Predictions?

No Predicting What Lies Ahead
No Predicting What Lies Ahead

Do you have a big goal you want to accomplish by this time next year?

What’s it going to take?

We contemplate what we believe we can do. You know, we take what we’ve done and think about what we’ll be able to do when we get the next chance to try again.

It’s kind of like being an armchair quarterback.

Sitting in the comfort of our living room, watching the game, or World Cup, we comment like we know what we’re talking about.

Nothing will ever replace the preparation, wisdom, courage and guts of “game day”.

There is one prediction. July 2011. Masters Track & Field World Championships in Sacramento.

(next blog)

It’s Over

Slowest Runner Gets Lane 8
Slowest Runner Gets Lane 8

The 2010 US Master’s Track & Field National Championships concluded yesterday. Wish I could have been healthy enough to compete.

During the Championships, many of the world’s best athletes ages 30-96 demonstrated speed, power, skill and endurance, showing that age is no barrier to lifetime fitness and competition. The Spanos Sports Complex was the site of the 2000 and 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials – Track & Field, and will play host to the 2011 World Masters Athletics Championships, July 6-17.

World Championships in 2011?  Are you kidding me?

No.

At 51, it’s still my vision to make it to Lane 8, the worst lane in track & field.

(next blog)

USATF Master’s Nationals

2009 World Championships In Finland
2009 World Championships In Finland

Yesterday at the United States of America Track & Field Master’s National Championships, a world age-group record was set in the women’s hammer throw.

If I had been there like planned, you know I would have found her, and with pocket camera rolling, asked, “What motivates you? And, What does it feel like to be a world-record holder? And finally, Any advice to the viewers out there?

Will you be exercising today?

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Good News, Bad News

Night Resting Foot Splints (every night)
Night Resting Foot Splints (every night)

Today, the USA Masters Track and Field Championships begin in Sacramento, California with one of the biggest fields ever. Over 1400 athletes have signed up to compete in the four day competition. As reported on the USATF website twelve Olympians and 113 reigning world champions are in the field. The athletes range from 30 to 96 years in age. There is both individual and team competition as well individual and relay events.

Unfortunately, while I scheduled vacation time back in January, to compete this week, it’s not in the cards this year.

Patience is a virtue.

And so is staying motivated.

National & World Championships are just one way.

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Speaking Of Childhood Dreams

Lane 8 & Jack Will Miss This Year's Nationals
Lane 8 & Jack Will Miss This Year's Nationals

Do you ever think back to the times, as an innocent child, when you dreamt impossible dreams. Oh, they didn’t seem impossible then. That only happened as you got older.

Like many children, I  wanted to be a famous athlete. Maybe the next Jim Brown of the Chicago Bears. Or become the world’s fastest human. I was, after all, the fastest ten year old on my street.

Next Thursday through Sunday will be the 2010 USA Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, California. If you are at the meet, make sure you stop by the National Masters News booth and say hello to Randy Sturgeon, publisher of National Master News. He’ll be competing in the Pentathlon on Thursday, hopefully. He’s been nursing an injury, but will be there all the rest of the time. He hopes to see you there.

For good measure, and in the spirit of wishing to be there, I ran a 2:32 800 meters this morning.

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