Editor’s note: We heard that Dr. Virginia Hinshaw, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa Chancellor Emeritus, threw the javelin and won the Gold in her age group at the 2015 Aloha State Games last month. Dr. Hinshaw also is the creator of the UH-John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) Mini-Medical School on Healthy Aging, which launches its fourth series in October 2015. Talk about taking healthy aging to heart! So, we asked her about it.
How did this new expertise come about?
Dr. Hinshaw: “My husband Bill is a volunteer track and field official for Hawaiʻi and he kept encouraging me to participate in the Masters track program. So I decided to join the Hawaiʻi Masters Track Club and I chose the javelin even though I had never thrown one before – mainly because I don’t run or jump very well but thought I might be able to throw.”
How long did you practice?
Dr. Hinshaw: “My first practice was in May this year in Wisconsin when attending our granddaughter’s graduation from high school. My son Louis, a former decathlete at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, cut off a broomstick (some folks think I ride one) and taught me how to throw. After returning to Hawaiʻi, I sought help from Jackie Donovan, a wonderful young woman who is now a graduate student at UH Mānoa but also had competed in javelin on our track team. Jackie quickly agreed to help me – she became ‘Coach Jackie’, but she had hurt her elbow and couldn’t throw, so she had Destiny Dawson who throws javelin at UH Mānoa and a friend Darren join us for our practices during the last month. Javelin is much more technical than I anticipated so I surely needed them.”
When did you actually compete?
Dr. Hinshaw: “After three practice sessions, I then competed in two meets – on July 11 (threw 33’1″) and then in the Aloha State Games on July 18 (threw 38’9″) – getting better but more to do. I won both meets, even earned a gold medal – of course, I was the only woman throwing the javelin in my age group which definitely helped. The video of my throw includes my “primal scream” which, she says, laughing heartily, sounds more like a cackle!” (See the throw by clicking ‘play’ above, or watch it directly on UH Med’s Vimeo Channel HERE. )
CLICK HERE TO WATCH INFORMATIVE VIDEO TALKS from the Mini-Medical School’s previous session on healthy aging.
Might this be part of an upcoming teaching experience?
Dr. Hinshaw: “I had a great time, especially getting to work with my coaches, learning a new sport, sharing the experience with family and friends (a lot of good laughs were enjoyed by all) and gathering a team to help me prepare – sports physician and JABSOM Alumnus Rick Akau, physical therapist Billie Tang, trainer Brian Copeland and massage therapist Tod Fujiwara – all of these folks are also teaching in the UH-JABSOM Mini-Medical School on Healthy Aging, which has the theme ‘Seniors Rock’. I am very grateful to all of these folks for helping this senior (me) rock on the track!”