 Could be worse. Could be snowing. We’ve had a run of chilly weather lately. (Shhh… this happens every winter, but don’t tell the Florida Tourism Bureau I said so.)
For 60 years I coped with 30-foot snowdrifts and icicles that have been known to kill people, but that doesn’t keep me from complaining now. You, too? And those who hang around year-round must deal with what Kathleen Riddle calls the “stupid hot” summer. What’s a poor track and field athlete to do? A few ideas off the top of my head: Rest We’re a highly motivated bunch – so motivated that we don’t realize taking a break is vital to training. When the weather improves, your outlook and your body will be rarin’ to go. Cross it up Some team members keep a wind-trainer bike in their lanai or weight machines in the garage. Besides strengthening different muscles, cross-training wakes up your sluggish brain. Take it indoors… Besides running, many of our club members use fitness centers in good weather and bad. Try out this option with a day pass. …or hit the town From billiards to dancing to tai chi, or tickets to professional opera, plays and music tributes – if you can’t find something new to do around here, check whether you still have a pulse. Shop Take a good look at your trusty old training shoes. Holes where your socks peek through are nature’s way of telling you it’s time for a new pair. Or treat yourself to a stylish jacket, tee shirt or cap from Custom Apparel; they’ll print/embroider it with our official team logo. (For details, click here.) Make it a movie night by streaming an underdog film like “Chariots of Fire,” “Breaking Away” or “St. Ralph,” the sweetest boy-runner story you’ve never heard of. Zone out in front of a cozy crackling fireplace video and take a long winter’s nap. Leah Rewolinski The Villages TLC Word Nerd
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 Ray Jancso unleashes his sprint speed. Team member Ray Jancso’s military service record gives new meaning to the term “close call.” Ray earned three Purple Heart medals in the Vietnam War. Later in life, he overcame yet another close call with a serious health condition. Read on to learn why one medical expert calls Ray’s resilience a type of alternative medicine.
This outstanding story about Ray Jancso was written by another Ray: Ray Glier, whose Geezer Jock News “celebrates older athletes [through] storytelling about their triumphs.” Ray Glier’s weekly e-newsletter is free, and his branded merchandise “is a slap back at ageism.” Treat yourself by visiting his website, GeezerJockNews.com, for a dose of geezer pride and enthusiasm. And now, Ray Glier’s in-depth story on Ray Jancso’s incredible close calls… How alternative medicine saved Ray Jancso By Ray Glier Geezer Jock newsletter / September 24, 2022 Reprinted with permission The close calls for Ray Jancso in Vietnam were like an echo. They kept coming. He was shot and brought that bullet home with him still lodged in his right leg. He was caught in the blast of a booby trap, which blew a hole in his left calf. Calamity had a third crack at him when Ray had a gun shot out of his hands. He was saved only because the bullet went through the handguard of his M16 and flattened against the barrel. Then there was the time the armored vehicle he was riding on hit a mine and he was blown into the air. When he came down and hit his head on the side of the vehicle, the laceration looked like somebody had tried to peel back his scalp with a saw. Jancso (Jan-so) was lucky to be draped in three Purple Heart medals, not a flag on a casket, when he came home. A close call closer to home In 2018, Ray had another close call and survived, but this time luck had nothing to do with it. He had a heart issue and would have died, he said, except he was in excellent physical shape. Jancso had built up a health bank, a rainy day fund, something his body/mind could use to combat rude health when he got older. Jancso, 80, had practiced fitness for years and my friend, Dr. Bob Schwab, calls this the basis for “alternative medicine.” We will talk more about this practice of alternative medicine in a moment. But keep reading about Ray, please. Jancso’s lifelong fitness regimen not only kept him alive, he collected some track medals to go with the war-time medals. Last May, Ray won Gold in the 50, 100, and 200 in M80 at The