Religion, Rounding the Bases and Running

On Thursday my son had asked if we could go out to our friends’ restaurant and instead of taking the pizza home that we could actually stay at the restaurant and eat. I thought this was a very good idea and last night we went as a family plus another good friend had joined us. I thought we would all get our requisite “free” pizza but this wasn’t the case. My son was in the mood for pasta, my daughter was in the mood for ravioli and my wife was in the mood for one of the daily specials. I did opt for the free pizza but our normally inexpensive venture to our dear friends’ restaurant was much more expensive than I certainly anticipated. I was happy to be with my family and our friend last night so the cost wasn’t that big of a deal. I do find it a bit hard to fathom how the restaurant was busy for the evening in this economy and I am starting to realize that there are certain sectors in this economy that very well may remain busy throughout this recession.

Dinner was very good and also took much longer than I thought it would. We were there for close to two hours talking and finally it was time to go home for the evening. Today would be the regular day on the “diamond” with softball and baseball games so we all needed a good night’s rest. I have joined a gym that is open 24 hours and one of the reasons I joined the gym was for the weekends so I could get in a workout before the day’s activities commenced. I had good intentions but I didn’t get to sleep until much later than usual and I was scheduled for a 20 mile run which meant I had to get up very early in order to be back home to start the day with my family.

The wee hour was upon me and I just couldn’t drag myself out of bed. I had a backup knowing the day’s events would be over around early afternoon and with nothing scheduled later on in the day I could actually get my 20 mile run in at that time. I opted for the backup plan since I did need the rest but was still up early to get my daughter off to her softball game. She had a doubleheader (two consecutive softball games) this morning and it was the early morning variety. My son did have a game as well but his game was cancelled (for him that is) because he was celebrating one of the sacraments in the Catholic religion. He was making his sacrament of reconciliation (confession in lay terms) this morning which coincided with his baseball game. This did take priority and my wife and I did attend minus my daughter who was at her softball game.

Thankfully my wife had some “inside” information regarding the reconciliation because had she not had this information it would have been a long morning. My wife was suggested that she arrive early and sit in the first row because those who arrive early get to leave early while those who arrive late leave much later. I took my daughter to her softball game and met my wife and son at the church where they did arrive early and did sit in the front row. The ceremony was a few minutes late upon starting but the advice my wife was given was perfect. We were indeed the first one called on and subsequently the first one to depart the services. If the ceremony had started on time my son could have made his baseball game only being a few minutes late but we didn’t prepare for that anyhow. I did feel bad for those who arrived later because based on the size of the audience getting through everyone would take a few hours. Instead of a few hours we were done in a matter of minutes and headed off to my daughter’s softball game.

I’m not sure if it is fair to say that the “Bad News Bears” don’t have anything on my daughter’s softball team. They have played four games up until today and have lost all four games and judging by the quality of their two opponents today they would be 0 for 6 by the end of the day. Yes, they did lose both games but my daughter pitched well in both of the games. She is coming into her own and we had a little one on one session with a private pitching coach last night who complimented my daughter on being fundamentally sound. She does need practice and with seeing the pitching coach she will get the direction she does crave. My daughter is excited about playing softball but I can see her team in wearing on her but no matter she is improving with every game and reached base each time she came up to bat today. She is a little competitor and I know she wants to win but as long as she is doing well and improving her mood is wonderful. In spite of losing both games she had a big smile on her face after pitching very well.

The children’s activities had ended and I was able to fit in the 20 mile run. I would like to say that the 20 mile run was easy but that just wasn’t the case. I think it was easier than some previous 20 mile runs but I could feel myself fading as I entered that last mile. I was able to do the last 10 miles faster than the first 10 miles and this is one of the changes I have made in my training program. I was feeling very good through the run but that last mile which does translate to those last 6 miles in the marathon. I just need to hold on to a slighter slower pace and I will accomplish that 3:20 minute time goal in order to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I have another 6 weeks to go before the next marathon and I do hope this will be the one but I have a few more training runs and whatever will happen will happen. Yes, this will be great but today being with my family is greater and this is what matters most.