The Great Windy Outdoor Championships

July 14, we were greeted with Yahoo indicated 15mph winds.  I was there to watch my pal Angela Staab run her 800m. They say Chicago is the windy city.  I think Allendale Michigan comes close.  On arrival at the Grand Valley State University in Allendale on Thursday, the temperature was in the 70s.  Pleasant, low humidity, but, heavens, the wind! We had encountered Ann Carter, one of the penthaletes who had just come out of one of the events.  She said many had bailed in the 800m because of the winds. Ann is a hurdler and penthalete, and is usually signed up for a horde of events.  In the W60-104 AG, twelve started and six finished!  Wow!  Imagine, doing all the pentathlon activities, then essentially, foregoing all points associated with one of the 5 events! 

 What a gorgeous track awaited:  blue, beneath a light blue sky with puffy clouds.  Unlike the huge stadium at UNF in Jacksonville last year, this stadium was without the grand height, but quite sufficient for the athletes and visitors.   There is always a contained  excitement when first arriving at a National event.  Anticipation of one’s events, as well as communing with those one has met at prior Meets.  I had picked up my package envelope and had to hold tight to it while watching the events.  15mph may have been average but the gusts had to be higher.

Great track - sort of Carolina Blue!

I watched several of the 800m races, rooting for those I knew, of course.  Angela ran with two women who would later become part of our 4x100 relay team: Ruth Thelen, 1^st in 3:35.56 and Cora Hill, 3^rd in 4:10.55.  Angela ran it in 5:14.63 and was happy with her time.  They all had the wind to contend with.  Next, I watched Coreen Steinbach come in second in her race (2:53.78). Next up was Lesley Chaplin’s winning run of 2:43.65. Then it was the men; with Carl Dixon Cook chasing Robert Jackson (2:32.53) and David Salazar (2:33.52) to come in third in 2:34.19.

Start of W70 800m

With the winds swirling during the entire Meet, it would be tough to make a record.  I don’t like distance. Running against the wind? Oy!  Carl said he wasn’t even aware of it (he was too focused on chasing two men.)  Angela, though, felt it!

Grand Rapids was a half hour or so from Allendale.  When I arrived, Carl drove Angela’s barge from the hotel out to the track.   Good heavens: short merge lanes with high speed drivers in the merge lane.  Exit signs were not too far ahead of the actual exit in some cases.  It took us a few times to get it right.  (The return trip was more than exciting with two women (not me) indicating differing directions to go!)

Our announcer, Peter Taylor. Busy all day, every day.

Angela and I ate Italian for dinner, both of us having egg plant.  Quite good but I did not finish it.  Appetite not quite there, though I'd eaten an apple earlier.

Friday, July 15^th our first event was the javelin.  This would be my second time trying the jav.  Angela had talked me into trying it at Powerade Games in mid-June.  Pathetic.  There were 13 of us in the 70 to 104AG.  Given a chance to “pick”, I was able to get the jav to stick each time; encouraging.  However, when my turns came, my throws were short or in two cases flat, equaling a foul.  I watched others heave the jav, some to amazing distances (one lady from  NY, Diane Jenke-McMahan threw 22.57m (74 feet!)) Gloria Krug, 85, set a new record, throwing 12.86m or 42.02 ft.  She also set a new W85 discus record, throwing  15.29m (50-02 feet)  She came to set records.   I watched the smoothness of Christel Donley and others as they approached and threw. After the event, Christel showed  Mary Roman some tips.  Mary Roman and I threw about the same in both discus and javelin.  Of course, Kathy Bergen won our AG handily, despite, in the discus having to change her mechanics due to injury. Wow, could she heave it nonetheless. (17.92m (58-09ft) in javelin, and 20.65m (67-09ft) in discus.)

From the javelin and discus area, one could see scads of satellite dishes lined up nearby, one larger than the next.  During the discus event the next day, we spotted a hang glider high up soaring over a distant area containing homes.

Angela and I were both running the 400m later in the day, but had time to return to Grand Rapids and have brunch.  I indulged and had eggs and bacon and one small pancake at the waffle house.  I rarely eat before a track event.  Even if it is in the afternoon.  But I was hungry and boy, did the coffee taste good.

