Spring Training

There are occasions when my work schedule precludes my activity schedule. And even then, I still try to find some time for the things that I love the most. That was the case for a recent two week trip to Orlando. I was there for a conference… outside of Universal Studios.. . I have to make note that Orlando is not really Florida at all.. more than an hour in any direction to get to a beach, and cold at night. Orlando really is more Disney than stereotypical Florida. I personally cannot find the attraction outside of the Disney/Epcot/Universal/Marine World … which is just not my thing. The one true positive for me was that Spring had clearly sprung in Orlando where the temperatures reached the low 70’s during the days and that was a clear delight compared to the 30’s and 40’s that were hitting back here in Fredericksburg. I did enjoy a couple of short runs through the hotels and strip malls. Anyhow, business occupied most of my time. My conference was scheduled tightly 6a – 9p and held in a hotel that was large enough that you would really have to make an effort to find the outside world. However, with a little planning and some luck, in the second week I was however able to get out to a Spring Training Game. My attendance at the game was earned by the fact that a fellow captive had tickets… and I had a car. We stole away late one afternoon feeling somehow justified in our disappearance from the conference in that with drive time, we would only catch a portion of the game. It seemed like a fair trade. Apart from the many cliché’s regarding baseball in the spring and smell of the air and almost religious experience of being at a ball field…. My companions and I couldn’t help discussing the seemingly young age of the players on the field which led to multiple stories of ourselves as kids either playing little league or attending major league games. More than anything, I found the concept of “spring training” to be very unique. Although, there was a scoreboard this game was not about keeping score. Although die hard fans were noting every minor event to use as proof that their team was going to go all the way to the World Series based on this outing. But the players were there to shake off the rust left from a winter of lethargy. There was nothing to prove… no stats that counted …. I began to think… couldn’t we all use this time as ‘Spring Training’? A time to dust off the self that slows down during winter and push just a little to see which of our skills have survived for another season of play? How nice would it be to get outside without the pressure of competition…. Or approach your job with the thought of making something new happen…. At home you could change an old pattern… In your relationship…. Try something new…. For me Its time to get out the mountain bike…. If you see me, feel free to pass me and remind yourself that Im just shaking the dust off.

Lets Get Acquainted

Lust. I've been asked to write a regular column about sports - but instead I choose to write about lust. It’s the siren's song of lust that calls you to do more with your life, to see things and do things. It’s Lust that asks you to test yourself and prove that you’re alive..... Lusting to be more than what you are.... It is from this place that I feel that I am qualified to write a regular column. Lets get acquainted – I’m Dave. I’m 44. I am very active, I bike; hike; run, snowboard, kayak, ride a motorcycle, am a budding guitarist and yoga instructor in training. In the past few years, I’ve spent time in an Alaskan rainforest, hiked (some of) the Appalachian trail, celebrated in Mexico City along side of Robert Redford in the winners circle of a auto race, hunted duck in Texas, attended Bull Riding championships in Vegas, braved the wilds of NAPA valley (yes, its sport!), chopped up more than one TPC golf course and sailed in Annapolis. It’s more accurate to say that I’m athletic than it is to say I’m an athlete. There never seems to be enough time to become ‘good’ at any one thing, but my interests are many. I have a full time job, a household to keep up and volunteer my time at a local charity. It’s important to understand, that I am a solidly average guy. I am not the guy that wins the race, but I show up every time. I have had successes and failures. I’ve reached some goals (ask me about my Gold Medal from the fitness challenge) and fallen miserably short on others(ask me about my Appalachian Trail hiking trip)… and sometimes have just fallen (ask me about my collar bone..) . I am constantly faced with the real issue of getting older and having the activities that I find interesting slowly slipping away from my physical abilities. The philosophy of it all is geared towards staying involved with life. The activity or performance is secondary to the experience. It’s important for me to have something on the schedule to look forward to, and of course to enjoy life in the process. Setting goals and working towards them is valuable. I push and learn about myself in the process. This is the lust I referred to earlier. Upcoming ‘experiences’ include a variety of adrenaline, scenic outings, self exploration and goals. There are a couple of kayak trips in the works to the Chesapeake bay, a late summer motorcycle trip to Deals Gap, NC to ride 318 curves in an 11 mile stretch (affectionately called ‘The Dragon’), A trip to the Ashram and Retreat Center at Yogaville, Buckingham, Virginia, And the elusive golf goal of breaking 100. The real glory is the stories that I get to share. These stories will chronicle my activities, but more importantly will focus on the places I go and the people that experience them with me. I will offer a real life perspective, covering the true fears of facing a challenge, the exhilaration that comes with accomplishing a goal that was beyond my own belief, and yes, sometimes the agony of defeat. With this column, you get to hear them all and who knows; maybe we can even generate some lust in you as well.