National Senior Games in Ft. Lauderdale. It seems a little tardy to be writing about Ray, seeing as he won those medals four months ago, except that he said this week he is ready to retire from competitive racing in the national games… …only he is not going to retire from being fit. Ray still plans on meeting his track buddies every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the track in The Villages in central Florida and go through with his workout. He doesn't think he wants to continue to put all the training required for the big meets, but he is not done with the exercise required to beat the next episode of rude health and he will never tire of his pals. “You have a bunch of people to train with,” he said, “so you don't have to train by yourself. If I were to have to train by myself, I would have never been able to do what I did (medals). “Having those other people out there and knowing that Monday, Wednesday and Friday, they’re going to be there, you gotta show up. You don't have to, but you know, you feel like you have to. So you got a lot of camaraderie there.” More about that health scare Jancso said the endocarditis in 2018 ambushed his speed and his endurance, but not his willpower. A guy that had won two gold medals (50, 100) and a bronze (200) in the 2017 National Senior Games could no longer walk the track, much less run on it after the heart ailment that kept him in the hospital 14 days and on an IV drip for two months (three bags a day). But he kept grinding to regain his physical dependability. In the end, Jancso just overwhelmed a persistent infection with a persistent attitude. “I never thought about quitting,” he said. “I didn’t know how far back I could get as far as fitness level. I had no clue, but I kept at it.” It wasn’t until late in 2021 that Jancso started to feel like a sprinter again. By May 2022, he was a national champion. Ray had a role model when it came to perseverance. His father, James, a steel worker in Pennsylvania, had the same makeup. “If he could stand up he was going to work,” Jancso said. “He could be sick as a dog and he was still going to work.” Now you can see the layers of “alternative medicine” Dr. Schwab was talking about. The mental fortitude to go with the physical strength. “Healthy habits (mental and physical) strengthen you for whatever illness or injury might come,” Dr. Schwab said. “These habits affect your immune system as well as your mood, strength, resiliency, etc., so I think these people do better. “This is the basis of alternative medicine to a large degree, and is the explanation for medical miracles, in my view. The immune system is the key.” Jancso was a borderline medical miracle. “I don’t know how close I was, but Rick Riddle (his coach) came to see me and told me later, ‘Jeez, I didn’t think you were going to make it,’ ” Ray said. These medical miracles are the real deal The science is pretty clear that the heart and immune system do a lot of cross-talking, like neighbors across the fence. Ray was very neighborly in that regard and that is why—with the help of antibiotics—he defeated the inflammation in his heart. This alternative medicine is not the late-night voodoo you see on the TV. This is the authentic stuff. We all need it, but it is challenging to try on a new lifestyle of running and vigorous exercise. It is all about re-cultivating a mindset, said Michael Sachs, PhD., professor emeritus at Temple University with expertise in exercise and sports psychology. Older people are reheating fitness regimens they learned decades ago. “Aerobics with Ken Cooper took off in 1968 and then there was the running boom of the ‘70s, and what you are seeing is people that were physically active in the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s, who maybe let their conditioning slide, are getting back into it,” Sachs said. “They are listening to the science and remembering what they learned way back.” Sachs, 70, said another factor in the rise of the older jock are initiatives such as Exercise is Medicine from the American College of Sports Medicine, which urges doctors to give physical activity assessment and counseling to older patients. That is alternative medicine. Feeling healthy = feeling better In this era of lotions and potions, and where Detox IVs are really a thing, Geezer Jocks are not trying to decode old