Who wants to remove the mile from masters records?
Ridiculous question, right? Who in their right mind would say: “The mile run shouldn’t be listed among official masters age-group records”? Unbelievably, it could happen — as soon as May 2008. And the same for the 4×800 relay and the 3,000-meter run — events that aren’t contested at the World Masters Athletics world outdoor championships but have been on the books for decades. For the past few days, angry emails have been zinging around the country (and world) over a rumored attempt by WMA Records Committee czar Sandy Pashkin to remove these three events from the age-group record rolls. Naturally, elite milers have expressed outrage and frustration.
So I wrote Sandy about these concerns, and she replied today:
Hi Ken,
As usual, the rumor mill is ahead of the facts. We briefly discussed it at the WMA Council Meeting, but no action will take place. There won’t be change in the current rule book regarding records. It is true that the USA is probably the only country to hold a mile at its championship, but the mile is contested in many other countries.
The process will be:
1 A full discussion by the Records Committee in Ricionne, Sept. 2007.
2. After that discussion, a recommendation of what events to keep records in will be submitted to the Council
3. The Council will vote
4. Any changes in the rules will take effect in May 2008.
Until then, records will be kept in both the mile and 4 x 800
Sandy
The “rumor mill,” it turns out, has been fed by National Masters News.
While discussing the Boston masters nationals, NMN on page 14 of its May issue said:
“According to Sandy Pashkin, WMA and USATF records chair, the mile is no longer considered a world-record event, since the U.S. is the only country that runs the mile rather than the 1500 in its championships.
“In addition, the 4×200 is the only relay considered for WMA indoor world records, and the 4×400 and 4×100 are the only relays to be considered for outdoor world records, per WMA Council vote to have records kept only in the events contested in WMA Championships.”
Huh?
Either Sandy’s story is changing or National Masters News has mucked it up royal. Either way, runners in these events have plenty of reason to beef.
One world-class M50 runner, citing Sandy’s latest note, wrote National Masters News:
“This information should be published in the June issue of National Masters News, to correct the report contained in the May issue that the mile and 4×800 relay have been deleted from WMA record keeping. However, for additional clarification, I would like to follow up with some questions for Sandy. If she would kindly answer them, we can reduce or eliminate some of the rumors going around.
A. As Chair, will Sandy personally advocate the elimination of any/all of the following from WMA record keeping?
1) Mile
2) 3000m
3) 4x800m
B. If so, will Sandy state the specific criteria by which events, in her view, should be removed? If the criteria has to do with how often these events are contested outside the USA, could she state what frequency would meet that criteria?
C. Will Sandy please provide the names and email addresses of the members of the WMA records committee?
D. Will the records committee recomendation go before the Council or before the General Assembly in Riconne?
Me again:
Earlier, soon-to-be M45 stud Pete Magill wrote me:
“Well, so the WMA wants to do away with the mile, too. With this move, isowning an allegiance to one of the greatest distances known to the sport — the distance that drove the interest and imagination of the world for decades — the WMA has relinquished any claim to legitimacy as a governing body of our sport.
“That Sandy Pashkin is going along with this, that she isn’t fighting tooth and nail for the interests of American masters athletes, shows that she cannot be trusted in any administative position in Masters USATF.
“But where is the outrage of our other masters representatives? What does George Matthews have to say about this?
“Here’s the thing: screw WMA. If they want to pretend that certain races that are intrinsic to track don’t actually exist as part of the sport, then who needs them? I mean, who are these little dictators running around making new rules ffor a sport without even once raising the issue with the athletes involved?
“It’s surreal!
“It’s outrageous!
“And I don’t accept it!
“This is my sport as much as it is any stuffed shirt at WMA. This is my sport as much as it is Sandy’s. This is my sport. It’s our sport!
“If the WMA goes ahead with this, then I’m done with the WMA. If our masters representatives at USATF go along with this, if they don’t start fighting for US
right now, right this second, then I’m done with them.
“I have no use for an organization that has no use for the events I run.
“Okay, I gotta go take a shower and calm down. Seriously, it might be time to reinvent the wheel. Are you ready to help me launch a new masters
association?”
Another note of angry anguish came from Mary Harada, the new W70 indoor mile record holder:
“I just read in Nat Masters News that WMA has declared the death of the mile as a world championship record. According to what I read in the latest edition of NatMasers News, it was decided to stop keeping records for the mile as it is run only in the US.
“Roger Bannister was an American? He ran his 4-min mile in New York? So — I have been dethroned — without ceremony — and Nat Masters News has printed the record as a US record set in Boston.
“This has considerable implications for USATF Masters Track I think. It smells of anti-Americanism — at first blush. According to the world records for the mile, Helly Visser, a Canadian, set a world record for W70 outdoors in Edmonton I believe. Is Edmonton part of the US now? Will the mile now cease being run at the elite level too?”
Mary concluded:
“Yeah, I am miffed — all that huffing and puffing for a US record. All the congratulations from near and far for a fraud. Shall I notify USATF-NE and they can take back my runner of the month, etc.?”
Miffed? That’s putting it mildly. Many masters, upon, learning of these trends, will share Pete and Mary’s disgust.
Meanwhile, express yourself. And NMN has some ‘splainin’ to do.
62 Responses
To All:
It appears that within the past couple days, WMA Records Chair Sandy Pashkin (and/or WMA) has retracted previous announcements that certain events will be dropped from WMA masters world record books. These events included the master mile and the 4x800m relay.
On May 2, Sandy sent me the following advisory.
“FYI. WMA has a new competition rule. They will only recognize relay records in the relay events contested at the WMA Championships. Those are: Indoors 4 x 200; Outdoors 4 x 100 and 4 x 400. (We are about the only country to run a 4 x 800) The next WMA Record update will reflect that change.”
The message was copied to the other three M50+ relay team members who were planning to fly to Eugene (from Callifornia, Colorado, & New York) in order to attempt to break the M50+ 4x800m world record next month at the Hayward Classic. We were being forewarned, in no uncertain terms, that if we did accomplished that objective, our record would not be recoginzed by WMA.
Consider this: Masters track and field has suffered a lackluster growth rate over the past several years. What we need is a shot in the arm to boost participation, not a shot in the foot. Here we have three world class athletes willing to fly literally thousands of miles in order to take a crack at a world record, only to be informed that incentive is not available to them. How can that possibly be in the best interests of our sport? Might as well take up golf.
Now, contrary to the originally announcements (including a report in the May issue of National Masters News) we’re told this ruling has not yet occured; but it will be considered at WMA’s next meeting in Ricionne, Italy in 2007. That’s a ways off, but let’s not let this issue slide. World records in events which are not contested at the WMA Championships (which include the Mile, 3000m, and 4×800 relay) are integral our sport. Athletes of the world must be ready to defend these records when WMA administrators ponder their fate next year.
