Oh my. Yesterday’s Wall Street Journal carried a story headlined, One Running Shoe in the Grave with the subhead: “New Studies on Older Endurance Athletes Suggest the Fittest Reap Few Health Benefits.” OK. So what’s the alternative? Die fat and slow? Actually, it’s die thin and slow, since exercise is still found to extend longevity. Sports cardiologist James O’Keefe was asked whether he runs a 5K for time. He replied: “Not for the past three years. After age 50, pushing too hard is probably not good for one’s heart or longevity.” Pete Magill, your days are numbered. (And Ed Whitlock, how are you still alive?) Many thanks to Rita Hanscom, who alerted me to the story.

A masters friend writes: “In a country where drug usage is rampant and almost anyone can get a doctor to write an exemption, it sure seems that an obvious extension of drug testing would be requiring athletes with TUEs [therapeutic use exemptions] to record their exemption with some coordinating body and that a list of these records would be available to all masters. It would be similar to requiring documentation of age when applying to compete in the worlds or applying for records.” This issue might arise at the USATF annual meeting starting Wednesday in Dayton Beach, I’m told. My friend adds: “It might be interesting to see the views of people on your blog.” I worry about privacy—having your medications available for anyone, including employers, to see. Can of worms.

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Pete Magill, who was scary fast at the L.A. Halloween Half Marathon last month, quickly replied to my queries afterward. But being the procrastinator webmaster, I didn’t post till today. But since this is a day of thanks, I share my gratitude for all the readers of this immodest blog and your eternal patience. Pete also reports: “Looking forward to running in the USATF Club XC meet this year, after being too injured to run last year — fingers crossed, as a month at this age provides ample opportunity to get injured again!” He also reveals: “I sold my running book proposal, BUILD YOUR RUNNING BODY … with the manuscript due next August and publication scheduled for spring 2014.” Yowza! That will be a must-read, if his writing record is any indication.

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Bob Lida of Kansas may be the IAAF Best Male Masters Athlete of 2012, but USATF today announced that Jeanne Daprano of Georgia is USATF Masters Athlete of the Year. Different process. USATF says: “After establishing a total of five age-group world records in 2012, Jeanne Daprano (W75) has been named the Masters Track & Field Athlete of the Year by the USA Track & Field Masters Committee. Daprano (Fayetteville, Ga.) will be honored at the Jesse Owens Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, December 1, which is held in conjunction with the USATF Annual Meeting in Daytona Beach, Fla.” Congrats to Jeanne!

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In any other club, Linda Cohn would be Athlete of the Year pretty much every year. But when you’re a member of the Southern California Striders — with legends such as Stan Whitley, Kathy Bergen, Rita Hanscom and Johnnye Valien — it’s hard to get noticed. But Linda had a great 2012 season, and her club gave her its top trophy, named for the late sprint guru Dr. Robert Watanabe. But Linda is known for her big heart as well as strong arm. She’s the W55 American record holder in the javelin, and she bestowed two 500-gram spears on Linn Dunton and Rita as she looks forward to throwing the 400-gram stick as a W60 in 2013. Becky Sisley’s AR is toast.

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Back-to-back meets are in store for masters tracksters over 65 in 2013, with the National Senior Games track meet in Cleveland now officially set for July 23-30 (and July 31 if a rain date is needed). (See the all-sport sked.) That comes days after USATF masters nationals July 18-21 in Olathe, Kansas, not far from Kansas City. The National Senior Games splits its meet into two parts — the first for 65-and-overs and the second for 50-64, which runs from July 27 to July 30. So the older age groups will have less recovery time from masters nationals. Hard to say how many will try the double, especially if they also plan to attend WMA worlds in Porto Alegre, Brazil, or the World Masters Games in Turin, Italy (in early August). A full calendar ahead. Will you go abroad or stay home?

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Hurdlers should note a USATF rules proposal set for debate at Dayota Beach to downgrade (not drop, as I suggested earlier) the shuttle-hurdle relay at masters nationals: “Item 108 – Submitted by Gary Snyder, Chair Masters T&F. Amend Rule 331.1(b) as follows: ((Shuttle Hurdle Relay)) Reason: Remove as a championship event pending an event definition.” Also: False alarm on a new false-start proposal for masters track. Rules will stay the same, if the latest ideas are an indication. In other words, we won’t go back to “no false start.” See the slate of USATF rule changes being considered at Dayton Beach annual meeting in December. Lots of masters rule changes are proffered, however, especially for LDR types. Since this doesn’t interest me, read the doc for specifics.

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According to an Italian track site, Lamberto Boranga turned 70 in late October and declared he would set a world age-group record in the triple jump. So what happens? Saturday in San Marino, he claims the WR. Guess he knew his body. He reached 10.75 (35-3 1/4), beating the listed WR of 10.71 (35-1 3/4) by Japan’s Kyushichiro Shimizu in 2010. Here’s a Google translation of his performance: “A call in 99.9% of cases the records do not arrive. The records have their own history, their sacredness, their aura that makes them ‘difficult’ beyond a reasonable doubt, even when they seem to be at hand. So the statements of Lamberto Boranga the record attempt could have appear a bit risky, among others in the planning of a record on track to be done in November.”

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Former sub-4 miler Paul Greer, a true friend to masters track in San Diego, writes: “Provided is our 2013 Winter Track Classic Series Schedule along with four of the five flyers pertaining to the specific information regarding each of our track meets this winter. All of the provided information with respect to the events on November 29, 2012, at Cathedral High School, the event on December 1, 2012, at San Diego State University, the event on January 26, 2013 at Montgomery High School and the event on February 2, 2013, at Mt. Carmel High School is current and accurate. Our final event in the 2013 Winter Track Classic Series is at Mt. Miguel on February 9, 2013 and the event flyer will be sent soon. The series sponsor is United States Track and Field San Diego.”

Nothing I’ve seen or read does justice to the immensity of Superstorm Sandy. But as we learned from multi-eventer Robert Baker and his Katrina ordeal, we masters athletes overcome all adversity. So I hope my Eastern friends, especially those in New York and New Jersey, are finding power, water and hope in these ugly days. Please check in here, and let us know you’re OK. And if you need help, let us know.