USATF Masters Indoor ABQ -- Cough, Cough, Flop Flop

March 2^nd. After an awe inspiring flight over geological upheavals, glacial scrapings, and earthquake crevices (are the plates separating?), a flight change in slot machine land of Vegas, I arrived in Albuquerque, sans my checked bag.  Well, I had some track clothes and my shoes. I could survive.

Since I was two hours ahead of my pal Angela Staab, I had time to leave my carryon at the hotel and venture out into the dark streets of ABQ.  It had been 37 years since I was last here – I was a lot younger.  However, I am still just as stupid or foolhardy depending upon how one views it.  I was headed for a store where I could purchase a room spray (nerves, anyone?) in case needed. So, off I walk down the absolutely deserted Lomas Blvd.  It was around 7 p.m. Downtown was totally deserted. Folks must flee like mice from a trap when office hours end.  Why worry about crime when there was no prey to be pounced upon?  What a contrast to downtown Raleigh.  We still have life (restaurants, bars, runners etc) after dark right in the midst of government buildings.  

Lomas, at night

I had no idea how far Lowes Market would be – nor how long an ABQ block is.  After much walking I see a fellow carrying plastic grocery bags approaching. Yes, a trackster.  He tells me it is about 5 more blocks.  I jog a bit.  No breathing problems. (home altitude 479', ABQ altitude 5280') Well, I think, running here may not be too bad.  I found the store, got my goodies including fruit, and begin the trek back.  Did I mention that I had passed at least three bail bond places along the way?  Should I need bail, I now was prepared to direct the poor sucker who would have to post my bond. (not included in USATF fees?) 

one of many bail bond places

Next up along Lomas was the courthouse, then, as I turned towards the hotel, two ABQ PD cars and, apparently their constabulary HQ. I snuck a photo and went on my way.

court house

March 3^rd. In the morning, Angela and I went to find something to eat (neither of us had received the complimentary hotel breakfast passes.) So, off we go down Lomas again.  We find the big orange chair 

and spot a few folks, but mostly, the streets are deserted.  The bodies are busy in their office cubby holes.  We had been directed to a place on Central Ave.  When we got there what we found were mostly closed (like permanently) businesses. Angela is quite uneasy now.  We turn around and head back up Lomas finding a burrito place (not for breakfast, thank you) and then, on a corner, a small restaurant. We enter and right away I see it does not feature bacon and eggs or anything similar.  There is a guy in there, seeming a bit off,  mumbling and counting change on the counter. I have a feeling he might ask us for money since he is talking about needing money for rent. However, he gathers his change and leaves.  Angela decides to order some kind of omelet bagel, I think, and I, with misgivings, ordered an egg bagel with cheese. Angela is surveying the cooking area.  Cataloguing the unclean areas.   Both of us later felt not so hot.  (I should have gotten the bagel with cream cheese – better, yet, left!) 

After this we ventured out to Old Town, where we walked, surveyed, marveled, and ate ice cream. Later in the afternoon, we walk to the Convention Center to get a look at the track (which, it turns out, is temporary and will be dismantled when the event is over.)  After we both declared for our events and picked up our packet, we entered the track area.  The backside of the stands faced us.  I spot the edge of the curved track.  Scary. Curving up, then around and down to the back stretch.

facing back halfway

near 200m start

  I ventured up onto it. At first, slowly trotting around.  Others were slowly running.   One fellow, Joey Shelton (35), was setting up and testing blocks in Lane 6, the outermost and most banked lane.  I had been thinking of using blocks in the 400 (which I never do) because I am so much slower than my competitors.  However, looking at the banking and talking to Joey, that idea went right up the smokestack.  No way. Even on a flat track, I am not sure using blocks is an advantage for me.

Mary Robinson and Mary Hartzler arrive.  We chat and all of us step up onto the track.  Eventually, I try actual running. Oy!  Gasp gasp.  Very quickly I run out of breath. I can’t even get beyond the back stretch before in oxygen deprivation.  Sure, I have not warmed up, but, gee, so quickly?  What is this bit about thin air being an advantage to sprinters? A fable, IMO.  I walked and later tried again at a very moderate pace.  Still a great effort.  I leave the track less than optimistic, already worried that I might not finish the next day’s 400m without needing to walk before running even 200m.

Angela and I ate at Standard Diner on Central. 

It was a good meal, just too filling.  I had to forgo the slice of fruit pie (rhubarb plus another fruit.)

All night long when I should have been sleeping, I visualized the 400m and various tactics I might use.  Like my dreaming dog, my feet kept moving.  Exhausting, running a race before it even started.

March 4^th.  My 400m is not until 1 p.m. so I have some breakfast oatmeal and a few slices of bacon.  Usually, I do not eat. But today there was plenty of time. Angela and I are both running the 400m so we go over together.

Right away, we are greeted with a woman being wheeled out on a gurney in obvious distress.  From pain or disappointment or both.  (It was Australian Marie Kay (56).  Injured during penthalon high jump. Pulled hamstring prognosis at the time.  Saturday, she was able to walk, however.)  Angela and I looked at each other, feeling more trepidation.  We entered the track area to see Christel Donley (80) on crutches, and hearing Peter Taylor (event announcer) calling for a trainer to come to the track.  Another injury!  Yikes!  Later, I found out that Irene Obera had also gotten injured doing the 60m hurdles, hitting the second hurdle and falling on her back! (Only to get up and finish second!)

Obera 60mH - Courage!

  I allowed at least an hour to warm up, which for me means getting beyond a walk, which is all I can handle an hour before an event.  It is a slow progression to feeling able to more than walk.  I try to recall some of the Camp Gladiator warm up tasks and incorporate some (but not at the same seemingly unending effort.)  I meet Mary Smith, the Colorado Springs competitor who has a jaw dropping 400m time. I have already mentally placed her in the same category as my 60m and 200m competitor Kathy Bergen – not bloody likely to catch her.  Certainly not at my current times.  Jeanne Daprano arrives.  Previously, when we have been in the same 400m (SouthEastern Outdoor Masters) I have always eaten her track dust. (coughing up a storm after.) Then she aged up. I have been spared these past four years. It is very dry inside the track. I easily run out of air during warm up.

