When I was in high school, we had a girls’ crew (rowing) club–we had to run two miles before we went out on the river. I loved rowing, I loved being out on the river, and I liked the running too. We didn’t compete, though, as (at the time) there was only one other women’s crew team in the country and it was three-thousand miles away at the University of Washington.
I feel very fortunate to have been part of competitive teams where I was merely mediocre–but important nonetheless, as the fifth-fastest on a five-person cross-country team (so it mattered that I showed up, but I wasn’t expected to win) or the “other” butterfly swimmer on the swim team (so I was only asked to swim butterfly if the other team had only one butterfly swimmer, because that third place would mean an extra point, and in fact, twice we won by one point when I was that other swimmer). I was never good enough to win, but I was always part of the team. I liked that. Not a lot of pressure there. After college, I competed with the Greater Boston Track Club–again, I was just part of the team, not a star. But I enjoyed the team part.
These days, I compete in two sports: running (where I am actually placing regularly, as an age-group finisher, much to my surprise–and steadily improving, too) and dog agility. In dog agility, I accidentally acquired–and then deliberately trained–a dog that can win his height class–when I do all the right things. It’s weird for me, to feel competitive pressure from my dog. I have ‘joked’ before about him being my personal trainer, but it’s true: he requires me to be at my best. I have found, however, that I like the pressure. Mostly.
"They actually sell shirts for runners that say “My sport is your sports’ punishment.”
Lol. I did track in HS, so I was oblivious to the fact that running could be used to punish. But I was definitely not a distance runner! Anything longer than a 5k would have been a punishment for me, lol.
I like running as long as it’s only for me! It’s crazy that I have the long and lean physical genetics, BUT…I cannot run fast. My CV system just can’t hack the faster pace. I’ve always felt like this lack of athleticism is a fault. I was that nerdy high school and college student who preferred the books to a sport because I loved the studying, but also because I had this complex about not being able to do athletic team things. There was no support system for someone like me who probably needed a very gradual training to hardcore sports. One of my sisters ran track and cross country with great success. I just couldn’t do it. Finally, now, as an elder, a geezer, I’m learning to run longer distances (for me!) and feel a great satisfaction in just doing it, however slow my pace may be. Thank you CC group.
Today it poured rain. Our new roof has an old problem around a tricky roof line I consulted with the new roofer who threw a bunch of caulk in (temporary fix) before today’s round of storms. I did some run/walk for about 5 or 6 miles. Tomorrow we’ll hit the gym.
Sorry Bunsen, I was glued to the television and UVA just advanced to the Elite Eight! Wahoowa, Go Hoos, Go!
The only sport I have ever done “competitively” is running. I ran cross country in college, track in high school but I wasn’t great at it. I liked swimming, but definitely didn’t do it competitively and now feel very weak in the water.
Sorry folks - shopping report follows, so tune out if it doesn’t interest you! Our new Lulu is very, very nice. Tons of stock, tons of help. A DJ and cold-pressed juice! Mr. Sabaray cheerfully followed me around and held items. They were especially helpful when I told them I was running Seawheeze. I came home with a sweater with a split back in a beautiful peach color - Bring it Backbend - will be great for post Pilates; a pair of Tracker shorts in a nice plum print; a Salute the Sun singlet in boom juice and a plain what the sport tee in a heathered charcoal color. It was the first time I could actually try on items in several sizes to decide what fit best - it was awesome!
I had zero opportunity to participate in sports while growing up. The small town I lived in had sports- only for boys. My sister (5 years younger) was on teams, but there were NO HS sports for girls until my senior year. Still regret the after school job that made it impossible for me to be on the track team that year not that I can run fast (I sound a lot like you that way Plantmom). So glad girls and young women have more opportunities now!
The lulu trip sounds great, sabaray. (And I’m also rooting for UVA).
It is cold here this morning, but got in 7.5 followed up with a pup walk. Rest day tomorrow, yay! Both the studio and the gym are closed, so will be a good day for a pup trip to the park. I know most of us will be excited by that!