age. Their experience simply tells them what makes them feel better, and what makes them feel better is... exercise. So whether you jog, walk, bike, swim, or chase the dog around the yard, you are practicing “alternative medicine.” It is ok to use the term loosely, but also remember the mental side of exercise, too, not just the cardio. Mentally, Jancso could deal with the despair of possibly lying on his death bed with the heart issue because of so many close calls in combat. In Vietnam, the gun was shot out of his hands five seconds after he stood up to lead a charge on an enemy position. An eighth of an inch either way and the bullet deflects to his chest and he is gone. As it was, he was still blown backwards. He heard someone say as he flew through the air, “The lieutenant’s dead.” Ray was the lieutenant. There was the bullet he took to the leg, and the blast from the booby trap, and you wonder how many close calls with Agent Orange Jancso’s immune system has fought off. Ray figures as many soldiers were killed by the enemy in Vietnam as died from exposure to Agent Orange, the toxic death the U.S. used to kill vegetation the Viet Cong used for cover in the jungle. The use of the defoliant in Operation Hades was chemical warfare, and Jancso figures an odd rash and some acne that showed up on his body in later life could have something to do with that rainbow herbicide Agent Orange. So, of course, he is not going quit on his exercise regimen. Ray might not train four or five days a week in 2023 to get ready for nationals, but he will stick with that one day where he runs three 300s to build endurance for the last 50 meters of the 200. He still sounds eager to carve another day into a fast/slow combination of running 400, walking 400, running 400, walking 400. As always, Ray’s workouts start with 30 minutes of dutiful stretching. "You can't ever do too much stretching," he said. Jancso also declared in 2017 he was going to hang up his running shoes after the National Senior Games that year, but he rallied the competitor inside him. He might change his mind again after competing in the Florida Senior Games this December. Ray just has to overcome that ego thing that torments competitors. “Some guys just want to participate,” Jancso said. “If they get any place, or just make the final, they’re happy and they should be. Unfortunately, the way I am, if I'm not on a podium, I'm not happy." He showed a shameful smirk and said, "That's kind of not good, I know that.” Ray might not be happy without the podium, but he will never abandon his joy in the practice of alternative medicine.  USA Gold! Rick Riddle in the M60-64 4x200 relay finals, 2014 WMA Worlds, Budapest, Hungary Has Coach Rick Riddle got news for you! Two outstanding opportunities to compete at (or watch) at the national and international level are coming just a few months from now in Gainesville, Florida.
In this and the following two blog posts, Rick explains why we’re lucky to have these meets right in our back yard. The third post includes photos and a video taken by Kathleen Riddle that’ll really ramp up your interest. Leah Rewolinski The Villages TLC Word Nerd Hello Team, Two awesome opportunities are coming your way in 2025! First is the USA Track & Field Masters Indoor National Championships at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center in Gainesville on February 20-23, 2025. The registration deadline is still to be determined by USATF. In late March you have a great opportunity to compete in (or watch) the World Masters Indoor Championships, also at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center. This is the first time the World Masters Indoor Championships has been held in the USA. The meet will take place on March 23-30, 2025, with a registration deadline of January 23. In the blog posts that follow I will give you some insight on how to get registered and what you can expect. Kathleen and I have traveled to world indoor meets and USATF national indoor meets over the years. They’ve provided us with great memories. Photos taken by Kathleen at the 2014 World Masters Indoor Championships in Budapest appear at the end of these explanations. Here are the basics of the USATF (national) Masters Indoor Championships.
Here’s what to know about the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships.