When it is time to get on the track, our cat-herding lady leads us, the oldest women, out to the track. (This official was superb at her job throughout the Meet.  Clear instructions, patience, and one could hear her!) Besides Mary and Jeanne, there is Irene Obera, the 82 year old phenom still continuing her events despite the earlier slam to ground, and unstoppable 87 year Sumi Onodera-Leonard.  I get lane 2, Sumi on my left in lane 1, then on my right with increasing track banking, are Mary Smith lane 3, Jeanne Daprano lane 4, and Irene Obera Lane 5.  I tried to stay calm (my FitBit heart rate as we had approached the track was already at 106.)  I stayed in a standing start pose (less chance of losing balance). So, off we go. 

And there goes Mary Smith followed by Jeanne.  I lagged way behind these two, especially on the back stretch.  I tried to synch my breathing with my left foot. After we passed the cones marking where we could cut into lane 1, Jeanne sped up.  Now I was farther behind the two leaders.  I was breathing, yes. I was moving, yes.  But pushing it on that second pass along the back stretch was not happening.  With such a big gap between me and Jeanne, I abandoned my plan of the evening before and stayed in lane 1 at the curve. Not until the home stretch did I give my last, trying, though knowing it was futile, to catch Jeanne.  I finished third and went into a gasping coughing spell.  Mary Smith’s time was 1:25.1 and Jeanne’s was 1:30.2

Daprano and Smith

While I was coughing away, Irene came in at 2:14.59 and steadfast Sumi trekked along the back stretch, sometimes slowing and bending over.  I don’t know how she does it.  About half way down the home stretch she picked up her pace and came across the Finish in fine fashion. (4:03.60)  A track star, she came back after a devastating auto accident. (https://www.growingbolder.com/sumi-onodera-leonard-963/)  I am fortunate to be on the same track as these folks.  (thank heavens, Masters does not require qualifying as does National Senior Games! I never would have made it.) 

The 400m video

400m video

The coughing continued as I exited the track.  A Medical fellow asked if I needed aid.  Not if it means any drug, said I.  Nope, oxygen, says he.  I said no, but that might not have been a bad idea.  The coughing was incessant.  Others were also having this problem throughout the Meet.  Between my exercise induced asthma in  longer track events, the effect of track particulates and the ABQ sea level, I whttp://www.usatf.tv/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=45365as a mess.  Pretty dreadful.

Angela had some field events and she as well as Mary Robinson did the 400m (both now in a younger group than me.)  Mary looked smooth coming around the track.  She has a good stride; and Angela kept up a good pace, conquering her fear of being in an outer lane for the first half of the race.  Mary won her AG.  Of course! Kathleen Frable, of Utah, came in second, also handling an outer lane quite well. However, Barbara Hensley, racing Frable to the Finish line, somehow found herself face down on the track, just short of the line.  She edged to the line to get her mark, leaving blood on the track.  Determination! Angela, coming along after, squeezed by the prone Hensley and track official.  She met her goal of finishing before her major competitor. By Sunday, Barbara still had a bit of a bruise on the bridge of her nose.  

70-74 400m video

I watched Antwon Dussett(40) set a new American record, finishing in 49:32!  These guys and women of the younger set are a joy to watch as they speed around the track.  The spectator seats were superb. One could watch all the events if sitting a few rows up.  I watched some of the folks go whizzing by while standing on the back stretch.  Thundering feet as they approached the banked curve towards the front stretch.  Zoom! Gone. 

Dussett's 400m video

hot race

SPEED!

Was I ever thirsty!  I did not notice the concession area until Saturday.  Lesson learned. Our Piedmont Pacer teammate, Carl Dixon Cook had arrived so we ate Asian that evening.  Yum.

March 5^th.  Up early, ready, sort of, for my 60m. Kathy Bergen, world champ would run away with it but maybe I could keep up with the other AG entry – except – she had scratched.  I grabbed a slice of toast and some coffee shortly after 6 a.m.  Race was to be at 8 a.m.  At the Convention Center, I went through my routine of warming up, drinking some beet juice, and then changing to my track shoes and sucking down some gel.  So, I am sitting there, along with other competitors.  It is about a quarter of eight and in walks Kathy, still in warm-up clothes.  Huh?  We had to be ready at quarter of.  Wow, I think, she really does not warm up much.  Then, Mary Robinson walks in. Huh?  Huh?  She is also running the 60m. Unlike her to be late.  Mary enlightens me – the 60m is at 9 a.m., not 8 a.m. Arrgh! I had mentally switched Sunday’s start time with Saturday. Learn to double check, woman! So, here I am, all warmed up with an hour to go. Ugh.  I don’t want to expend more energy warming up all over again, so I sort of mosey around, doing a jog or two and other things until the real queue time arrives.

While we are waiting, there is an endless stream of men running 60m prelims.  I think I counted 63 or so at one point. An incredible number of heats (some with 3 folks, some with many more.) All within about a fifteen minute span.  One wonders how the announcer, Peter Taylor handles it.  Non Stop. He seemed to go all three days without a break.  Wind him up and give him a mike! There were also last minute lane changes, some scratches, and for the runners at times confusion as to whether the lane assignment numbers went on left or right hip (longer races: left hip, right shoulder; short events left hip.) There were some false starts (I spotted the fellow on the raised platform at the side, watching, ready with the false start gun.)

This time, they merge AGs 70 and up. I will be racing with Mary Robinson again.  Good.  Besides Kathy and Mary, there is also Irene Obera and Sumi Onodera-Leonard.  I have Kathy on my right and Mary on my left.  This event is run on the flat infield of the track.  I could use blocks but had decided not to. Sometimes, I have a better start, sometimes the same as a 3-point.  Nothing would help me catch Kathy so it is Mary I have to contend with.  By now, I have corrected my SouthEast Region Indoor Masters 3-point start screwup, so I am comfortable with it.  Gun! Kathy is gone. 

Rob Jerome Photo

 I am playing catch up to Mary.  We race together to the end. I think she has gotten it, but as we walk back to get off the track, she looks at the results and zounds, again, there is a 1/100^th second difference between us. (last year – the same thing, only this time we switched who had it.)  Are we evenly matched or what?  Kathy had run to set a new World Record of 9:49, beating her old World Record of 9:55.  As I said – no catching her. Feels as if we are running different heats!

