Action Packed Saturdays

The joys of Saturdays during the baseball and softball seasons; the fun commences today and runs for the next few months. I do need to find another gym that opens earlier than the gym I am currently attended because these Saturdays are packed filled with the children’s activities. This morning I had enough time for the workout before all the activities. I was out the door as everyone was still sleeping as I headed to the gym. I had a great workout and this was the first “official” run of the new marathon training regime.

I had a 14 mile run that I ran the first 7 miles much slower than the last 7 miles. This is something I intend on doing all throughout the training program because it was those ladder stages where I failed to “finish” the race. Yes, it was only a 14 mile run and there are times where I wonder how I have finished all those marathons but today was one of those good days. I was humming along and that “rhythm” was there all throughout the run.

I returned home and since my son and daughter had practice at the same time my wife took my daughter while I took my son. This was the routine in the fall as I helped coach my son’s baseball team. I had hoped to help out with my daughter’s team but as I mentioned before her team is well stocked with coaches so I went with my son to his practice. I thought I would help out with his team but his team is also well stocked with coaches. I’m not sure if I liked the fact of just being a spectator but with my new position it would be very difficult for me to be at the practices during the week. It only makes sense for the coaches who volunteered to take the lead while I learn how to be a spectator.

I was a spectator for the practice and I was quite impressed with the practice. The coaches had the boys engaged the entire time and from what I saw there are kids who know what they are doing. The coach was hitting ground balls to the boys and these weren’t easy ground balls and player after player came up with the ground balls. This was very cool and it should be a very exciting season. My son did don the catcher’s gear and he helped warm up the players who wanted to try their hand at pitching. He caught the five players and my son had his own assessment of those players telling me that two of them were “really good!” This is his first season catching for a regular pitcher as opposed to the pitching machine. He seems to like the kid pitch since the kids don’t throw as hard as the machine. My son did very well and he is still excited to be a catcher.

The practice was over but my son’s day on the field wasn’t over. He went from the baseball diamond to the football field for his last game of the flag football game of the season. The season has been cut short with all the rain we have had over the past month. There is one more official game next Saturday but that is opening day for the baseball season. He will be at the opening day and unfortunately I won’t be in attendance as I will be in Colorado visiting with my sister as she celebrates her 40th birthday along with seeing my mother and older sister. I am happy to be going next weekend but sad to miss opening day for both my daughter and son’s teams. I do know that there will be many more games over the next few months and my sister only turns 40 once. It will be a great weekend all around and today was a great start to the weekend.

My son’s football game didn’t go too well for his team. My son made a few nice plays but didn’t score any touchdowns. His team only scored one touchdown and has had a tough season. My son does love running around and I know he wanted to score another touchdown. This will have to wait until next year as he turns his sights on baseball. The football game was winding down as my wife and daughter arrived after my daughter’s softball practice. She had a good practice and the busy Saturday on the fields was coming to an end. The rest of the day was filled with relaxation and a “date” for my wife and me. The “date” night was great and I will write more on that tomorrow.