Back at the track by around one p.n. for our 2:30 p.m. 400m, I went off to warm up, a task I don’t enjoy much.  Those who know me, know my thoughts about the 400m.  Enough said.  I would be running with Rose Green and Jane Simpson. (Jane Simpson, though my age, brims with stamina: steeplechase, penthalon, and track. Not a speed demon but persistent.)   I had last seen Rose at the 2015 USATF Masters Indoor Championships at JDL in Winston Salem, NC.  I saw her in the midst of a relay and was dazzled by her speed.  I knew that this would be a tough event, one I was not likely to win but would like to at least make it close. So, I had gotten a one hour coaching lesson on using starting blocks with some great tips.  However, my knees tend to resist the position unless really warmed up.   We got to our lanes, Jane in 5, me in 6, and Rose in 7.  There was a delay. We were out there early. I set the blocks up and attempted a few starts.  Rose tried the blocks and then abandoned them.  

400m W70+ start. Look at those marvelous storm-like clouds!

When the gun went off, Rose took off. By the time I noticed, she was probably 30m ahead of me.  As we went down the backstretch, her lead grew. I heard Peter Taylor, announcer extraordinaire, saying she was leaping ahead (well, he did not say “leaping” exactly). I am thinking I must just keep going, not wanting to go too fast and burn out before the last 100.  However, she was now at the point where it was evident I could never catch her. I think when I got into the final turn, she was 100m ahead of me.  I chugged along, just wanting to finish. Apparently so intent on getting it over that I really, really, screwed up.  However, I did not know it until the next day when my pal Mary Robinson, took me aside and told me. Didn’t you hear us, she asked?  Nope. I did hear people yelling at me to keep going while I was still running.  What I did not realize was that when I stopped running and walked (being sure to stay within my lane so I would not impede anyone else finishing – Jane?)  Perhaps I should say ambled. The straight line I stopped running at was NOT the Finish line.  No!  It was a random (imo) line 10m before the actual Finish which was denoted by lane numbers following the finish and a large while pole on the right.  Nope, I saw the timing clock (1:33 at the time, I think), the line, and the lane lines.  Aach! Rose won in 1:27.42.  My time on crossing the Finish (ha ha) was 1:38.20.

The walk of shame

I stayed to watch some of the younger folk run the 400m: Latrica Dendy (W40-NY) in 59.39; Lane Wilton (W50-NC) in 1:11.90, and Lesley Chaplin (W55-GA) in her 400m prelims in 1:09.98.  Coreen Steinbach won her 400 (1:15.67) and field maestro Mary Hartzler came in 3^rd in 1:26.94.  Angela came in 2^nd in her AG in 2:10.56. There were a lot of hot shots there, making these events exciting to watch. But isn’t that always the way at Nationals.

That evening, we ate Italian again. This time I had fettucini.  I finished it.  Lots of eating for me this day.

Saturday, both Angela and I had the discus, then I had the 100m at 11 a.m.  Discus was another bust for me, but I did get good tips from Angela and others for the next time (the next time being a few days from now as I write this.)  I went out to the large field adjacent to the track where folks were warming up.  I progressed slowly into the warm up since it takes a while for the breathing (stamina?) to kick in.  I trotted the big square around the field. On one of my passes, I spotted it. A bad omen, for sure. It made me sad, actually. A dead bird on the ground. It did not move and may have been there for a few hours. Got tired of flying? Do birds at the end, just come down to the ground, having no energy to fly and then wait to pass on? (I had recently found a Cardinal sitting near my door.  Tired, with some feathers molting it seemed.  It had disappeared by morning. Perhaps a cat had taken it in the end.)

discus queue: Kathy Bergen, Flo Meiler, Gloria Krug?

Today, I had Kathy Bergen as well as Rose Green to contend with.  Lana Kane was yet another competitor.  Not that I am negative, but, really, with speed demons such as Kathy and Rose, I knew the best I could hope for was 3^rd and the worst I would get would be 4^th.  Prior to leaving for Grand Rapids, I had checked the Start lists. Christel Donly and the amazing and jovial Flo Meiler (what a beautiful smile this lady has!) were in my heat. So, too, was 88-yar-old Sumi Onodera-Leonard. But what struck me was the listing of 99-year-old Jeanette Baas from Kalamazoo (perfect!) MI.  Really?  Was this an error or for real.