60m video

I had lost my watch at the event on Friday.  Not found. So, I decide to try to buy a new cheapo somewhere.  The somewhere is the problem.  I figure, maybe at a drugstore (Walgreens?) The hotel tells me there is a drug store by Old Town, about 2 miles.  I have no car so it is hoof time again. I don’t know how far it really was, but there were no stores between hotel and Old Town that would carry a watch. I stopped at a gas station that said, oh, yeah, Old Town is down at the next light.

side alley along lomas

street art

  Relieved, I continued on. What I did not comprehend is that in ABQ, the “next” light could be a mile or more away!  I found Walgreen’s. No watch.

 Now, I have to hoof back in time to watch Lesley Chaplin's 60m Final at 1 p.m.  Lesley, a middle distance runner, was trying the 60m for perhaps the first time. She had run a good time in the prelim.  I had 40 minutes to get back. I jogged a bit and walked.  Huff puff.

I got to the track in time to watch the event.  I thought she had a good time, but her reaction to the 60m is like mine to the 400m – never again!  I planned to watch Betty Schaefer (SoCal Striders) do the 60m hurdles.  There was a long wait, so I decided to have my right knee taped before the relay. (My own taping was peeling off.) By the time I got back into the track area, Betty had hurdled! No mishaps!

I have always read about Bill Collins, a speed demon.  I had not heard that he had developed Guillain-Barre disease.  I know how physically debilitating that can be.  He is, however, back!  At age 65, he was competing in the 60m.  I watched it from the back stretch area.  A tall lanky looking fellow he ran fast enough to almost climb the padding at the end of the track and to set a new American record for M60 of 7.69 seconds, as did Ty Brown (M70) with 8.11 seconds.  It takes a lot of mental fortitude to hang in there and push oneself back to competition caliber. Collins deserves all the accolades he has had in the past and more so now.

I rooted for Kathy Wolski (W50) of So Cal in the 1500m.  When she ran at JDL during the SouthEast Region Masters, she looked like a little girl, but a fast little girl. She won her AG in ABQ in 5:18.08

Wolski

And now we get to the infamous relays.  These were to be run at 5 p.m.  Angela and I returned to the track just before 4.  After warm up, as we walked into the track area, yet another woman was being wheeled out, this one in a chair, with both legs being held straight out. She was grimacing, in agony. She appeared to be in her 40s or 30s.

While we waited for the W30-104 4x800 relay to complete (Wolski, SoCal, blazed an opening 800), we got our instructions for the non club 4x200. (Four teams would be competing - the 50s,55s, 60s, and 70s)  We'd decided to make it the W70s versus the W60s, with our Mary Robinson’s pal Mary Hartzler running with the 60s. A competition in the making.  Mary tells us to pass to, and take, the baton with our left hand, so that we will be positioned properly to take the curve and see the lane ahead.  Yes, ma’am. The last two 4x800 runners were coming down the home stretch making a real race of it. The SoCal runner was slightly in the lead, but the blue team runner (non club) was closing the gap fast. And then she fell. Just short of the Finish line. What is going on here?

Our turn.  The leadoff runners are queued up at the appropriate start line for their assigned lane.  We start in lane 2. The second runner of each team is positioned between the taped blue lines, (The start of the passing zone was short of the Finish line.) Runners 3 and 4 of each team was held to the side. Gun fires. Mary takes off.  Angela Staab, our second runner is positioned in lane 2 by the track folk within the blue passing zone.  Lesley Chaplin (non club 55-59 team) passes to their 3^rd runner. Mary Robinson comes down the home stretch, Angela, in the passing zone in lane 2 starts running.  Mary passes off to her left hand.  Angela has a nice pace going around to the back stretch.  The non club 50s pass to their third runner; and their number two then promptly falls off the track into the infield!  (flop flop!) Barbara Hensley, our third runner, is up next . She starts moving and takes the baton from Angela with her left hand.  Off she goes.  The 60s are ahead of us.  Meanwhile, the track official is saying to the remaining anchors: “Are you one, two, or three?”  Huh?  What’s he talking about.  Meanwhile, Barbara, running well, is coming towards the last turn.  What do you mean 1, 2, or 3?  Shoot! I’m not going to know what he means before Barbara is here!  Panic.“Is your runner, one, two or three?”  Now there are really only two teams left on the track.  Barbara is approaching the final turn. I am out on the track.  I finally figure out he means is my teammate first, second, or third of those approaching?  Third! (Now two as the 50s team finishes.)  We let the 60s woman go by and pass her baton. I wait for Barbara.  I wait!   She’s here! Not only did I not move forward in the passing zone so we wouldn’t lose momentum, I took the baton with my right hand!

Now that I am running, the only thing on my mind is to catch the 60s runner who is probably ¾ of the way down the back stretch.  But she is just above my dog’s trotting pace.  I felt good.  Really good. My legs were okay, my breathing was holding on.  I close the gap. No holding back for the final push. Now we are both on the home stretch and it is all out! Closer.  Closer.  But not enough! She crosses before me. (Maybe if I had been moving when passed the baton, maybe if I’d taken it with my left hand.  Maybe.)

The results indicate that the non-club 55-59 team has set a new American record with a time of 2:07.94, and, to Angela’s uncontained joy, we had also set a new American record, by surpassing our time of last year by three seconds, finishing in 3:09.45 (also 3 seconds behind the 60s, btw) 

non club 4x200 relay

But wait! We later hear that all the 4x200 records have been invalidated. What? Turns out that the marked (blue taped) passing zone was incorrect for a 3-person exchange.  I don’t yet have it figured out, but Mary Robinson had said it to an official before we even started.

The event officials did right to the teams by giving them an opportunity to rerun it the next day (last day of the meet.)  On Sunday, at least two of us on the W70  chose not to. I knew from having run the 200m earlier on Sunday (an actual shorter distance than in the relay) that I would be slower. Plus, I had a too tight left calf.  The non-club 55-59, team with Susan Loyd, Lesley Chaplin, Julie Hayden , and Vicki Fox did rerun it and, HURRAH, not only set the record again, but ran it even faster: 2.07.91.

