EVENT # 15 Disc Golf (July 17)

On this lazy Sunday afternoon, I took my boys to Squirrel Lake Park in Matthews, NC.  This is described as a heavily wooded course and I believe it by the way we were hitting trees.  The object of this sport it to throw discs, not plastic frisbees, toward a target in as few times as possible.  The scoring is similar to real golf.  My boys have enjoyed this before.  We usually take turns throwing the disc and it usually takes a lot of throws to get it there.  After I played with my boys, I decided to go again for nine holes running the course.  As I started, there were three other guys getting ready and they showed me their elaborate collection of discs.  There are driving discs, short range discs, and putting discs.  I only have ONE disc which is a all-purpose driver.  So I used that the whole time.  Maybe my game would have been better if I used other discs because I only shot bogeys and double bogeys the whole course.  But I did get my heart rate up and a good sweat going in the 12 minutes it took me to run this course.  My next challenge with this would be to try some of the more difficult courses in Charlotte such as Renaissance.  The distance for that course looks to be more than double what I played to day.

EVENT # 14 Taekwondo (July 15)

Friday night I participated in the sport of Taekwondo under the instruction of Master Abhai Singh.  He is the president of Sangrock Black Belt World which is located in South Charlotte, Matthews area.  I had Master Singh participate in my Field Day at my school this past year and the kids loved it.  So I had to try it out.  I called to schedule an appointment for my two sons and me but I didn't realize I would be the only "grown up" in the class.  I kind of felt like Billy Madison going back to school as an oversized kid.  With that said, Master Singh personally took the time to work with me, particularly with stretching out my lower back so that I would be ready for those kicks.  At one point, he had me stand back to back with him while he leaned forward and I went backwards.  He told me to relax but it's kind of hard when you are balancing on another guy's back upside down!  My two sons had a great time as well and are wanting to possibly take classes in the fall.  I can't say enough about how professional and kind Master Singh was throughout this class.  I really enjoyed stretching, running, jumping, kicking and punching my way though my event # 14.

EVENT # 13 LACROSSE (July 12)

(I'm the guy in the GREEN) Tuesday night, my challenge came to LIFE big time!!  This is what I envisioned when I began this whole experience.  It all started out last month when I heard about a new Major League Lacrosse team coming to Charlotte called the Charlotte Hounds.  So I thought what better way to learn about it than to actually email them directly and say "help me learn it".  I was quickly emailed back by the Director of Sales and Marketing, Wade Leaphart, who then connected me with a guy named Doug Little.  Doug is on the advisory council for the Hounds and is director of the South Charlotte Old Guys (SCOG) Lacrosse Club.  You can find them at:  www.scoglacrosse.com.  Doug not only invited me out to play with the SCOG's but personally found what I was doing interesting enough to give me and my friend Jason an hour long lesson to get ready.  This is the first event this summer that I was a little nervous but the nerves quickly went away along with every bit of sweat I had in my body since I chose to participate on the first 100 degree day this summer!  Doug drilled me in the fundamentals of holding and cradling the lacrosse stick as well as throwing, catching and scooping up the balls.  He also gave Jason and I a good education in offense and defense, which is similar to basketball.  I felt comfortable with what he was telling me until he asked if we have brought our protective cups!!  Then I got nervous again!  Then came the equipment.  I had to wear a protective helmet, elbow pads, gloves, and shoulder pads....all in this HEAT!!!  So I felt a little like a mascot walking around disoriented in a theme park.  Then came GAME TIME!  Doug encouraged me to start by watching on the sidelines and then line up to sub in whenever I was ready.  I'm not sure I was ever ready, but I stepped up and one of the guys from my team needed a sub and I was in!  I clearly started out looking like a chicken with my head cut off on that field.  I not only had to orient myself on the field but try to run with all this equipment on me.  However, with that said, the guys were nothing but helpful and coached me up while I was running in circles.  I had two passes to me in the first half and I missed them both which led to the ball on the ground and a mad scramble to scoop it up and a turnover for me.  I just wasn't aggressive enough to go after it.  I quickly subbed out of the game with my heart pounding out of my chest.  Thank goodness for subs!  I stood on the sidelines and watched my friend Jason, who used to teach with me, as he was learning the game for the first time as well.  He mixed in very well and was doing a great job completing catches and passing the ball around.  Doug started counting down the time toward the end of the half as I was dripping wet from sweat.  I took my helmet and gloves off and sat down to rest.  The second half was a different story for me.  Even though I still looked a little or a LOT out of place on the field, I began to breathe a little and take my time to think though things.  I slowed down enough to successfully catch both of the passes made to me and even had a clear shot at the goal in the final quarter.  I really had no business taking that shot but it was there and I was wide open and I did it.  No, I missed it wide but I had the opportunity.  The game came to an end.  I peeled my equipment off of my body and was completely in awe of this game and the guys who play it.    Thanks SCOG's and Hounds!

