I know it sucks to be injured. And you probably don’t want to watch hundreds of people doing the thing you love, but are unable to do because of your injury. But you owe it to your sport. And more importantly, you owe it to your fellow athletes who I’m sure have volunteered (and maybe even saved your ass a few times) for races that you have run.
Here’s a recap of my volunteer experience for the Rockett’s Landing Tri in Richmond, VA.
Dear Hamstring. First off, let me start by saying I’m not mad. For years, you have continued to be amazing, and this past June, you failed… no… I failed you for the first time. I’ve been nothing but selfish, and for that, I apologize. Let’s start over and get it right this time.
A beautiful, enlightening hike on the Sloan Canyon Trail near Las Vegas, NV. A few pictures of Sloan Canyon, and a short writeup I titled “The Proverbial Tree.”
I’m at the airport waiting for a connection flight, and I found myself looking for a place to STAND. You sit for hours on an uncomfortable plane. I wanted to move around and stretch my legs. Airports should lose chairs and add treadmills and stretching areas. We could all use the exercise, especially between flights.
I don’t have “a team,” but I often root for the underdog. I don’t root for the American just because I live in the U.S., or the guy from Richmond, VA because that’s where I call home. There is more to life than the city where you grew up, the country where you live and the jersey on your back. It’s what’s inside all of that that really matters.
I don’t watch much soccer, but I’ve gotten into the World Cup recently. And I must say, some of the things I’ve seen really interest me. The vuvuzela, the nil-nil draw, offsides, immature celebration and a whole lot of whining and complaining. Honestly, some of it is just ridiculous.
A few thoughts that surfaced after my recent DNF at Old Dominion. I quit because I experienced what I believed to be pain in my hamstring. I got to thinking about the difference between pain & soreness.
I set out to run 100 miles… and I didn’t even come close. This race marked my first ever DNF. I under-estimated the course & over-estimated my ability. I got completely dominated today. It was a humbling experience, and I gained an enormous about of respect for all the finishers.
A very brief book review of “Between a Rock & a Hard Place” by Aron Ralston.
This is just an awesome race at Pocahontas State Park. The obstacles are top-notch. The mud pit is long, and the spectators get on you if you’re not face down in it. The team names are hilarious… and the costumes even better. I even witnessed a proposal this year.