4x200 non club new record Fox, Hayden, Chaplin, Loyd

Saturday evening dinner was in the hotel (we had by now heard the relay news.)  I had a Cobb salad.  It hit the spot.

March 6^th.  Today is the real 8 a.m. start.  The 200m.  I decide to have a slice of toast with peanut butter shortly after 6 a.m.  Then, off to the track to warm up.  All of us from the relay team are running the 200 today.  I will be running against Kathy Bergen (well, really, same heat but not same race!) and Jeanne Daprano in my AG. Jeanne is also  running the 800 today.  She is a terrific middle distance runner.  Having beaten me in the 400m on the 4^th, I was not expecting less of her today. She also ran the 1500m on the 5^th.  While queued up in the chairs waiting to be led out to the track, there were various delays.  Sumi Onodera-Leonard checks in but she doesn’t have her track shoes.  Seems her husband had wandered off with them.  Fortunately, there was time for her to search him out because when we were finally ler out to the track, she seemed happy.  Jeanne Daprano had opted out of running this prior to her 800m.

Kathy was in Lane 2 and I was in three.  However, Sumi had been placed up in lane 6 – the lane with the greatest banking.    Irene Obera, still going despite the fall on Friday was to my right.  Kathy and I were concerned about Sumi up ahead. She came off the track for something and I figured maybe they were going to change her to lane 1.  Nope.  Brave lady!  I went into the three-point stance at the Set then spent the rest of the race watching Kathy disappear ahead of me.  I did not feel as good as the day before.  My legs were slower and everything seemed more of an effort.  I finished way behind Kathy, as expected.  39.15 to her 34.55.  Irene (82!) finished in 47.38 (and was bummed out about her time, but, hey! She had a sore bum!) Sumi, who stopped short of the Finish (I was told this and had to watch the video to see it) finished in 1:30.48, at eighty-seven! (I’m beginning to love this lady!) These seniors are not your run of the mill elders, that is for certain.

200m video

Now I could relax (well, actually, once I’d run the 400m on Friday, I was relaxed!) and enjoy watching the men run the 200m.  Bill Collins and Charles Allie were matched in a thrilling race.  Collins set another record in this one, a World record - 24.94.  An amazing race.

collins 200m

Carl Dixon Cook and Nolan Shaheed were running the 800m together.  A repeat race with these two since Shaheed had come to Winston Salem, NC a few weeks earlier to run in the SouthEast Region Championships.  A warmup for Nationals?  At about 300m,  Carl passed the runner in front of him to become second to Shaheed. We watched him creep up on Shaheed.  Exciting.  He held onto his pace, but towards the end of the last back stretch, Nolan picked up his pace and came into the finish ahead of Carl.  2:31.37 to Carl’s 2:33.39.

Shaheed - Cook 800m

And so it goes.  A fun Meet.  The track was torn down by around 7 p.m. that evening.  Angela, Barbara, and I went to Old Town and the ABQ Museum then ate a terrific meal at Quesadilla Grille (owned by the Garcia family, one of the original settling families.)

If one goes and runs there – bring cough drops!

Converting road runners to track -- well, maybe!

Anne Sluder speeding over hurdle

SouthEast Region Masters Indoor Championships were coming up at JDL Fast Track on February 21, 2016.  Back in September, I sensed a spark of interest in track from some of my NCRC road running colleagues after they attended the NC Senior Games.  However, all are distance oriented road runners, a few already living on the dark side, in the ultra marathon world. 

Nonetheless, I talked track to them.  The object being next year’s NC Senior Games.   I knew better than to work on the dark siders.  After all, someone who runs, trots, staggers, through 100 miles is loaded with slow twitch oriented muscles.  Their fast twitch muscles have probably atrophied!  You nurture what you need for your favored events.  Two of the marathon runners, however, were considering maybe trying track – but only if it did not interfere with their marathon goals.

So, much to my surprise, a week or two before the JDL event, three of the road runners decided to try it, just to get the experience.  One is not only a marathoner but also a tri-athlete and has, ugh, ventured into the dark lands of ultra.  Two are in the process of training for and hoping to qualify for Boston, so this would just be an excursion for them.  Two of the three are graduates of The Scream and other exotic  events.

I will call these road runners Pandora and Clarise. (to preserve them from harm by my wit - they are road runners, after all, with stellar creds!) 

The Friday before the event, Pandora and I went to NCSU track so she could try out her new track shoes  on a suitable track and I went to experiment with starting blocks (again!)  I was changing my stance from left block forward to right block forward, now that my right knee seemed a little better.  However, I found that in order to push off with the right foot, I would have to hold it adjacent to the block until the SET command, at which point I could raise up to the start position, reducing the acute angle my knee takes when the foot goes against the block.  While I was fooling with this, Pandora was trotting the track in her shoes, getting a feel for the spikes and making sure they would not hurt.  We did not run much or hard, since she had an eight mile training run the next day and I still ached from the prior day’s Camp Gladiator session. 

Saturday evening, one of the threesome decided to abandon the track expedition, suffering from “lead” legs after her long marathon training session earlier.  Pandora wasn’t feeling tip top either but was raring to go. 

 Clarise was scheduled to run the 60m, 200m, and the 3000m.  Pandora was signed up for the 200m, 400m, and the mile.  I was doing the 60m, 400m and 200m, in that order. We got there in plenty of time to settle in and warm up.  The 60m event was the first event any of us would be running.  Clarise looked real snazzy in her compression shorts and colorful over shorts. We both had on neon green tops, hers a Nog Run Club shirt and mine the Piedmont Pacer singlet.  Because not as many folks were here (sidelined by injury), JDL dispensed with the declaration sheets and had us check in just prior to each event.   My Piedmont Pacer teammate, Angela Staab, and I remarked at how amazing the memories of the folks at the check in desk are.  They remember us before we can get our names out! (In my case, perhaps because I am one of the few ancients who sometimes runs in the All Comers Meet in November.) 

