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 Tuesday, July 22, 2025

(This is my 60th post to this blog!)

USATF Masters National Championship Meet in Huntsville, Alabama

Here is a photo of me starting off in my the 400 meter preliminary race:



What an amazing experience! I had a great time at the meet. Best news--it's over, and I did NOT re-injury myself, nor did I get a new injury! I ran the 400 meter prelim on Thursday, and I took second in the heat, running 59.60 (a tad slower than my PR at Indoor worlds in March). Behind me in the picture above is David Jones, an excellent, experienced sprinter who just aged up into the 60-64 group. He won the heat (and, spoiler alert, he won the final, finishing in 57.87). I felt good in the prelim race. The next day, Friday, we had the final. I took second! My first individual medal at a big meet. Plus, I ran a new PR, crossing the line at 58.93. I was thrilled. So happy I could give it my best. Again, the race felt smooth, and my legs got a little lactic the last 20 meters, but not so bad. It was a stellar race--with many of the legends of my current age group competing, including super strong Peter Kashulines, the incredible Oscar Fabra, and great competitor Craig Pritchard. Here are the results on the board:


I am going to make a new post soon with videos of my races (for reference/learning purposes--not for applause!). Francois Boda did not run in the 400 this year due to root canal surgery. He won the 200, of course. If he had competed in the 400, like last summer and at the big indoor meets this year, I would be in possession of the bronze.

Saturday I ran the 800 meters. I seeded into the slower heat. I did my best, trying to run the same race as my first outdoor 800 in June. But there wasn't anyone to race against (it was hot and humid, and we had been delayed due to lightening strikes like we had been before the 400 on Friday). Craig Pritchard was probably too tired from also doing the 200 before. So I only ran 2:28 (disappointing--I had hoped to run under my PR of 2:23--but that's on me and my lack of experience in this event [I didn't know how to pace/push myself in lap 2]). The race in the fast heat was great--Peter Kashulines took it easily in 2:17. All the other runners in that heat placed, their times low 2:20s. I am happy for Peter. I had the opportunity to talk to him--super nice guy, very generous with encouragement and training suggestions. I wish I could train with him on the regular! He's a friend/teammate of Mark Williams. Those two are each powerhouses in their respective age groups. Peter (and Mark!) competed and won gold in their respective 1,500 events on Sunday! Both stellar races.  True track legends.

Here I am running my 800:



On Sunday, I competed in the Non Club 4 x 400 relay. We won gold in the M50 (one member of our team is 52). Ian Smith from Mass Velocity Track Club (M65) joined me and GPTC teammates Wally Hernandez and Jayson Ness (who is a thrower). It was great fun. Best part, I got to race the first leg against legend Oscar Fabra (who was competing in M60--so there was no stress for me to have to go up hard against him). And turns out Oscar is also a really great guy! 

Here is our team:


Back at the lake now in Minnesota. Went to the gym today to do Pilates mat, stretch, and ended up doing a chest and leg workout with weights. I feel great! Thursday we are heading to the Snowy Range in Wyoming for peace, nature, and hiking! Hopefully I can include a pic of the incredible mountains and lakes there on a future post, as I plan on doing some runs, too! 

As always, thanks for reading my blog, Track Fans!

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