When Adriene “Abby” Allen became a mom, her kids became her world. She supported them academically and in their extra-curricular endeavors, made sure they ate healthy meals and got off to school safely and loved and supported them through the tough times of adolescent life.
But when her kids grew up and moved out for college, something shifted.
“During that time, I experienced depression,” Allen explains. “It was embarrassing to me because of the stigma, so I didn’t get help. I suffered quietly, internalizing so much to the point that I didn’t want to live anymore.”
Allen struggled with navigating through life as an empty nester.
“I cried out to God and said ‘Why am I living? If you want to take me, take me now,’” she recalled.
Allen said she felt worthless and didn’t know how to come out on the other side. Then, one day she logged onto Facebook and saw a friend had competed in a race shortly after beating cancer. Allen had run track all of her childhood and teenage life. She thought if her friend could finish a race after beating cancer, she could get back out there.
Immediately, Allen checked the USA Track and Field Masters website, for the next race — it was four days away. The next day, at the age of 56, she began training for the Indiana Masters Association Championships at Ball State University. USA Track and Field Masters is an organization that has supported track and field athletes of all ages for 140 years. Besides the Olympics, it’s one of the few places athletes can compete in the sport after college.
Allen left the competition with some hardware, placing first in the 200m and 400m race for the 50 and over age group.
“I felt alive again,” Allen said. “The old me was back.”
Allen will join 8,200 athletes from across the globe for the 2018 World Masters Athletics Outdoor Championships in Malaga, Spain, Sept. 4-16.
Allen will have another Indianapolis native joining her in Spain. Latashia Key is competing in middle and long distance running, which includes 8K cross country, 5000m, 800m and 1500m, in the 45-year-old age group.
“I’ve always loved running,” Key said. “My dad put me in tennis and I wouldn’t hit the balls with the racket, but I loved chasing after them, so we tried running and it just stuck.”
Both women have been running track their entire lives and even ran in college — Allen at Central Connecticut State University and Key at Morgan State University.
Both women stayed active and fit after college through exercise in their free time and working in the athletic field as running coaches and personal trainers. Now, their activity levels have increased significantly during training. Training includes weights, interval workouts and, of course, running.
Naturally, the women would love to leave Spain with some hardware, but both say they’re just looking forward to meeting other track and field lovers and competing amongst friends. “Everyone is not going to be a winning athlete,” Key said. “For me it’s about staying healthy and having fun.”
Interested in donating?
Competing in the 2018 World Masters Athletics Outdoor Championships in Malaga, Spain, is expensive. Both Adriene “Abby” Allen and Latashia Key are accepting donations to help cover the cost of the trip.
To donate to Allen, call 317-557-3720 or send donations to $abbyrunner on the Cash app.
To donate to Key, send donations to wisdom.on.wellness@gmail.com.
Deadline is Aug. 29.