-Dave Clingan
ps… American Miler, Jim Sorensen , who turns 40 next year, just ran a 4:02.66 mile Thursday night. He’s been prepping to take a serious crack at the M40 Mile WR held for 13 years by David Moorcroft of Great Britain (4:02.53). What a great achievement that could be for our sport, yet what a tragedy it would be if WMA failed to recognize it.
pps… I’m the M50 runner mentioned in Ken’s blog. If I get a response to questions A – D, I will share the info.
I think it is pretty pathetic that we have to waste all this time and effort defending legitimate records over legitimate distances. Masters track truly should go back to the books and analyze what we are all about.
As has been publicly noted by masters legends Dave Clingan and Peter Magill, our sport is supposed to be inclusionary and inviting, and the officials who supposedly “safeguard” it should be helping us with incentives to drive us to success.
I, like the men to which Magill refers who are trying to break the 50-59 4 x 800 world record, was totally motivated back in 2000/2001 to break the indoor and outdoor world 4 x 800 records for 40-49 as a member of Team United.
I would be lying if I didn’t say that for two years, I didn’t focus every single day of my workouts on attaining the best shape I could to contribute to my team in breaking those records. It was so gratifying to me and my teammates to have such standards available to strive for.
And I still enjoy hearing Pete Taylor announce my name at meets by saying “he was on the relay team that set the world indoor 4 by 800 meter record.”
Isn’t this part of the spirit of masters track? Come on, I’ll never qualify for an Olympic Games and I may never break an age-group 800-meter record unless I outlive every middle-distance runner and I am the only guy left standing. But I am not alone in saying that running for the World 4 x 800 record at Penn Relays several years ago was one of the most inspiring experiences for me and my teammates and for people who are interested in my running career.
Take that away and you dash a lot of dreams. In less than 4 years, I will move into the 50-59 age group and the 4 x 800 world record is something I would like to dedicate myself to breaking.
Right now, we have a group of women called the Athena Track Club who have made it their goal to go after the 4 x 800 world record and others and continue to lower them. Should we encourage them or discourage them?
This relay distance is an important one for middle-distance runners who are great 800 meter runners by not stellar 400 meter runners.
I don’t hear other countries complaining that we run 4 x 8 and they do not, so why is there even a discussion of removing it as a world record? Why doesn’t WMA work a little harder at promoting that relay distance to athletes from outside the U.S. and maybe they will find that there truly is an appeal to getting 4 solid middle-distance runners together with a baton.
Why are we in the U.S. being penalized?
Steve Nearman
M45
WOULD THIS BE THE SAME AS TO SAY!! WELL THE 300 I.H. FOR MEN 50-59 YEARS OF AGE IS NOT A RECORD BECAUSE THE EVENT STATUS WAS CHANGED AND THE 300 I.H. IS NO LONGER CONTESTED IN THAT AGE GROUP DUE TO A RULINGS CHANGE BACK IN 1988?? I CAN TELL YOU THE ANSWER TO THAT BECAUSE “SANDY” TOLD ME DIRECTLY THAT IT WAS NOT . HER OWN WORDS TO ME WERE AND I QUOTE!! ONLY RECORDS THAT ARE CURRENT CAN BE CONSIDERED AS RECORDS. MEANING THAT IF THEY NO LONGER CONTEST THE RACE THAT WAS RAN BACK IN THAT YEAR AND IS NOT AVAILABLE TO ATHLETES IN THE 50 -59 AGE GROUP ANY LONGER THAN IT IS TO BE DISMISSED AS IF IT HAD NEVER BEEN CONTESTED.
THERE ARE SO MANY ATHLETES OUT THERE WHO HAVE BEEN INJUSTIFIED BY IMPROPER RECORDINGS AND DID NOT GET RECORDS THAT THEY PUT YEARS OF TRAINING TO ACHIEVE. BOTTOM LINE IS IF ANY USATF ATHLETE BREAKS A W.R OR A.R IT SHOULD BE LISTED ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER RECORDS REGARDLESS IF THE EVENT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO BE RUN!!
PERSONALLY I CAN NAME 4 RECORDS THAT ARE NOT LISTED W.R. AT THAT!!
HOW CAN ANY WORLD RECORD BE DROPPED FROM THE RECORD BOOKS AFTER IT HAS BEEN SET AND A PRIOR WORLD RECORD BROKEN??
RICH RIZZO
N.Y.
I’m a 41 year old former national champion and I’ve been through this before- incompetent idiots/officials think that a brief snapshot of our sport entitles them to make radical and long-term changes. (I can’t personally vouch for any particular USATF official being an idiot, but… if Pete says so, then I agree with Pete.) The mile, for example, is 4 laps around the track at Olympia. Ok, not exactly, but 3.75 laps was never intended to mean as much as the mile. Anyone who has run both the mile and the 1500m at the elite level know that the two distances are distinctly different- and that “conversion factors” are totally meaningless for any application other than during a drunken argument.
I got a little off-track there- what I really mean to emphasize is this: in the ancient sport of athletics, it’s just as important to look at our history as it is to look at our future- and if you only look at ‘today’ you’re doing a dis-service to everyone- past, present, and future.
As for record-keeping- it’s easy to list a few performances. Records are for marveling- you look at them and scratch your head and wonder about the athletes who, that day, participated and recorded performances unequaled before or since. Those athletes earned our respect- not our disrespect. Record books are for adding to, not deleting from.
Why discontinue keeping records in such popular, classic distance events? Records should never be removed, and they should always be open to improvement even if they are only rarely run. Surely the cost of keeping all of these records is trivial. Removing them, on the other hand, would mean a huge loss for both the people who set them and for all masters athletes.
i’m in agreement with david barrett (and many others who have posted opinions) but he states it most concisely.
if the cost of keeping records is trivial, why would we remove them?
and, if there are athletes still competing for records in an event, why would OUR governing body decide for US that our efforts and resulting records are not worth recording?
perhaps it’s time to replace the governing body with a new one whose goals are the same as ours…
Eliminating records like these is just wrong. It disrespects the athletes who worked so hard to achieve them and those who aspire to top them. It seems that far too much is being done to discourage masters track than to promote it.
I understand your frustration: Few are more eager to set a new record than I am. But, I would like to see a more positive and open discussion of the elimination of events or event. So, I will play the devil’s advocate, assuming the devil wants to eliminate records.
First, consider that there are more than a thousand records to keep track of in outdoor competition, alone. Then, add the indoor record keeping and there are over two thousand records to keep track of. Some thoughts to ponder: Does this number dilute the significance of records? Who is willing to help out with this ongoing and often frustrating task? How about a sub-committee to deal with just the indoor marks?
