind being 75 again but I would not want to compete with them.)
In the W80, it was Catherine Radle with 18.69m, me with 17:00 (ah yes, got another 17!) and Mary Robinson with 12.24m. Elspeth Padia’s throw in the W85 AG exceeded those of many in younger groups – 20.46m (67’1”)! In W90 only Flo Meiler threw. Christel Donley’s shoulder prevents her from competing in this event. Flo threw 15.68m.
Flo Meier and Christel Donley have been competing against each other for eons. (Maybe when one is 90, it seems like eons.) Christel’s peak throwing days are in the past since her shoulder surgeries. She mostly throws using the forearm as the shoulder is not what it once was. Nonetheless, she wants to compete (as well as socialize.) Who can blame her? Track and field can be an addiction as well as something to look forward to and an incentive to keep going. So she is out there giving Flo competition.
While we were doing the hammer, Angela Staab was doing the 5000m on the track at 8am. She came in first in AG in 50:18.68. For me, doing a 5000m on a track is boring. I like road Races where there is something to look at.
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| screen showing field event |
At 11am the senior women’s (W60-84) pentathlon began. Not something I would do since I would only do one of the five events: 100m hurdles, high jump, long jump, 800m run, and shot put. Neringa Jakstiene continued her dominance in the W60 age group, collecting a score of 3905 to Janean Shannon’s 2952 of the five competitors. Caren Ware was third with 2434. Jill Yeomans and Joanne Shabelski fourth and fifth. Vicki Fox, Patricia Clemmons, and Jo Phelps (TNT) were the W65 medalists. Patricia is a North Carolinian who also throws. Kay Glynn and Lydia Woods (TNT) medaled in the W70 group. And then comes the battle between Mary Trotto and Barbara Warren in the W75 AG. Norma Hudnall won their group with 1417. Barbara ended up with 1193 to Mary’s 1103. Both TNT. In the W80 event Nancy Berger (TNT) excelled with 1203.
Angela who hates the heat had the misfortune, or choice, to run in the 4x800 TNT relay at 4pm. I happened to have accidentally taken a screen shot of my iphone’s home screen at 3:10. It was 91°. Nice and warm. She loves relays. Hates the heat. The relay won. For some reason, they ran with a younger team member, Lydia Woods so ended up in the 70 age group. The team consisted of Angela Staab (82), Lydia Woods (71), Mary Trotto (78) and Nancy Berger (80). The only other option they had was to run in the W75 AG with Barbara Warren instead of Lydia. They came in second to Atlanta’s W70 team, consisting of all 70s, which included Terry Ozell, a mid distance specialist. ATL time 16:27.81 and TNT’s 25:03.86. The heat won.
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| Christel pant leg laugh with Mary |
We ate at Embassy Suites that night. Christel Donley and maybe Mary Smith joined us. I am pretty sure Mary had brussels sprouts (baby cabbages!) I may have had the salmon, Angela probably a salad and soup and whatever Christel had she did not finish!
Friday July 18
Our first event was shot put at 8 (at 10am I had the 100 coming up) When there is a field event prior to one of my track events I always worry about having time to warm up for the track portion. So I look at how they combine age groups and how many there will be in our combined groups. Then I sort of figure out how many shot attempts I might get in. Hammer and javelin are the only field events I enjoy attempting. The rest are just “do it” ones.
Nine had registered, eight showed up. Four in my age group, three in the next oldest and two in the W90 – Flo Meiler and Christel Donley, of course! Catherine Radle threw the farthest in my AG, 5.94m, then Mary Robinson 5.76m, me 4.89m, then Angela 4.31m. My next to last throw was my farthest, the same was true for Catherine. Mary Robinson’s second was her best and Angela’s was her first. In the W85 it was Elsbeth Padia throwing 8.16m, her last throw, and Rose Green with 4.93m on her second (farther than mine just as she is faster than me.) Flo threw farther than Christel on her third throw with a throw of 5.51m, to Christel’s 4.67m On her fifth.
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| Mary Hartzler |
Kathy Bergen now in the next oldest age group, won her 100m in 17.97 establishing a new American and World record. Nothing unusual for her. Rose Green was second in 27.72. Flo Meler in the next older age group won in 26.4ve. Maybe not at 85 either.
Kathy Bergen won her 200m and high jump events and was second in discus.
I warmed up somewhat for the 100m. My right knee was taped and I did not feel any discomfort with that. The
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| Smith winning her 400m |
usual competitors were present with one I did not know. If it was hot at 10am I don’t think I noticed. Georgia Kightlinger won it in 21:04 followed by Catherine Radle 21.56, Mary Robinson 24.39, me 25.31, and Susan Hartman 42.40.
