(Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series as I prepare for the Wisconsin Senior Olympics. The event is this coming Sunday.)
This is it folks. Seven days left until I throw the shot put and run the 800 in the Wisconsin Senior Olympics.
In many ways, this journey began with my kids. They all started running in middle school, then got competitive about it in high school, and that carried over as all three went on to compete at the D-III collegiate level. Proud of them year after year, they inspired and motivated me to step into the arena.
Growing up I ran fast, but never competed in any track or field event. I played baseball, football, basketball, eventually golf, and did run one season of cross country my senior year in high school on a lark. I never thought about really “competing” in any type of running or field event. Watching our kids over the years, the successes they achieved, the hard work they put in that delivered results, I started thinking about some events that I could compete in as a 63-year-old.
I knew sprints were out as I probably would tear every muscle in both legs. And I knew distance events were out because there are guys out there running 5k and 10k races regularly and they would crush me like the flea I am. So I had to find something in-between and settled on the 800.
Our son Kirby encouraged me into the shot put. That was the initial event to trigger my thinking, as he felt I shouldn’t run after having surgery to shave off a huge bone spur on my left heel in October 2017. I agreed about the shot put, and disagreed about running as my body had healed pretty well over the ensuing 18 months after surgery before I started training.
I’m sticking to my two goals of arriving on-site Sunday with my body relatively intact and wanting to finish both events without tearing a muscle. Beyond that, anything goes. If only two people enter the shot put, I should be able to take the bronze. If enough guys are silly and hurt themselves during the 800, perhaps I won’t finish last. We’ll see. I’m going to take it slow and see how the race develops.
At this age, I’ve found warming up is probably the most important thing about running a good race. Stretch, get the muscles loose, prepare your body slower to give it an opportunity to perform. The mind must encourage the body. We’ll see how that goes.
Multiple coaches encouraged our three kids along their paths, including Rick Miller, Jeff Stiles, Donna Ricks and Jason Deardorff. They have all positively influenced our kids in their running, and by extension they’ve taught me things about perseverance, staying engaged and doing your best. It doesn’t mean you’ll win, but it means you’re in the arena and there’s a lot to be said for that in the grand scheme of things. All four mean a lot to our kids and I salute them for their coaching, leadership and encouragement. I doubt I’d be doing this without them or having watched our kids compete the past 10 years or so.
My wife Debbie is the rock of our running, showing me by example over and over what she can do in road races over the years. Her example demonstrated to me what the mind and body are capable of when you put the extra effort into it. This race is for her, our kids and the coaches. The starting gun awaits.
(Editor’s note: Next week will cover the two events.)