We were queued in race session order.  For the 60m there were three sessions.  Usually, the aged precede the younger in these events.  Not this time.  I figured Clarise would be nervous, this being her first track event as a Master (maybe since high school?) She would be running with three competitors who were in the next lower AG.  While waiting, I saw Pandora come over and talk to Clarise as the officials were lining up her heat. I’m edgy, thinking she would not get in position in time.  Oy!  But she did and off they went.  About ¾ of the way down the track, (about 9 seconds into it), I see Clarise raise her hand and wave to the stands, as if running by pals watching a road race! I was flabbergasted, thinking of the seconds lost! Then I started to laugh (and am still doing so at the memory.) Turns out, she did this because Pandora had told her another ultra runner who had come to cheer us on was going to try to get a photo of her running.  Nonetheless, Clarise ran a respectable time. 

I was the only one in my AG in my three events, so when I ran my 60m, I ran with four others, representing two lower AGs.  I just barely escaped being last.

In the 400m, there were three of us in my heat: the oldest folk. And, as I slogged around the backstretch the first time, Peter Taylor, master track announcer, announces that I am “.. At 75, the oldest woman in the race!” (ha ha! Thank you, Peter, my pal!)  Watch out! Ancient on the track! The 400m is not fun.  Chug chug, I run like an old lady: short steps, arms paddling.  Not a pretty sight.  At least this time, after passing the cones about 120m into the 400, I cut over to lane one without worrying about cutting another runner off. (Unlike last year’s Indoor Nationals, where I did not cut in and continued in lane two for another 200m or so! Duh!)  Despite running in lane one this time, I was way slower than last year.  Better than the November All Comers time, but still falling short of where I need to be. (Actually, where I need to be is on the sidelines.)  I watched as Atlanta Track Club’s Lesley Chaplin (National Champ in the 800m and 1500m, as well #2 in the World in the 800m) ran the 400m with one other runner. Peter Taylor announced Lesley’s accomplishments as she zoomed around (a 57 year old setting records!). The expression of joy on her face when she saw her 1:09.89 time on the screen was a photo moment.

  Pandora ran next, with a group of seasoned runners, including Carolinas Track and Field’s Lane Wilton.  Lane, as well as her slightly younger Carolinas Track & Field teammates Toccata Murphy and Melanie Walker, of relay record fame, is speedy.  I did not forewarn Pandora of this.  No reason to encourage a negative mindset.   When she was making her last turn on the back stretch I yelled “Push it!”  Though it was quick, I perceived a slow turning of the head and evil glance come my way. 

Next up was the 200m, which all three of us were running.  In this case, I ran in the first group and screwed up badly at the start.  There were no starting blocks on the track in my lane, so I reverted back to my three-point start.   I had my right foot forward and left back. At the SET, my left arm went back and up  – and boom! I was off balance. I was in recovery mode when the gun went off.  It wasn’t until I viewed the video (and a video from another event in which I’d used the 3-point start without problem,) that I saw what had gone wrong. Wrong arm back and up! And so it goes.  One never knows when a start will go bad, a foot might trip over the other, or for those running longer events in a mass, another runner clipping one’s foot.

Though running against more experienced and trained competitors, who whizzed right by, my road running  pals did well in their races, both beating my time. (On slow twitch trained muscles!)

Panera was there for those who could eat between events. (Unfortunately, when I was ready to eat after my last event, they had already packed up!)  I munched on trail mix and a few energy bars. 

Pandora ran the mile with a full range of ages. 

Women's Mile start line

Eight times around the track.  We yelled as she passed by the stands, around and around.  One of her competitors was a 31 year old who finished in just over five minutes. Pandora made great time, exceeding her goal and coming in under eight minutes, at 7:35.

We watched the renowned 66-year-old So Cal Track Club’s Nolan Shaheed, here with his offspring, run the mile in 5:43.84, along with Piedmont Pacer Carl Dixon Cook in 6:06.53. 

Nolan Shaheed in Mile race

Dixon Cook in Mile race

Earlier, I caught a glimpse of another track notable, 68-year old Charles Allie run the 400m in 1:00.77.  Tall, with a long stride, he was a streak in black on the back stretch, heading for home.

 Our last single event was Clarise's 3000m. Fifteen times around the track. Ugh.  All the women running the 3000m ran as one large group, mixed ages.  We watched as after the first circuit or so, Clarise moved up to pass the last runner.  The women continued around the track and as the remaining laps got fewer, the pace slackened.  At the end, Clarise beat the other woman in her AG.  But coming off the track she was dizzy -- all those round and rounds!

The road runners did great in their track outing and did not let running with or against the “pros” intimidate.  This is good.  They will return to track one day, maybe as a break from all that distance training.

Grinding to a halt - almost - in Camp Gladiator!

January 29th. Survived the last day of this week's Camp Gladiator Metabolic Conditioning week. Today - a killer! The temperature at 6 a.m. was about 30 degrees F.  Our trainer, starts us off outside - first: 50 butt kicks then run, four times, the length of a parking lot aisle, around far end and back.  (Awful! I kept a moderate pace because I knew I would not finish without walking if I didn't.  I really struggled not to walk.)  Our break was just long enough for him to tell us our next set of exercises: 50 butt kicks then 50 jumping jacks, then run the parking lot aisle lap 3 times (REALLY wanted to walk on the 3rd lap.) Next up  - 50 butt kicks plus 50 jumping jacks plus 50 high knees (ugh.  I am the worst at high knees. Mine tend to be low knees.) then, of course, run the loop twice. (Managed this one better) 

Lastly, 50 butt kicks + 50 jumping jacks + 50 high knees + ?? I think there was another (50 squat jumps?) -- i forget or maybe did not do them? The mind is so jarred from all the vibration. Then run the loop full out. Suddenly, I could run - not winded, legs okay. It felt great -- not to be gasping; no achy legs.  Loved it. I felt as if I was really moving. (It had to be the early morning beet slice kicking in!)

But then, we came inside and it was hell from there on - exercises and short sprints. Legs finally ground down, then the breathing gave out. The last few sprints were barely jogs, with a few walks thrown in there. Yea for the end of Metcon week!.

