Pair share training logs at National Masters News Web site
Liz Palmer and Randy Sturgeon, tag-team loggers
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Publisher Randy Sturgeon and fellow Californian Liz Palmer have begun posting their weekly training logs at the National Masters News site — with Randy’s log called “The Road to Spokane” and Liz’s diary labeled “Working Up to Spokane.” Liz writes: “My mantra this year is ‘more rest, less stress.’ I went into the 2006 and 2007 outdoor national championship meets with injuries each year, and I want to be 100% and at the top of my form in Spokane.” This is a welcome addition, but the format is behind the curve.
While Liz and Randy are making a great contribution by detailing their training, it’s a one-way conversation. What if I have a question for Randy or want to share some wisdom with Liz? Well, I could email them privately. But their reply would have an audience of one. Why not go global with a feedback function?
Our Forum has been a rich source of tips for nearly two years. One recent post — by the prolific scholar of the throws Tom Fahey — is titled Protein After Intense Training Promotes Recovery and offers solid evidence for the sensible idea that you need to eat good stuff immediately after a hard workout.
As well, athletes have long been using the Forum to request help — from the trivial to the consequential.
A good example is a yesterday’s post by world champion long hurdler Tony Echeandia of New York and Puerto Rico, who reveals that he’s suffering from a herniated disc.
He’s already received some advice — from Britain!
That’s the miracle of the Net.
I hope National Masters News can leverage its brand and incorporate similar two-way conversations.
9 Responses
I have noticed the heavy reporting on members of the Golden West Athletics team members since Randy took over as editor.At first I thought, well those are the people around him and he needs copy for the National Masters News. Now he has been at it long enough that you would think that he would not continue to put his club members in as many high profile sections of the newspaper. I think there is a bias on his part in regard to reporting and a growing concern over conflict of interest. I have enjoyed National Masters News for many years, but far less lately–I hope Randy will consider profiling two other athletes rather than himself and Liz-(again athletes on his team) surely there are enough athletes in our Masters community that warrent the exposure and attention–National Masters News should not be an extention of the Golden West Athletics club newsletter.
Liz is writing a five part column about her training for the pentathlon. Considering she is a three time National champ in her age group for that event, I’d say she’s a pretty good choice to write that column.
I’ve noticed a lot more name dropping in the paper. There has been good coverage of many meets and athletes from plenty other places besides northern California. Where is the bias? It’s just articles and info provided by a few fellow athletes. I don’t think there’s been anything negative said about any other club nor any grandstanding by Liz or Randy or any other contributor about Golden West. Let me know if I missed something.
OOPS sorry Liz. She’s four time National champ.
Lets all take a moment to envision NMN if Mark Cleary had aqquired it…..
The most legendary team and event stacker in our sport… Always fun to watch him show zero respect to the field athelets by haveing his distance runners throw the superweight 3 feet… works his womens team like 10 yr old rent a cars that some one else has to turn in.
Been more usful info for self coaching in NMN than ever…. who cares the name of the athletes?
Liz,
I just wanted to wish you good luck, and an injury-free journey to Spokane. I won’t be there with you this time, seeing how I’m 7 months pregnant and liable to deliver sometime around the week of the Nationals. Remember the Pentababe Greeting, you can still do it, even if you are forgoing the pent this time. See you next year.
No Mr. Plaster you have the wrong guy- that was Randy who did that with Sacramento Fleet Feet the first two years they won the Outdoor Team title. They were within the rules so I have nothing to say.As far as your reference to women on my club– I have a couple (two) women on my club that like to do a lot of events–I don’t think for them–they enter events as they wish to–so if you want to have a conversation with me I would be glad to talk to you anytime–my number is easy to find I’d welcome hearing from you–in fact better yet why don’t you email me and we can continue this dialog between the two of us–I’m sure no one what’s to hear this runnermark@cox.net
the last few years has seen a growth of interest in “club championship” game at the national masters indoor and outdoor championship along with the urging of folks to join a club and not compete “unattached”. Yes Randy has urged his club members – whatever the name of the club may have been at that moment – to do multi-events, I have seen that sort of game playing on the part of the Florida Club run by Bob Fine, as well as the Atlanta Track Club just to name two other clubs that come to mind. My club, Liberty Athletic Club – has not a prayer in the world of “winning” this game as we are a small womens club – so probably that is why you do not see me stepping over the hurdles nor throwing the superweight demonstrating to all that I lack any talent at such things. Thank goodness that the prizes always go (is there a prize?) to the co-ed clubs of size. I have no temptation to go and publically demonstrate my complete lack of talent for jumping, hurdling, and throwing stuff (other than the bull)
Frankly I think this so-called club championship thing is “sound and fury signifying nothing”.
And indeed it does bring out some performances notable for not much of anything except getting points for the team.
OTOH I have also seen some folks develop skills for events that they had not tried before. Perhaps Bob Fine will turn into a great
sprinter (said tongue in cheek – you go Bob!) A member of Randy’s club – I will not mention a name – has developed into a decent sprinter and does ok indeed in several other events – a great improvement over performances first seen in Honolulu. Nothing wrong with that in my opinion.
Meanwhile – lets cut Randy a little bit of slack here – he had been covering stuff other than Golden West and it takes a lot of time and effort to take over something like NMNews and make it grow. Our sport will be much less interesting if NMNews fails and ceases publishing so rather than looking for bricks to throw – why not send Randy some ideas for articles for the paper or write one yourself.
Seems obvious to me that those interested in the club championship should enter their teams at the meet for that purpose, the National Club Track and Field Championships…
http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/USATFClubTFChampionships/
I realize that’s not necessarily just Masters but nonetheless, seems like the right avenue for that…
I’ll just say I’d like to thank Randy for starting the monthly “club” article which features a club and tells their history, etc. May was Mary’s club, Liberty, and June was our own little club from Philly. No other publication would give us the time of day, let alone a feature. Thanks, Randy, keep up the great work.
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