Ken Stone
Still Showing Up: The Long Arc of a Track Athlete
Masters hurdler, writer, historian, and lifelong competitor.
"Track is part of my DNA."
Ken Stone isn’t chasing personal bests anymore.
He’ll tell you that himself—his words, not ours.
But that’s not why he still shows up.
Decades removed from his peak, with an arthritic knee and a stride that no longer cooperates, the San Diego-area resident still toes the line.
Not for times.
Not for medals.
But for something most athletes eventually lose—the simple act of testing himself in the arena.
From Cinder Tracks to School Records
Ken’s introduction to track & field came in the mid-1960s, when the Buena Park Boys Club loaded up a bus and took a group of kids to a meet at Arcadia High School. Back when the track was still cinder.
He took fourth in his first race. Then he did something that would set the tone for decades to come... he took off his “heavy clodhopper tennis shoes” and ran the next race in his socks.
He won.
By ninth grade, after boldly calling out “hurdles” when most others chose sprints, Ken had found his lane. Under the guidance of Coach Mike Cummins at Valencia High School in Orange County, he went on to set school records (winning three state-meet medals in Nebraska after his family moved to Omaha), and establish himself as a serious competitor.
"I yelled 'hurdles!' Good choice."
Then vs. Now
In his early years, training was structured. There were coaches, schedules, expectations.
Now? It’s different. There’s no formal program. No coach. No defined path.
Training is opportunistic—treadmill walk-runs, weight machines, and adjustments made around an arthritic, ACL-damaged knee. What he does today would have once been considered a warm-up.
But he still trains.
Rage Against the Dying of the Flight
Ask Ken why he still competes, and he doesn’t sugarcoat it.
“With apologies to Dylan Thomas, I rage, rage against the dying of the flight.”
He’s fully aware of where he stands now. His words again—his leg speed is “sub-pathetic.” He jokes that he can’t beat 8-year-olds over 100 meters.
But that’s not the point.
Track is part of his DNA. The meet environment—the energy, the rhythm, the shared experience - remains a constant.
“I love the meet ambience and competition as a sanctuary from politics and personal concerns.”
"I rage, rage against the dying of the flight."
Competing with Limitations
The reality is: the body changes. Ken deals with an arthritic knee, altered stride mechanics, and physical limitations that would sideline many athletes completely.
He adapts. Shorter strides on one side. Modified training. No plyometrics. Careful loading.
And still he competes.
Sometimes he gives up seconds in a 100-meter race. Sometimes he’s the last one still running. And sometimes, that’s exactly why the crowd applauds.
"The true winner in masters athletics is being the oldest cat on the track."
Redefining Performance
There was a time when performance meant measurable improvement—faster times, higher jumps, better results.
That time has passed. Now, performance is something else entirely.
“I’m way beyond judging myself, But I live for those rare moments when I surprise myself.”
That shift from expectation to curiosity is what keeps the former University of Kansas track walk-on engaged.
He’s no longer chasing outcomes. He’s chasing moments.
The Reunion of the Tribes
Masters track brings something unique—something younger athletes often overlook.
Connection.
Ken describes major meets as “the reunion of the tribes”—hurdlers, pole vaulters, throw—many of whom he’s known for decades.
There’s history there. Shared experience. And the quiet understanding that while performance may fade, the community becomes stronger.
Advice for Those Who Think It’s Over
For athletes who believe their best days are behind them, Ken offers a different perspective:
“Your best days are ahead—and potentially the most satisfying.”
Improvement may look different. Goals may shift. But the experience deepens.
“What we lack in ability, we gain in friends and admirers,”
And perhaps most telling:
“Why do they call us masters? Because we’re not slaves anymore” as he first proclaimed 30 years ago as a masters track blogger.
Still in the Arena
There’s a freedom that comes with time.
With five-year age groups, new opportunities to compete emerge again and again. With age-graded standards, performance can still be measured... just through a different lens.
And for those willing to stay in it long enough, there’s always another chapter.
Another race.
Another moment.
Final Thought
Ken Stone isn’t chasing what he once was.
He’s showing what remains.
And sometimes, that’s the part worth paying attention to.