Our sport is its fans KEN STONE'S BLOG (Feb. 24, 2010) -- Dang if Pete Magill isn't the most thoughtful writer on masters running (while at the same time being a superstar in his age group). His latest contribution to the genre: a defense of Masters running against those who insist that geezers should hang up their spikes and help nurse the next generation of athletes. . . . keep reading...>> Are you a fit CEO? Are you the world's fittest CEO? CEO Challenges, a company based in SEAN CALLAHAN'S BLOG (Feb. 22, 2010) -- Boulder, Colo., wants to know. CEO Challenges is known for staging events, such as triathlons, marathons and cycling competitions, for top level executives. Now CEO Challengs, along with Boulder's Flatiron Athletic Clubs is seeking the fittest CEO in the country. . . . keep reading...>> Born to run? LISA MENNINGER'S BLOG (Feb. 15, 2010) -- My client Kevin, a former Ironman, marathoner and adventure racer, called me recently to help him get ready for a half-marathon trail race. Having been mired in work and work travel, his kids' sports schedules and just the stresses of life, he found himself out of shape and barely working out. This was not a natural state for him. And after reading Christopher McDougall's book, "Born To Run," as he waited for planes in airports across the country, Kevin was motivated to lace up his shoes again. . . . keep reading...>> Up in the air KEN STONE'S BLOG (Feb. 14, 2010) -- Pat Manson isn't that old -- a mere babe at 42 -- but he thinks it would be "neat" to say he vaulted 18 feet in four different decades. The 2010s are in his sights now, thanks to the confidence boost he got at the Air Force Academy two weekends ago. Pat says: "They tell me the 17-7 jump was perhaps enough for an 18-footer, so that is encouraging. I was on the right poles to go higher, anyway." In a wide-ranging interview conducted by email, Pat shows he's lost no enthusiasm for the event. (Actually, I shot him five or six questions, and he went to town.) Most interesting reply of all: "Perhaps soon I'll try some other events for fun, but not now." (That's like Liberace saying he'd like to play trombone.) Anyway, check out his note to me from Superior, Colo. . . . keep reading...>> Embrace the cold SEAN CALLAHAN'S BLOG (Jan. 9, 2010) -- There's an upside to the cold weather that has hit much of the country over the past few weeks. Exercise in the cold can help you burn more calories -- at least according to the January issue of the Harvard Health Letter. Here's an explanation: . . . keep reading...>> Masters track athlete of the decade? KEN STONE'S BLOG (Jan. 6, 2010) -- How do you measure greatness? Masters track has many yardsticks: Hall of Fame induction, Athlete of the Year honors, world titles, world records. But what separates the superstars? In recent days, my question of Who's the Masters Athlete of the Decade? has prompted some public discussion -- but also some private back-and-forth. One debate centers on Nadine O'Connor vs. Phil Raschker. Both Americans rewrote the record books between 2000 and 2009. Both won major public acclaim and gold medals galore. Nadine and Phil are as good as they get in the sport, but which is the best? . . . keep reading...>> Keeping those resolutions LISA MENNINGER'S BLOG (Jan. 3, 2010) -- You made it through 2009. Congratulations! It was no small fete, was it? Wasn't for me. What a year. I moved after being in the same place for more than seven years, moved my son to Washington, D.C., to attend college, began a new business endeavor, re-evaluated my goals as an athlete as I graduated to a new age group and experienced a lot of change in all areas of my life. It was a challenging year in many ways but necessary to lay the groundwork of new and exciting things I know are heading my way in 2010. . . . keep reading...>> The comeback KEN STONE'S BLOG (Dec. 15, 2009) -- Reynaldo Brown's greatest leap wasn't the 7-feet-3 he straddled in September 1968 to make the Olympic team at age 17. It wasn't the 7-0 1/4 he cleared at Mexico City to take fifth behind the gold and silver of teammates Dick Fosbury and Ed Caruthers. His greatest effort came several years ago while hospitalized with kidney failure. After hearing a doctor say: "I hope this guy is still here in the morning," Rey vowed to jump out of bed and begin training for his life. . . . keep reading...>> A Christmas gift idea for the Masters athlete in your life SEAN CALLAHAN'S BLOG (Dec. 14, 2009) -- I got an email from Sandy Scott the other day. He's the 2007 AMS Comeback Masters Athlete of the Year. He won the award in recognition of his amazing return to bicycle racing after he broke his neck in a bike accident. Now, Sandy, who lives in Florida, has written a book about his ordeal. It's called "From Broken Neck to Broken Records: A Masters Cyclist's Guide to Winning." After the accident, Sandy has won 11 different Florida state cycling championships. Along the way he has shattered numerous state time trial records in his age group. In addition to telling Sandy's remarkable story, the book also covers training, nutrition and other aspects of racing. . . . keep reading...>> Site update KEN STONE'S BLOG (Dec. 8, 2009) -- Friday morning in Indy, the USATF Masters T&F Committee -- delegates from around the country -- awarded the 2011 indoor and 2012 indoor and outdoor masters nationals to three new sites. As previously telegraphed, Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois, won 2012 outdoors, but was "accepted tentatively pending confirmation of facility availability and dates," according to my mole at the USATF annual meeting. "Indoor 2011 is Albuquerque, March 4-6. The vote was 26 to 25 over Bloomington, Indiana" -- which then won the 2012 indoor meet unanimously. . . . keep reading...>> More