For simplicity, let’s just consider the outdoor records. A cursory glance at the events listed on the usatf web site tells me that a large percentage of events are distance events. Are there too many distance events compared to other categories? Perhaps the event to be eliminated should be based on actual participation? Has anyone done an estimate of those numbers? I would hate to see it go as I have just started, but based on my limited experience perhaps it should be the over 60 woman’s hurdles. Or, eliminate the hurdles entirely, as they are time consuming, expensive, and a big hassle in general due to the varying heights. (Man! Bet that last remark will elicit a landslide of negative comments.) I love the hurdles and would be so disappointed if they were eliminated!
If you had to eliminate one event, which event would that be? Could we have some sort of a poll? If you are a field event person, which would you eliminate? Distance people, what do you think?
My vote is to first eliminate the indoor 200, following the lead of the open championships. And, maybe a relay race or two. They are great fun, but except for a few age categories it is very difficult to get a real, practicing team together.
Maybe we should add events to increase participation. Some would like to bring back the standing long jump.
This comment is being posted for my best friend and teamate Ed Small– N.Y.Pioneer Club & director of the fastest indoor track in the world. “THE ARMORY’ Everyone who knows Ed will tell you he is a man of integrity.
I will get directly to to point in fact which is WORLD & AMERICAN RECORDS.
Ed set a “WORLD RECORD” at WEST POINT indoor nationals for 500 yards in a time of 62.2 to this day no records indicate that he ever ran that time at all and that was in the early 1980’s Ed trained exceptionally hard and it was great to see him break the record !
For a man that has done so much for the sport of track & field and inspires others to do thier best everytime they step on the track it is my personal belief that his should be listed in the MASTERS RECORDS Records like we all know are made to be broken. Ed broke the WORLD RECORD for 500 yards!!! After all the years of hard training and going to and from meets he should be recognized as the excellent 400 meter runner he was. Ed don’t run the 400 any more but when he did he was the best!! And as I have told him more than once he was my mentor. Thanks Ed for thirty years of friendship and races.
Richie Rizzo
I cannot imagine why anyone would want to monkey with records set by some of the legends of the sport of track and field in the masters category, including Eamonn Coghlan. Records of all kinds add to the rich history of any endeavor, and in track and field records provide context for our current performances. Add my voice to those who request that the records for the mile, 4×1500, DMR, and 4×800 remain on the books.
What a stupid idea! The mile is one of the few distance events to which the public can relate. While you are at it do away with the 200. It is just a half a lap. It has no meaning. Sarcasim for your pleasure.
First of all, and my opinion is somewhat biased, but the Mile IS the track event! So leave it alone and do not discount the history makers Coghlan, Moorcroft, Scott, Almberg and many others who have made this distance special as a Masters Event.
Track IS about records and record keeping. Deal with this nuisance and keep up on the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000, 1500, Mile, 2000, 3000, Two Mile, 5000, 10,000, 110 hurdles, 400 hurdles, and any other distance you can think of.
Work on enhancing the increased participation in ALL levels of track and field. This should keep any committee worth their weight for some time.
tony “northwest master” young
Please, Sandy-
keep the records. I can see no valid reason not to do so. I know you are busy and record keeping is time-consuming and tedious. I volunteer to assist if you’d like.
Mary Woo
What? Not recognize the MILE? It is the single event track event that most people recognize! Any one NOT get asked, “how fast can you run the mile?” The simple beauty of running 4 laps, the history and glory of the 4 min. mile — how can we erase that?
The 1500m is just not the same. We’ve kept records for the mile for such a long time and yet it still challenges runners to tackle it. There’s no shortage of runners willing to try it. It is our glamour event!! Why on earth should we cease to recognize it?
And if one of our goals is to draw more participants in track and field, how can we eliminate two distance events that can entice the hoards of road racers onto the track? Without the 3000m, the longest indoor event is the 1500m (or the mile 😉 ) — many of us distance runners will not enter a track meet & drop down to those events, but we ARE willing to run the 3000m.
It was the 3000m that first drew me into running masters track — short enough to be fun on the track, but long enough to require my endurance. I would never have ventured into the world of masters track without it.
Finally, one of the great joys of track & field is getting to run a relay. The 4 x 800m is a great lure for masters athletes who are not short distance specialists to participate. Instead of eliminating the event, we should be promoting it and even offering the rarer 4 x mile, 4 x 1500m and the distance medley relay to our track meets.
In 9 days I will be turning 40 and will join the Master ranks and can’t tell you how excited I am to finally make it as a Master. Last month I looked up
all the track records for W40-45, starting with the Mile and 3000.
I have had them written down on a piece a paper sitting at my work desk.
It gets me out the door everyday. (Not sure I’ll get them, but I can at least
try)
My husband, who has been voted #1 Master USA LDR in 2004, just recently told me he wants to move to the track and go for some records that include the Mile as he enters the M45 next year.
We will be very disappointed if the Mile is removed from the record books.
This distance is a pure benchmark for all Americans!
I can’t imagine the thrill the individual record holders had when they achieved the record and then to have it taken away.
Michelle and Dennis Simonaitis
When is the last time track & field in the United States has had a cohesive bureaucracy athletes and fans could have full confidence in? The 1960s?
The WMA and Sandy Pashkin can rightfully entertain the notion not to hold Mile, 3000 and 4 x 800-meter track events in the FUTURE. Many of us won’t be pleased with that outcome, yet it might be within their scope to do that.
The WMA is NOT entitled to abuse their office and delete EXISTING (ratified) records in those events, even if some of them are “soft” or whatever. Otherwise they might as well rid of those nettlesome 100-yard, 220-yard, 440-yard and 880-yard marks. And to cast a shadow on the fate of the MILE borders on treason.
If it is too much of a challenge for Ms. Pashkin to keep track of these records, perhaps she needs to re-evaluate her role as “WMA Comittee Czar.” I’m sure most among us are energetic, knowledgeable, capable, and have the best interests of master’s runners at heart. “We” are more than willing and able to keep track of some older records and resolve this matter.
I’m of the persuasion the WMA would alienate itself from many of its loyal members if they rammed this down our throats. Hopefully they are on the ball enough to realize this. The bitter fall-out and hostile response could be very damaging to their organization.
wake me up; it’s just a nightmare, right? that’s how i felt when i got the tragic news of the possible demise of track’s greatest distance record…ah, heck, greatest record, period–the mile! i’m still shaking my head at the fact that this could even be considered. don’t do it…please. we would lose so much of the recent momentum that masters track has gained and enjoyed…it’s what keeps a lot of us still doing it. a lot of us still want to break that barrier…albeit, a minute slower. i’m certain if passed, this move would be very damaging to the masters track community.
andy “shorter than frank” di conti
It would be silly to do away with some of the traditional distances and relays of this wonderful sport. I can’t see why we should follow the European masters. Why not be leaders in our sport. There have at times been competition between countries to lower relay records, and that could be played up rather than deleted. Let it be their choice not to chase any records that the USA sets. This is a sport that times are sought after, and the possibility of chasing a record gives many runners something to shoot for. Could we take this another step farther and not even bother to give times at all for races?