Today, February 10th, mid-week of Camp Gladiator Endurance week (after a week off) was another, oh, my, gosh!, Today, the number 80 was endemic.  Eighty this and eighty that then into another room and do eighty wall jumps (jump high and touch wall) then eighty high knees (they just LOVE high knees). Follow this with a run upstairs and around the approximate 80m track eight times, down the stairs, into another room and do eighty weighted jumping jacks. I chose the 10-pound weight until my trainer said uh uh -- so I got the 12-pound weight (just one!) and struggled through that.  Then it was repeat what we had just done. This time on the track, it took all I had and the fact that others were running laps (some starting before me and some after) to not give up and walk.  I was ready to walk by lap four. The first iteration of these eight laps I had sprinted at the very end.  This time? Slo-Mo straggle at the end. On the third iteration of all this, I enter the room to do the wall jumps and high knees and said to the other trainer -- Seriously? Are we still doing 80 of each? He looked astonished and laughed.  No. It seems I should have dropped twenty off of each exercise and two off the lap count each time we repeated the circuit!  So, last time I should have done sixty of each exercise and six laps on the second iteration, then forty on this third iteration. No wonder my FitBit heart rate after the second eight laps was 141! 

While walking the dog later, I realized that it was only because of the other campers that I managed to complete those laps without walking or stopping.  Granted, I got slower on that second time around and the third (only had to do four laps) I was grinding down. But had I been on my own, I would not have run all eight at any point. Just like when I go to the track alone and bail on the 400m (might make 200m before walking, sometimes a little more but mostly nada.) Anything over 200m is a struggle and not pleasant at all.  Even 150m can be a problem at times.  So, running with others or working out with others is my saving grace.

And two more days of Endurance week to go.  Next week is Functional Movement Week - also known as awkward movement week..

More Miserable Than Ever

This year, I intended not to go over the hay bales during the November 15^th Misery Run, put on by Carolina Godiva Track Club as part of their Winter Series.  The first time I did the Misery Run, I went over all hay bales (three, twice each.)  It was great fun, but a few days later, my right hip began to ache and twinge.  The bale setup consists of two "step-up" rectangular bales, the smaller of the two on top, placed on either side of a rolled hay bale.  Some folks run and try to use the step-like bales in front as a bounding off point to leap to the top of the rolled bale and then slide down to the step bales on the other side.  Others gingerly step up and try to haul themselves up to the top of the bale, ending up in a horizontal position.  It's fun to watch.

56 folk from age 14 to 74 came out for this XC run that included two bales (to be gone over 3X each), the big mud hole, and lastly the well watered dung heap.  The run takes place on a working farm in Chatham County.  This year, I did not see the cattle, only the farm dog, Bella, who wanted to greet every car and runner. 

We parked on ground that was furrowed and wet, facing a large pond. Just walking to the sign in area prepared one for the adventure ahead.  One woman arrived suited up in a white HazMat looking one-piece suit, face mask, goggles, boots, and gloves.  Man, she would get hot, but maybe not dirty. Others were bare legged. Just short of 10 a.m., we gathered at the bottom of the parking field to hear the instructions.  Run at your own risk, don’t get hurt, people 60 and above could bypass (go around) the hay bales. We were read the “Godiva” poem by Richard Wolfe, detailing the delights of a Godiva Winter Series run, and then we were sent off.  I had gone to the back of the pack, mostly because I would be slow, but also so I could observe the hay bounding techniques of those ahead.  I decided to try just one and go around all the rest.

I approached at a medium pace, leapt from one to the second small stepping bales and then sort of jumped up, grabbing with my arms to help pull myself to the top of the rolled bale.  I made it up and down without a problem or a twinge.  So, from that point on, I went over the remaining bales and was happy to do so.  After the first bale we ran on a path that edged a field and then into the woods.  I ran out of steam on the path leading towards the woods (a slight incline) but then got my breath once into the woods.

As it happened, I was behind two men (maybe in their forties) one of whom had on colorful socks, who were behind a woman who maintained a 13 minute pace (so said my Garmin.) I was perfectly content with this since I needed to save energy for the rest of the 5.5 mile outing.  The men also stayed behind her as we navigated roots, small rocks, and some branches.  When we ran downhill then uphill around a curve, to a small rise ahead, I knew what was coming.  I had several cuts on my right hand, some of which I had put band-aids on. However, I also wore a green surgical glove over it.  My Garmin was covered with a plastic bag.  Up the short rise to the lip of a medium size mud pond.  I don’t know what happened with the woman ahead of us – I think she stepped aside.  The two men went in and then I stepped off into water about knee high.  I pushed off, thinking I could wade ahead,, but instead stepped down into a deeper hole, losing my balance.  Bam!  There went both hands into the mess. I struggled to move forward, eventually reaching the rising lip on the other side, emerging with wet hair, bacteria laden water inside of the green glove, and laughing.  I’d worn nylon pants so they would shed some of the water but they still stuck to my legs. The man’s pretty socks were now brown.

The next delight was another hay bale, then around a bend, left on a flat and right, still on a flat, before emerging towards the next go around. Onward and forward.  Exhausting!  Especially on the straight aways.  I would try to keep up with whoever was ahead of me.  In the woods, it was not as bad.  I could catch my breath while negotiating the terrain.  

My nose usually runs and so I carry wads of tissues.  After the dousing, the tissues were of no use.  Eventually I resorted to ground leaves. Quite harsh on the nose.  I also tended to switch from jumping branches or logs with my right leg to my left, depending upon which felt lazier  (If I jumped off with my left, my right knee did not have to lift as high)

On my third circuit around, after going over six hay bales, and through the magic pond three times, I emerged from the periphery to head for the last misery of the day:  The dung heap.  Unlike when I had done this in the past, when the heap was more solid than not, this was more like a dung laden pond.  Photos show some folks leaping into it (what – hoping to span the breadth of it?). I stepped in, figuring I would get through this one okay, but, no, my foot got stuck and again, I lost balance, and again, both hands into the muck.  Once out of this, there was still some terrain to navigate before, finally, crossing the finish.  A hose rinse was offered after emerging, but I declined, deciding I needed a photo of the condition I was in. (I did rinse off after the photo)

I finished 52 of 56 and received a magnificent candy bar for being the oldest finisher.  Next time, if I do it again, I will bring extra pants. (I did bring extra socks and shoes.)  One predicted one’s finish time before the event.  Those closest also got a candy bar, as well as the male and female finishing first, time wise. I was 5:38 minutes slower than I'd  predicted (not anticipating having to claw out of muck or doing the bales) finishing in 1:15:39. First male was Dave Mabe in 37:46 and first female was Joan Nesbit Mabe in 44:08.  Some folks threw out their socks and shoes, some left them where they had been sucked off in the ponds.  Surely, cattle don’t eat shoes. 

