Striders in Action
Andy’s BLOG 06/08/2026
Fellow Striders:
I appear to be back.
As I have related, I almost died in February of 2025 from acute kidney failure caused by kidney stones blocking both my ureters. Five days in the Intensive Care Unit saved my life. My doctors attributed my not dying to my physical fitness.
After several months of no training, I was allowed to slowly get back into shape, but I was followed closely by my doctors. From June to September I did careful work-outs. By early December I was allowed to begin competing and did so in the 5K. I gradually improved my time from 41:45 in January this year, down to 34:32 in April. At that point my doctors did another full medical analysis (physical exam, blood studies, x-rays, ultrasound, etc.) before allowing me to begin hard training for the 400 and 800. That began on April 15, 14 months after being rushed to the hospital (2/18/25-4/15/26). My goal was the Pasadena Senior Games on May 30. That gave me 6 ½ weeks. I realized after about 3 weeks that there was no way I could train for both events in that short a time frame. So I focused solely on the 400. I did the best I could, but I had no idea how I would do in actual competition.
On Saturday I was in the first heat of the 400: the oldest runners. There were 6 of us. Our ages were: 77 (Ed Rose, a fellow Strider), 77, 81, 89 (me), 89, and 90. I was in lane 5, Ed in lane 8. Soon after the start, it was obvious that Ed was moving very fast and was all by himself out front. The other 77 year old stayed ahead of me, but no one else ever challenged me. Ed finished in 1:21.42, 14 seconds ahead of the number 2, and 20 seconds ahead of me in third in 1:41:48, well off my 1:35.18 the last time I ran a 400 in competition in 2024. I managed the first 400 meters of the 800, but then could not hold the pace and finished in 4:19.58 – way off my 2024 effort of 3:46.91 in Nationals.
The data for Saturday just came out in mastersrankings.com. I did better than I expected. In the 85-89 age group, my 400 was 4th in the World, 1st in the USA, and 1st for 89 year olds in the World. My 800, very surprisingly, was 3rd in the World, 1st in the USA, and 1st for 89 year olds in the World. Of course, this is just June 1. I am certain that runners will go much faster this summer. Still, it is good to be back!
Andy
Pasadena Senior Games 05/30/26
The Striders were represented again at the Senior Games this year, and none were as busy as Ed Rose. This is his report from that day:
Long day on the track, with lots of delays that sometimes helped and others that did not. I did the 50, 100, 200, 400 and triple jump. Had it all planned out based on schedule however delays changed everything. Order of events effected some of my times I believe, but what can you expect doing this many events. I was hoping to do the triple jump between the 100 and 200, but had to do it after the 200. On my 5th jump had a season best and was going to quit with a 7.17M jump. My friend and fellow competitor said I was six inches behind the board and encouraged my to take my last jump. I hit the board perfectly and went 7.36, only a centimeter off his estimate. As a result I bumped him out of third place. Super sportsmanship. Ended up with gold in 200 and 400, silver in 100 and bronze in 50 and triple jump. Triple jump best in three years:
50M 8.29
100M 15.71
200M 32.75
400M 1:21.42
TJ 7.36M
James Malin made a good showing as well, posting a 1st place in the shot put (11.39m), 2nd in discus (27.44m), and 4th in Long Jump (3.46m).
And – you can read about Andy Anderson’s exploits in his blog, below:
Meet of Champions 04/26/2026
Cerritos College, Norwalk
The Southern California Striders hosted the 60th annual Meet of Champions in April, and our usual suspects were there. James Malin, with his usual strong performances, won 2 silvers (LJ – 3.34m, SP – 11.00m) and a bronze (discus – 29.10m). As for Ed Rose, 2 golds (100m – 15.53, 200m – 33.37), 1 silver (50m – 8.35), and 2 bronzes (LJ – 3.33m, TJ – 7.03m). See his report below:
I ran and jumped at the So Cal Striders Meet of Champions on Sunday. Not my best day, and hard to top previous meet. Just did not seem to be right all day. No zip or rhythm. Some days are like that. Did manage season bests in 100M and Triple jump. 100M was fastest since 2022. In the long jump I fouled 4 of my 6 jumps, which was 4 more fouls than I had all last year. May have been influenced by the wind as it was swirling all day. One run jump it was in your face, the next behind you.
This was sort of a duel meet so we got medals from the Striders and as a regional meet. Ended up with gold medals in 100M, 200M, silver in 50M and bronze in long jump and triple.
Here are a few pictures of medals and me doing my Mr T impression. Arms too short for a good selfie.
Andy’s BLOG 04/12/2026
Andy Anderson (89) is back to serious running at last, so it’s time to revive his blog so we can tag along on his next chapter:
04/05/26
I have finally run a good 5K time. I run in a Riverside park that has a well-measured 5K course and sponsors a 5K every Saturday morning. I run about every other Saturday. Each time my time comes down and yesterday I reached my goal of 35:30. Using mastersrankings.com, there is only one listing for 85-89 year olds for 5K in 2026. It is too early since the 5K listed there are almost certainly formal races on a track, not road races which can be very inaccurate. Using the 2025 85-89 5K rankings, my 35:30.00 puts me 11th in the world, and 2nd for 89 year olds. The fastest 89 year old was 10th in the world and ran a 33:40.88 in Norway in 2025. I always wear my San Diego Striders singlet. Attached is a picture from my run yesterday.
