You all know that I am a baseball fan (Go Nats!), but what you may not know is that the other not really interesting fact about me is that I am a runner, too. I’m not a good one, not by far, but I’ve put in enough miles to have earned the right to call myself a runner. Now, the Nationals have that little thing down there in Viera, FL that they call Spring Training. Sure, Spring Training is a time for players to try out for the team and a chance to choose the best players for the season, but it is also a time for players to come out of winter hibernation and ready themselves for the upcoming season. To get themselves back into playing condition. As a runner, I have my own Spring Training.
I begin my next round of marathon training on May 1 (insert shout out to Arlington Road Runners Club here!), so for the next few weeks I have my own chance to ready myself for the Spring/Summer running season. I can stock up on Gatorade and Gu, replace a water bottle or two, re-examine the life expectancy of my shoes, clear my memory of my disappointing winter races, and prepare to get up early several times per week to run – a lot. I wouldn’t just hop into my season, I’d prepare for it.
So let’s get back to that first fact about me – Baseball Fan. For 3 seasons before this one, I had spent at least a few days in Viera watching the Nats, getting excited, and soaking up the joy. But for a certain little reason that I share with millions of other Americans right now, I was not able to go down to FL this year. It was disappointing, and of course I was sad about it, but I really didn’t give it much thought. I mean, big deal, so what if I don’t get to go to Spring Training? But then this weekend came and something occurred to me. I realized that my Spring Training trips weren’t just about going to FL to watch the Nats; they were also about conditioning myself – the baseball fan, the blogger, the 25+ game attendee – for the season. I realized this almost immediately on Saturday at the season ticket holder event and then into Monday for Opening Day.
First off, I had no summer clothes ready. I had stacked my Nats fleece, sweatshirt, coat, scarf, and gloves next to my baseball bag. I mean, I’ve been to Opening Day before. I’ve frozen my butt off on those days. But this year was summerlike, and I wasn’t prepared for short sleeves and shorts. I had to pull out a Curly W tech shirt out of my running stash. Now you may say that this year’s weather in FL would not have prepared me for short sleeves anyway, but you don’t know me well – I would have packed for summer and ended up buying more Nats fleeces, sweatshirts, coats, etc. down there, so yeah, a trip to FL would have meant at least taking the summer baseball clothes out of storage.
Then, I detected the odor of sunscreen wafting off of the others sitting in the sun. What was that odor? I barely recognized it let alone remembered to put it on. Had I planned my annual trip to FL, I would have reintroduced myself to SPF30 and the sun’s rays. (yes, I now have a farmer’s tan)
Next was the triple threat combo of sun, fresh air, and beer. I don’t understand it, and I never have, but the combo of fresh air and sun – and sitting it in specifically – makes me more tired than anything else. And if you throw in a beer and huge Five Guys burger, it’s even worse. But I was not prepared for this. I was at Nats Park for 8 hours on Saturday and 6 on Monday. That’s a lot of fresh air and sun. I woke up today completely exhausted wishing Emma knew how to put on her leash and walk herself. Maybe had I spent a few lazy days in the sun and fresh air of Viera or the other MLB camps I would have been better conditioned to handle it this weekend.
Lastly, it was a boring game. I’m sorry boys, I love you, but Saturday and Monday were very dull. If I had closed my eyes, I would have fallen asleep. I know that they are just losing now so that when they begin their season-long winning streak on Wednesday we will be able to appreciate it more, but wow, it was painful. Perhaps if I had gone to Viera, I could have prepared for that as well.
So what it boils down to is that as a baseball fan, I’m officially out of shape. I am not conditioned for sitting in the sun, breathing in the fresh air, watching my team, while sipping on a beer and eating some unhealthy food. I didn’t realize how much I needed my own Spring Training to get ready for 2010, and if I don’t condition myself soon, my days are going to include a lot of naps.
I guess there are worse things.
Original Story:
http://wevegotheart.com/2010/04/06/ou...