Coach Rick Riddle Additional Useful Links Alachua County Sports & Events Center USA Track & Field -- Masters For the national championships: 2025 USATF Masters Indoor National Championships For the world championships: 2025 WMA Indoor Championships (USATF site) 2025 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships (WMA site) To discover more advantages of membership in USA Track & Field, just scroll down to the next blog post. Hello Team,
I have been running in USATF meets since I began track at age 50. These track meets are far better organized than the Senior Games you are already familiar with. The annual membership fee of $55 allows you to compete in their track meets across the USA as well as the WMA world championships. The introduction below is taken from the USATF Masters website. Coach Rick Riddle USATF Masters track and field and LDR [long-distance running] consist of local, regional, national, and international competition opportunities for adult athletes. In track and field, we have three categories of participants. Masters are 35 years of age and older (in LDR road racing, Masters start at 40). Sub-Masters age 25-34 are welcome at track and field local and national championships. (Note: you cannot compete internationally, such as at the World Masters Championships, until 35.) All levels of ability are welcomed and encouraged to participate. Very few meets require qualification standards; you do, however, need to be a USATF member. Masters track and field actively promotes fitness, friendship, volunteerism, athletic development, competition, and sportsmanship, and is inclusive. Join Us! Men and women compete separately in 5-year age groups starting at age 35: 35-39, 40-44, etc. There is also a Sub-Masters age group for athletes 25-34. Masters meets typically include all T&F events: sprints, distance running, hurdles, throws, jumps, racewalking, and relays. Sincerely, USA Track & Field And finally, scroll down for the last third post, which offers an exciting glimpse of what an actual World Championships is like. Leah Rewolinski Hello Team, I have run in several indoor and outdoor world championships. These events are conducted in locations across the globe. They are very well organized and give you an opportunity to compete against athletes from around the world. If you attend one of these, you would be representing Team USA and wearing the Team USA uniform. There are no qualifications required. Kathleen and I have made many trips abroad for these meets. The meets themselves are colorful and memorable, primarily because of the many different languages and uniforms. World Masters Athletics is the governing body for masters world competitions. The introductory information below is copied from the World Masters Athletics website. And below that is an assortment of photos from our WMA Worlds Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Coach Rick Riddle WMA MISSION STATEMENT Promote premier athletic events for athletes thirty-five and over, of all abilities, and encourage their passion for active healthy competition, global camaraderie, and celebratory spirit. WMA ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS
Images from the WMA Indoor Worlds Budapest, Hungary 2014 Photos and video courtesy of Kathleen Riddle (scroll down past photos for link to video).  I happened upon this photo when Anthony Wyatt asked me to forward it to another club member. He graciously agreed that I could publish it as a follow-up to his bio (below).
The six-rung Home Goods ladder, surrounded by Anthony's field implements, holds most of his awards from 17 years of competition. At the top is a framed chart showing his world number one age-group ranking in the javelin, as noted in his story. Leah Rewolinski The Villages TLC Word Nerd Team member Anthony Wyatt is one of our winning-est athletes, but we don’t always see his full practice. That’s because his specialty – field events – often requires off-site workout venues (especially the javelin!)
Here he shares what it takes to train for and excel at these various disciplines. Leah Rewolinski The Villages TLC Word Nerd Which field events do you compete in currently? I do the high jump, triple jump, long jump, javelin throw, discus throw and the hammer throw. The pentathlon is comprised of five events, in this order: hammer throw, weight throw, shot put, javelin and discus. I’m #34 in the 2024 World Masters Ranking. How often do you compete? I competed in about 17 track meets last year and the year before. That was a lot! This year I have only competed in eight track events. What got you started in the sport? Seventeen years ago, my son’s high hurdle coach encouraged me to compete in Masters track. At that time I was encouraged to run the 50m and 200m, and compete in the high jump and long jump. What’s your favorite event? Currently my favorite field event is the javelin throw. I started throwing the javelin seven years ago, and at the end of year one, my best distance was 88 feet. Now, seven years later, my best distance is 135 feet 10 inches, which landed me number one on the 2024 World Masters ranking from January to July of this year (for my age bracket, which is 75 to 79 years old.) How do you train for a variety of events at once? My training for certain events coincides with days of the week. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I focus on leg stretches and stretching before and after the workout. I do jogging, high knees, sprints, intervals and various run-ups for each event. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays are for upper body exercises, including strengthening the back and core plus more neck, elbow, arm and shoulder flexibility. And during competition, how do you maintain concentration while switching from one sport to another? Concentrating and focusing from one event to the next is challenging. However, the mechanics and the steps for these events are somewhat similar. That is to say, the use of the lower body, the hips, the shoulders, the elbow, and the throwing motion are somewhat alike (in my mind). Over time, I feel that I’m able to apply those similar steps using the different implements at game time. Describe how strength training, flexibility and other generalized aspects fit in. Strength training and flexibility are of the utmost importance to me because that means I’m going to avoid injury and time out of competition.  Young Mo at an international competition.  From the archives: what great form out of the blocks! Citius, Altius, Fortius
