Like NASCAR, a down weekend is good…taking a breather from a routine as physically and mentally exhausting as running can be, is very beneficial. Instead, I volunteered at the UB Track Invitational Track and Field meet. Checkers members have volunteered at this track meet for a number of years and Checkers President, Roger Roll, is a board member of UB Athletics Development. And Checkers is honored to be able to hold their Tuesday Night practices at UB Stadium.

On a beautiful mid-80s day (and yes, in April!) I was assigned to the pole vault event along with 2 other Checkers members. I have to tell you this was one heck of a education. The pole vault by all means is NOT an easy event. A pole vaulter has 3 minutes to decide how high they want to go, and how far from the pit the bar should be plus consider the weather conditions, and their own. When I looked up at 11 feet for the women and 14 feet for the men, I said there is no friggin’ way I would even try this. Trust me…I rather be 30 some thousand feet in the air in an airplane than in some split second twisted upside-down spiral using a fiberglass pole for assistance, to get over a parallel fiberglass bar. But in the end, credit has to be given to the athletics who train countless number of hours for something that not even less than 1% of the population can accomplish.

On the other, or CI hand, I was almost sure I had quite a few moments worth mentioning. On the top of the list, the sounds of all different kinds of birds…sparrows, gulls, crows, and those dreaded canadian geese. Second on the list was the hip-hop and rap music blasting from the speakers. I don’t ever recall hearing them even when I had one implant, last year. Third on the list was picking up conversations out of the blue without facing the person. “Have you seen so and so?” “Help me with the names” “You have to make sure they are at the blue bar” All of these are some of the things I heard without facing the person or without an advance notice that i am being addressed. Plus being able to carry on a conversation while watching the various events is so sweet as I remember in the past, I would nod my head in agreement even though I had no clue what was being said. (And to mom…trust me, I will definitely know what you are saying the next time we talk so don’t even ask me “What did I say?” while I sheeplishly assume what you said is what you said)

Next week…the FAMA 5K for the benefit of the Maryvale School District Athletic program in Cheektowaga. This is suppose to be Steph’s return race but we’re taking a wait and see attitude because of her ankle stress fractures.