My Story: Lucho Huarcaya - Peru

How Lucho got involved with Masters Athletics:

I competed in high school and some club track in college, but stopped when I was 20 years old. There was no collegiate track program in Peru like there is in the United States. I have always been competitive and switched to being more focused on Karting and other vehicle racing. After I moved to Oregon, in the United States, I competed in karting and won a couple of state championships (for Oregon) and finished 5th place in the Karting Nationals. A few years ago, I got interested in track again and found Masters track. I've since replaced Karting with Masters track.

Greatest moment in Masters Athletics:

This year was a very good year. I started competing in the Decathlon for the first time, and trying to learn and improve in some events I have not ever done before like pole vault, javelin and 1500. I was very honored that, even with lack of experience in some events, I placed 1st in the South American Championship, 2nd in USA Nationals, 2nd in the Pan-American Masters Games, and 4th in the World Masters Championship in Perth.

Lucho's Masters Athletics achievements:

• 2012 – South American Masters Championship – 1st 100 hurdles, 2nd 4x400, 400 hurdles, 3rd 100 meters.
• 2013 Mexican National Masters Championship (as a guest) 1st 100 hurdles, 100 meters, 400 hurdles
• 2014 North and Central America Masters championship (as a guest) 1st 400 hurdles, 2nd 100 hurdles, 100 meters, 3rd 200 meters
• 2014 South American Masters Championship, 1st 100 hurdles, 2nd 100 meters, 200 meters, 4 x100, 4 x 400
• 2014 World Master indoor championship 12th Pentathlon
• 2016 South American Combined events Masters championships 1st Decathlon
• 2016 USA Nationals combined events Masters championship, 2nd
• 2016 Pan-American master Games , 2nd Decathlon, 100 hurdles , 200 meters
• 2016 World Masters Championship, 3rd 100 hurdles, 4th decathlon, 400 hurdles.

Overcoming adversity:

In 2009 when I started training I had pain in my hip and was diagnosed with arthritis and a couple of doctors told me that I needed surgery and probably could not run track, I did not follow the doctors" advice and instead sought out other opinions. Ultimately, through physical therapy and glucosamine my hip improved and I have been able to do track and stay strong. I think my training regime helps because the muscles and ligaments stay stronger.

I live in Portland Oregon and from November to April the weather is cold and rainy, there is no an indoor track facility to use, so training is more challenging. The 2016 World Indoor Track Championships were in Portland and I was hoping the indoor track would be relocated to a facility in Portland and available for public use after the event. Unfortunately, it was sold to a college in another state.

In the Decathlon, events I had little or no experience in when I was younger, like javelin, long jump and pole vault have been difficult to see as much improvement as I would like. Because I am older, it takes me longer to learn the technique and that can be frustrating.

Motivating others:

I have heard from many friends and people that I did not known that I help motivate them, but I cannot say whether this is true or not. I did have an experience that was very satisfying with a stranger who I think I may have helped. After the 2016 USA Nationals, on my way to work in public transportation I met a person that was going to recovery treatment for drugs, he told me he had tried to stay off drugs a few other times but he did not have the strength to stay away. He asked about me, and I told my age and he was surprised. I showed him photos from the decathlon I had recently completed and he got excited, gave me a high five and said that I inspired him to continue fighting.

Training:

I design my own training program but go to clinics for kids and hire coach by the hour, for example Yesterday I went to a hurdles clinic for kids, today, I long jump trained with a coach by the hour then I did weights and then yoga. Tomorrow I will go to the gym at lunch and a high jump clinic after work.