Decathlete’s inside report from outdoor deca nationals
M60 Grant Lamothe of Canada was a guest competitor at this past weekend’s USATF National Masters Decathlon/Heptathlon Championships near Seattle, Washington. He also was an injured competitor, trying to make the best of things. “I tore my hamstring last month and it’s still mending,” he wrote me. “So I went in injured, and took it easy (or avoided entirely) the events that stressed it. The hurdles I avoided. Believe me, I wouldn’t have run those … times in the 100m and 400m and would have jumped with more abandon if I were healthy. However, I did leave the decathon without limping and managed to finish most of the events anyway.” Best of all, he left with a great story, which he shares on his Web site. With great photos, too!
My favorite shot:
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2 Responses
Thanks, Ken, for linking my story to your website.
Hope y’all enjoy the photos.
I think I forgot to mention in the story w how well-run the meet was. Duante Gouge and his team did a first-rate job of running the meet. For example, your day’s results were handed to you, printed out and age-graded, before you had time to catch your breath from the final event of the day. That, my friends, is efficiency.
Awesome job Duante et. al. Thanks again.
-Grant Lamothe
I agree with Grant: This was the most challenging, yet satisfying and rewarding track and field event I have participated in. It was two days filled with some failures and disappointments followed by some pleasant surprises, all made sweeter by the great support from the director, officials, volunteers, fellow athletes, and enthusiastic spectators. I encourage more women to participate in the future.
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