Me, already several steps behind the leaders. Jeanette Bass (white pants,  Lane 1)

We lined up in our lanes. Kathy, Rose, Christel, and Flo were on my left.  As we waited (yes, I tried the blocks again), a Gator vehicle rolled up.  A younger woman gets out and pulls out a  walker. After the walker is placed on the track, an older woman is helped out of the cart. This is Jeanette Baas and she is lined up in Lane 1.  I’m thinking, whoa, here! Is she going to go down the 100m with the walker?  I am astounded.  Okay, so I am naïve, but I swear, I once saw a photo of an elderly gentleman on the cover (?) of National Masters News with a walker.   At the time, I was astounded. So, now, I figure, well, here we go. But, no. The walker is removed and the lady stands in Lane one with her granddaughter standing behind her. Rule is no touching.  When the gun went off, I ran down the track with Kathy and Rose long gone. Christel was right next to me . We raced to get to the line. She, in turn, was racing Flo! Different age groups, but who cares. It is a race!  Fun.

We all turn and look back. Jeanette Baas is proceeding step by step down the track with the “kid” behind her, arms out stretched as if to catch Jeanette should she topple backwards.  An official is walking  adjacent on the infield.
 

Jeanette Baas, 99, on closing on Finish

  There is a metal rim dividing the track from the infield. I worry that Jeanette might somehow catch her foot on it.  At one point she wobbles, stops, then starts moving again. The walker waits at the Finish.  Amid crowd cheers, she crosses the Finish to her walker. Eventually, she is surrounded by her large family.  Her time? 4:02.55. Not a record but an enormous achievement for her.  

Jeanette Baas, 99, finishing 100m

The wind was -0.9 (in our faces but who knew?) Kathy Bergen ran 15.82; Rose Green 17.36, me 19.28, Lana Kane 21.79 (her first time racing in quite a while).  Flo Meiler just beat Christel Donley, 20.62 to 20.79. Sumi finished in 32.59.  Eighty-eight! Think about it. 100m when one is older is not a short distance.  If I reach 88, 100m will seem like 800m to me. Un-doable!

I watched the 200m prelims for the W55 and W50s, started by the grand stand side and finishing on the back stretch side.

Lesley Chaplin

Lane Wilton

I did not see the beginning of a subsequent race, just the end in which a woman wearing a “visually impaired” vest competed.  All three days, there were two Guide dogs there with their person, one of whom, for sure, could not see.  She competed in field events. I admire their confidence and competitive spirit.    

I watched some of the women's 2000m steeplechase with Jane Simpson and Mary Trotto and others.  If Barbara Knight Warren had not been doing hurdles and everything she could gobble up, despite a bad knee, she, too would have been out there.  Instead, she took some terrific photos of the action, including one of Jane catching her foot and essentially falling and going under the water.  Mary Trotto nicely climbed over each hurdle and at the last 100m pushed it!  Impressive.

On our return to the hotel, taking the USATF provided bus (Thank you, USATF!), we encountered a traffic backup that was caused by the separation of a recreational vehicle from the pickup truck towing it.  The large white vehicle had apparently gone up the embankment separating us from the opposing traffic, and come down in the left lane on its side.  Great gouges had been torn into the embankment. Freaking scary!  Imagine the vehicles that had been behind it when this happened.

That evening five  Piedmont Pacers ate at Bagger Dave’s. I had mahi mahi burger with pickled red onions, guacamole, and black bean salsa.  Upon arrival, I wondered how I would get my mouth around it without everything squirting out the other end.  I managed – carefully. But at the cost of messy hands! 