Aging up -- at least for NC Senior Games State Finals

Unless one is nine or twenty years old, aging up is not something one looks forward to.  NC Senior Games policy is that one competes within the age group reflecting the age one will be on December 31 of that year. So, though competing in September, I competed in the next older age group (which I would not hit for another two months.)  

I had not been doing track since August and had been casually running the road or trails, including some road races.  Good excuse setup, here!  One could say I was not at my optimum -- but, then, I have rarely felt as if I am ready for a track event.  The Finals were held September 24th at the Meredith College track.  A terrific track well maintained (reserved for use only by students and faculty). This is also where the Sir Walter Miler is held in August

My major NC competitor, who has beaten me in every track distance and event, except for one 100m -- and that was only because that was the first race for her after recovering from an injury -- did not come to the Finals.  This was disappointing.  I expect she, and many others, will show up next year since that will be a National Senior Games qualifying year.

Prior to the day of the meet (all in one day), it had rained frequently.  This day, however, though it was cloudy, we were spared rain until late afternoon, by which time the track events were completed.  I warmed up but did not feel full of energy (even though I had taken two days off from boot camp.)  The first event was the 100m.  There were five of us in my heat.  I messed around with the blocks, not really too confident, and feeling a little foolish.  One other lady was using them for the first time. She asked me for advice! Ha Ha!  I being the last person to ask, since I have trouble remembering how I use them from one meet to the next!  It put me in mind of a State Finals eleven years ago, my third at the time. A lady in my heat, though in the next AG up, had set records in each lower AG.  She used blocks! At the time, I was astonished, that someone so old, would do so. Hey! that's what I thought at the time!  It looked stupid. Blocks and very short shorts do not go together well on an older person.  So, here I am, looking as stupid -- except my pants were not short.

I fumbled my way out of the blocks and got to the finish ahead of the others.  Not elegant or pretty, but one down, two to go. 

Next was the always dreaded 400m.  In this one, I was the only one in my AG, joined by two ladies in the next older AG.  I did not warm up much, having recently run the 100m.  Between events I chatted with other runners and friends there to watch.  Because of the "watchers" I had to push my way around the track even though I could feel the legs churning right down to almost nothing.  Being the only one in my AG, I easily won that one! 

In the 200m, it was me, one other in my AG, and those tough older women!  They, the 80-year-olds, are admirable and no slouches.  They had a happy outlook, which made the rest of us happy.  I enjoyed this one far better than the 400m.  My legs did not die, though my speed was just so-so.

Oktoberfest Run Green 8K

To say it was hot and humid hardly covers it. I looked at the costumes of some of the running folks: lederhosen, velvet vest covered blouses and waist hugging sashes and knew they would be having regrets after just one block.  Saturday September 19^th was not a pleasant, sit outside, and drink mimosa kind of day – unless one does not mind dripping into one’s drink (OTH, a lemon drop shot – and you might not care!)

But this was Oktoberfest and these are hardy excited folk.  Some were serious about this race, others, like me, just came out for a fun time.  Watching folks in colorful German-Austrian costumes is always fun.  One fellow abandoned his shirt but, fortunately, kept the lederhosen.  There were runners who got their buzz on before the race, hydrating on beer carbs, while most of us searched out and socialized with pals.  I found my Nog Run Club group and yakked. No warming up for a fun race.

early beer ID verification queue -- got much longer

  

I moved to the back of the pack, just in front of some who planned to walk, and, as it turns out, right by a lady in the same 65+ AG as me, who remembered me from last year. 

Not to worry, says, I – I don’t plan on much running, I’ll be taking photos.  What I did not tell her was that I did not feel like running at all.  Earlier in the day, I was quite a mass of ache, but after a few sessions with the roller and an Ibuprofen, my aches were gone.  However, I still lacked energy and therefore enthusiasm.    But then the race started.

I enjoyed shuffling to the mat.  Once beyond the mat, movement picked up as folks surged ahead, opening space behind.

 I trotted down Blount St then followed the pack left around the corner then left again onto Person St.  As I went along, my energy picked up.  I would trot at a decent pace and then, of course, walk for a bit. I saw my pals.  I would pass and then eventually be passed.  I attempted a few photos of the crowd ahead.  Not being as adept at this as Shannon Johnstone (of Landfill Dogs fame) - who can take amazing photos without even  looking at the screen, I got a few of the pavement behind or of the sky when trying for something of interest to the side.   The one good shot I got resulted from running ahead, stopping, and then waiting for my prey  (a running pal) to come into view.  This was not so easy since people were streaming by.  I was afraid I would miss her.  When I did see her, it was hurry up, focus, and snap before she was gone. (turned out to be a terrific photo of her)  The rest of the photos I took while on course were taken while moving but at a slow speed.  

Oakwood cemetery

run fast past here!

on the move -- passing 3-mile marker

I still had energy and now attribute it to listening to music – something I never do.  It perhaps both distracted and motivated.

I stopped at both water stops, gratefully!  I drank about half of the cup and poured the rest down my back.  It helped.  Later, I heard of folks who poured the whole thing on their body.  I felt the heat, but it was tolerable – especially after dousing with water. Oh, yes, the heat: at 3 p.m., race start, was 85°F with a dew point of 63° (a dew point >60 is uncomfortable) and by 4 p.m. it was 87°F with 61°F dew point.)  I expect that many of the folks I saw walking were doing so because the heat got them.  I was feeling the effort when we veered onto Watauga St and ran an uphill incline. Walk time.  A little bit of energy returned on Franklin and when we turned onto Person, I was happy to be on the way back.  When we got close to Moore Square I dragged, because I knew there were still two or three more blocks to go before the turn onto South St and then back onto Blount to the finish.  Truthfully – I flagged on Blount.  Barely above a walk.  Until the ending block where I began to run and ended up in a full out sprint with another lady to the Finish.  Now, that part was glorious!

sweat wet Garmin -- 5.03 miles; 53:45.  official time 53:41.