Also running the 100 was W35 Odeika Giscombe. She won it in 12.33. Her VLOGs on Youtube are fantastic! She has a very natural way of describing her day and event. I recommend watching them.
Mary Trotto and Nancy Berger did the 2000m Steeplechase later. Mary came in 4th with
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| W80 4x400 waiting |
time of 17:13.90 and Nancy in the W80 with no challengers (really – how many 80 year olds are doing steeplechase?!) came in in 16:20.44. One can count on one hand probably, the number of 90 year olds doing the steeplechase. One is Flo Meiler. Her time was 20.54.78.
At 2P.M., the W80 400m was contested. I, wisely, had not entered. Mary Smith won in 1:48,13, followed by Mary Robinson 2:02.24, then Nancy Berger the energized bunny in 2:06.29. Georgia Kightlinger and Myrna Barnett battled it out for fourth and fifth. Georgia got fourth with 2:13.35 and Mryna fifth with 2:13.41
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| Robinson Berger Kightlinger |
We had a 4x100 relay to end the day but the weather brought lightning and rain. Warren texted about the many lightning delays, one being 35 minutes. Fortunately there was lots of shelter beneath the stands. We had many such rain delays. At one point we were standing near the parking area. People kept walking out along the perimeter of the track. Paula Everdeen, USATF official, standing with us had to keep calling them back in warning about lightning. Usually it was the men who strolled out into the open. The delay before the relay may have been the longest. By this point I was having a lot of sacral area discomfort. Standing hurt. Eventually I found a chair to sit in after it was vacated.
It seemed like all of a sudden we were called to line up for the relay. i did not have my spikes on and ended up sitting on the ground trying to get them on with people milling around me. Angela helped me get myself together as I recall – taking my regular shoes from me and putting them back where we had been sitting. I was still trying to tie one shoe as we approached the gate to get onto the track. Someone gave me a safety pin for my lane number since it was not sticking. It just seemed so hurry up and go. Angela led off followed by Barbara Warren who handed off to Nancy Berger who handed off to me. I think I ended up as anchor though Berger is faster than me, because of my ineptness in passing or receiving the baton. There was no other W75 relay team so we got gold. Originally, I had been proposed as an alternate on the W40 team of Bambi (DaBeth Manns) but that relay form had not been turned in so i was saved from having to attempt a 400m. Our time was 1:53.41Mary Trotto ran with a W60 TNT
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| TNT 4x100 relay teams |
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| Colleen Barney soaking up the vibes |
That evening was the TNT team dinner held at Huntsville Art Museum associated Italian restaurant overlooking Big Spring Park, Pane e Vino (bread and wine.) It was tough finding parking space. Trotto managed to find a space by an inner wall that she just squeezed into. The area was quite popular with local and tourist citizens. Families strolled or sat around. There were sculptures and art work to admire walking to and at the restaurant. The Museum was closed by the time we arrived. I know I had wine and I also had lasagna. It was good. (Butternut squash ravioli was tempting.) This was much fun.
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| Warren & Trotto TNT dinner |
New members were introduced. I recall Angela Nealy and another lady whose name I don’t remember but I might recognize her. Everyone had to say something about themselves (a good thing for new folks to get to know others.) We were led by Kyle (no, I do not know last name) – in attendance were his brothers – founding members of this group.
Everyone MUST have a nickname. Trotto is Doc, I think, Angela is Lady A, Warren was Einstein but I think she wanted to change it, DaBeth Manns is Bambi!. Kyle might be Rev. I think Angela Nealy was assigned or chose Ambassador.
The Dancing Hare at the Art Museum was sculpted from wire by an NC sculptor, Josh Cote. Interesting write up at https://hsvmuseum.org/new-sculpture-unveiled-at-the-huntsville-museum-of-art/
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| Kyle making us laugh |
Saturday July 19
Angela and I and some others had javelin at 8am and some had the weight throw at 1:45. I had not signed up for the weight throw because of my sacroiliac problem. Instead, I went to the Huntsville US Space and Rocket Center. It was just Mary Robinson, throwing 7.50m and Angela throwing 6.30m.
In the younger competition it was Myrle Mensey 16.34m, Mary Hartzler 12.74m, Barbara Warren 9.15m and Mary Trotto 8.52m
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| Dancing Hare |
There was a rain and lightning delay before we could do javelin. Official Paula kept an eye out for those leaving the shelter of the stadium to go stroll the parking lot when the rain lightened but still under lightning delay. We had lots of such delays in Huntsville.
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| Paula Everdeen |
Javelin, one of my favorites though I am not so good found me behind Mary Robinson, 9.74m to her 11.71m. Angela threw 8.37m and Ann Carter 7.08m. Elsbeth Padia W85 threw a revolutionary 17.73. In this event, Mary Trotto threw farther than Barbara Warren, 15.26m to Barbara’s 14.27m Mary Hartzler threw 18.14m surpassing both.