My doctors have now cleared me to compete in the faster 400/800 races. So I will now start intense training for those. My plan is to run in the state championship meet in Pasadena on May 30. I will keep you informed, and I will be wearing the San Diego Striders singlet!
04/12/26
I ran a final 5K on the same course yesterday. It was nearly a minute faster 34:32. A picture of me yesterday shows the Striders singlet much better. Now I start my 400/800 training.
Golden Games, Bullhead AZ, 4/10/26
Two Striders travelled to Arizona to compete in the Golden Games Master’s Track and Field Meet recently, and put up dominant numbers. Ed Rose (77) and new Strider James Malin (74) entered 8 events, with one or the other winning each. In fact, in 2 events, Jim (SP) and Ed (50m) had better marks than any of the other competitors, regardless of age – and in 5 of the other 6 events they were 2nd best. Both were scored in the 75-9 age group, as Jim will turn 75 later in the year. Here is the final tally:
Long Jump
(1) Ed – 11’2″ (mastersankings.com 2026 standings: #4 world, #3 US)
(2) Jim – 10’9″ (21 world, 13 US (70-4 AG))
Triple Jump
(1) Ed – 22’10” (4 world, 2 US)
Standing Long Jump
(1) Ed – 6’3″
Shot Put
(1) Jim – 23’8″ (5 world, 2 US (70-4 AG))
Discus
(1) Jim – 101’5″ (9 US (70-4 AG))
(2) Ed – 78’2″ (5 US)
50m
(1) Ed – 7.88 (1 world, 1 US)
100m
(1) Ed – 15.78 (15 world, 4 US)
200m
(1) Ed – 32.11 (10 world, 3 US)
Ed had this to say about the experience:
…competed at the Golden Games in Bullhead City Az on April 10th. A small meet with an unusual format. They run all of the field events prior to any running. My day started with the standing long jump, long jump, triple jump and the discus. Then they let us run. I have been working on a standing start using one pedal of the blocks as I have had a history of terrible starts. Not today, it was perfect and I ran a great technical race. In the end I ran 7.88 which beat my previous best mark set in 2017. This currently #1 in the world, (early in the season). My 200M 32.11 was over a second improvement for the season and my best since 2018. Not exactly sure what is going on but I hope it continues. I ended the day with six gold medals and one silver. The picture is early in the 50M race.
Strider Briefs
We’ve been hearing from teammates:
Keith Wetterer (84) – “I ran today at Patrick Henry. My times were better than I expected. 400m – 1:48.17 1600m – 9:10.13 I am planning to run at Mission Bay on April 19.”
(Summer Nights track meet #3 – Patrick Henry HS, 1/31/26. 400m – #1 on the world list for 2026 (80-4) on MastersRankings.com; No list for 1600m)
Ed Rose (77) – “About 20 degrees warmer than last week so I have to limit my excuses. 100M 15.63, only .07 off my best last year, start is still an issue. 200M 33.41, .12 faster than last week. Really need to work on conditioning. No more meets until March so plenty of time to work on starts and stamina.”
(Summer Nights #3; 100m – #1/world, 200m – #2)
Aleksandra Avakova (45) – “After mulling things over I decided not to run Resolution half tomorrow. I have been under a lot of stress (in process moving and selling our townhome) and need to train a bit more before spending money on a half which I’m probably just going to wing. My plan is to run the Beer half Feb 14 I think in Mission bay leading to Paris marathon April 12.”
Andy Anderson (89) – “Saturday I ran my first competition since my kidney failure last February. It was a very slow 5K. Just out of interest I looked up in MastersRankings.com to see where that time would have ranked in the 2025 5K 85-89 rankings. To my amazement, I would have been 2nd in the U.S. and 16th in the world in 2025 with that time! I anticipate improving steadily. At least I hope to improve steadily.”
Mark Gookin (66) – “Won the pacific region indoor championship 800m last weekend- 2:37. Unfortunately, won’t be able to make it to US championships in Albuquerque.”
(USATF Masters West and Northwest Regions Indoor Championships Reno, NV, 1/31/26; 800m #3/US, #5/world (65-9))
Keith Wetterer
Ed Rose
Mark Gookin
Summer Nights #2 Track Meet
University City HS 01/24/26
L-R Kent, Ed, Alan
Ed Rose (77) began his 2026 track season with strong performances in the 60m & 200m, despite the chilly temperatures:
60m – 10.03 (#2 in the world so far in 2026 (75-9), according to MastersRankings.com)
200m – 33.53 (#2 as well)
Congratulations, Ed!
In Memoriam
Peter Forges Rowat
1941 – 2025
We are sad to report that Peter passed away on 12/31/2025, of an apparent aortic rupture while out on a run.
Peter led an extraordinary life, and will be remembered fondly by many in the running community, so we are creating “Peter’s Page” on this site in commemoration.
If any of you who knew him well would like to add something to this page, please reach out to us.