I wrote this piece for our club shortly before my 58th birthday aftet the 2008 USATF Masters Championship Track and Field Meet in Spokane. I will be that 70 year old in another year and a half. Still enjoy competitions today.
Competing in track and field at any age can be a humbling experience. One cannot hide from the result on the standard, the tape, or the watch. It takes a special kind of person to accept that reality, and that fact does not change with age. That truth is enhanced by a realization that the 70 year olds you see performing at the track are a glance at your future.
It is a fact that age can be a limiting factor on performance. An equally great factor, if not larger influence, is your internal beliefs and perceptions. Can one really improve their Masters performance as they age? Yes is the answer, and it was confirmed by many at Spokane. That is beautiful to see, and it gives us hope and inspiration for the future.
The sacrifice to train for Masters Track is a choice. We all make choices daily. That choice may be to stay up late watching television. One can spend an hour eating out at lunch rather than packing a sandwich. The athletes at Spokane are no less busy at home or work than the rest of us. We all have personal responsibilities, but we make choices. The athletes that competed in Spokane were serious, and it was reflected in their performance. That was their choice.
The comraderie at a Masters track meet is unique. Perhaps it is the shared sacrifice. Maybe it is a mature view of sport. Following a distance races competitors would grab water in cups for their fellow masters; or, reach out in hand shake or a pat on the back after a sprint race. It was gesture of mutual respect for those that have accepted the challenge to compete.
Igy