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| Officials discussing weather delay |
Angela had the 800m run today at 12:50. She ran it along with Nancy Berger, who won in 4:55.66, Mryna Barnett (5:07.73). Angela ran 6:25.65, (I expect maybe in the rain since it rained at the Rocket Center.)
Interestingly, both Flo Meiler and Christel Donley had high jump and both jumped exact same height 0.86m (2’93/4 “). Flo was given first place. I know nothing about high jump nor how they decide though it looks like it took Christel 3 tries to get the height and Flo one. In the W85 Kathy Bergen was the only competitor and jumped 1.01m (3’33/4”) – Kathy’s favorite event perhaps.
Gosh, it is hard to put these ages down! These ladies do not seem to be the 85 an 90 year olds one sees in one’s home town.
So I went to the Rocket Center. I wanted to see the Saturn V engine display (the Apollo launch engines). It is not a replica but an actual Saturn V. I recall how awe inspiring the thrust of 7.6 million pounds was to watch all five engines firing (Great video of Saturn V engineer explaining construction & function
If one wants to know anything about our space endeavors these days, ask Barbara Warren who is into everything space.)
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| Beneath F1 engine nozzles |
Yes, it is still awe inspiring to see those engines and to stand below them. I toured the area, looking at Redstones and the other rockets. They had a replica of Skylab as well. It began raining while I was there. I had brought a raincoat which I put on while trouncing through puddles. Taking the hood on and off thouigh resulted in losing a Hawaiian beret with flower that Mary Trotto had giiven me. When I realized it was gone, I kept retracing my steps both inside and outside, to no avail. While I was searching, Terry and Phil Ozell arrived to gaze in awe as well. Unfortunately, my sacrum began hurting so I cut my visit short. I had done a lot of walking. I waited for an Uber but had no idea where it would pick me up. I recall it indicated a place but I did not know in relation to the Center entrance where it would be. And my low back was really becoming an issue. By the time I got back to the hotel, I was done!
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| F1 engine |
It seems I ate with Mary Smith and Christel Donley (and maybe
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| Phil and Terry Ozell |
MaryTrotto) but I have no idea where or what I ate!
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| Christel Donley & Mary Smith ready for dinner |
Sunday July 20
I had the 200m and discus since I did not have to do a 4x400. Angela had the 1500m at 8am along with Nancy Berger. Berger 9:59.16 and Staab 12:54.27 My 200m was around noon and discus at 2. Of the five who showed up for the 200m, I was last in finishing. Mary Smith 39.27, Catherine Radle 47.90, Georgia Kightlinger 49.30, Mary Robinson 51.66 and me 57.89.
In W35 Odeika Giscombe won with a time of 25.10. In W75, Brenda Steele Matthews won in 41.51, Mary Hartzler THE THROWER second in 42.39 (so maybe no longer just a thrower, eh?), Susan Aderhold third 46.79, Freddie Braxton fourth 47.32, Mary Trotto fifth 53.93 and Barbara Warren seventh 1:12.08 (amazing she runs on those feet!)
In discus, Ann Carter got first in our age group throwing it 11.07m. She also got first in triple jump (one of her favorites) second in long jump and fourth in javelin. Mary Robinson got second in discus with 10.97m and I got third with a throw of 10.95m, followed by Angela Staab throwing 10.15m. Angela was anxious to leave as her grandson and wife had arrived to watch and then they were to go out to eat, then on to Birmingham.
In the W75 contest, Mary Hartzler got first with a 23.63m throw, followed by Barbara Warren with 16.48m and Mary Trotto with 15.15m.
Elsbeth Padia and Kathy Bergen competed in the W85 group with Elsbeth throwing the farthest with 16.93m and Kathy with 15.55m.
The TNT women did well at this Meet. Many of them medaling in multiple events such that overall they got second place for women’s teams with 320 points, with fewer women than first place Atlanta Track Club with 716 points. SC Striders was third with 277 points. In the combined (men and women team scores, TNT was fifth with a point score of 354 out of 129 teams (some of which only had one person representing them.) we had fewer men than women present at this Meet. TNT Men were 21st out of 93 teams with a point score of 34.
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| Team TNT women 2nd place overall in points |
Waiting around for the presentation of the second place trophy was very uncomfortable for me. My sacral area did not stop sending intermittent shock waves Constant ache with shocks interspersed. I tried lifting a knee to see if I could get it to stop. No luck.
No doubt I ate at the hotel that evening.
After I returned, I had a shockwave treatment on the sacrum area. It did not really help in that I still had a problem later. And National Senior Games was coming up in a week.
So this was a whiny post. The next one re National Senior Games in Ames will be even more so!
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