JoAnn Sampson, age 66
"I'm in the second half of my life, and I want it to be my best."
by Laurie Herr
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Photo by Angela Shoemaker
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When I was in high school they didn't have track and field for girls, just boys. In 2002, I saw an ad about the Senior Games in the Sun-Sentinel, and a voice said to me, "You can do this." So I filled out an application for the 100-meter and sent it in. I didn't know how to train, so I just started walking with a friend. We walked seven days a week, rain or shine, eight miles to the beach and back.
In January my friend said, "You picked the hardest race. You need to take some special classes if you're going to make it." So I started doing yoga and aerobics. At the end of the month my friend said, "Now let me see you run." I didn't even know how to get on the blocks, so he showed me how to put my butt up in the air. And I ran. When I was done my friend said, "You got speed to be an old lady." At the Games I ran the 100-meter in 21 seconds and won the gold medal. I was overwhelmed with myself. I didn't know I could do it. This is my new career now. I'm in the second half of my life, and I want it to be my best.
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