FENCING

Today was another good day.  I have been trying for years to learn Fencing, one of the original Olympic Sports, and I finally got connected with Charlotte Fencing Academy.  Brian Toomey came out to my school for a "learn Fencing in an hour" session which prepared me for my first ever duel.  Speaking of duel, I found it interesting to learn the history of Fencing, which involved originally dueling to the death!  Luckily, society decided that was not the best idea.  After an explanation of all the basics, it was time to get real and get the equipment on.  I placed several layers of what looked like a straight jacket on, gloves, and a face mask with a metal screen.  I was actually dizzy looking out of it at first.  I was ready to poke someone nonetheless!  And then Brian approached me for my first practice.  I'm not going to lie to you, I was a little nervous when a guy with a dark screened mask approached me with a sword or foil as it is called.  Even though he assured me that Fencing is one of the safest sports around, a foil pointing at you is a little unnerving.  I, however, had a foil as well and was ready to lunge.  I paired up with some of our staff members in a one on one match to the death.....or to the poke.  Yes I got poked a few times but scored a few of my own as well.  This was a lot of fun today.  I loved the sound of the foils clinking together and the thrill of the one on one competition.  Thanks again Brian  for teaching me a new sport!

Nascar Racing....riding

My challenge really got "revved" up today as I participated in the Nascar Racing experience at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.  I was able to ride alongside a professional driver or at least that is what I called him since we were literally inches I think from the wall at 185 miles an hour on the track.  I tried to get a video but it is hard to work a phone at that speed.  So what did I take from this experience....... Racing IS A SPORT!!!  No doubt.  What an exhilarating experience going that fast and we were not even in a race.  How do those drivers do it and come away unharmed.  Unbelievable.  Besides the gas fumes in my face for all of  3 minutes, the ride was incredible and I think I am finally a race fan now after growing up in a racing town.

SQUASH!

Today was a great day.  Another sport learned!  As you know, my whole mission is to find new and upcoming sports and activities that keep our community active.  And here is a great one, Squash.  What is it?? Well I always hate to compare sports.  Most passionate players of sport do not want to be compared to something else and squash is a very popular sport from England in and of itself.  But to be honest it is very similar to Racquetball.  After reading about a group starting a Squash club in Charlotte, I had to try it out.  I took my kids and some friends to participate in their open house today.  I was ready  to "squash" some competition.........ok, moving on.   However, with most things I've played, I was challenged.  So after one day of playing a pick up game at the Charlotte Squash Club's new and beautiful facility, here is what I know.

Squash uses longer rackets than racquetball, has a smaller and slower ball, is played on a shorter court but a similar width court as racquetball, and the scoring is to 11, not 15.

I really liked this sport.  I read that in 2003, it was ranked the #1 healthiest sport to play.  I definitely worked up a sweat in the few minutes playing on court and I really felt more successful at it than racquetball, which means I was able to track the slower moving ball better in this sport.  

And it didn't hurt that I won a raffle at the open house and selected a brand new racket and my sons won a ball and protection glasses!  BONUS!

Thank you Jim for letting me try a new sport today!

FOOTGOLF....what?

So this is what I REALLY LOVE about my challenge, finding new and interesting ways of playing games and being active.  Yes, this is a combination of GOLF and SOCCER!  And what a perfect time now since the World Cup is over and I'm still interested in soccer at the moment.  So I discovered this game called Footgolf, which is a part of the American Footgolf League.  I used to call it Soccer Golf.  Yes I have actually played this game with my students before but never thought it could be a "real" sporting or recreational event.  So a friend of mine and I found a golf course in Charlotte called Sunset Hills Golf course and they have designed a 9 hold course.  The rules are very similar to golf......basically how few times you can kick the ball to get it to the flag and hole.  Oh and by the way, the hole is BIG enough for a size 5 soccer ball to roll into.  Or in our case, big enough for it to be filled with water and crickets and frogs.  Hey I always like a little nature in my adventures.  So as we approached the first tee, we placed our soccer ball down and took a 90 degree step back as they do in american football, ran up and kicked as hard as we could down the fairway.  The first 5 holes or so we just didn't know quite what to think.  But as we worked harder on our short game it became much more exciting to PUTT the ball with the inside of our foot to watch it roll right into the hole.  And that was COOL!  I really like this new sport.  In fact, this is definitely going down on my top 5 list so far of most fun games.  Thanks to Sunset Hills Golf for hosting this game at your course!

Ran 5K with my son

Believe it or not, in 30 + sports, I have not written about running.  I didn't think going for a quick run around the neighborhood really counted as a sport.  A 5K, though, is a definitely a good event to count.  I have run several 5K's in the past but this time was a little more special since I ran with my 11 year old son for the first time.  I was very proud of him for finishing the run in around 38 minutes, I typically will run in under 30 minutes but I wanted us to finish across the finish line at the same time.  I think he was proud of himself and I definitely was.

CURLING!

HAPPY WINTER OLYMPICS!  I seem to be on a little roll all of the sudden in 2014 with finding new sports to play.  Last night I learned the olympic sport of Curling.  By now, everyone should know something about this sport but if not.....here goes.  A sport that was created in the 1500's in Scotland, actually came to the U.S. near New York first and then ended up huge in Canada.  Not a high endurance game but definitely one of great skill.  I am practicing here with two curling rocks but during a game you will "throw" (roll) one at a time over 145 feet across the ice while your teammates "sweep" the ice to create a smooth surface for continued motion.  If you can land it in the target (I'm in one on my side), then you have a chance of scoring.....think bocce ball on ice??

Anyway THANKS again to EXTREME ICE for their classes on Curling!

Pickleball

Thanks to NANO Sports in Matthews, I have been able to try a new sport that I haven't played since learning about it in college.  This is an indoor version of tennis played with a small wiffle ball and a paddle.  You can play singles or doubles.  It is an easier version of tennis but is still challenging and can give you a pretty good workout.  A lot of people say it is becoming popular in the retirement community but I'm here to tell you that I played against someone close to my age and got beat consistently today, especially on backhand!  Thanks Nano!!

POLAR PLUNGE....well kind of!

Well after convincing my friend's dad to open his pool on New Year's Day, we embarked on our first ever Polar Plunge, in the pool that is.  Most people do this in open water but this was a good start.  The water temp was at a cool 50 degrees but it felt like freezing to me.  As soon as I hit the water, I lost my breath and had to push on through.  The rule was that we had to swim down and back in the pool.  I was cold for days!!