Rolland Ranson is stoked. As meet director of this summer’s masters nationals in Maine, he’s on a Q&A roll. Peter Taylor submitted some more questions to him, and Coach Ranson answers with energy and enthusiasm. Part 1 of the interview is here. Interesting narrative device employed below (the athletes are composites, Pete says). Taylor writes: “Coach Ranson, here are some letters I created that might help to elicit some valuable information about your meet in the first week of August (University of Maine, Orono).”

And the letters:

Eunice, from Scarsdale, N.Y.: Coach Ranson, my dearest friend (her name is Gladys) summers in central Maine, and I will be staying with her. I wonder whether it is easy to find the university from I-95. A bigger problem I have experienced is that once I get on a campus I cannot find the track. What is its popular name? Will someone on campus be able to direct me to it if I get lost? After I have arrived, will I be able to find refreshments at the stadium for a modest price? And dare I ask about facilities (you know what I mean). Will there be real restrooms for the ladies adjacent to the track? Thank you.
Ranson: Hi Eunice: U Maine sports complex is at one end of the University campus. Signs on the highway direct you. Take the Stillwater Ave exit, and go right through three sets of lights and then drive over the Stillwater River and turn right at the fourth set of lights, you parallel the scenic river for one mile and once you see a bunch up white cones, [hockey arena roof] you turn into the athletic complex area.
The ‘Packet Pick-up’ is in Dexter Lounge, located in the brick building attached to the Alfond Hockey Arena. Immediately next to this is the Stadium and Clarence Beckett Family Track and Field complex! And straight ahead is the huge fieldhouse with the big blue ‘M’ on the outside wall. Parking lots are all around the stadiums.
At U Maine we have a wonderfully modern stadium with modern clean bathroom facilities. Custodians are hired at time and a half pay to be at the stadium full time during the championships. They are super!
Everyone is enthusiastic regarding our varied concessions, healthy food too, lots of drinks, in the shade, underneath the wonderful stadium! Maine people are wonderful hosts and care about you! So you then can relax and enjoy your competition.
Steve, from Keokuk, Iowa. Coach, I’m new to masters but I’m pretty fast (ran 11.5 hand for the 100 a couple of days ago, not bad for age 45). Do I have to bring my own starting blocks? If you have blocks, how do I arrange to use them for my race? I’m told that some places don’t like long spikes; is there any limit? If I’m fortunate enough to win an award, where do I pick it up? My friend Cheryl is coming along; will she have a chance to take my picture at the awards stand? Or do you have a professional photographer to take photos? Or won’t there be an awards ceremony at all?
Steve, You just enter, pay the fees, and you are all set. You may enter online at www.usatf.org/events once they have set it up. Or you can download the entry form and postal mail it to the address at the University of Maine. Or you can contact Rolland Ranson for a paper entry form, or I can email an entry form to you. We use AAE starting blocks, top of the line. They will be all set out on the track ready for you to use.
Bring track sprint shoes with 1/4″ spikes to sprint in. Another familiar face will be our great photographic crew, Monty Rand and his wife, Janice, and staff will again be present to take action photos. Your friend Cheryl will also be allowed to take photos on our awards stand.
Y’up we will have the Moose and our Maine Black Bear on the award stand with you! Once the officials present your award you can then take photos, or we can have the professional photographer take photos for you to select the best to then order for a fee.
Randy, from Walla Walla, Washington. I’m in the shot and discus. I can’t believe I have to bring my own implements, or do I? Where will you check them in? At the track or somewhere else? My best friend Natalie will be coming with me. Can you ask the announcer to say something about my events, or will he ignore me as they so often do? Or will you have a field events announcer separate from the track announcer? Thanks for your help, Coach.
Hi, Randy; You are allowed to use your own implements, but they have to be checked in to the weights and measures officials at the designated booth under the stadium. The officials will declare them eligible and then wheel them out to your event. We also will have some implements available for athletes to use, if they do not have their own.
M-F will supply the extras, and our University of Maine track and field program will supply some implements as well. We have a field events announcer working with our head announcer, so y’up the field events will have announcements periodically, and will be wandering among the field events to keep on top of the action.