BADMINTON

Today I decided to return to the same place that I had played table tennis to try another net game called Badminton.  It was definitely hard to walk back into the Hawthorne Rec Center after embarrassing myself last week on "the table" but I thought surely this might be better.  After all, the birdie is a little slower and easier to track, right??  Well, I was again met by some great individuals who introduced me to the game.  I watched for a few minutes and then got the honor of playing doubles with a gentleman who has been playing since the 70's.  We started a little rallying back and forth and I was feeling pretty good.  I was able to keep it going much longer than that ping pong ball last week.  And then I was asked to play in a real game!  YES!  I was excited until......they started picking on me.  I served the shuttlecock (official name for birdie) across the net and was quite proud that it went over.  Then it came back.....and landed on the floor!  I was told that I was admiring my serve and that I should have been getting in better position.  I knew that but apparently my body did not, so I just stood there!  With a little gentle yelling from my teammate with his accent from England, I began to move around more.  It was great to be coached by him especially since the game came from England.  I have tough skin and besides, that is the whole point of my challenge to be thrown into a game.  We lost the game 21-13 and then my teammate told me to come into the side room.  I thought he was going to yell at me and I prepared myself by walking slow but in fact he took the time to show me the correct striking techniques.  He spent a few minutes helping me out and then told me that basically "no offense but I was not ready for a game".  And he was correct.  I stood around and watched the other games being played and was again in awe of the POWER and speed of the game.  What a great feeling it must be to just slam the shuttlecock with control back and forth across the net.  And it too makes a great sound as it comes off the racket whiffing through the air.  Thanks to Jim and everyone else at the Charlotte Badminton Club for allowing me to try yet another sport in this great city of Charlotte.  What a cool thing they have going at the rec center and I will be back one day after some well deserved practice!

Table Tennis!

Today I visited the Charlotte Table Tennis Club that meets at the Hawthorne Rec Center and quickly realized that this was NOT ping pong!  This was official table tennis and not for the lighthearted.  This was serious stuff.  I was greeted by some individuals who have been around table tennis in the Charlotte area for over 30 years.  They allowed me to hit around with them and I kept wondering when they would actually invite me to start a game.  I now understand why they did not since I was told that there is "nothing right about my game"!  There goes an ego buster!  But that is what my challenge is all about.  Throw me in a game and lets see what happens.......most of the time I'm humiliated and tonight was no different.  I did get to play a match with a gentleman that was new to the game but even he defeated me all three sets.  I was stiff, awkward, and most of the time off rhythm.  I looked in awe at all the other tables that displayed that beautiful "click, click" sound of the ball bouncing in perfect harmony.  I was so eager to be able to rally a ball like that.  With that said, I truly appreciate my chance to be in the same room with tournament players but now it's back to my garage......where I am CHAMPION of the table!!

4.0 for 40

I never proclaimed myself as a runner but I have definitely begun to enjoy it a little more this past year.  Today I took an idea from my wife's aunt who said she is going to run 7 miles upon turning 70. So I had to up my game from my 2-3 mile runs to 4.0 for my age 40 today!  All I can say is bring on 50!!

40!!

My challenge got revved up again in 2014 and brought my 30 sport challenge from the summer of 2011 up to 40 sports!!  I never envisioned this and there is still more to go!  How appropriate for my 40th birthday year!

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!