I have just returned from a too-quick (9 day) trip to Sweden for the World Masters Athletics (WMA) championships, and it has take three days to recover from jet lag, race fatigue, and a cold that I came down with on the morning I left.
The outdoor WMAs are held every other year, and these are the premier events for masters runners and track athletes, age 35 and up. I ran in the indoor version in 2019, running the 8K XC and half marathon, winning three age group medals. It was probably the most thrilling week of my running life, and I felt that my performances that week were at a once-in-a lifetime level. In the half marathon in particular, where I ran away from a star-studded field and scored an upset victory of sorts.
You can’t beat that, and going to Gothenburg last week I felt that I shouldn’t try to meet that, to let this competition be its own clean slate. That’s not saying that I didn’t hope to medal in both events, but just not to have expectations built on the last time. For one I’m six and a half years older (new age group) and just a different kind of runner–the years do catch up. And for another, this being the summer championships, and during peak travel season for northern Europe, not March in Eastern Europe, I thought the competition and depth would be greater this time around.
I planned my training all summer around these championships. Peaking at about 70 miles a week, and except for a taper week and recovery for US Masters Track and Field Nationals last month, almost all weeks were above 60 miles. Very consistent.
In the end I was well prepared (maybe a less so than in 2019 for the indoor WMA championships), but had a very solid summer with no setbacks.
I arrived in Gothenburg on Saturday evening after nearly 24 hours of travel time (not to self, make the logistics less grueling the next time, maybe even break it up) in cars, shuttles, jets, and trains.
My first race would be Tuesday, the men’s 8K cross country event.
Part 1 Cross Country
The cross country race was on a 2K loop in Slottskoggen Park (formally the King of Sweden’s forest estate). Each loop featured two hills (one gradual, 2-5% over 500 m) one steeper but shorter (5-7% over about 200 m), and it had number of twists and turns, some roots and mud to navigate. This was real cross country, but it wasn’t technical. Just about right for a masters championship. The course, mostly on turf was in good shape. Road and sidewalk crossings were softened with strips of artificial turf or wood chips. There was one section in the trees that some bare ground and roots, and the downside of the second hill was intermittently wet and muddy for a couple hundred meters.
Course layout, 4X 2K loops.
With Dan and David, I knew we had had a very good team and we all felt that we could win the overall title if we all ran well. We also had back up with four other Americans, should one of us have an off day (three score). The potential to win was a great prospect–it was the main reason I went on this trip and trained hard this summer–to win the team title.
However, I was also nervous before the race–more so than usual for cross country–because I did not want to have a bad day and let my team down. Plus it’s not every day that you run for your country as team. This was my most important race of the year, more so than the 25K age group record attempt last spring, more than the half marathon in the same park four days later, and more than my upcoming sub 3 marathon attempt scheduled this fall.
David, Dan, and I did a leisurely 3K jog through parts of the course, and made last minute preparations. Weather was about 70F, with a good breeze (up to 10 mph) coming from the south. The sun was out and it did feel a little warm, but overly so.
The race itself played out better than I could have dreamed of.
We were off, about 100 runners, with the 60-64 and 65-69 age groups combined, and after a little jostling and hollering by a couple of competitors off the line, I found myself running along with my teammate David Westenberg in the top 20 overall, and maybe top 5 or 6 in our age group. Dan was fighting for the overall title and was up ahead, going after Alex Stienstra of the Netherlands. The lanky Stienstra had just won the 10K two days prior, and the 5K the previous week.
Startline anticipation.
The goal for me on the first lap was to pace reasonably with David and to stay out trouble on any tight spots. At the end of the first loop (which we crossed in 7:40) and we were in about 15th place overall and top 5 for our age group, while Dan was already 15 seconds ahead running a few seconds behind the tall Dutchman.
David and I early in the second lap.
We were in good position, but I thought the Dutch and British might have some depth and strong runners ready to strike on the later laps.
After passing the lap banner, and then navigating the long steady climb for the second time and I could see that our age group competitor Jukka from Finland was not too far ahead, running in a group of four. By the time we were reached the high point the group was only 10 or 15 meters ahead of me. I surged a bit to catch them, but David did not follow, he stayed back some 15 meters.
I stayed with the group (three Finns and German) for the next lap. I felt pretty relaxed, like I wasn’t running all out. However, I had a near disaster when my foot got tangled in the marker tape that was billowing in the wind, fortunately I didn’t trip, but did snap the tape! We crossed the 2nd lap in about 15:30.
Early in third lap, my teammate Chris said Jukka and I were were tied in 3rd place. (but I heard 4th!). I was feeling solid and thought this would be a good day to medal. So picked it up the effort on the incline and the pack of five that we’d had for a lap broke apart. Only one of the other Finns went with me but he was in the the younger age group. He shadowed me for the rest of the afternoon. I did slow down once and glance back to see where my competitors were, but start chattering in Finnish. By the I realized that indeed I was solidly in 3rd place for my age group, and also by this time I wasn’t losing ground to Dan and Alex: they were about 20-25 seconds ahead, and would remain so for the rest of the race.
Start of Lap 2, running with the pack.
I crossed the mat for the 3rd lap in 23:21. Jukka was 30 seconds back, and David was in pursuit not far behind him.
Me and my Finnish shadow on lap 3.
My goal on the last lap was to hold onto my spot, and hope that Dan and David would do the same. The going did get difficult on the last lap but I held form over the final hill and sprinted across the line in bronze medal position (11th overall). My Finnish shadow did outkick me over the final 80 meters but it was a moot point. For the second time, I had scored a Bronze medal in cross country at the WMA championship!
Dan had pulled away convincingly over Alex Steinstra on the final lap to take Gold (his second in cross country), and David hung on for fifth place, behind Jukka. 1, 3, 5. We easily won the gold medal!
Yes the team gold meant more than winning an individual title in the half marathon. So etch a shelf for the new lifetime highlight. Maybe someday I can line up with Americans and do this again, but this was my first team win, and the experience just can’t be beaten.
Favorite picture of my favorite moment of the best running day in my 48 years of running and racing: Team USA celebrating the 65-69 age group win at the World Masters Championships with David (left) and Dan (middle).
rrunnin234 