(Faster, Higher, Stronger) By Mo Lewington Editor’s Note: Mo Lewington is one of our “quiet heroes.” Her modesty is especially remarkable when you learn of her international achievements in track and field. She agreed to share her story with us. Leah Rewolinski When I was a child, running was my idea of playtime. As my legs grew longer I started beating most of the boys at school. My physical education teacher at secondary school encouraged me to join the local athletics club. I was eager to run, train and race, but it took a strong effort to convince my father, who felt I was too young. It worked, I worked (hard), and the rest is history. I was focused on the long jump when our coach, Bill Marlow, told me: “A great long jumper must develop great speed.” So I began training for sprints, working out on the track and in the weight room. This opportunity exposed me to world-class athletes and the value of a strong work ethic. In 1962, at age 15, I won the English Schools Championships in the 150 yards. The following year I became the national champion in the 200 meters, ages 15-17. I began competing at the international level and, at 17, qualified for the 1964 Olympics [as Maureen Tranter]. Representing Great Britain at three Olympics During my ten-year span of international competition, I competed in three European Championships and two Commonwealth Games. I was a member of the British team for three Olympics: 1964 Tokyo (relay squad), 1968 Mexico City (200m, 4 x 100 relay), and 1972 Munich (4 x 400 relay, injured). My career also afforded me two world records (4 x 110 yds, 4 x 200m), and I equaled the UK record of 10.6 in the 100-yard dash. It was a great honor to represent my country in the Olympic Games. There was pressure to perform to the best of one’s ability but also a lot of team spirit and support. While I was proud of my accomplishments, I was also humble in my appreciation of their meaning. As Whitney Houston sang in the Olympic theme, “Give me one moment in time when I’m more than I thought I could be.” A proud Olympic symbol It wasn’t until my early 70s that I realized most Olympians wore a reminder of their accomplishment; I was urged to purchase one myself. No, not a tattoo, but a beautifully designed emblem of the Olympic rings in gold, with the appropriate gemstone inside each ring. I was also granted the use of OLY* post-nominally by the World Olympians Association in recognition of my participation and continued adherence and promotion of the Olympic values: excellence, respect and friendship. I still live by the Olympic Oath of fair play. Retiring from international competition I retired from international competition at age 27 for personal and family reasons. I worked as a telephonist [switchboard operator] and enjoyed playing field hockey. Wanting to give back to my sport, I started coaching at the track club. I met a wonderful man, Peter, who changed my name from Tranter to Lewington. We moved around England a bit but settled back in the Midlands in 1992, where I began masters training at the Royal Sutton Club under the tutelage of Joe Caines. He is still the coach at my club. Un-retiring from international competition The following year I won my first international level masters medal in Buffalo NY. My masters events included the 100, 200, 400, 4 x 100, and 4 x 400 relay. When traveling the world for competitions, Peter and I would frequently stay an extra week for a touring vacation. This provided many great memories and artifacts; I grew to admire elephants. In 2004, I “re-retired” from international competition, and we made our first Villages trip to visit Jean and John Topliss – a journey I continue to make twice a year, even though J & J have sold their Villages home and moved back to the Midlands. After leaving competition, I continued working out with the Royal Sutton Coldfield Athletic Club and occasionally participated in the throwing field events, as well as assisting with running track meets. I have also competed in The Villages Senior Games, mostly shot put and discus. In my 60s I was persuaded to run the 100m, once. [Any injuries during your career?] Of course! In 1972 I suffered an achilles injury at the Munich Olympics which prevented me from competing. As a veteran athlete I have had a few problems with my meniscus. I guess the wear and tear of many years of hard work finally caught up to me, as I had my arthritic hip replaced last year. Now my personal goals are to stay fit, be able to JOG again, and live my best life (with a suntan, of course). Mo Lewington, OLY *OLY is a post-nominal title granted by the World Olympians Association to registered athletes who have competed in the Olympic Games. Similar to other designations like PhD and MD, it can be used after an Olympian’s name on business cards, resumes, social media, and so on. By Marcia Plante  Editor’s Note: Marcia Plante is like many of our members: so modest that you’ll never hear about their remarkable athletic achievements unless someone clues you in. (That's her self-deprecating title at the top of this piece.) Marcia agreed to share the enthusiasm for athletics that guided her growing-up years and blossomed into a career… in a sport that might surprise you.
