The Crystal Sublette Story
by Crystal Sublette
International Gold Medal Super Athlete - 36 year-old mother of 9
Crystal looking at 6 medals, with 6 of 9 children & Truman at the August 1998 Nike World Masters Games
I want to tell you my story in hopes that it may inspire you to go for your dreams no matter how old you are.
I just finished competing in the 1998 Nike World Masters Games in Portland, Oregon. The track and field events took place in Eugene, Oregon. There were over 15,000 competitors, age 30 and over, from 49 countries, all over the world. There were 25 different sports.
I competed in six events in the Track and Field area. The first race I had was the 5000m run (3.1 miles). I had not competed since 1991 (seven years absence is a long time in sports) in a 5k road race. I was very nervous. I ran with the Olympic Gold Medalist Joan Benoit-Samuelson (luckily it was not against her. She lapped me twice!) There were nineteen ladies ages 30-44 running. I was in the 35-39 age group. There were four runners in my age group. After everybody got into their positions, it stayed that way. I had three people in front of me. Joan, and two other runners in different age groups other than mine. That meant I would have a gold medal as long as nobody passed me. I knew there was one other runner close behind me. I didn't know what age group she was in so I had to keep my pace fast. I made it! A Gold Medal! My time was a respectable 20:20.
The next day I competed in the Shot Put. I wasn't as nervous in this event even though I had never competed in it before. I entered in it just to have fun. There were three other athletes. As I watched, I learned. Each time I was able to throw farther. I started at 6.76 meters. By the sixth throw, I had improved to 8.46 meters (27'9"). Better yet I had picked up my second medal, a Bronze.
The next day I ran my third event-a 5000m racewalk. This is a very challenging event. That is why I did it. I had to use different muscles that I didn't normally use. I also had judges watching me so I wouldn't break form. There were four ladies in my age group. There were fifteen walkers in all in this particular race. When we started off, I was in seventh. I didn't like that position, so I started passing people until I positioned myself into the third spot. I am one to make things interesting. On the fifth lap I noticed I had one shoelace untied. Oh!, did I feel stupid. A runners worst nightmare. I had seven laps to go and a walker on my heels. I just decided to go for it and pray that I didn't trip. This walker behind me stayed on me throughout most the race. I finally put some distance between us and I finished second for a Silver Medal, with a time of 29:20. Not bad considering that it was my first time ever competing in this event. My third event and my third medal, a Silver.
I was able to take a few days off and spend time with family. Bright and early Monday morning was my fourth event, the 10,000 meter racewalk (6.2 miles). I was rushed for time and so I didn't have much time to warm up. It was at a park that I had to walk to because it was not accessible to vehicles. I warmed up along the way and by the time I reached the clerks table, I had nine minutes to race time. I was more nervous than usual and upset that my husband couldn't make it. He had been at all of my other events. The first half I was on pace. During the second half though I had problems and I almost felt like dropping out of the race. My knees were strained, my legs felt like bricks, and the last 500 meters I got stomach cramps. I finished third with a time of 1:04:36. I was four minutes slower in my second half, but hey, I finished, and earned third place for another Bronze Medal and I was four medals for four events.
I had a day off which was good because I hurt my knees and didn't know if I was going to do my next event which was the Triple Jump. My father, Truman Berst, Master Herbalist, advised adding more vitamin E, calcium and magnesium to reduce muscle fatigue, take 500mg of Grape Seed Extract. 2000mg of Glucosamine Sulfate and Chondroitin Sulfate capsules along with adding Ginger in the Power Drink. I had not practiced for over two weeks and even at that I didn't practice much because I was more concerned with my running events. I did the event any way to practice. I felt that I entered, so I was doing it no matter how I did. I was going to have fun too. And I did.
There were only two other athletes that showed so I was guaranteed a medal as long as I didn't scratch. I had six attempts. I had five minutes to warm up and get my mark. My knees concerned me, but as long as I didn't straighten them all the way I was able to jump. My first four jumps were right on. I also was able to better my distance with each jump. Better yet I was actually contending for the Silver. I scratched on the fifth jump. My best jump was a 9.21 meter. I had to get a 9.49m to tie for the silver. My last jump was not good enough. I did better my mark with a 9.38m. The supplements really worked. Not bad for not practicing and being injured. I was happy. Plus after five events I had five medals. I had one event left.
I had another day off before that event. My last event was the 1500m run (almost one mile). The last time I ran this event was a month and a half earlier with no competition. That time was a 6:09. Before that it was in high school. There were four other runners in my age group and eight in all running in this heat. I knew what I wanted to run to get a decent time. I started off and quickly got into the third position. I was first in my age group. I kept my pace up until the last lap. There was a strong runner right on my heels so I didn't want to slow down. When there was 300m to go I felt like I couldn't pick up my speed. All my success in the other events had taken there toll. The last 100m the runner that was behind me was now in front of me and I had nothing left to give so I just cruised in with God, I know He guided me to use the right supplements which gave me the strength. I finished second. Not bad. I was pleased with my time; a 5:08. That was even better than what I did in high school. I had beat my best time, earned a Silver Medal and was six medals for six events.
Now for the rest of the story. I am a mother of nine children. Yes, nine (one is a foster child, but yes, I had eight children, naturally, three of them being home births). My husband (who is my biggest supporter) is disabled. He has heartfailure, diabetes, ruptured disks in his back, and two torn Achilles tendons, one of which was torn the day before we left for Oregon. I felt that if I could still chase after kids, then I could run competitively. I have used American Health and Herbs products for over 15 years. More regularly in the last five years. I have noticed that when I didn't use them, I didn't have the physical energy or the emotional stamina to handle the stress of daily living let alone the extra stress that always seems to come along. I used the ‘Truman's Power drink' before each event of the Nike World Masters Games. Truman's ‘Power drink' consists of Veggie Powder, MSM, Bilberry, Lecithin, Fiber Plus, in a cranberry-cherry-pineapple liquid base. I had extra energy when I needed it. I could feel the difference. I used the pregnancy herbs with each of my children. The births were quick and recovery fast. I used the nerve formulas to help me emotionally. My whole family have all used the herbs to build up our immune systems. We love God and strive every day to live the best we can. I know we have been through more than a lot of people. We as a family would like to share our testimonies of what the American Health and Herbs people and products have done for us, from everyday colds and flu, to saving my husband's foot with tea tree oil, improving his heart and diabetes (all of which amazed his doctors).
The Colloidal Silver Generator Water and MSM work great internally as well as topically, Super Veggie Powder for extra nutrition, the one-a-day multiple vitamin, Multi-Vita-Herb, #1017 Gland Formula, #1427 Daily Health Tea, #1477 Colon and Liver Cleanser, #1009 Antibiotic herbal tincture formula, Bee Pollen, Truman's Seven Ginsengs, are just some of our favorites. American Health & Herbs products have also helped my husband live three and a half years longer than the doctors expected. The people at American Health and Herbs have always been there for us with free health counseling and are very knowledgeable and have helped us so much, they are a tremendous resource, thank you God, thank you Dad, and thank you American Health and Herbs.