I hope that you will reconsider.
Rich Burns
Events such as 4×800, 3k, mile are legitimate events, not some odd creation designed to allow someone to get a world record in something unusual. IAAF lists the world records in these events, world leaders for 2006, world junior records, and area records for Africa, Asia, Europe, North/ Central America, Oceania, and South America at http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/records/index.html.
It therefore appears thw IAAF considers all of these events legitimate.
The only reason I can think of to eliminate any legitimate event from records is due to some financial or time related burden that cannot be handled by WMA. I looked at the form one fills out to get a world record ratified (WMA website) and see that most of the work happens at the meet (lots of signatures and info from meet officials). So.. if one picks a well run and accurately timed meet to go for a world mile record, for example, and through luck, effort and talent achieves the amazing and unbelievable lowering of the mile world record, the meet officials should be prepared to fill in the paperwork and send it off to WMA, whose work appears to be nearly done. If I were a meet director, I’d be really really thrilled that someone set a world record in the (legitimate event) mile at my meet.
Did I mention the word legitimate yet?
Finally, in masters track especially, the mile holds a great meaning to the participants due to its big impact on the sport during their lifetimes. If any group should maintain mile world records it is masters track and field!
Events such as 4×800, 3k, mile are legitimate events, not some odd creation designed to allow someone to get a world record in something unusual. IAAF lists the world records in these events, world leaders for 2006, world junior records, and area records for Africa, Asia, Europe, North/ Central America, Oceania, and South America at http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/records/index.html.
It therefore appears thw IAAF considers all of these events legitimate.
The only reason I can think of to eliminate any legitimate event from records is due to some financial or time related burden that cannot be handled by WMA. I looked at the form one fills out to get a world record ratified (WMA website) and see that most of the work happens at the meet (lots of signatures and info from meet officials). So.. if one picks a well run and accurately timed meet to go for a world mile record, for example, and through luck, effort and talent achieves the amazing and unbelievable lowering of the mile world record, the meet officials should be prepared to fill in the paperwork and send it off to WMA, whose work appears to be nearly done. If I were a meet director, I’d be really really thrilled that someone set a world record in the (legitimate event) mile at my meet.
Did I mention the word legitimate yet?
Finally, in masters track especially, the mile holds a great meaning to the participants due to its big impact on the sport during their lifetimes. If any group should maintain mile world records it is masters track and field!
Don’t get rid of the Mile, 3000 and 4X800.
These are some of the races we masters runners look forward to running when we turn 40(or 45, or 50 ect.)
The most exciting thing about being a master is watching the records being challenged.
Leave it alone.
Brad Jensen
While we’re at it, why don’t we petition IAAF to delete Daniel Komen’s 3000WR, arguably one of the best distance performances of all time?
Obviously, IAAF knows something WMA doesn’t, because they still keep records of events not contested IAAF World Championships and the Olympics. Take a look at the IAAF records at http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/records/index.html. They’ve got records for the Mile, 3000 and even the 4×800.
Why do Golden League meets feature some of these events? This year the men’s and women’s 3000 are both Golden League events. Obviously, Americans aren’t the only ones interested in running these distances. Wake up, WMA.
Count my “No” vote.
Jeff Mann
Any records that have been set in the past will continue to exist whether or not they are included in the current “official” record books, and people who care about the sport will seek them out and be aware of them. So what could possibly be the point of “eliminating” them and pretending they never existed? And if a particular event is no longer contested, who’s to say it won’t be in the future? Any event, no matter how rarely run, HAS records, and if officials or governing bodies don’t recognize them, the athletes themselves still will. The funny thing is, the events under discussion are hardly rare.
Good grief. One can only imagine the excessive costs incurred in maintaining the existing record books as well as the hours of effort spent every day just to keep them up to date! They should just take this to its logical conclusion and only record the 100m. Why, in the long haul the cost savings could reach into the DOLLARS range! Think of the savings and how we could promote and support the sport with that influx of cash!
(Now removing tongue from cheek)
A very, very dumb idea. Why get rid of “institutional memory”?
My fellow masters runners have so passionately articulated the many reasons not to do away with official age-group records for the mile, 3000m, and 4 x 800. Count me against such a move my WMA.
Hello to all,
To run a mile as Hicham El Guerrouj in 3:43.13 or as Steve Scott 3:47.69 is fantastic, but to run a mile as Tony Young M 40-44 4:09.61, Ken Sparks 45-49 4:18.8, Nolan Shaheed M 50 4:27.9, Scotty Carter M 75 5:57.2,Henry Sypniewski M 80 7:51.9 and Herb Kirk M 90 13:43.6 and again M 95 14:48.2 is unbelievable. The barriers that Guerrouj and Scott faced were great. However, there is nothing more remarkable then to see men and women defy the laws of ageing is unbelievable.
These are men and women who have unbelievable strength, focus, love and passion for the sport. Therefore, the records should remain with no thought of casting them aside. The records speak to our dedication and passion for the sport of track and field. It shows that the World Masters Athlete is running for love, passion, and pride of their respective countries. If we cannot show our pride on the field of competition thus leaving a legacy in the form of a World or American Record then what do we have? What will we have to show that we were/are truly the best in the world/America? More importantly, where will the Masters Athletics pride will go. The times that the Masters Athlete put into the workout to break those barriers is amazing and so are the records.
Most people are motivated by money, some are motivated by fame; Masters Athletics are motivated by passion, what is your motivation.
Thanks
Dr. Tecumseh Peete, DM
What??!! Do away with the mile, 3k and 4×800 relay? I know personally I put in a lot of hard work to go after the 3k record knowing it might be my only chance at it. To take all of this away is just wrong!!! Records are made to be broken!!! Keep all events intact and let the athletes enjoy what they do while persuing their goals.
I want to add my name to the growing list of Masters (age 40+) track and field athletes who are opposed to removing the One Mile Run, the 3,000M run, and the 4 X 800 relay from the record books.
Records set the standards by which the rest of us measure our performances. They show us what is possible for innately gifted athletes who develop their talents to the fullest and set new standards while engaged in intense competition.
These new standards are made to be broken. One day they will be, and then they will be broken again. . . .
It is especially important to keep these long standing events open to masters competition and new records, because we older athletes are redefining what it means to be an elite class athlete age 40, 48, 53, 64, (in my case) 70, 83, and older!
