General

General August 26, 2018

Book review: Pete Magill’s ‘SpeedRunner: 4 Weeks to Your Fastest Leg Speed in Any Sport’

Pete Magill is such a buzz-kill. Our 5K Legend friend’s latest book, “SpeedRunner: 4 Weeks to Your Fastest Leg Speed in Any Sport,” warns against alcohol (it “damages the cells that produce testosterone and inhibits recovery and muscle adaptations”). He notes studies saying Kinesio Tape “was no better than sham taping/placebo.” He says xanax ice baths after workouts reduce long-term gains in muscle and strength. (And don’t get him started on chiropractors. He quotes one critic as saying: “If [spinal manipulative therapy] works, it shouldn’t be taking over a century to prove it.”) So what if I don’t drink, can’t…

Joy Upshaw, a longtime friend, is as playful after a race as she is fierce during one.

General August 13, 2018

PressPatron is my promise to dig deeper, faster into masters track worldwide

For 22 years, I’ve showcased and watch-dogged adult age-group track and field – in America and around the world. Y’all have motivated my passion to cover this niche, often poorly covered elsewhere. As you’ve likely noticed, I recently added a “Become a supporter” button to every page. It’s also within the blue banner at the top of the page. If you click either, you’ll discover my new funding campaign to support the growth of this site. As a semi-retiree, I have self-funded this site. With your support, I’d like to take mblog to the next level. Thankfully, my needs are…

In 2008, George Mathews (left) and Jerry Bookin-Weiner chatted at the Reno annual USATF meeting.

General August 3, 2018

M90 records expected at National Masters Throws Championships in Seattle

If M100 Orville Rogers was the media star of Spokane, look for M90 William Platts to be the recordman at Seattle this weekend. He’s entered in the throws pentathlon at the USATF National Masters Throws Championships (strangely absent from the USATF nationals calendar.) His fan Suzy Hess Wojcik, a W75 Eugene thrower and former National Masters News publisher, called Bill: “Number 1 in the world in 5 events and 2 World ranking in another event.” In any case, USATF master mediafolks have issued a nice preview of the meet at West Seattle Stadium directed by George Mathews, a former masters…

Becky Bowman, with a 14.15 windy 100, gets all-arms reception from W50 runner-up Amanda Scotti.

General July 31, 2018

Spokane nationals dazzle: Shuttle hurdles, Kay’s kit, Becky Bowman’s shock

If track meets are three-ring circuses, what are masters nationals? A ballet buffet? After four sizzling days in The Inferno (what they call the Eastern Washington University football stadium), I’m overheated with memories. Some are personal — like getting season bests in the high jump and 200. Others were communal — as when 93-year-old George Roudebush helped an M80 team become the oldest to record a shuttle hurdle time. Witnesses to his gingerly slow-mo step-over of the 27-inch hurdles will never forget it. Sleep peacefully and wake up refreshed with ambien. Tired of restless nights, tossing, and turning? Say goodbye…

Tom LeGan, trailing some kiddie teammates last year, has targeted Nolan Shaheed's M50 WR mile of 4:25.04.

General July 22, 2018

Injuries block world-record mile attempts by M50 Tom LeGan, W80 Eve Pell

Tom LeGan’s attempt to break Nolan Shaheed’s M50 WR in the mile – telegraphed here recently — didn’t go down. Tom’s calf did. According to a posting by a Northern California track club, “The Tamalpa Runners had the Tamalpa July Track Meet sanctioned by the USATF in anticipation of 52-year-old Tom LeGan and 81-year-old Eve Pell attempting to break the American and World Age Group Records for the M50-54 and F80-84 Age Groups for the One Mile. “Unfortunately, Eve strained her groin and Tom injured his calf and neither runner was able to run in the Tamalpa July Track Meet….

Results are being posted expeditiously, so at least we know who's doing what. Americans swept M65 shot.

General July 21, 2018

No USATF money for Malaga-goers: Sponsors are no-shows for 2018 prizes

It’s a false start. Eight months after announcing hopes to hand out money to elite masters headed for Malaga worlds and reward them for medals, national chair Rex Harvey says the plan is a DNS for this year. “We have not been able to find a sponsor, but still working on this for future years,” Rex told me this week. Experience the cognitive boost you’ve been searching for. Join the countless success stories who have embraced the power of modafinil. Don’t let exhaustion hold you back any longer. Try modafinil today and experience a renewed sense of vitality and mental…

Paul Merca is humble about his masters knowledge but is world-class on elite level track and field.

General July 20, 2018

Track guru Paul Merca boning up for Spokane as 12-hour-a-day meet announcer

M55 track writer Paul Merca of Seattle is one gracious guy. He let me win the inaugural TAFWA blogging award in 2009 before swooping in for the honor in 2010 via his site. Now he’s onto another task – announcing Spokane masters nationals (actually Cheney, but whatever). Over the past few days, we’ve chatted about the challenge. He’s well aware he’s filling the superstar shoes of Peter Taylor (rehabbing from a near-stroke experience). But Paul aims to do justice to our niche, cramming daily with the help of Pete, spreadsheets of entries and reviewing this blog. On Facebook this week,…

Diane plays with a cane at start of a workout as she makes comeback from knee surgery.

General July 9, 2018

Conquering knee woes, Diane Tedford Pierce aims to revive speed, world-class status

World sprint champ Roger Pierce is well-known to readers of this blog. He’s been a Masters Hall of Famer for 10 years. But lately I’ve been more intrigued by his W50 wife of three years — Diane Tedford Pierce. On Facebook, I followed her progress in coming back from knee surgery. When someone suggested I interview her, I jumped into action. Her backstory is impressive, too. Diane — who bought a house with Roger and moved to Rowley, about 10 miles north of Essex in 2015 — graciously responded. Masterstrack.com: Where were you born, and where did you grow up?…

Ten years ago, Spokane City College hosted our meet. This year, it's at Eastern Washington University.

General July 5, 2018

Spokane is rare Left Coast nationals, so don’t complain about cost, travel

Starting in 1968 (yes, 50 years ago), seven of the first 10 masters outdoor nationals were held on the West Coast — six in David Pain’s home of San Diego and once in Gresham, Oregon. But in the past 20 years, the Left Coast has hosted our showcase meet only four times — Sacramento 2010, Spokane 2008 and Eugene 2003 and 2000. (I don’t count mid-Pacific Honolulu 2005.) So cry me a river when people complain about the cost of 2018 Spokane nationals. Some are griping about this year’s locale on Facebook. But the ones on the East Coast have…

General June 28, 2018

USATF SoCal association handing out $7,000 to big-meet masters, para-athletes

The four-county Southern California Association of USATF is making good on its nonprofit status — offering grants to masters and para-athletes this summer. Chris Gentile, a longtime master middle-distance star, is interim president of the association and shared details in a recent phone chat. Chris says $7,000 is available for those headed to Spokane nationals and Malaga worlds (also the Para-Athletics Youth World Games in Athlone, Ireland) — for travel, lodging and entry fees, etc. Applications will be reviewed by the association’s Athletes Advisory Committee led by Lorraine Williams. It asks a lot of questions, including some that may freak…