Updated October 21, 2005

Proudly wearing some of his eight gold medals from the Rocky Mountain Masters Games in September 2005, Don Pellmann can boast of supportive grandchildren as well as the seven M90 world records he set at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Click on his pic to see a small gallery of Don in action at the September meet. (Photo by Ned Pellmann)

By Ken Stone

Don Pellmann of Mountain View, California, was born on a farm near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in August 1915. He lived and worked in that area until his retirement in 1972. He says he was active in sports in high school and two years of college, “but Depression and part-time work cut in and did not allow much action.” He lettered in track as a high jumper in college but says he was “not great. Then no sports for about 58 years, except some bowling, soft ball, golf etc.” He was a supervising toolmaker during World War II, got deferments and saw no military service. “We made superchargers for the B-17s and B-24s and P-38s — all critical aircraft. In his younger days, he says, “I did best in the jumps (high and long) and VERY surprisingly the weights as at 172 pounds I always figured the football giants would cream me, but they all seem to end up with ankles, knees and HEARTS that fail, so I never had problems with them.”

Of his masters track career, he says: “I have seen some very well run meets and (sadly) some rather lousy meets, run poorly, slowly, with terribly qualified people, but I always felt, these were FUN and GAMES, and I could quit or leave at any time — and considered quitting that meet or ALL of them, at a good many of them. On occasions. I felt the two National (Senior Games) meets at Tucson and Baton Rouge were the best ever. Timed well, quick results, awards quickly presented in a proper way. Good volunteers in transportation, housing and registration etc. etc.”

Masterstrack.com: In Colorado, you set seven M90 world records. Did you expect to do that well? Which marks were the biggest surprise? Which are you the most proud of?

Pellmann: My greatest recent successes was the way I topped the existing shot put and discus world marks. Crazy. The shot put record was 24’10” and now I did 33-3 3/4 The discus was 72-4 and I did 91. If I can have any special reason to brag, it is that I do ALL of them — run, jump, throw things and pole vault. No 90-year-old pole vaulters as I check.

It appears that you prefer competing in Senior Olympics and masters games. Have you competed much in USATF national and regional championships? If not, why not? (Related question: Are you a USATF member?)

I almost always competed in Senior Olympics, only two or three masters, as they were never close or convenient. I now AM a (USATF) masters member.

How do you train? (For example: How often do you run, lift weights, practice specific skills?) Do you have a coach? Where do you train?

I feel you have to keep in training 365 days a year. No off-season. I do something every day, if nothing but long brisk walks.
I try to do what I can at least once a week. Shot put, and discus, in a
local park. Running anywhere. but high jumping, pole vaulting are
extremely difficult. I used to use the high school facility a few weeks
each spring. Now I ad lib some pole vault action with a bamboo pole from a
local nursery in a pile of leaves in the park (not often). I feel, if I
had proper training facilities and some coaching, I could do MUCH better.

How, at age 90, do you manage to excel amid the natural aches and pains of track and field?

Luckily I have no arthritis or aches pains or much limitations.
Almost never a headache or problems I hear about in people my age. I am
on NO medication (rare for my age). Never had any! In all my 90 or so
meets, I have had only two injuries. One a pulled leg thing, and one a
twisted knee, both of which allowed me to do other events with success!
Never missed a meet with illness, and NEVER missed a medal in ANY event. I
had at one time 475 consecutive golds, and totally about 812 events with
over 800 golds. At a district meet in Western Arkansas on Saturday (Oct. 8), I had
14 events in the AM! Got 14 golds. (But I was a “basket case” with soreness)!

What is your diet like? Do you take any nutritional supplements?

Nothing special. I eat most everything, but avoid too much carbos.
Lean meat, fish, salads, soup, and as much fruit as possible. I eat very
lightly, half portions here where we now reside. I avoid fats, butter and
creams. (All meals furnished at our Retirement home). No special stuff. I
find I drink less water (or Gatorade) at meets, than most people, but in
low humidity places, water is a must.

Some members of the masterstf message board on Yahoo Groups suggest that your world records at altitude should include an asterisk. Do you think you could do as well at sea level?

Sea level or the altitudes I competed at in Fort Collins and St. George
(in my opinion were NIL!) I think sea level is best, but very minimal or
nothing to add or subtract from my performances.

What motivates you to train and compete when most members of your age group are content to look back on a long life and watch others do track and field?

I am not motivated by anything but keeping healthy. My medals, my
records and all that stuff are really so minor, I try to put that stuff
aside. I am competitive, and like to win, but competing against my
previous best is all I need, as sometimes the compettion is little or none.

Every masters athlete trains and competes despite various challenges — old injuries, difficult work or family conditions, etc. What challenges have you had to overcome to perform at such a high level?

My only limitations and concerns in competing now are expenses, and
leaving my wife alone (as she will not travel anymore). On the expense
side, I feel it is sad that perhaps many really good athletes cannot
compete as the cost is high. Travel, motels, meals and even entry fees
make it tough on a tight budget.

How long will you compete in track and field? Until M100? Beyond?

I swore these last two meets would be my very last! I could perhaps
do a limited number later, (no more eight-event meets) as some of the easy stuff
could still work out OK. I see the really old guys (90s and over that
still try) do so miserably, that almost any effort can win.
I feel it is time to “Hang them up”!