could ya have been a contender? instead of a running bum?
could ya have been a contender? instead of a running bum?
ping pong. but then again i was already pretty awesome at it and just got bored
The answer is cycling. Not saying I could have been a pro, but I could (was) much more competitive locally at cycling.
I did ride a tad over 1,000 miles this year, but that was over the course of May and June while I was recovering from some Achilles issues. Have not touched the bike since June 30.
I could have been a starter on our high school basketball team but decided to use the winter to focus on getting ready for track.
Maybe. I was pretty small, but I stated at 2nd base as a freshman on varsity. Fundamentally I was excellent, but I'm not sure how good I would have been able to get as I couldn't put on weight at all. At that point in time I loved going out for a seven mile run than spending three hours doing baseball drills. But at that time I quit baseball, I was a much better player than I was a runner. Also a better basketball player. I was horrible at football though, probably the equivalent to a 20:00 flat runner. Silly comparison I know.
I ended up running 14:52. I'm glad I decided to be a middle of the road college runner, versus being a probable 2nd string NAIA 2nd baseman!
Is smoking crack considered a sport?
One of my friends in college was a total stud in swimming, like multiple times state champ in a pretty good swimming state. Gave it up for running because he didn't like swimming - said it was boring. Me personally, I don't know, I took up running when I was 12 and never really cared for any other sports except freestyle BMX.
I was a better at almost anything than running, baseball,basketball, and
tennis. I wasn't great at any of them but better than I was at running
Chess.
When I was about 24 years old, I gave up tournament chess because I wanted to focus more on running. No regrets about that choice.
Golf for me. Gave up running/tri's in the mid 90's when I started playing a lot more tournament golf. Got down to a 3 handicap in a few years, qualified for and competed in the State Amateur and Mid-Am a few times.
Then I got the opportunity to switch careers and start coaching runners and skiers so stopped playing golf. Now I get a round in maybe 3-4 times in a good year. Still enjoy it just not enough time to do it justice.
on the frank shorter front wrote:
could ya have been a contender? instead of a running bum?
My brother was an excellent little league baseball player and a horrible runner when he was in middle school. He couldn't wait to get to high school (10th grade at our school) so he could play baseball. He ran cross country to stay in shape and was still bad. Once spring came around, he realized all of his friends were doing track and he didn't know anyone on the baseball team. At the last minute he decided to do track. He continued to be horrible at running, but slowly got better and by his senior year of track, he was conference champ in the mile and 2 mile and qualified for state in the mile. Who knows how good of a baseball player he would have been, but he is happy with the choice he made.
Avocado's Number wrote:
Chess.
When I was about 24 years old, I gave up tournament chess because I wanted to focus more on running. No regrets about that choice.
Did you have a FIDE rating?
I beat John McEnroe in a tennis match.
Beat tiger Woods in a playoff
Won three indy races.
Was world rally champion
Then I got my nuts caught in a sewing machine and was forced into retirement.
Was a far better Soccer player. Chose running because I thought focusing on just running would make me better at it than I was at Soccer. Didn't turn out that way. Being a runner was a large reason why I was good at Soccer though.
I could of probably gone pro in the tri, just like most of the half-descent runners on this boeard.
20 min 5k guy wrote:
I beat John McEnroe in a tennis match.
Beat tiger Woods in a playoff
Won three indy races.
Was world rally champion
Then I got my nuts caught in a sewing machine and was forced into retirement.
Yeah, but does your dog love you? I mean REALLY love you?
U.S. Chess Federation rating of about 2200 in the early 1980s, when I stopped playing. I'd guess that my USCF rating back then would be similar to a FIDE rating of about 2200 today.
Avocado's Number wrote:
U.S. Chess Federation rating of about 2200 in the early 1980s, when I stopped playing. I'd guess that my USCF rating back then would be similar to a FIDE rating of about 2200 today.
Wow, good job!
Thanks. :)
The chess world is a pretty bizarre subculture. I love the game, but I'm confident that running was much healthier for me -- physically, socially, and psychologically.