1500 Meters National Senior Games Minneapolis, MN, Jul 14 & 15 2015,

This mornings, Jul 14, 2015 Jim, Wayne  Hinaman and I ate a continental breakfast here at the motel then headed for the National Senior Games where Jim and Wayne will compete in the 1500 meter Race Walk competition. The weather is perfect with a few clouds and at race time the temp in the 70s. The games are being held at the O'Shaughnessy Stadium on the beautiful University of Saint Thomas campus. There were many heats of numerous age groups for the women and men.Since the university is not in session at this time we were able to park in a housing garage which put us about 100 yard from the entrance to the stadium. I don't know whether you have watched race walking before it is not a run and not a real fast walk like a power walk. There are very precise rules about how you walk. For example you cannot have both feet off the ground at the same time and on each step the knees must be straight. This means you can't walk flat footed. They do a very exaggerated heel and toe with the toe of the shoe pointed up when the heel strikes. Meeting these rules causes the walker to have exaggerated hip movements. One person told me to think of fashion models as they walk across the stage they always in an exaggerated fashion cross one foot over and across the other thus giving them a lot of hip sway. There are generally 5 or 6 judge at different points around the 400 yard track very closely watching the walkers to see if they are complying with the rules. Non compliance will draw a warning. A violation will draw you a yellow flag another violation will get you another yellow card/flag. Each violation is reported to the head judge and if a third violation occurs he will issue a red card which means you have been disqualified and eliminated from the race. This head judge is the only one who can make the determination to disqualify a walker. The following photographs are just random shots of the stadium and several of the walkers.

Stadium Score Board

Various Officials Tents On The Field

Beautiful Flower Arrangements In Large Urns Around The Stadium

Beautiful Flower Arrangements In Large Urns Around The Stadium

Performance Of The National Anthem At Start Of The Games.

Judge Carollea. She Appeared To Be The Most Engaged Judge That I Saw.

 One Of The Senior Walkers Taking A Practice Walk.

This Lady Won In Her Age Group In The 1500 Meter Race Walk

 Lady Competing In 1500 Meter Race Walk

Barbara Hensley From Cincinnati In Green. She is Also an Official            ( Judge ).

 Mariam Jacobs From Cincinnati Competing

Lady Competing In 1500 Meter Race Walk

Ladies Competing In 1500 Meter Race Walk.

 Ladies Competing In 1500 Meter Race Walk.

Judge Carollea Hold Up A Paddle To A Competitor.

 Ladies Competing In 1500 Meter Race Walk.

Jim At The Starting Line Listening  to Instructions From Starting Officials.

 Starter Getting Competitor In Jim's Heat Lined Up And Giving Them Instruction.

Start Of Men's 65 - 69 Heat Of 1500 Meter Race Walk. This Is Jim's Heat And He Is 8th From The Right In An Orange Shirt. This Is The  First Step Off Start Line In Jim's Heat. Because There Were So Many  In Jim's Heat They Lined Up In Two Rows.

Jim In Competition. 1500 Meter Race Walk.

Jim Comes Off Turn In 1500 Meter Race Walk.

Jim Has Just Crossed The Finish Line In Third Place. 

 Official Results Of The Men's 1500 Meter Race Walk Ages 65 To 69. Jim Got Third Place With A Time Of 8 Minutes 49 Seconds And 27 Hundredth. Winning Time Was 8 Minutes 19 Seconds And 69 Hundredth. 

 Jim Approaches Official To Receive His Metal.

Jim On Podium With His Third Place Metal   

Jim Displaying His Third Place Metal  

1500 Meter Race Walk Winners Raise Their Hands In Celebration. First Place Did Not Show Up For Awards Ceremony.

 Eight Places Were Presented Medals And Ribbon On Podium In 1500 Meter Race Walk. First Three Places Received Medals And Fourth Through Eight Receive Ribbons.  The First Place Winner Did Not Show Up For The Awards Ceremony.  

  Jim, A Third Place Winner And Wayne, An Sixth Place Winner Ham it up On The Awards Podium. I think They are Showing How Much Distance there Is Between 3rd Place And  6th Place But I am Not Sure. Wayne Did Not Show Up In Time To Have His Ribbon  Presented to Him. I was Unable To Photograph Him In Any Of Is 1500 Meter Race Walk             Competition. 

Wayne Hinaman And Others Listens To Judge Giving Instructions At Check In Point Prior To Their Race. I was Unable To Get Any Photos Of Wayne In His Event, The 1500 Meter Race Walk.

Following today's competition we went to eat lunch at a quaint little cafe named the Uptowner in St Paul, Minnesota that has been in business for over 80 years. Absolutely the best meals  we have had. We ate there yesterday also.

Tomorrow We  Go To Upper Landing  For The Men's And Women's 5,000 Meter Race Walk Which Will Be Competed Over An Outdoor Course Along The Side Of The Mississippi River Here In Minneapolis, Minnesota. Until Then Remember What I Always Say God Loves You 

And So Do I.

Grandpa Bill