Leah Rewolinski The Villages TLC Word Nerd Never a dull moment My mom was a competitive field hockey player and encouraged my brothers and I to be active. While I liked skiing, skating, and gymnastics, my favorite was always track. Whenever I was bored, I would go out and run around our city block (600m?), ride my bike, or exercise by doing situps and pushups. One year, for my birthday, I asked for a stopwatch, jump rope, and set of dumbbells. Due to my nonstop energy level, my parents enrolled me in a YWCA program. We played recreational gym games, gymnastics, swimming, trampoline, and basketball. Every Saturday we would huddle in front of the black & white TV to watch ABC’s Wide World of Sports. We enjoyed seeing the monkeys in the coconut throw and the lizards in the crocodile crawl. If the Olympics were on, we were allowed to stay up late and view all events. I'm sure I must have seen Mo [Lewington] run in Mexico City. Early intro to track The City of Troy (NY) ran an eight-week summer track program for two years. I was 11-12 at the time. We met twice a week and competed for points in three events per night: sprint, field event, and distance race. With the most points in my age group, I advanced to the county championships. I won the 100 and the long jump, which resulted in an invitation to a junior track camp in Arizona, but my parents felt I was too young to attend. Physical education was my favorite class in middle school. This was pre-Title IX so we had no organized sports teams, but our intramural program was fantastic: hockey, soccer, football, basketball, softball, and volleyball. The lifetime sports offered were archery, badminton, bowling, and tennis, but no track. I learned to play every sport but could play nothing really well. “I was a big fish in a little pond” In high school there were still no leagues, so I petitioned 100 schools to allow girls to participate in exhibition races at the boys conference invitational track meet. My efforts were rewarded as we competed in the 60-yard hurdles and 4 x 220-yard relay. At graduation I was presented the “most athletic” award – a big fish in a little pond (make that a puddle). Next I attended Russell Sage College in Troy, a private school for girls with a concentration on physical education, physical therapy, and nursing. There was no track team, but I did compete on the tennis team. I also learned how to play speedball, lacrosse, golf, and synchronized swimming – oh, how I hate bathing caps! An official bench warmer During this time I tore my medial meniscus, so I became an official bench warmer. The injury did have a positive outcome, though, as it inspired me to write my honors project on “Athletic Injuries to the Meniscus.” I graduated Phi Kappa Phi, with highest honors in PE. I then received my master’s degree and completed most of my doctoral work in health education. With nowhere to run for five years, I became a jogger. Teaching fitness creatively When I began teaching, my strengths were probably creativity, organization, and innovation. I rewrote the syllabus to include a comprehensive track unit, which was adopted by the New York State Department of Education. I started a school pentathlon, mixed relay day, and marathon madness unit. In my later years, I converted the program to more of a fitness and lifetime sports endeavor. I introduced BMI, Project Adventure activities, sportfolios, sportography reports – and I was forced to teach reading and writing activities in the gym. My first two years I coached soccer, basketball, and softball, all the while gaining support to start a girls tennis, bowling, and track team. They were my focus for the next 10 years. During my track tenure, I had the pleasure of coaching Diana Richburg from grade 7-12. She won the state and national high school championships in the 800 and 1500, won the 800 in the Penn Relays, made the finals of the 1500 in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, and took the world junior indoor 1000m record away from Mary Decker. She could run under 2:00 in the 800m. Tennis, anyone? While in high school, I played exhibition matches on the boys tennis team. At college I qualified for their Eastern Collegiate Championships but knew better than to show up. After a 12-year hiatus due to coaching duties, I joined the U.S. Tennis Association and began playing sanctioned adult team tennis. After a few years, my organizational skills took over and I became a tournament director for