April 3, 2008

After a twenty year break from track and field, former University of Pittsburgh sprinter Renee Henderson won the 60- and 200-meter dashes in Clermont-Ferrand, France, at the 2008 World Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships in March. Henderson set two new American Records on the way to winning gold, running the 60 meters in 7.78 and the 200 in 25.34.

"Not bad for an old lady," said Henderson.
 
While at Pitt, Henderson won multiple Indoor and Outdoor Big East Track Championships. "But I was more known for having my foot stuck in a cast," noted Henderson, who injured her foot five times during her college track career. She sat out roughly six weeks with each injury. "Maybe that's why I started running again. I didn't get the chance to run as well as I thought I could have in college."
 
After graduating from Pitt, Henderson coached youth track, and gave her spikes to one of the kids she coached. Later, she moved to New Jersey, became an attorney and married former Pitt basketball standout Darryl Shepherd. Except for watching an occasional meet on television, Henderson didn't give track much thought until their oldest daughter (they have three) decided to run.

"I got back into shape by default. It was cold during her track practice and I started jogging to keep warm. One day I was looking on the Internet for results from my daughter's meet and saw results for a Master's track meet. I had no idea people my age and older were running track. I thought `well I can do that too.'"

Henderson bought some running shoes and began to train herself, "I'm at the gym around 5:30 in the morning. I have until six-thirty to get back home, get breakfast ready and get the girls up for school. When its warm enough outside, I drive to the track during lunch to do work-outs."

Henderson went on to win back-to-back National titles in the 100 and 200 meters. She also won last years Indoor National Championship in the 60 and 200 meter events. "It helps when your husband is just as much of a track-junkie as you are," said Henderson about Shepherd. "He helps me plan my workouts and doesn't mind sitting in the stands in the heat and humidity for a two-day track meet. The two have been friends since they ran on the New Image track team together when she was nine. They also both ran track at Peabody High School.
 
Henderson says the best part about Master's track is that it has changed her attitude about getting older. "I'm impressed when I see people in their eighties and nineties at the meets doing high jump long jump and triple jump. I see them and believe that a large part of how mobile you'll be in your golden years is up to you. Move it or lose it.

"Also, when people at meets ask how old you are, you're proud to tell them. I won some races at a small college invitational recently. After the race, a college athlete I had beaten asked if I was really forty years old. I said, `No sweetie, I'm forty-three.'"