EVENT # 12 PADDLE BOARDING (July 9)

This was the COOLEST thing I've done all summer so far!  In fact, I think I have a new hobby.  I love to kayak, as you can tell from my earlier entry.  However, today I went to Lake Norman for some "real" kayaking.  As I was coming back in to dock my boat, I noticed a few people doing this thing called Paddle boarding.  Now I have known about this for a few years, but have never actually gotten the chance to try it.  That is the cool thing about this challenge this summer....sometimes I have to really seek something and sometimes it shows up right in front of me.  So long story short, I got connected with a guy named Rob with My Aloha Paddle Sport and Fitness in Lake Norman today.  His website is www.standuplkn.com.  Rob was very gracious to allow me to try paddle boarding today.  In my mind, this was something that I felt like I could really do but I figured it would be a different story once I got on.  Rob started me out on my knees paddling and then lifting one knee at a time, I was up and balancing and paddling standing up!  I NEVER once fell in the water.  Yes, I know that would make for a great story here, however, I am pumped about how cool this was and how much fun I was having on this board.  The great thing about this too is that when I am kayaking, I tend to get a lower back ache and a little pain through my hamstrings.  Here there is no pressure on your spinal cord from sitting too long.  It was smooth and very comfortable.  Thanks Rob for introducing me to a new sport!!

EVENT # 11 BALLROOM DANCING! (July 7 and 8)

OK, OK, OK.  I did NOT lose my man card here!!  If Hines Ward can do it, so can I.  This was my birthday present to my wife this year to take ballroom dancing lessons at Piper Glen Ballroom Dancing.  She loves to dance, especially zumba, but as for me, I'm not exactly John Travolta, maybe more like Elaine Benes.  As an elementary PE teacher, I do have to teach my students different dances like the chicken dance, hokey pokey, square dancing and even the electric slide, but this was quite different.  We were taught the rhumba, the swing, and the fox trot.  Trust me, we will not be on Dancing with the Stars anytime soon but it was fun to learn these dances with my wife.  I was WAY out of my comfort zone and she was the one cracking the jokes.  I like the Seinfeld reference she made when our teacher told us to face belly button to belly button......HEEELLLOOOO!...LA LA LA!!    Our teacher, Lucianne, was very good and gave us great cues to help me out with my awkwardness.  We have two more lessons coming up and I'll see where I'm at then.  This will probably not be my most successful sports this summer but will possibly be my most improved.

EVENT # 10: ULTIMATE FRISBEE (July 5)

I MADE IT TO # 10!!!!  I am a third of the way there.  However, I believe that it will only get tougher from here because I am really going to have to rely on other people and appointments to get this done.  No longer can I just go out and do something on my own.  So tonight, I remembered that some college kids usually play Ultimate Frisbee beside the school where I teach physical education.  Now I have been on this field for many years teaching my kids how to play games like this, but it has been since college since I've played a true game of ultimate.  I drove up only to find out that I would definitely be the only 37 year old going gray at this event.  They did, however, welcome me with handshakes and then came that dreaded moment that everyone hated back in high school......who will be shirts and skins!!!  And of course, I would be one of those skins.  Notice folks that there will be no pictures on this blog.  Let's just say that we did not need any of the overhead field lights on since I was there lighting the field.  Anyway, with that said, what a great workout and fun game!  This was definitely one of my more successful events so far.  I successfully caught every pass made to me and I'm pretty sure that I passed for a touchdown through several people.  They didn't really acknowledge it but I think I did.  Now I was passed up for the winning touchdown.  I was wide open and the guy gave me a look but chose to throw another way.  He caught it and we won!  It's nice to finally be in a true competitive contest where I was a part of a win!  That is something that will not happen very often in this challenge so I'll take it!  By the way, these guys had some very impressive throws.  Great lead passes as well as forehand and backhand passes.  I need to practice that more!

EVENT # 9 Hiking (July 3)

I've discovered another reason for doing this challenge.  To try to expose my two sons to a variety of different activities as well.  Which means that the intensity of some of these sports are not where I want them to be but I have to make it work for them as well.  So, as we were visiting our college friends this past weekend in the mountains of N.C., we were able to get in a 30 minute hike through the woods using our hiking sticks.  My boys have always enjoyed hiking since we live near trails and have even created one in our back yard.  I can't say my heart rate got up too much but good family time.