W45 star Erika Pierce is shining success at hurdling and life. Period.
Erika, shown in 2016, has her masters mojo after setting records and returning to hurdling.
She added: “Believe me when I say that each time someone congratulates me, I kind of feel like a fraud. Like I am taking compliments for stuff that I really didn’t care too much about. It’s sort of like if you had a goal of landing a particular dream job, not getting it, and then all of your friends congratulate you on your amazing interviewing skills and your choice of interview outfits.”
Erika is far from a fraud — and certainly not a failure.
Doug writes: “Pierce, 46, has excelled. She’s won 12 national age-group championships in a variety of events — the heptathlon and pentathlon, 60-meter hurdles, 400 hurdles, high jump and javelin — and set U.S. masters records in the indoor heptathlon (women’s age 40 division) and indoor and outdoor heptathlon (W45).”
Erika also wrote:
These years (after 1996) were spent searching for something else to choose me – for another activity or passion to replace the void of competition. Like an addict in recovery, I replaced track first with things like wedding planning, Ph.D getting, and baby-having, all noble and greatly fulfilling endeavors.
My husband, who I met one month after the Trials, did not know me as a runner. We made up our own athletic memories that included co-rec soccer and softball, the occasional pick-up basketball game with friends, and sometimes even running a local 5k. My intentions in these athletic pursuits were purely recreational and unfortunately, far from soul-satisfying.
Now that she’s back on track, I look forward to watching Erika progress. She celebrated a birthday this week (being called Flash by one friend), and has a bright future.
Welcome home, superstar.
