Masters plus competitor Marvin Genno racing in the 1,500 metre event on Saturday (Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin)

By Scott Roblin

Indoor Classic

Panthers Indoor Classic puts focus on new 65 plus category

Feb 10, 2020 | 3:04 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – When it comes down to it, the sport of running is one of the simplest and purest forms of athletics around.

For 65-year-old Marvin Genno, it’s been a labour of love lacing up his running shoes and hitting either the outdoor or indoor track.

“It’s just a way of life with me,” said Genno. “I ran for a lot of my life, so I enjoy doing it and keeping in shape. It’s just a different challenge I guess to try something different.”

Genno was the first participant to take advantage of a brand new division at the Medicine Hat Panthers’ fourth annual Indoor Classic.

He took to the Family Leisure Centre track on Saturday in the upstart ‘masters plus’ division for those 65 years of age and older.

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Genno, who primarily cut his teeth as an outdoor competitor, competed in a number of distances over the weekend including trying his hand at the 1,500 metre race.

“It’s a distance that I’m not used to running,” said Genno. “Knowing how to pace yourself is probably one of the bigger things. There’s no ice, there’s no snow, I can run in shorts in February.”

A coach with the Eagle Butte Talons cross-country team, Genno completed the 1,500 metre event in a time of 6:45.99 and also picked up times of 3:26.15 and 14:45.22 in the 800 and 3,000 metre disciplines.

Panthers president and masters division racer Darryl Smith took home the 1,500 metre crown with a time of 5:09.93 and said they celebrated racers from five years of age to 65.

“It’s something that everyone can do,” said Smith. “Some people are faster, some people are slower, it comes back to that ability to be within yourself. Even running here on the track is the idea of pushing yourself.”

Post-race Genno joked about moving to the new division in a bid to limit the damage from fellow racers who are 30 or 40 years younger.

“Before they had it as 35 plus,” he said. “I said, ‘I’m not going to run with someone 35 plus.’ I still had to run with them and I was still a ways behind, but at least I still get a first place ribbon.”

Along with the addition of the masters plus division, the Panthers also tried out a new predictive 800 metre race which allowed competitors to run against their own estimated time.

Smith said the state of athletics are in a good place and is hoping to see more people jumping on board with the new categories next winter.

“We want to get more out and right now we have a wonderful community of running in the city,” he said. “I’ve just been immersed in the last year and a half and seeing some outstanding runners. But, the people in the community are amazing.”

Members of both the Panthers and Medicine Hat Bulldogs used the event to train for bigger events on the calendar this winter.

While Genno isn’t necessarily in that group, he added he gains inspiration from watching the next wave of track and field athletes taking to the starting blocks.

“It’s kind of neat to be able to say you run with some of those kids,” he added. “It’s just a real fun experience that way we do it.”

A full list of results can be found on the Medicine Hat Panthers’ website.