“I’ve always felt like this lack of athleticism is a fault. I was that nerdy high school and college student who preferred the books to a sport because I loved the studying, but also because I had this complex about not being able to do athletic team things. There was no support system for someone like me who probably needed a very gradual training to hardcore sports”
I think the emphasis on team sports a) where scores are kept and b) a specific coordination / talent is needed (kicking or hitting a ball, etc) did me in when it came to gym class. It was never important to me to beat a randomly picked team of classmates and doubly less important when your “failures” were so public (you failed to catch the ball, etc). Never any emphasis on your own individual capabilities and how to improve those!
My high school sport: synchronized swimming. Not as prissy as it sounds/looks - first of all our practices were lap upon lap in the pool with the coach standing on the sidelines yelling out the drill “10 more freestyle!” or whatever. I wasn’t overly serious about it - I remember my friend and I scouting out a corner of the pool to “practice” when we spent talking more about the current guys we had crushes on. We did do a little competing in regional events and one time by some weird stroke of luck, I did place!
"I think the emphasis on team sports a) where scores are kept and b) a specific coordination / talent is needed (kicking or hitting a ball, etc) did me in when it came to gym class. "
Pizzagirl, yes! I hated PE in winter because of this. Our teacher was crazy about basketball. Sigh. I like to watch it, but my lack of coordination makes me completely useless on the court. This mandatory participation made me dislike playing all ball games.
Trying to drag Mr. out of the house for a trail run/bike ride before I have to plaster my butt in the chair for the rest of the weekend to work on my school
project.
I didn’t do any sports in high school because I was in our very competitive marching (and concert) bands and you couldn’t do both. We practiced a lot for band and competed in other states. It was pretty fun. In grade school and junior high I was a tomboy and liked to play team sports with the boys. My grandfather had wanted a son (only had my mother) and then a grandson, and I was sort of “it”. I had complete Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies uniforms before I was 6 and enjoyed going with my grandfather to professional sporting events. My mother was very feminine and never wore slacks! I wasn’t big enough to be very good at basketball the way the girls’ rules were back then, and I got intimidated in field hockey by the larger, more aggressive girls. abasket- I could NOT do synchronized swimming or the interpretive dance stuff we had to do. I admire you. I could swim just fine, but thought I would die when we had to bloom like a flower or stick our legs in the air while we were backstroking!
8.5 miles this morning. It’s a gorgeous day but it was 40 to start, so I overdressed, as usual. I am not sorry I did, because I would have been way too cold to start if I had worn what I should have for the last few miles. Now it is in the 60s and sunny. I haven’t been running long, so I was glad to get this run in. I tried to keep it easy and didn’t look at my splits. Believe it or not, I saw a small dog being walked and the dog was carrying a sign in his mouth that said “Happy Easter”. It was very cool. If I had been at the end of a longer run, I would have thought I was seeing things!
I wore my new Hoka Vanquish 2 shoes. I like them a lot.
6 miles with the running group this am. It was supposed to be 7, but we got lost & ended up back where we started unintentionally. Some went on to do the last mile, but I was done. We were running in Balboa Park, which is gorgeous and I now know has several old wooden & suspension bridges over the canyons. That was fun to discover & to run over those. However, sometimes, we went right down in the canyons & back up - those hills seemed practically vertical. Six miles of that was plenty for me!
MOfWC, inquiring minds would like to know the most important detail: what color? I realized I have (a) unused $30 Zappos code and (b) a very used pair of Hokas. Maybe I should put the two together!
We are finally off to the park! Had to jumpstart the truck and fix the stupid mountain bike. Sigh.
6 miles - done. Gorgeous day, and the trail was not crowded! Blue skies and 60 degrees. I wore my chicken-yellow Lulu shorts and my short sleeve Boston tee. Did not bring my Garmin, but monitored my run by glancing at the time as I passed mile markers. At first, I thought I was totally out of shape because it felt so hard… then I realized I was going sub-7:30 mile. No kidding I was out of breath. Slowed down.
Good run, Bunsen! My Vanquish 2s are from RoadrunnerSports.com and are grey with red laces and accents. Those were the only ones in my size. It’s a new model and they seem to be going fast. They are a little less bulky and a little more firm than the Bondis, which I also like.
I consulted with the new roofer who threw a bunch of caulk in (temporary fix) before today’s round of storms. I did some run/walk for about 5 or 6 miles. Tomorrow we’ll hit the gym.
