Senior Olympian Sprinter

400 meter race with Richard Westbrook 70 meters to go  Richard Silver, I took Gold 200 meter with 70 m to go. World class speed, 55.55 sec 400 meters on left, 55.78 on right!   Another successful State Finals over the weekend! It was the usual hot Tennessee summer weekend spent on a black rubber track!  The competition was very spirited with multiple records in all the classes--just great athletes from Charles Baker to William Yelverton.   Charlie Baker is in the 90-94 age group and was running by himself and still setting records in the sprints.  His doctor did not want him to run, he had something acting up, but Charlie stated -"I have to run" and indeed he did.  Charlie is nearing the end of his career but wants to go to Birmingham next summer and win some more National medals.  He is truly Senior Olympian royalty.   Yelverton usually does the USATF Masters but lives relatively close to Birmingham and wants to b...

A follow up to the last blog.  Today I ran at the Ravenwood track and there was a dozen people involved with some sort of activity.  Leaving the grounds open is a big deal.  All week I have been using the track and the least amount of people has been two.  One day I ran after a really nasty rain storm and it was only me and a young footballer getting in some sprints.  If you have a nice facility-- let everyone in. This week was the "hard" training week where you do plenty of work, but do not get hurt.  Easier said than done.  I have been alternating between fast days and pace days.  Yesterday was grass sprints in the morning with parachutes and some 50's on grass.  I ran on grass just to give my feet a break.  It was a good work out and I also chatted with Bob Van Fleteren.  Bob is a great jumper and was tuning up his pole vault.  He looked pretty solid and will haul in his usual bucket of metals.  Good luck and stay hea...

Finally some good training weather.   I like some humidity and warmth to allow my muscles to release and do some work. The humidity also is a great help to my breathing, denser air seems to work better for me. I did go to the doctor after the Nashville meet and we looked into what was going on with my lack of energy and investigate some bites on hips.   The best the doctor and I could diagnose was that I had been bitten by a tick of some sort and also had gotten some flu type sickness due to my reaction to the bites.  She put me on an antibiotic and things got better immediately.  The bites are very slow to heal and after a month a couple still have some swelling in them!!  But I am feeling much better.  It could be too many hotel rooms or paper mills... who knows.  I have upped the training so I am ready for the State Finals in a couple of weeks.   I lifted over the weekend and my legs hurt so much that I had to rest two f...