The Irony of Sport

Why? If I didn't know better I would assume that I was going crazy. If I didn't know FOR A FACT that I was not the only one, I would think I'd lost my mind.

It hit me. Just last night. As I sat in my bathtub, clad in naught but a threadbare speedo, fighting off the chills that coursed through my body every time I shifted my position. Yes, I was in an ice bath. After a very solid weekend of training I had decided to give my legs a "treat" and jump in an ice bath Sunday night. My battered muscles may have appreciated the generous offer but the rest of me wasn't so sure. It was as I sat there contemplating the amount of training I'd been doing which had left me for the most part exhausted, that I realized the absurdity of my situation. Here I was, a perfectly sound, normal, healthy young man, rising at ridiculous hours every morning to go beat his body into shape. Not just shape mind you, but GOOD shape. No, I can't just stop at being "in shape" I have to be better, stronger, faster. No performance is good enough. There is always room for improvement.

And then I realized something else. Not only was I taking pride in the amount of pain I could inflict on myself. But I was paying someone else to TELL me how to inflict more pain on myself!! Crazy!!

And yet, I am not alone. Sadly there are more poor souls out there just like me. There are in fact thousands of us possessed by this strange force that compels us to push ourselves to the limit. Day in, and day out. Some of them they call pro's, some age-groupers, some mom, dad, uncle, boss, friend. It doesn't really matter what we're called. But we're out there, and our numbers are growing every day. Scary, isn't it?

Life as It Is

Wow. The weather is absolutely GORGEOUS outside. Mornings in the 50's? I haven't seen that for like 10 months. Going to 6 am swim practice now requires me to completely bundle up before braving the frigid tempatures that welcome me when I open the door. Today it was also sunny as well, the kind of day that makes you just glad to be alive. After swimming and weight training I was running around 8:15 am in just my shorts and a sleeveless shirt. I was down right COLD for the first 10 minutes or so. In fact I don't think my hands ever completely warmed up. They just got to that sort of numb state where you don't notice them until you stop running and realize their not bending properly anymore. It was beautiful.

My last post contained details concerning the mudrun this year, well those details have changed. The date is no longer October 27th but instead November 10th. I repeat- THE MUDRUN IS ON NOVEMBER 10TH! For some reason, (They say due to homeland security issues) it is no longer being held at the joint reserve base but at some trail in Fort Worth. They promise that the course will be very similar. I'm keeping my fingers crossed as I have a secret ambition to win the thing this year, as long as I can get in the first wave.

I'm looking now at half the school semester being over. It's a good feeling. Tomorrow I take my last midterm so I will get a bit of a break after that. I'm continueing to train. (Of course) My main focus has shifted to swimming, especially after a dismal time at the Toyota US Open. I am too embarressed to even admit it. Nonetheless my spirit is not quenched and I'm determined to swim on. Five mornings a week you can catch me at the Landry Center, grinding up and down the lane as the coaches scream at me to go faster. Ok no one's screaming but grinding is an appropriate term to describe the sound my shoulder makes whenever we incorporate pull into the workout. The DAM coaches seem to have a special affinity to pull as somehow they always manage to sneak at least one pull set into the workout.

Here's to looking forward to an AWESOME rest day tomorrow!

It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

Well sports fans it's that time of year again. Yesssiirrreee. Time again for the annual Marine Mudrun out at Carswell Joint Reserve Station in Fort Worth, Texas. On October 27th some of the crazies, wackiest, and must diehard of all athletes will gather from around the metroplex to test their might against the boot-camp style course of mud and obstacles.

A 10k doesn't sound too bad to most runner/tri enthusiast but let me tell you- a 10k while wearing long pants and boots that are laden with muddy water right from the get go is tough. This will by my third year running it and it once again looks like the east side of town will be bringing a sizeable representation out west. I estimate anywhere from 5 to a dozen or more people could be caravaning out with me come mudrun morning.

Many have loved the initial idea but we'll see who actually gets online and puts down their credit card number for the entry fee. Its only 25 bucks and you will feel 100% better after doing it. Garauntee. Go to http://www.mudrundfw.com/ for more info.