Over 50 years ago, when I was a collegiate athlete, had you told me that one day a 65-year-old athlete will run a mile in 4:56, I would have found that not only unbelievable, but unimaginable. At the time, my 65-year-old grandfather could hardly walk across his living room, much less run.
Please keep these events and the records! Allow us “Homo runnienses” to continue to evolve to higher levels of performance in our chosen events of one-mile, 3,000meters, and 4 x 800M relays.
George Moss, West Valley Joggers & Striders
Removing the mile from the records would especially take great joy out of competitions. The indoor mile is probably the most popular indoor race. I hate having to run the 1500 when substituted in races. The mile records give some measure of how well I stack up against the very best (admittedly poorly). When non-racing friends and family ask about my running, their eyes glaze over when I talk about meter races, but they brighten when I say the mile becase they have long-time reference point for that event.
The 3,000 is also essential for indoor meets. We are often given little time to use indoor facilities for our club meets, so time spent in each race is crucial. Besides, the 3,000 seems a more friendly distance for beginning speedsters as well as some of us old folks.
I rarely run relays, but know how popular the 4X800 is.
There is simply no good reason to drop the records for these races and I urge their continuation.
Okay I just heard this about the mile, two mile and the 4 x 8. Some one is crazy for believing they can change history…..Since the mile is the standard we derived long before I was born…why must we be influenced by folks who haven’t got a clue. It’s to bad that we have people out there who do not care for the efforts of the Master’s group, it’s to bad that some people feel it’s okay to just change anything to make themselves feel important….all the work that the runners put into obtaining those records just obliterated in one swipe makes me think how we are constantly being forced to accept any idiots latest whim…The mile will always be the standard, no one will ever ask, hey, what is your 1500 time…it’s always what’s your mile time
Leave the records alone they were earned.
Jim Hartshorne must be rolling in his grave!! From the folks who keep the Hartshorne Memorial Masters Mile alive and thriving here in Ithaca, you have no idea how much we love training for and racing the mile every year at our race.
With great anticipation, we encourage runners of all ages to come to Ithaca and try for personal bests or age-group records. We’ve seen a few records set here, and the joy of it all is shared by the slowest to the fastest.
At every meet we host, we see masters milers outkicking the high school and college runners.
Please don’t take away a means of measuring our standard of excellence. Or the significance of masters track and field.
Wow..eliminate records in the mile….
The scribes of ancient history would shake their heads in wonder at our lack of diligence even as we possess the most advanced computer technology in the world!
Is 47 too old to take up snowboarding?
I vote to keep the records and find some awesome computer guys to make the record keeping EASIER! Innovation!
Stop recognizing world masters records for the mile, 3000 and 4×800 relay? What makes this a good idea? To what purpose would anyone or any organization stop keeping records for ANY events? We are a society of record keepers. In every sport in every country around the world we devote much time and energy to challengeing, breaking and RECORDING records. We’re not talking about how many hotdogs you can eat or how many fish you can gut (not that those records are not important too)….We are talking about the holy grail of track and every person who has ever devoted themselves to see how fast they could run a mile.
Okay, enough from me….Don’t eliminate any records, it will just screw things up.
Keep the records in the mile, 3000, and 4×800, now and in the future. This display of attitudes by officials makes me think of US high school boys running the 1600. Now that was an administrative decision that did not consider the athletes and their place in the sport.
Records create “work” only when they are broken. Let the athletes decide which records are worth breaking.
I’ll try this again, as my first diatribe was somehow erased after I tried to preview it.
As a co-holder of a couple of the records up for removal, I am astonished that anyone would even consider erasing what amounts to history. To what end?
These are not made up events, contested merely for record purposes. Even a non runner understands what it means to run a 3:58 mile.
This is an absurd decision that smacks of a misguided sense of what leadership means exhibited by what I can only assume is a completely out of touch bureaucracy, with no concept of what masters running is about.
Records and their pursuit are good for our sport, and God knows that our sport sorely needs all of the positive publicity it can get.
When my teammates and I set the DMR record a couple of years ago at a college meet, the energy surrounding the attempt completely changed the tone of the meet…at least for a little while. The college teams we raced seemed totally jazzed to have been a part of something like that, and it brought many diverse people together in a really positive way. What earthly reason could there be to try to diminish these opportunities in our sport? I can’t think of one.
I concur with many of the statements already shared by fellow Masters competitors across the US. Please keep the mile( and other distances )available for us to compete in and go for records. Recent set backs have prevented me from training for the mile personally, but I certainly have the mile in my cross hairs and as my focus when I am back to full speed. To have this removed would really effect this fine sport as we know it, particularly those of us who grew up cutting our teeth on the track. Why, my home track in the UK was none other than Iffley Road, Oxford, where the amazing Roger Bannister broke the historic 4 minute mile barrier for the first time. Keep our dreams alive, KEEP THE MILE PLEASE! Sarah M M Stiner
I think that David Olds in the previous post succintly states why this is a dreadful idea – I concur with his thoughts 100%
I also have been involved in World Record setting relays and it generates enormous excitement at a meet and the recognition of the record time rewards not only the accomplishment but the hard training and teamwork that is necessary for it to even happen. How can this be a negative thing?
I also agree with a previous post that anyone who trains for these distances knows the distinct difference between the mile and the 1500 – two very different animals.
Is there anything sexier in our sport then the Mile?? It should be celebrated and contested and record times admired whenever possible!! The 3k is, as well, a wonderful distance to train for and compete in and provides an opportunity for a very different kind of runner to shine.
I IMPLORE the people who will make this decision to reconsider.
Add my name to the list of people who thinks eliminating these records would be absurd. It seems to me that the list of record-eligible distances should be identical to that of the IAAF. If this seems like too much work, then maybe it’s time for her to resign and let someone more committed take over.
On November 8, 2005 I awoke to the marvelous realization that I had turned 40 and could “officially” compete as a Masters athlete. Now only six months later I’ve found out that many of the events that I’ve competed in for the last um……. including the seventh grade…. 28 years, are being discussed as removal candidates by WMA for competition and record purposes?
What possible benefits to our sport does even the discussion provide?
Last time I surveyed our outdoor National Championships(Honolulu) I didn’t notice that we were having too many athletes competing. I feel confident that we would agree that we need more athletes participating at our meets and that we need to share our experiences with others. How does eliminating or even discussing the elimination of these events create a desire for others to rejoin our ranks as competitors in our great sport? If we want to look like a mickey mouse organization while we’re chasing our tails this is a great way to acccomplish this goal.
Relays are a tremendous opportunity for many individuals to experience the teamwork and comraderie(sp) associated with it. Some of us will only have a relay experience to look back on as an opportunity to go after a record of any sort. We need more opportunities for participation and success, not less!!!