Sunday had a forecast of rain.  I was done with field events but Angela had shot put and weight throwing as well as our 200m.  The 200 was at 10:30.  This time, I practiced yet another way of using blocks that I had been told about.  Since my knees were so so, I would use one block. So, while warming up, I practiced and practiced.  What the heck, I had little to lose. Kathy and Rose would come in first and second, so it would be me and Lana Kane fighting for third.  When we lined up in our lanes, Lana asked where the fourth was.  Sumi (W88) was supposed to be running in our heat but she did not show.  So, off we went and as expected Kathy came in first (34.95), Rose second (36.85), me third (40.61) and Lana just after me.  This was the only event in which I bettered my time from the June Powerade races.  (I have been degrading as the year has progressed.)

Rose Green, new Outdoor 400m Champion

An exciting race to watch was the W55 200m, with Lesley Chaplin, who has now picked up running the shorter race, along with her mid-distance events.  It was a very tight finish.  Joy Upshaw came close to besting the record, finishing first in 27.69, followed by Daphne Sluys in 29.70.  The race for third was a nail biter. Leslie and Vicki Fox were battling it out, almost adjacent to each other.  Leslie just edged Vicki , 31.38 to 31.90, to take third.  Miss Leslie has certainly broadened her horizons. 

The battles between M60 Oscar Peyton and Damien Leake - something to watch!.  These two always make it exciting.  In the 100m prelims, Oscar beat Damien. However, in the 100m Finals, Damien beat Oscar 12.26 to 12.32 in a -3.6 headwind. In the 200m prelim, Oscar came in first and Damien 4th.  Oscar beat Damien in the Final, 24.73 to 25.04.  So, one each!

Dark clouds were appearing and the winds, oh, my, the winds. A few rain drops came down while our relay team was practicing.  The winds were picking up. Originally, a month or so before Nationals, it was going to be Angela, Mary Robinson, Ruth Thelen, and me in a non-club 4x100.  But Mary had gotten injured and was in recovery and not running.  Angela recruited Cora Hill to be our fourth. I had not met either Ruth nor Cora before, but they were both delightful.  Cora sprightly and Ruth bouncy and happy. We practiced passing the baton a few times as the winds picked up.

Cora passing to Angela

  Many were doing the relay, both club and non club.   I wondered if we would get the relay in before the rains. 

Cora Hill, Angela Staab, Ruth Thelen, LG

Eventually, the 50 through 70 non-club women relay teams were led out onto the track. Cora was our leadoff and would be passing to Angela, who would pass to Ruth who would pass to me, the anchor. 
 

Cora Hill our lead off in lane2 4x100

There was a long wait once we got out there. There were at least two 50s teams, one 60s, and our 70 team.  Venus Jewett was on one of the 50 teams and kept everyone’s spirits up (what a joyous lady this woman is!).

Venus Jewett, after 2nd relay. My fav photo!

 The 60-year-old was getting anxious and wanting to get going.  At this point, the winds were becoming wicked.  They were averaging around 25mph and gusting to 40mph (certainly true by the time the men’s 4x100s began.)  Finally, they were off. I could not really see Angela until just before she handed off to Ruth.  Ruth came charging around the curve at a terrific speed.The 60 year old had already gotten her baton and was on her way down the track.  I made sure to keep my left hand back and started moving into the passing zone looking back until Ruth was nearly upon me (I should have run faster so she would not have had to slow up but I was afraid I would screw up and either drop the baton or run out of the passing zone.)  Miss 60-year-old (yes, I know her name but let’s leave it at the 60 one) was maybe a third to half way down the track by now.  I wanted her badly.  I closed the gap and nearly got her just before the Finish line.  Our team finished 13/100 of a second behind the 60s.

I  later watched the men’s 4x100 relays from the vantage point of the far curve near the 200m start area.  There was a large white tent there that began flapping and vibrating as the winds picked up.  Some of the men passing the baton in the exchange area were almost blown out of the lanes with the force of the wind on that back stretch curve. 
 

 I finished out the day watching the men’s non club 4x400 and 4x800 in which two Piedmont Pacers, Carl Dixon Cook and Kevin Gobble competed.  This was followed by the women’s club relays.

It did not rain before we left. But the wind was something to experience.  I also never got to the Lake or saw the rapids.  Ah, well. I did get to see the skyline and walk a few residential streets.

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!