USATF study honcho says masters can still benefit from stretching
A few days ago, USATF published the results of its long-awaited stretching survey. Here’s the summary. And here are the protocols. “To stretch or not to stretch? That’s a question millions of runners ask themselves daily,” the report begins. “But results from a USA Track & Field-sponsored clinical trial involving close to 3,000 runners confirm there is no difference in the risk of injury for those who stretched before running and those who did not.” Yet when I wrote study manager Alan Roth, he left the door open to stretching, especially masters runners who think it prevents injury (my contention all along). Dr. Roth told me: “In general, if you are already doing pre-run stretching, don’t stop whatever your age. I have a personal opinion which is that runners often do stretching of muscles related to chronic muscle or tendon problems. The people who told us they normally stretch before they run apparently were doing so for protection against injury as they had a higher risk of injury when they stopped their stretching for the study.”
English grad student surveys masters on supplement use, benefits
Paul Astles, a graduate student at Leeds Metropolitan University in England, has reached out with an interesting request. Paul writes: “I am currently studying for an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology and I am planning on undertaking my thesis around masters athletes. Specifically, the aim of my research would be to investigate attitudes towards supplement use (for example, the research asks questions about what supplements are taken, perceived health or performance benefits of supplements and sources of advice regarding supplementation). The data collection for this research is going to be an online questionnaire. (Here is the survey.) It is important that you read the first page of the questionnaire pack as this will hopefully answer any questions that you have regarding the benefits of the research. There are contact details on that first page should you have any further questions regarding the questionnaires or the research.”
M50 sprinter Mike Waller wows as an accomplished pentathlete
Dave Ortman didn’t compete at Sacramento nationals, but he loves the pentathlon. He notes: “Although the outdoor pentathlon is a USATF masters championship event, I don’t know of any masters regional championship that includes it. So I organized a masters pentathlon at Bill Roe’s Club Northwest All-Comers meet on August 11 at Shoreline, Washington.” (Updated) results are here. Note the winner — M50 sprint great Mike Waller. Dave sent this photo, and identified the handsome gents and lady (and their scores) as follows: Ortman, M55, 3182 points; Arny Stonkus, M55, 2476 points; Albert Erickson, M80, 2679 points; Scott Copeland, M50, 2289 points; Michael Waller, M50, 3190 points; Gail Kuhnly, W45; 1517 points; and Keith Johnson, M40, 2290 points.
Dave Ortman (far left) gave multi-eventers someone to chase at Northwest pentathlon. (Photo by Sarah Weiser)
‘Silver-haired, and seeking gold’ is Masters Headline of the Year
More masters wisdom from the Great White North: “People want to achieve things and that doesn’t necessarily disappear because you’re old. If somebody feels capable of doing something, it’s what they want to do, then they should go ahead and do it.” So says Andrew Sixsmith, director of the Gerontology Research Centre at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. He’s quoted in a nice story about masters track that ran yesterday in the Burnaby NewsLeader. The story’s headline says it all.
Sverre Hietanen, 90, was recently inducted into the Canadian Masters Athletics Hall of Fame. (Photo by Mario Bartel)
Shabunin runs 4:01.62 mile in Finland — nips Moorcroft M40 WR
Vyacheslav Shabunin
Eleven complete double throws pentathlon — 9 big events overall
Throwers were in hog heaven over the weekend. The USATF Masters Northwest Throws and Ultraweight Pentathlons were held Saturday at West Seattle Stadium, reports George Mathews. “Nine men and two women competed in both pentathlons,” he writes. “The weight throw — which was the last event of the throws pent. and the first event of the ultra pent. — counted for both events. Altogether, 19 men and 4 women competed in the throws pentathlon and 10 men and wo women competed in the ultraweight pentathlon.” (See weight pent results here, men’s ultra results here and women’s ultra results here.) Top scorers in the throws pent were Peter LaBarge 71, with 4171 points and Janice Bradley, 72, with 2523 points. A season leading mark of 4143 was scored by world record holder Harvey Lewellen, 81. In the ultraweight pentathlon, Harvey and Suzy Hess-Wojcik each had highest points scored with season leading totals of 4032 and 2866, respectively. The meet also had season leading marks by Lance Neubauer, 52, 3153, and Zeb Hoffman, 30, 3250. “The meet was sponsored by Seattle Masters Athletic Club and the USATF Pacific Northwest Association, which provided the best officials in the land headed Carole and Bob Langenbach,” George says.
Neni Lewis didn't throw at Seattle event, but this shot was too nice to pass up. (Photo by Chris Stone)
Greater Philly TC ran age-graded track and throws extravaganzas
Kevin Forde
Unsung Hero Award goes to Bill Roe for all-comers meet series
Bill Roe, former USATF prez, has just wrapped up his all-comers series in Shoreline, Washington. Dave Ortman writes: “Bill just finished up the 42nd annual summer of putting on all-comers meets in the Seattle area. An astounding record considering that he has to drive nearly 100 miles each way from Bellingham each Wednesday night, and he faithfully showed up most of the time he was the head honcho of USAT&F! How about a shout out for info on all-comers meets around the country. I remember attending summer all-comers meets . . . run by Rich Greeno, a heralded Midwest area T&F coach in the late 1960s that I believe is still going on in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.” Which gets me thinking. Who would you salute among officials, administrators and meet directors? Now’s the time to thank the folks who make meets possible!
Bill Roe (left) gestured while chatting with Bob Weiner at the 2008 Spokane masters nationals. (Photo by Ken Stone)
Throwers’ longevity being studied for master’s thesis at CSU Chico
Tom Fahey, master educator at Chico
Deadline for Puerto Rico WMA regional meet extended to Aug. 27
Marilyn Mitchell, our masters maven on WMA regionals and NCCWMA women’s representative, reports that the deadline for entering the 2010 WMA regional championships in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, “has been extended to August 23 and late deadline is August 27, with penalty fee of $25 for entries between August 23 and August 27.” That’s about a week before the four-day meet, which starts September 3. Free housing is available, too! (But “a maintenance fee of $7 to $10 per day will be added to the free facilities for cleaning purposes.”) See this info sheet. About 25 mainland Americans are entered, according to the website.
