Starting line

Well, you have to start somewhere, right? I am now officially certifiable(ly crazy) and will be skating with about 1,200 other crazies in a roller skating “race” from Athens to Atlanta in October. Some are all-out nuts and will be going 87 miles, the whole way. Some are non-committal or only half-crazy and will do the “double marathon” length, 52 miles. I am wimping out and will attempt to skate 38 miles. Seeing as how I have only wobbled around an indoor rink at my roller birthday parties my daughters have been invited to, this will be quite an undertaking. I have spent my daughters’ lives explaining that girls/women can do anything they put their mind to. Hoping to have them grow up with a healthy self-esteem (worked so far) and a shot at a healthy, well-balanced life. I was so busy pushing the importance of strong women, I forgot to tell them that a man can do anything as well! Well, here we go! This is where the rubber hits the road (literally). I have committed to the A2A in October and bought my skates already. Chris at Kate’s rink in Gastonia proved wildly competent and set me up with my shiny new Riedell R3 skates. Even threw in his own personal outdoor wheels, so I can start to practice before I drop another $100 in real wheels and bearings of my own. Genuinely nice guy. Ordered a basic helmet and deluxe pads for elbows, knees and wrists. Not so naive (or coordinated) that I don’t think I will be hitting the ground occasionally. But with this highly rated set of pads I bought off Amazon, I should be able to get back up. And if my $15 helmet breaks the first time I attempt night skating (more on my unusual work/sleep schedule later), I’ll just buy a new one. I did attempt to go to the work out room last night, but could not find the key to our fitness center. Hmmmmm, is that subconscious avoidance of the inevitable? So I walked around the complex for 30 minutes. More exercise that most people are engaging in at 1AM, right? So I start…ahead of the curve.