Winning times for those who want to know: Brian Basilli (23) in 26:52.387 and Dominique Stasulli (24) in 32:02.313. Hey – their last names rhyme! 

I managed to drink the whole gratis Bond Brothers Golden Ale beer while enjoying the costume, beer stein holding, brat eating and limbo contests. (the winner of the male limbo was amazingly flexible!)   You can’t beat the Nog Run Club signature events (Oktoberfest 8K, St. Paddy’s 8K ) for full out fun!

women's costume contest

Allison -- 4X winner of brat eating contest

Oak City Mile

When area runners heard last year that The Magnificent Mile race was to be discontinued after months of wrangling with the folks handling the new Raleigh ordinances governing when and where road races could be held, we were more than disappointed.  Raleigh has made holding road races more difficult, trying to appease residents and reduce road closures.  The Magnficent Mile course, from Second Empire restaurant along Hillsborough St to the Capital and back, crossed both McDowell and Dawson streets. This necessitated a partial closure – one of the reasons cited in denying a continued race permit.

Precision Race stepped into the abyss with an inaugural mile race, Oak City Mile, also on a Sunday afternoon, and also along Hillsborough, but going in the opposite direction.  The Oak City Mile’s route began on Hillsborough near the railroad overpass at Edenton, went slightly up hill, passing St. Mary’s, up to the roundabout at Morgan St and then returned.  The event, unlike The Magnificent Mile, was specific to the two USATF NC one mile championships --  men’s then women’s.  (The Magnificent Mile also included a recreational walk along the mile, as well as a kids’ race.  Hillsborough St in the area of Second Empire remained closed from about 11am until close to 5 p.m.)  Oak City Mile impacts Hillsborough for a much shorter time.  The ALS Foundation was the charity beneficiary.

image by Oak City Mile

The weather was pleasant (73°) and sunny on Sept. 13th.  Parking was not an issue.  Those who had not picked up their race packet on the preceding Friday, could do so right near the start area across from Runlogie, the race host.  Among the Nog Run Club contingent, the pre-race excitement was whether AAA would arrive before the race to open a runner's car to retrieve her keys.  She expected she’d miss the race.   Aaargh!  Despite the substantial prize money to be awarded to first through third Open and Masters winners, there were not as many participants as in the Mag Mile.  It wasn’t until mid-August that word began circulating about this inaugural race.  I'd told the Piedmont Pacers (Greensboro area) about it since some had asked about the Mag Mile in mid August.  Four of the Pacers arrived for the race. (With me, that made five of us.)

     Other local runners had come out, including Sandy Roberts, the inspiration and organizer of Sir Walter Miler. 

 He was still recovering from an injury. When the women lined up, I was disappointed at how few there seemed to be.  My competitor pal and I were near the front since there seemed to be so few runners.  (To show how bad perceptions are, when I checked the results later, it seems that though 61 had registered, there were actually 53 women finishers – more than I thought!)  The Nog Run Club member with the locked car was one of the finishers, having been rescued in time from her key dilemma.

Prior to the men’s start, I trotted around the four blocks bounded by Hillsborough, West, and Morgan streets.  I don’t enjoy the warm up pre-race ritual.  I always start off achy and feeling like a slug, then have to work my way up to a decent knee bend, advancing to a more turtle-like pace.  I trotted up Hillsborough for a bit with two others.

Men's lineup - Abie far left in red

Standing on the overpass with pals, we prepared to watch the men.  Sandy Roberts was on the far side, as was Abie Harris, a Sunday Church of the Oval pal, who was near the curb but in the first row (a new tactic for this race.)  He was hoping to do under a 10-minute mile.  (For those who do not know Abie, he is a determined competitor, now in his 80s. This was probably his first race in over a year or so.)  Off they went, crossing over the overpass hump, then disappearing over the subsequent slight rise beyond the RR overpass.   When the RPD car later came into view in the distance, we looked for Sandy’s blue shirt since the leading runners were too far away to distinguish beyond shirt color   Sandy was second, in 4:33.2, behind young Isaac Presson who crossed the Finish in 4:25.6  Benjamin Rachunok was third in 4:38.3.  Abie Harris made his goal, finishing in a spectacular 9:05.  He was not last. 

 

The women’s race was scheduled to start twenty minutes after the men’s. 

I started off, but wasn’t yet beyond the overpass when I heard a racing buddy spectator reminding me to slow down!  I did, once beyond the merge of Edenton and Hillsborough.  With my sensitivity to any type of incline, be it two inches or more, I knew I had best just keep plodding on and conserving energy.  Runners passed.  I looked ahead or at the scenery or just concentrated on keeping acceptable breathing.  Being a quiet Sunday and past brunch time, there were not many people out.  At least, that I noticed. Having trotted along Hillsborough during Capital RunWalk outings, I was used to running out of energy near St. Mary’s.  So I may have slowed even more.  Just don’t walk – I’d walked in past Magnificent Miles.  Just prior to the roundabout, the road dipped.  Relief for a moment..  Don’t run on the sidewalk, we’d been admonished.  I trudged around the roundabout, looking for my main competitor as I came out of it.  I did not see her.  Uh, oh.  She must be right behind me.  (She could have passed while I was looking down at the street!) In front, there was a slight incline and curve, preventing me from seeing all those ahead.  I saw the trailing RPD car coming along the other way.  Not too many folks were behind me.

I was close to empty when I arrived back at the overpass and the Finish.  I managed to finish in under 9, at 08:41.  (I was 36 of 53.)  I gulped water and ate an energy bar plus a banana.  Nothing satisfies like a banana!   The stats: 61 women registered, 53 crossed finish; 108 men registered (one the RD so that was probably a test registration), 99 finished.   Fastest male -- 04:25, last male finisher 10:48; fastest female (Andi Cozzarelli) 04:58, last female 19:11 (the finisher just prior came in at 13:13.)  Beyond cash awards to the overall group, gift cards went to only the first place age group finishers. The last AG was 70, so Abie missed out.  Of the four other Piedmont Pacers, Dixon Cook won his AG and Hollis Oberlies was third female master overall.