i've always enjoyed visiting lake tahoe. the views, smells (pine), & crystal clear water are very cool (no pun intended). back in the day, me & some friends would hike around the edge of the lake to places that were hard to get to. we spent a lot of time diving & drinking adult beverages. i know what your thinking: "drinking & diving- now there's a smart mix." fitting in & "having fun" had a way of clouding our "smarts/wisdom."
as a younger kid, i vividly remember times we'd go to tahoe for church picnics/bbq's. two of my favorite activities were: wiffle-ball & water baptisms. i used to laugh at the people being baptized, because of how they reacted when they came up out of the ice-cold water. that is entertainment right there. & thirdly, i always looked forward to bbq'd chicken & watermelon. with those three elements, i had a blast every time i visited tahoe. w/age, i enjoyed the scenery as well. i used to dream about having a really big house in the trees right off of the lake. i still think that would be very cool.
why all the talk about lake tahoe? well, i think it's time to go again. this time though, it won't be to play wiffle-ball, drunk-diving, or any of the usuals. i'm seriously considering my next physical/spiritual challenge to be the lake tahoe marathon: click on me for info. this marathon is appealing to me on a few different levels:
- cool memories
- cool views
- according to most reviews & dc: has a great support staff
- i want to experience a beer & a hot-dog (or 5) @ the finish line
- i want to experience the challenge of high altitude & extreme hill grades
- i want to take myself physically & spiritually to deeper levels
- i want to experience the feeling of accomplishment & gratitude to God
to some that may sound absurd. some don't find fulfillment in those sorts of challenges (i love you, mindy). that's okay. we all do things for personal reasons. challenging my body/mind to push through hard things is exciting for me. this is also a great outlet for my "risk taking/dreameresque" personality. i'm able to try new things w/o having to make huge family/life changes. dc told me that this tahoe marathon kicked his butt. i just couldn't resist being interested after he said that.
i haven't fully committed to signing up yet. i'm getting pretty close though. check out the above link on the marathon & see what you think. what doesn't kill you- will only make you stronger. ;>]
later.
7 comments:
I find the smell of pine during the summer to be stifling. It makes me feel like I can't breathe. Weird.
You ever consider a triathlon?
i've been thinking about it a bit lately. in order to do triathlons it would require even more logistics with regard to family & work. i already run & bike, so i'd need to slip swimming into the mix. i don't know. i think it'll probably happen for me in the next few years- it seems like a natural progression for me. how about you, dave?
I like the idea of swimming, because if you stop, you'll die. I would also be trying to escape whatever creature I imagine stalks me from the depths. Being motivated by fear in that situation works because most things I do (or don't do) are as a result of fear.
I can't see going through all that training just to be afraid of drowning or being attacked by a nameless, faceless creature.
I guess the short answer would have been, "nope."
davido- maybe next year, okay?
shaun- yeah, this sports stuff is something i really enjoy. running to me is like fishing to you. :>)
If you can find a way to incorporate a football, basketball, or baseball into marathons, I'd consider it.
My way of stretching myself is going to a movie theater and not getting into verbal altercations with the people who sit behind me and talk to the screen as though:
1. They are in their home and what they're doing isn't bothering anyone.
2. What they are seeing is happening in real time.
3. The people in the movie can hear them
4. The people in the movie are their friends and will take their advice.
the only thing i would caution is running a half marathon 8 days later might be a bit much on the body there. that is if you signed up for san jose. if not, i'll see you at the finish line. i'll be running the 10K which is at the end of the marathon course, so i'll hang out and wait for you.
yeah, after some thought, i'm gonna go w/the tahoe marathon & pass on the san jose half. though i think the rock bands @ every mile-marker would be cool in san jose, i'm a tad more interested in the tahoe. see ya @ the finish line & thanks in advance for waiting. :>)
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