Who knew? I can turn an Italian phrase (and cliche) with the best of them. At least, that’s how it looks on a new Italian track site, which goes heavy on masters. A few weeks ago, an Italian journalist named Andrea Benatti asked me for an interview, and so I let my hair down (as far as it goes), and responded to her questions. The result is posted twice. Here’s the Italian version. And here’s the English version. In case you don’t want to register to gain access, I’ve reposted the interview below. Bon appetit.

Andrea’s interview with moi:

Ken, could you speak about you? Who are you out of the net?
I received a degree in journalism from the University of Kansas in May 1976. I graduated Phi Beta Kappa, a high academic honor. I then went to work for a series of newspapers – 10 at last count. My current job is working for SignOnSanDiego.com – the Web site of The San Diego Union-Tribune. I have worked for SignOn since July 2003. My work hours are 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. (So please don’t call me before noon!) I was a copy editor before that, working at the San Diego Tribune since 1986. The Tribune later merged with the The San Diego Union in 1992. My job at SignOn is to put the print edition online every weeknight. You can see my work by clicking “Today’s Paper” at this site: http://www.signonsandiego.com/
I have been married to Chris, the love of my life, since 1981. Chris teaches English as a second language to adults – mostly refugees from Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa . We are the proud parents of a college freshman son, Bobby Stone, who makes money with his own Web site: http://www.colorguardcafe.com/ Bobby is 19 and plays the clarinet and saxophone. He’s a member of a competition color guard team called Lealta.
Ken, we have seen that all masters website are linked to your. But what’s the secret of Masterstrack.com success?
The secret is hard work. My co-webmaster Dave Clingan of Oregon has updated hundreds of masters calendars and rankings for what we call “mcom” since we merged our sites in late 1999. My contribution has been writing articles, doing interviews and keeping a blog since January 2003. For the past three years, the blog has been updated daily and sometimes three or four times a day. Web sites that are constantly updated with fresh material have the best chance of success. It also helps that my blog is funny and opinionated. I write about subjects that nobody else talks about. And I can spell.
I’ve read in your public profile that you was a good athlete. But, now, are you a “master” athlete?
Yes, I have done sprints, hurdles and high jump since age 41 in 1995. I won two gold medals in the USA national championships in 1997 as a member of an M40 400- and 1,600-meter relay. In August 1998, I broke my left ankle while hurdling, but I recovered and ran hurdles at the 1999 world championships in Gateshead , England . In October 2002, I tore my left ACL while hurdling. But I returned to sprinting in a year. In April 2007, I injured the same knee while taking off in the high jump. I finally had ACL reconstruction surgery six weeks ago. I won’t be able to compete until June. But I hope to run sprints at the USA nationals in August 2008.
Are you conscious that your incredible work for master-world, have helped the rising and the diffusion of master athletics?
Yes, I have worked very hard to promote the sport – and shine a spotlight on deserving athletes. I also criticize people and groups who don’t do justice to our sport. So I have made enemies. But most athletes support me. I have received many private messages from masters athletes thanking me for my site, which they say inspired them to resume athletics after 10, 20 or 30 years. My site also gives them permission to compete even if they are not elite athletes. If I can compete in masters athletics, anyone can!
How will you change the organization of master’s Athletics? Or better, would you change anything?
As a blogger, my job is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Although I volunteer on three committees of USATF Masters Track & Field (Awards, Media and Historical Preservation), I choose not to become an elected leader. I am more valuable as an opinion leader – and comedian. I often write about problems in masters athletics – especially the terrible state of masters age-group records – but I prefer that others do the hard work of translating my ideas into working rules. I would change many things in American masters athletics, but they are too numerous to list. My blog gives my opinions. Regarding world masters issues, I share the fears of former WAVA Treasurer Al Sheahen, who wrote a wonderful critique of the WAVA leadership after the 2001 Brisbane world meet. Mr. Sheahen accuses WAVA leaders of arrogance and elitism in this column: http://www.masterstrack.com/news2001august14.html
What is the future of master athletics?
Continued growth in numbers is inevitable with the aging of the population. But the key is giving these new masters athletes high-quality competitive opportunities. The rivalry of multisport festivals such as National Senior Olympics and Masters Games in countries and worldwide with World Masters Athletics is a major concern. All the best athletes should compete in one major championship – not be forced to choose between them. Also, I’d like to see masters exhibition events (indeed a whole meet!) during the rest day of the Olympic Games. If the IAAF World Championships can offer occasional masters events, why not the Olympics?
Any funny anecdote about master world?
In masters athletics, everything is absurd. Who are we, at our age, to compete in one of the most strenuous of sports? Thus many anecdotes are about the nexus of age and performance. One story involves a men’s race at the second USA nationals in 1969 in San Diego . Three sprinters in their 50s were nearing the finish line, very tightly bunched, when the toupee of one of the men peeled off. He finished second. A photographer from the San Diego Union took a picture of the man’s hairpiece flying off. The picture was printed with the headline “Lost by a hair!” It was picked up by a wire service and distributed around the country. Another photo showed the toupee lying on the track, with the bald sprinter walking back to pick it up. It had the caption: “It looked like a dead rat!”
Who was the master-athlete that much impressed you in those years? Could you speak about him/her?
I am the biggest fan of hundreds of masters athletes! I am awed by anyone who can run faster and jump higher than me, including women in their 60s! Perhaps the most impressive are folks who compete into their 90s, or beyond. National Masters News, our monthly newspaper, once quoted an athlete as saying the top winner in masters track is the one who competes at the most advanced age. So my idols include the late Everett Hosack of Ohio, who competed in sprints and throws until age 102, and the late John Whittemore of California , who set a javelin record at age 104. My personal favorite is Bert Morrow, who at age 92 became the oldest human hurdler. He lived near me in Southern California and was a guest at my 50th birthday party in 2004. He since has retired and moved back to Canada , where he lives with his family.
Do you know any Italian master?
I have exchanged email with high jumper Marco Segatel and runner Rosa Marchi, who likes to close her letters with “A kiss.” So cute. I also have chatted with statistician Diego Cacchiarelli. Of course, America ’s M50 world discus champion Ralph Frugulietti was born in Italy ! I wrote a lot about him following Riccione, after he mistakenly thought a dead Olympian had given him crucial advice in the discus.
Do you want to add anything, that you want to say?
Yes, I want to thank all the athletes, officials and writers around America and throughout the world who share their achievements, doubts and concerns. I welcome email (in English) from anyone with a story to tell, good or bad. My address is TrackCEO@aol.com. I am especially grateful to Annette and Robert Koop of Germany , who cover that nation’s masters athletics as well as anyone on their own Web site: http://www.masters-sport.de/. I met both in Gateshead and hope to see them again in Lahti , Finland , in 2009! And finally, I share my gratitude to masters hurdler and physics professor Jess Brewer of British Columbia, Canada , whose letter about masters athletics posted on a track Listserve helped inspire me to start my first Masters Track & Field Home Page in February 1996. His letter still inspires: http://members.aol.com/trackceo/jess.html