Also… it seems self evident that the athletes affected might be a good group to discuss this issue with before bringing it before a committee. This seems somewhat more shhhhhh democratic!
I could type all afternoon soo for now I bid all adieu and count me in for this fight for the long run!
Chris Yorges
For an organization that wants and needs membership and growth they are going about it in entirely the wrong way. Recognition is what drives all athletes. If it were up to me I would create several other classifications (distances) for records but lets face it the mile record is one of the cornerstones of all athletic measurement! It would be a shame to remove it and the WMA should be ashamed for supporting and or proposing such a change. Let’s work on growing our sport not limiting involvement and recognition. I’m with Pete Magill. There is no representation without imput from the constituents! We can do a much better job ourselves!
This response is wonderful. It is inspirational to see so many track athletes so passionate about their events.
I love track and field and have tried everything from the 100 to ultra marathons, with some attempts at various fields events, including the throws. Each time I try an event I am especially impressed by the athletes that excel in their specialty. The hardest event I have ever done is the 800 and every split second of that last 200 will be etched in my memory forever. I vowed, “Never again.” I applaud anyone who wants to go for a record or even just do that event. And, if records in the 4 x 800, or the 3000 or the mile or a relay shot put competition increase publicity or participation in track and field, they should be kept.
Since evidently there are so many of you are reading this blog, I would like to again encourage some positive discussion, or thinking outside the box, about how we can improve our sport and get the word out to encourage others to come play with us. Each time I approach a potential recruit, I am surprised that he is unaware of the availability of competition. Here are some of my thoughts:
1. Do relays really increase the number of participants or are these competitors who would have entered anyway? How many of you relay contestants entered a meet just for the relay? Does anyone have any numbers? What have meet directors found? Which are the most contested and which are the least contested events?
2. I personally think it is best to keep the 1500 and the magical mile. (Sexy? I sure didn‚Äôt feel sexy running it.) However, in my younger years I competed in both and I don‚Äôt think my training was any different. Plus, when I did that, I could also have done the 3000, 5000 and 10,000. When I train for the 100, my 200 suffers and I don’t want to even think about the 400! Are the 1500 and mile truly two different races? If so, why are records given for the 1500 in the course of a running a mile?
3. What are some other events which would encourage others to participate? I suggested the standing long jump. Almost any level of fitness could attempt that event. It could and has been the starting point and inspiration of many masters athletes. It isn’t intimidating and is a good introduction. Plus, high jumpers, long jumpers, pole vaulters, triple jumpers, sprinters and especially throwers might enjoy such a competition. My money is on the throwers!
Perhaps meet directors could offer a free entry into a promotional event such as the standing long jump or something really crazy like a distance runner shot putting competition. Maybe all of you 800/mile/3000 people can think of something interesting that you might enjoy that might also stimulate publicity. It is clear that there are many creative and talented people in our sport. I encourage you to come forward with your ideas.
To Whom it May Concern:
I understand that there has been some talk about eliminating the mile, 3ooo meters, and the 4X800 events from the masters record books. I wholeheartdely disagree with this idea. I remember being asked to compete in a sub-masters 4×800 a few years ago. This was my first introduction to masters running. I also feel that the 3,ooo meters is a legitimate event. Youth track runs it, high schools often runs it, colleges run it, and post collegians run it. They also recognize records for the 3,ooo meters. Plus the USA and the World recognize the event for records, so why not masters track??
My biggest concern is that of the mile. I am one year and one day away from turning 40 and I feel I have an excelleent shot at breaking the world record, USA record, or even the sub-4 barrier. I ran 4:02.66 a few days ago and I am not yet peaking. The time would be a World record if I were 40. Chasing this records is my main motivation for continuing in the sport. It is also everyone elses main thoughts. I train with a lot of guys, have a lot of friends, and work with a lot of people. They want to know how my progress in the MILE is going and whether or not I have a crack at the MILE records. They ask what the MILE record is. I have spoken with a few sponsers about this and the main cocern is how fast can I run a MILE at age 40. The MILE is everything. Eamon Coglan broke 4:00 at age 41 and made the front page of track and field news. I want to be the second guy to do it, the first American, and the first ever outdoors. Yes, I will also go for 1500 meter records, and that will be nice. But masters track can can only benefit by keeping the MILE as an official record. Everyone relates to the mile, The IAAF recognizes it. But masters track may not!!!! Please keep the mile as an official event in which records can be established.
Jim Sorensen
I agree with Jim! If it were not for the mile, where would track and field be today? Is there any more glamorous race in the history of track and field? The mile run is the standard by which contemporary runners carry on traditions set by their forefathers. By doing away with it, at any level, we are removing a vital link to our past!
I wish to also note my objection to any changes in age-group records for the mile, 3000m, and 4 x 800.
If anything, we should be adding to the master’s program. The general population is aging. There are more of us living healthier and longer– we should be encouraging and supporting all of these races!
The MILE is an event that is steadfast in history. Names like Banister, Landy, Snell, Elliott, Walker, Ovett, Coe, Cram, Morceli and El Guerrouj are names that are commonplace around the world. As previously mentioned, Coglan made the cover of T&F News when he broke four as a Master. Is that not the best promotion of the sport (Master’s) to date? Today no Masters athlete has broken 4 min outdoors and we are probably on the brink of seeing this achieved with Jim Sorensen now less than a year away from 40 and still in sterling shape with his resent 4:02. The sport worldwide is fading and one feels that this attempt to remove records from the books is another nail in the coffin for the sport that we all dearly love. Every master’s record on the book is a testimony to how much people really love this sport of ours. Who in their right mind would continue to punish their bodies well past their peaks if it were not for the love of the sport? I hope and pray that common sense will prevail and this attempt to remove records from the books will not succeed.
Justin Rinaldi AUSTRALIA (34)
First I would like to thank Sandy Pashkin for her
service to both Masters track and to the athletes who participate in Masters track. I’ve seen her in action and I would not want to have her job and have to put up with the headaches that come with such an undertaking. People like her make it easier for folks like us to run in venues. Also, the combined efforts of these officers in promoting and administering our sport give us all some of this legitimacy that we want as masters runners.
I spent 10 days in the downtown Boston YMCA a couple summers ago. I had no sponsors, no shoe contracts, no agents, no nothing. I stayed in that 6 x 10 room for almost two weeks. I didn’t even have a blanket until I got wise and swiped one from an empty room after a couple days of being cold at night. I ran around the Backbay fens everyday I was there and ate downstairs in the cafeteria with the homeless, the Village people, and exchange students.
