You go to Palm Springs for resorts, restaurants and shopping, right? Perfect for Valentine’s Day. But if you’re world-class masters, the real attraction Feb. 14 is the nearby senior meet. “We’re racing in the Palm Desert Senior Games on Valentine’s Day; seems like a great way to spend it,” say Amanda Scotti and Greg Pizza (pronounced Pie-Zah), whose coupledom was announced on Facebook. Amanda is, of course, the co-publisher of National Masters News and top-ranked W55 sprinter. Greg is a SoCal real-estate agent always in the mix for M60 national honors. Since I dig geezer love stories, I pestered the pair. They graciously gave in.

Masterstrack.com: Are you engaged?  Moving in together? 

Greg and Amanda: No, we’re not engaged, not moving in together, yet. We, at this point, are trying to navigate the logistics of living in different cities, with each of us having very full lives in each. We have homes in the San Diego area (Greg’s) and in the Sacramento area (Amanda’s) and plan to spend a lot of time at both!

My kids are still young, 14 and 16, and while Greg’s kids are older, he has grandchildren in San Diego and a thriving real estate business with his older daughter Leyla. We’re working on it, though!

If you don’t mind being outed publicly, could you share details on how you met?

Amanda: Strangely, although we had, over the years, been at dozens of the same meets, we had never been introduced. We were at the Nevada Senior Games this year and I noticed Greg as he walked onto the track. I’ve never done this, especially at a track meet, but I asked Liz Palmer, “Who is that?” Joe Ruggless invited Greg to sit with us under the Striders tent, so we got to talking.

Greg: We met at the Nevada Senior Games, sharing Joe Ruggless’ shade tent and warming up. I was sitting with Liz Palmer and asked her if Amanda was unattached (couldn’t resist the track jargon). Liz said Amanda was and graciously introduced us.

What was the attraction (besides mutual speed)?

Amanda: Seriously? You’ve seen Greg, right?

Well, aside from noticing him at the meet, upon talking, Greg is really funny, incredibly intelligent, very real and superfast. What more could a girl ask for? We found that we are, to use Greg’s word, “simpatico” on many levels; to have found, at this age, this person with whom I fully, completely connect is simply a gift.

Greg: Amanda is a beautiful woman inside and out, witty, has a pureness of spirit rarely found, that is so very attractiv … she ”gets it,” is supersmart and curious.

After the Nevada Games, we stayed in touch by phone. It seemed like I was talking to a longtime friend; hours would pass with laughter, interest and a sense of familiarity and understanding that usually only comes with time.

We both have a deep love for the sport of track and field. We mirror each other with our “Sprinters Mentality” in so many parts of our lives and energy levels.

Among other things, we don’t understand why people drive so slowly! We love to train together and we learn much from each other! We also pray together, asking for God to be in our lives.

How are your families are reacting?

Amanda: Greg has hung out with my boys; he handled that beautifully, gave them a respectable distance and time to accept him. He and my youngest play racquetball at the gym and test-drive fast cars. I’d say they’re growing pretty fond of him in that “still-gotta-act-cool” teenager way.

Greg: Amanda has met my daughters, saw Santa with the grandkids, held baby Capri and played with 4-year old Madden, she is simpatico with my youngest Tavia — a personal trainer, both having a love for fitness and both being mothers. I sense that they will have a wonderful friendship.

Certainly, you’re the fastest masters couple I know of!
Amanda: I really like the sound of that!

Greg: Our sprinters mentality rolls over to many parts of our lives, we like to run fast, drive fast and have a similar drive and energy to succeed and experience what life offers.

Greg and Amanda: We’re racing in the Palm Desert Senior Games on Valentine’s Day. Seems like a great way to spend it. The following weekend we’ll race at the Arizona Senior Games. We’ve set a goal to attempt to each medal in every state’s games. Might take us a while; should be fun!