Tag: tennis

celebrations, dare to be different

31 Days: The 2025 Edition

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Oh the beautiful life we are given and the blank slate we have to write our story as we live each day. For this reason and many more I am continuing my tradition of my list of 31. The list that summarizes a glimpse of my month or 31 days each year. It’s fun to see what makes the list, but it’s just as fun to review the lists of years past.

It’s a great way for me to see that I am constantly evolving and also for others to take a peek and see if they are stuck in a way or maybe want to feel enlightened to try x, y or z. I’m always moving forward but I’m always looking back to remember how far I’ve come. 

1-I put a property under contract.

2-I closed on said property.

3-I planned a relocation.

4-i planned a trip.

5-I booked a massage.

6-I ate brunch with friends.

7-I made some new friends.

8-I read a new book.

9-I did some writing.

10-I did some strategic planning.

11-I made some donations.

12-I had many hard conversations.

13-I dealt with plenty of adversity personally and professionally.

14-I played tennis in the frigid cold.

15-I was a Good Samaritan in an ice storm.

16-I played in snow not once but twice.

17-I spent time with my mom being silly.

18-I spoiled my dogs.

19-I got a BIG ASS calendar for 2025.

20-I spent a lot of money.

21-I watched Trump take his presidency.

22-I went to North Carolina.

23-I was assigned Lori as my tennis alter ego.

24-I dealt with a leaky windshield for the first time ever in a car.

25-I sold two motorcycles.

26-I ate some good home cooked meals.

27-I initiated several new projects.

28-I learned how to connect a stove to a smart house.

29-I worked hard to bring home the bacon.

30-I played equally hard outside the workplace.

31- I started the countdown to retire.

This year I didn’t really elaborate on any of the 31 items. Not really sure why I kept it simple, but I just did. When I reflect on my state of mind this month I’m summing it up as happy. 

I’m a at peace with so many things in life. I’m finally settled into the role of empty nester. It has been a process to get fully untethered, but it was worth the wait I suppose.

The blue skies.

The less travelled road.

The quiet car rides to new destinations.

The allure of chasing the new in life.

The freeing feeling of letting go of things.

The warmth of a good cup of coffee and

the ambiance that it’s entangled with.

Just a few notes for me to recall down the road. Nothing fancy, but a blissful state of mind. Off I go into the sunset somewhere day dreaming of what’s near but also what’s far. Just a day in my life to share.

#TinkRuns2024

My Recovery from 26.2

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Well my recovery started at the finish line when I chugged my chocolate milk. Gone in two seconds!

Then there was walk to the car. The pitiful everything is tight stroll. The shower where you find out all the chafing spots that sting or burn like crazy. These effects will undoubtedly linger for days in the annoying spots you didn’t think to protect.

Then time to eat like a pig. Real food. Real fast. More food. Just a short time later. Hydrate. Relax. Savor the memories. Check the photo reel to relive the experience. So therapeutic. A little massaging or rolling of sore spots. 

Tylenol and Advil. A little more chocolate milk. Light stretching. Then the 4/5 hour car ride home. Not ideal to sit but I did get out midway to stretch and used a small roller ball on my legs while I drove.

I did acquire a massive blister on the ball of my right foot and a small blister under my right toe which may or may not make me sacrifice a nail. Time will tell. The blister on the bottom of the foot is a nuisance but should be out of the way before you know it.

Sleep. Solid sleep overnight. Monday had arrived. A recovery night sleep in my own bed has very much helped my recovery overall. Moving pretty well today. Just nourishing and babying my body the next few days. A little shake out ride on the bike erg to keep the body moving today but to keep me off my feet. A little light bench press to engage the upper body. Compression leg sleeves time each day as well to help with inflammation and circulation.

Solid sleep rolling to Tuesday. Making sure I eat and or drink a good amount of protein today to help with recovery. More stretching. Wednesday has arrived. Back to tennis on the courts. Legs are feeling pretty good. Foot is maybe 85% recovered from blistering. Life goes on post marathon.

I rotated rest and light workouts every other day for the first week after the marathon. I focused on sleep and nutrition including protein and veggies. All worked out and I’d say I’ve been more sore from a CrossFit workout than a marathon.

Thanks for following along on my race journey. I hope a tidbit I shared may help you in your first marathon quest especially if you try it after age 50. Patience. Grace. Determination. That’s really all it takes to live through a marathon.

Recovery my way consisted of rest, relaxation, reflection and smart eating choices. I kept it simple. I resumed my normal routine the following week. My blister even healed!

The end of the marathon series. Now on to a new challenge for the mind, body and spirit.

adventure

NYC and the US Open

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The US Open 2023 in New York City. What an amazing experience it was. From the moment I entered the event to the moment I left I was in awe. As a friend said to me, the Open will just not be the same moving forward on TV after being here in person. True statement.

Let’s start with this photo. Equal prize money. Enough said. Coco earned it! But as I reflect on my day at the Open, I can’t not talk about wheelchair tennis. Amazing to watch in person. The strength and focus required to serve. The tenacity and grit to roll and hit a ball on one side of the court and immediately shuffle to the opposite side for the next. It’s fantastic to see up close. The facial expressions. The sounds. The celebrations but also the defeats. I was was watching juniors on this day making it more powerful given the age and maturity of these athletes. Made me want to do better in all things I do daily without those limitations.