(Note: I’m not saying I’m too good to stay at the Y or eat with these folks. I ate hard tack and sheeps brains in Romania. Those of us in Mississippi eat lots of stuff others would turn their noses at. Actually the cafeteria was fine for me and the man from Lebanon who ran it was very accomodating. But let’s face it, when Bekele comes to town he doesn’t eat at the YMCA with us hardscrabble masters runners looking for a venue. I’m not knocking Boston either. That is a great town and maybe the best running town there is. I have a friend, Eric Tucker, from Miss. who has chosen to make Boston his home. I have been there many times and always seem to run well there)
I filled up my water jars in the bathroom down the hall everyday and at night I might see the lights at Fenway. Why was I there? Well, we don’t have good track where I live. I have to travel all over the country for events. My purpose for being there was twofold. I was trying to break two masters 40 records. The (recognized) 5000m and current 3000m records. The people in Boston know how to both stage events and give everyone who wants to run, a chance to do that and they don’t care how old you are or what event you want to run. My first attemt was the 3k and I got on a subway train, then caught a bus, then jogged a mile or so to Bentley College with my backpack. I registered, sat around, ran the meet, got beat by high schooler Josh MacDougal and a few others, and got a ride back to town with Paul Ryan of the New England USATF. I repeated the same day (running in the Fens and return to my cave) over and over until it was time to go back to the track the next weekend. Paul came and got me (see what I mean about Boston?) and I made my attempt at the 5000. As you can imagine, this would be quite an ordeal for anyone. What’s the alternative? Sit at home in Oxford and watch the world go by. I will tell this story over and over because this is the reality most runners (masters, alike) face in their pursuit of their chosen sport. Records are there to inspire us. I will always have this special story but will I someday not be able to point and say “Look, I ran 8:16 for 3000 when I was 41”?
Brian Pope
It was the dream of running a sub-4 mile that made me a runner. I never broke it. But in the attempt I found a new athletic path in the triathlon and became an Olympian. So what? So, records make people strive to break them, and no record inspires that drive more than the Mile. Use the mystique and history of the Mile to inspire runners to take up the challenge, or to cheer for the brave souls who a blessed with the chance to make the attempt.
-Victor Plata
2004 US Olympic Team
Like many fellow Masters Competitors, I have been competing for nearly all my life. 34 years and counting, as a matter of fact. Most of us die-hards might say the High School and College T&F years were our best. Others, like me, may argue that it is these timeless years we compete as Masters of our sport which are the very best. Why? The commaraderie? The opportunity to compete until the day we die? The age-group records we chase? Certainly all three are important. There are many motivations indeed. All of us benefit from a way to measure our goals. Records are something to marvel at. Something to aim for. A motivation to aspire to. Why, then, would anyone consider altering history – those Masters Records etched in stone? The glory of The Mile. The incredible world record relays Americans take pride in representing. Why is this under consideration at all? Discouraged. But not planning to erase the memories. Kevin Paulk – Masters competitior for life.
What!!!???? Eliminate the mile from the Master’s record books? The mile is the gold standard for performance. Take a moment and ask someone to evaluate a metric event performance and their eyes will glaze over in absolute confusion. The mile, on the other hand, is a distance that everyone in the US can grasp.
I have coached youth track and cross-country for nearly ten years. ALL kids understand the mile and its significance.
In San Leandro, CA, there is a middle school full of Jim Sorensen’s students cheering him on in his pursuit of Master’s records. They don’t grasp what the 800 or 1500 is (their coach runs these events well, too), but they understand a 4:00 mile.
I have competed in events from the 800 to the marathon since 1976. I have learned that most people need any distance converted from metric measurements or to a per mile pace. Once again: the mile is the standard by which distance events are understood and rated.
While you are at it, please leave the 3000 and the 4×800 alone.
Maureen Forney
San Leandro, CA
While my obvious displeasure with removing these events was detailed in Ken’s blog, I’d also like to join Brian Pope in thanking Sandy Paskin for all the time and effort she puts in for us masters athletes.
A big, sincere: “Thank you!!!”
That said, I’m not willing to enlarge that thank-you into a carte blanche invitation to dicker with our sport.
Even in her denials regarding this issue, saying that WMA is only considering eliminating these records, she misses the point. The point is this: We, the athletes and population of the masters movement, don’t grant WMA the right to eliminate these events. Not now. Not ever.
I have to admit, I was willing to accept (without a fight, if not without grave reservations) the elimination of the 4 x 800 relay. But then I learned that the mile was under consideration too.
Eamon Coglan’s mile record in masters track is probably the ONLY record that is actually known beyond masters track. Just as Roger Bannister became an international celebrity by breaking the 4 minute barrier, Coglan won a heated battle with John Walker of New Zealand and the U.S.’s Steve Scott (among others) to become the first 40+ man to break 4 minutes. Coglan devoted 2 years of his life to achieving this record.
It’s not that WMA couldn’t pass a rule and say Coglan’s effort was null and void. They probably could. It’s that passing the rule would in no way dissuade the legion of track fans and masters athletes around the world that Coglan’s record still existed – in fact, (for many of us) that it defines the absolute best that masters track has to offer.
In other words, WMA would rule itself out of existence in the minds of We, the Athletes. And we’d simply create a new organization that recognized – and respected – our achievements.
This is a no-brainer. Records in. Or WMA out.
The above commentray is marathon response to the suggestion that records for the mile, 3000 and 4 x 800 be eliminated. Now there is a thought; records fot the indoor marathon. But no, it’s not a metric distance and besides, after 20 miles masters runners lose their sex appeal.
Having competed for 12 years in the Penn Relays and the Millrose Games, I think the debate about relays should center around club vs. national allstar relay teams. At this moment the club concept has gone out the window and the records are mostly held by national allstar teams. So here, the only records that are significant are world records.
Attempting to eliminate mile record keeping would simply begin an era of underground record keeping with different record keeping “authorities” having different sets of records. The confusion of the multiple entities which compete for the true world heavy weight boxing championship come to mind. It would be extremely difficult to eliminate record keeping of the mile, an event that has been contested in a public forum since the late 1800’s. Ofcourse, I have a selfish agenda. The Hartshorne Memorial Masters Mile is the longest running masters mile event in the country and perhaps in the world (39 years and counting).
The excitement of our event is highlighted by the results of the race often setting national and world records. If record keeping of the mile were eliminated we probably would not change our race to the 1500. And I’ll still ask the Ithaca Journal photographer to shoot the winner breaking the tape instead of the runners streaking by the 1500 mark.
A simple story illustrates the impact that the mile run has in today’s society. Nearly every single person in the US has run or walked a mile at some point in their gym class. Yes, it was probably only 1600 meters instead of 1609 (but that is a whole other discussion) However, the point is that it is a recognizable distance in today’s society.