USTA junior and adult tournaments. This inadvertently led to my becoming a USTA official: line, chair, referee, and chief umpire. I umpired at the U.S. Open many times and served as chief umpire for the Virginia Slims Championships held in New York City. I later worked with Nitty Singh, who was named one of tennis’ top ten most influential women and an inductee into the Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame. She was the tournament director of the OTB Open, the only free professional tournament in the world and the site of Andre Agassi’s first pro tournament. I trained the youngest umpires in the world. I was elected to the Eastern Tennis Umpires Association’s board of directors and won two Jack Stahr Awards for umpiring. I was also a tennis umpire at the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials. Just as I was retiring from officiating, Nitty purchased a World Team Tennis franchise, and I spent the next 10 years working for Billie Jean King as a site coordinator. Martina Navratilova was our marquee player. Running as a senior I was running six days a week and participating in road races like the the Freihofer’s Run for Women [one of the largest all-female 5Ks in the U.S.], turkey trots, and 5K-15Ks, but no marathons. I even did a mini-triathlon here at The Villages. When I was healthy, I would do all track and field events at the Senior Games (not well, of course). I was, and am, very focused on fitness, thus my license plate FTNS: fitness or fatness, your choice. I still go to the gym, and half of my garage is cluttered with fitness equipment. As for senior tennis, I have competed in many state and national championships, both USTA and Senior Games. I have won states many times but only trophied at nationals four times. I still co-captain many teams in The Villages. Slowing down with injuries Little by little, my injuries have forced me to retire from various sports. Overall, I have lost about six years of competition, but I’ve managed to avoid surgery. My most recent issues are a full thickness tear of the supraspinatus (one of the rotator cuffs), bone on bone in the ankle, water in the tibia, and a bone spur and damage to the hip. Before my ankle and hip injury, my goal would have been “I want to be like Tiny Cazel, still active after all these years,” but I guess I’ll have to settle for being able to jog again. I’ll have a new set of embarrassing pr’s but I’ll be happy just to be out there. I have purchased a lot of low-impact fitness equipment to improve my mobility. If all efforts fail, I can always brush my ragdolls, play my organ, read books (I’m way behind), go to the beach, drink lattes with my friends, and cheer for my teammates. Track has always been and always will be my favorite sport. Tennis simply offered me more opportunities. New to our club? Longtime member? Either way, this message from our leader Rick Riddle brings you up to speed on team apparel developments.
Our customized logos For those who reserved jackets with Avis: Avis will bring them to you without printed or embroidered club logos. You may take the jacket to Custom Apparel for application of your preferred logo. Custom Apparel has been authorized by The Villages to apply our approved club logo. The logo was custom designed by The Villages Media Department, with my heavy-handed oversight and pesky intervention. The logo is a registered trademark and can only be printed or embroidered by a Villages-approved vendor. Custom Apparel is an approved vendor. Acceptable colors for articles of clothing are white, forest green and black. The logo colors were carefully coordinated with those background colors during the design process. The individual icon pictured in VTF logo 2 and VTF logo 4* was envisioned for use on competition singlets, front and center on the garment. Items you can take to Custom Apparel for logo application T-shirts Tank tops Jackets Workout pants Ball caps, sun hats Knit hats (toboggans, beanies, toques) Backpacks Duffel bags Forehead for tattoos Dog tags for your poochie Coasters with your photo, for gifts to annoy your grandchildren --Rick Riddle *[Editor’s note: Complete information about logos, prices and ordering appears below in the 10/21/2023 blog post titled "Take a Second (or First!) Look at our Team Clothing.”] |
your choiceIf you don't run, you rust. Leah rewolinskiThe Villages TLC Word Nerd & webmaster Archives
January 2025
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