Another Opportunity

I think it’s safe to say that everyone at one time or another in their life reflects back on what might have been.  I had one of those moments a few weeks ago.  I was moving some boxes around in my basement and came across a box I hadn’t opened since my wife and I moved into our house three years ago.  The box had remained closed since 2010.  When I opened the box, I found one of my journals.
 
Yes, I kept a training journal and throwing journal.  In my orange journal, I tracked my throwing workouts.  In my purple journal, I kept track of my weightroom training sessions.  A few pages from the back of the orange journal I found a post-it note sticking out.  On that particular page, back in April of 2008, I listed out 25 things I wanted to accomplish-goals if you will.  Here is a summary of some of those goals:

• Marry my then girlfriend, who is now my wife—accomplished
• Earn my administrative degree—accomplished
• Earn my doctorate—accomplished
• Pay off my undergraduate loans—accomplished
• Coach an All-American thrower—accomplished
• Coach a National Champion thrower—accomplished
• Become a College Athletic Director—not yet
• Become a College Head Track & Field Coach—not yet
• Secure a position as a College Professor—not yet
• Throw in the 2008 Olympic Trials—not even close
• Throw in the 2012 Olympic Trials—yeah right

 
Shortly after finding my journal, I received an email from Master’s USATF.  I may just have the opportunity to represent the United States after all.  As I was scrolling down the calendar of events for Master’s throwers, I noticed that the 2020 Master’s Track and Field World Championships are going to be held in Toronto, Ontario Canada.  It got me thinking.  This might be the meet that I get the chance to represent the United States after all. 
 
As I looked closer into the details of the meet, I was able to find the qualifying standards for the meet.  There are no qualifying standards for the meet.  That means that all I have to do is enter the meet.  Now I started thinking some more.  Pretty low hanging fruit.  Not hanging really.  Pretty much on the ground.  I’m a very competitive person.  There is no way I can just enter the meet.
 
I had a serious conversation with my wife about it.  She was open to the idea.  As the weeks have passed, she has become more supportive of the idea.  I knew I was going to marry my wife a few months after we started dating.  She didn’t blink when I asked her if she wanted to travel to track meet with me a few months into our relationship.  That is when I knew.  Anyway, back to 2020.  We discussed some goals and commitments.  I cannot just enter the meet outright.  I need to “qualify” for this meet.  Really, I do not want to embarrass myself on such a big stage.  I’ll turn 36 in February of 2018.  I’ll be 38 when this meet comes around.  So, I set a distance goal for myself.  I will share that at a later date.  My commitments for this season are:

• To get at least three training sessions in a week
• Throw at least one time a week through February
• Throw at least two times a week beginning in March
• Throw in two meets this season—hit my qualifying distance in one of those meets (basically I’m giving myself 12 throws to hit my goal)

 
This will serve as my online journal.  I just wrapped up my first week of training.  I took a couple of throws today after our high school kids finished their throwing session.  I hope you join me on this ride.  I have not figured out what meets I’m going to throw in.  That isn’t really that important right now.  Probably a meet in May and another one in June or July.  I hope you join me on this ride.