I have run 3:38 for 1500 meters and 3:58 for the mile. Technically, my 1500 is more impressive. Yet, any time that this has come up with my co-wokers that I am a runner, they always point out that I have run a mile in under four minutes. In fact, I have given up on explaining to people the difference between a 1500 and a mile and have just stated, “I run the mile.”
Please re-consider this decision as it would be incredibly detrimental to the master’s athletes, but also track and field as a whole. As a training partner for Jim Sorensen, I see what he goes through on a daily basis to stay in this sport. Please do not rob him and future masters athletes of this opportunity.
I am telling you right now, even if he runs 3:30 for 1500 next year, no one outside of our sport will appreciate it as much as if he runs 3:59.99 for the mile.
Chris Estwanik
Sub 4 minute MILER
keep the mile record. it is one of the highlight events in all of track and field. to remove the mile would be one more step in the alienation of the public by track and field.
I agree with Chris. The mile is a recognizable distance for most people to understand. I see no reason to eliminate it from the Masater’s events – along with the 3000m and the 4x800m relay. Perhaps it is best to put energy towards promoting the Master’s mile rather than to delegitimze all those who have worked so hard to make it an even more difficult feat for Jim Sorenson to break.
KEEP THE MILE! Is there any event with more glamour? Any event that people outside of the track world know more about? I can’t believe their even considering this! RIDICULOUS! BAAH! OUT RAGE!
Steve 4:01 miler… so close.
Perhaps Tom Hartshorne would be less ambivelent about the relay issue if he competed for only one club. Member of GVH 50 yr old 1st plce squad at CC Nationals, back to CPK for marque events such as Penn Relays . Question, Was Central Parks #2 runner actually John Brooks who ran earlier in the day for Aura?? Confusion in the relays? we need to better police ourselves.
On behalf of the entire membership of the Genesee Valley Harriers Running Club Inc. and as their coach I urge that the records for the mile, 3,000 and 4×800 be retained. Our club is fortunate and proud to have several of the current age group record holders and it would be an extreme disservice not to have their continued recognition. As a coach, I know that these records motivate all of our athletes and those in other parts of the world . . .young or old. As runners we aim to contiually pursue lofty goals and these events represent the gold standard in this country. It would be dreadful to lose them.
We appreciate the dedicated work of those who manage the records of the “best of the best”. Their work often goes unrecognized and is taken for granted. However, we must continually applaud and recognize the hard work of our dedicated athletes that achieve these lofty standards. Without them their would be no records to maintain, no excitement in our sport and no motivation for the generation of younger athletes that follow. The Kathy Martin’s, Tony Young’s, Peter McGill’s, Jim Robinsons’, Carolyn Smith Hanna’s, Nolan Shahead’s and many other great runners of the world are an inspiration to all runners around the globe and ought not be forgetten.
Please keep the records!
Mike
First let me say that I am a present 4×800 record holder. I can‚Äôt say with any certainty whether it is just an AR or a WR, but I wanted to acknowledge my bias. Secondly, I must reluctantly admit that I am a USATF Masters Chair for the state of Iowa, but am basically powerless. Even as a holder of such a prestigious (insert your comment here) office, I have found it next to impossible to get issues resolved with regards to relays and records.
We’ve heard in the past that Masters Track has struggled to maintain numbers. One of the USATF’s goals was to grow especially in the team aspect. Explain to me then how eliminating records, particularly relay records, is going to work towards that goal. (Maybe the goal only pertains to Open competitors.)
First, present record-holders’ efforts will be disrespected. Secondly, the motivational factor of records which was so eloquently stated earlier on this blog will be removed. Thirdly, with regards to the relays, the team aspect of the relays will be undermined. Can anyone really believe that in makes sense for the USATF to drive home its emphasis on teamwork by eliminating relay records?
I have spent the better part of five or six years fighting for relays at the Masters level. It has been a very frustrating battle, but I have always tried to step back and take a level-headed response. I ask, “I understand, so what do I need to do so everything runs smoothly next time?” However, with the recent “rumors”, I have had to resist the urge to come unglued.
But I am not going to approach this problem with emotion. I am a very practical guy. What is the need for the change? How will it benefit United States Masters athletes? I scoff at it being a financial problem. Could it be that it is too labor intensive to keep such records? I don’t think we would have any problem finding a volunteer or team of volunteers who would do an admirable job (just look at the performance lists published regularly). Is it just a problem with being consistent with WMA? Guess what; I don’t think that the majority of Masters runners in the US are willing to give up their records just to appease the WMA. I just need for someone to explain to me, and every other concerned Masters runner, how keeping a detailed list of records can hurt Masters track. It makes more sense to add records than abolish them; records create interest and motivate athletes. It is as simple as that.
I know that the USATF and WMA have done and will do great things for Masters Track and Field. However, what has been forgotten here is that those organizations are supposed to work for us, the athletes. Do we really want it to get as bad as our politicians in Washington where our governing body is so out of touch with its “constituents” that that body can make arbitrary changes without our input? Can you say…revolution?
i have talked to pete about records and running. it is integral to the spirit of the sport. we are involved in a ‘fantasy of effort’ in my opinion. we have to keep training and focusing with the effort as the guiding element, feeling that we have not lost a step, that we can achieve what we have acheived in past years – a perfect performance developed from healthy, agagressive training and a perfect competitive environment. but if we don’t measure and compare the performance, it remains a fantasy. wonderful, but less inspiring to other athletes. it does not have the same communal value. thanks for your perspective and drive to keep the records.
dave
certainly there is tremendous work behind the record keeping. thanks to the dedication of many selfless people we can ponder and dream of record breaking performances or at least wonder how it was done. but i think we are engaged in a ‘fantasy of effort’ as masters athletes. we feel and train in our own fantasy world and maybe need to feel we have not lost a step or that we can do things like we used to in order to keep at it. it is a fantasy that we can achieve great things and that helps sustain the effort. but if we don’t measure and compare it remains a fantasy. introverts are happy, but it is of less value to the community. the fantasy becomes inspirational in our running world and then to the whole world after there is a comparison and validation of the magic of that perfect day and perfect performance. this is the age defying goal – to continue to accomplish what few believe is possible. the records are integral. we can inspire the whole world. the records still have tremendous historical value and their perspective will not be lost even if we are alone in keeping the records. the effort to keep the records will enhance the value of the pursuit of pure sport. the fantasy of perfection becomes as real as the fantasy of effort that we all pursue.
Please, the mile, the 3000m, and 4×800 relay should not be banned. These are all great events and the 40+ athletes who train hard to compete in them should be recognized for their efforts. Competing in these events gives them a reason to do speedwork. And doing speedwork helps these “old geezers” to keep some of their fast twitch muscle fibers that their bodies are trying so hard to get rid of. Therefore, being able to run in these events keeps them young!
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