Posts filed under ‘athletics’
back at it……..
free of the vortex
trekking beside phantom tracks
joy of snowshoeing
The day…after the day of the watch and roll…..
~
~
It was a very long day.
A long day indeed.
A day to remember.
A day in which the Patriots
rolled into first place
&
WON THEIR VERY FIRST BOWLING TOURNAMENT
EVER!!!!
~
~
~
Stevenson Patriots in Lincolnshire, IL
before the gun is fired…
*
she could hear the music fill the air
and
it’s rhythms infuse her veins.
there was a calling from deep within her psyche
aggressively grabbing
and
pulling the reins.
*
she closed her eyes,
harnessed her thoughts,
brought into focus the task at hand –
took a slow deep breath,
clenched her fists real tight
and
dug her toes deep within the sand.
*
she stood alone amongst the fold
waiting to break out
– listening –
to an inner voice speaking aloud –
affirmations drowning
her overwhelming self-doubt.
*
THEN
*
came an instant when sound ceased to exist
but
the cadence of a beating heart,
and
every ounce of hunger and fear conjoined
to fight as she waited
for
the moment of truth
to start…
*
*
*
“Life is like a race which needs to be run,
so get up off of your ass and get it done.”
– Bill McDonald
*
Ironman Wisconsin 2006
way down the lane…
•
•
staring down the lane…
standing poised behind the line…
deep concentration…
a mighty orb in his hand…
perchance a strike awaits him?
•
•
first match of the season…
November 14, 2013
my bike
Θ
round and round
the wheels turn-
pushing and pulling pedals.
circles and circles
going far –
miles and miles
but
nowhere.
Θ
forearms resting in aero bars,
water bottles sitting in cages;
the playlist blaring in both ears
and
a chest pounding rapidly at bay…
Θ
10 minute, 20 minutes, 45, 60
sometimes many, many more.
if time is sparse, then less it is
dripping sweat all over the floor.
Θ
the mind is somewhere else
thinking of words, memories or things;
thinking about burning the day’s calories
and
beating up one’s self-esteem.
Θ
many times there is reading –
getting caught up with friends
and
other times there is writing –
spilling out feelings and distress.
Θ
Θ
a bike is like a friend –
it can lift your spirits;
make you strong
or
challenge you –
take you places
you never imagined
Θ
BUT
Θ
a bike can also kill you –
leave you bleeding on the ground
as you feel your life slipping away
along
with
a future
Θ
never to be found.
Θ
Θ
Θ
—
Two weeks after this picture was taken, I had crashed in WI during a training ride – six weeks out from Ironman Wisconsin. Spent three days in the hospital. After five hours of surgery, two titanium plates, 48 titanium screws, concussion, scars, getting an xray evaluation of my carbon fiber bike and one year later, I competed and completed Ironman Wisconsin 2006.
soccer season
∞
a year older
a bit taller
new team
new faces
new uniform
new coach
new field
new goals
new excitement in the air
♥
a new season has begun…
♥
♥
♥
second game of the season
not the greatest picture – there will be more to come:)
Oh – by the way – they won. 2-0!
punch + kick = ahhhhhh…..
The scent of sweat and leather filters through the room while the rhythm of thunderous music –resonates in my ears………. With hands wrapped tight, and gloves secure, I find myself standing – in front of my opponent. Or is it my friend? I do not know for certain but will soon find out for sure. I’ve stretched out a bit, gulped down some water and anxiously…..await…….. with all of the others……… “LETS DO IT” The warm up is very basic; to get the blood flowing – fifteen minutes of running, lunging, push ups and squatting. When the bouncing has commenced it’s time to get serious – in front of the bag we stand – hands up, face blocked, on the hop………………. “LET’S GO” There is nothing more liberating than throwing a punch – into a bag of sand weighing 75 lbs – covered in black leather hanging from a chain. The impact begins when the glove hits the bag – then the fist the arm, the shoulder, and neck – until the whole body is contracting, heart racing faster than fast! The bag is unrelenting – it’s firm with just a little bit of ‘give’ – not a pillow – but it does allow for a darn good punch and a give-it-all-you-got power kick. After 30 minutes of throwing punches and kicking hard against the bag, it’s time to move on to the core, stretch, clean the leather & then collapse. “GOOD CLASS EVERYONE” The arms feel like noodles, the legs turn into rubber, the mind becomes crystal clear and the spirit feels light as a feather! What I like the most about this class is the bag I get to punch. For me it is not an object, it becomes so, so much more – It’s the conflict deep within me, all of the chaos that exists – the darkness, fears, the uncertainties, and struggles of everyday life – wrapped in a 75 lb package for me to punch & kick!
An Addendum – to March Craziness
It is an early Sunday afternoon. It also happens to be the fourth day of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Much has happened since Thursday, when I last addressed the subject of March (Madness) Craziness.
I will not go into detail as to what has transpired. Those of you out in blogland who avidly follow this tournament already know the scoop on who is in and who is out and, well, the BIG upsets. I will say though it has been an interesting turn of events this year!
My boys are with their dad this weekend, so I have had barely any contact with them. I can, however, say that they are freaking out. I saw my younger son (referred to as boy #1 in my last blog) yesterday at his last soccer game. All he had to say was “I have bracket blow-out”. Apparently the team that he chose to go all the way has fallen and the big Duke upset – that has ruined everything. My older son was not even present at the game, which makes me wonder if he is at home sulking and in serious mourning.
What are my thoughts exactly? I must admit, I am quietly keeping an eye on my alma mater. They play this evening. Will I watch the game? No, but I may check up on its progress on my ESPN app. Will the boys be watching? I am pretty certain that they will, including their father because my alma mater is his as well.
I must say that my condolences go out to all of the people who have experienced “bracket blowout” and to those who have lost money as a result. I am also pulling for the underdogs of the tournament. What an incredible feeling it must have been to knock Duke off of their seemingly impenetrable ‘high horse’. One has to throw some kudos out to Lehigh University.
Unpredictability – this describes ‘Sports’ in a nutshell. One never knows what to expect. We hope for the best but the best may not show. Everyone has their ‘on’ days and ‘off’ days and whether or not the ‘on’ team or the ‘on’ athlete will make an appearance can never be determined until the moment of truth. Today is another day of brackets breaking apart and wittling down, and yes, full of ‘moments of truth’.
My Alma Mater
Class of 1987.