Of course I needed to share the street art as well. Capturing NYC, its culture and the sport of tennis all in one. Now back to the details of the event. Thank you American Express for your hospitality area and all the cool things to do as part of the fan experience.

A little digital glow tennis. A shoe cleaning station. Some freebie sunscreen. Free customization on your keepsake items. Free charging station which was a midday must for me. An air conditioned hang out space to refresh and recharge. A terrace view of some tennis for lay people to try new racquets. Maybe even some time to sip on one of the fabulous Open cocktails. The Honey Deuce was a fan favorite by far. The commemorative glass with the historical title wins was an added bonus. The iced version was an amazing cool down in the moment as well. They even had fancy straws to take home with cleaning brushes in a nice straw sack. Again thank you American Express. You did sponsor the event well.

I couldn’t not write about the cryo facial that American Express offered its cardholders. A special perk that was well worth it. A first for me but it definitely won’t be a last. If you haven’t tried a cryo facial, you should! And one last big win for American Express: free use of radios. Show your card and pick up a little radio for your ear attached to a lanyard for easy on/off use. A great way to hear up-to-the-minute commentator words amongst the roars of the crowd. One ear on the radio. One ear on the live crowd.

The matches in the Arthur Ashe Stadium were action packed. Of course I was cheering for Coco who ultimately took home the title but being there I cheered for all the amazing efforts and winning points on both sides. We even sat through a one hour delay during the Gauff match thanks to fossil fuel protestors. One of which glued their feet to the ground. I can’t even make that story line up. The ambiance within the stadium was awesome. The open ceiling. The neon lights. The game clock. The stats board. The serve speeds. The people. The fans. The reactions. All of it! An A-plus experience.

I hope I have the chance to be a super tennis fan again in the future. Whether it’s the is Open or another big event I will be first to say yes to the experience. I traveled with a new group this time around. I had a blast. We were bonded by love for tennis and our adventurous spirits. Find your people. Expand your horizons. Try something new. Go. Go. Go. Don’t let fear hold you back from enjoyment.

That’s my Open story. Women’s semi-finals. September 7, 2023. I was part of Coco Gauff’s history making. Feeling lucky to have been there. Proud of all the tennis Coco played to make it to the top!

adventure, fitness and nutrition

Pickled

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Ever been in a pickle? 

I have been in many pickles or jams. I’m not even sure why one refers to a situation in that way. Nonetheless I was asked by a friend to play pickleball and of course I jumped at the chance. Why not? I enjoy a good pickle. It’s the hot trendy thing too, isn’t it?

I had really no clue other than it looked like a cross between ping pong and tennis. Of course that’s how they came up with the name pickleball. Pretty funny to me but I went to trusty old amazon and ordered a starter set of paddles and balls. Bounced a few around my driveway with an unwilling soul. I can do this. I got a feel for the ball and the paddle. It’s all good. 

Hopped on to YouTube and watched a few videos. Skimmed the rule books online. Eew the scoring sounds weird. Not at all like tennis. Who makes this stuff up? Who picked the ball for that matter?  Good lord I have to learn record keeping on top of the game itself. Oh well. I said I would play so I will.

I’m on a team of strangers. All new faces. All different ages and abilities. Talk about a fish out of water. It’s okay I can make friends easily. First practice is called. The team votes for learning vs. competition. Oh no. That’s new for me. I’m super competitive. I showed up and it was so much fun! The scoring was much simpler in practical application than reading it. The game is fast paced. The strategy is as interesting as the kitchen.

Yes, I said the kitchen. Who decided the area by the net is the no no zone anyway? sort of cracks me up. The kitchen has rules of entry. It’s easy to accidentally enter the kitchen especially if you are hyped up in a game and don’t have great body and spatial awareness. It’s sort of fun to watch and I’m not referring to me. Stay out of the kitchen. Easy for me I hate to cook anyway so the rule is simple for me to comprehend. Do not enter. 

Sweat fest is how I would describe my first day on the small court. Day two would be sufficed as the same. Day three was game day. I was playing mixed doubles for the first time with a partner that was new to me. That in itself brings challenges. Then add the newness of the game and our inexperience and boom we lost all three games. I even sweated hearts on the court. See picture below for a giggle. Despite losing I couldn’t wait to play again. Also the sweat session is no joke. It’s the type of sweat where you must immediately change and shower. 95 degree heat could be a factor, too.

We improved each time but we lost as a whole. What an experience. I’m so ready for more. This may be my new summer addiction. Not only am I getting a workout but I’m getting challenged in multiple ways. It’s also new enough in my area that I can share my knowledge with friends.

This is just a fun post to hype you up to try something new. Go get a paddle. Find a friend to hit with. Join the pickleball craze, but don’t break anything.  When you’re ready, join a team. It’s a lot of fun, I promise. And a friendly reminder don’t break anything. Medical professionals maybe ready to cash in on injuries! 

Knee replacements are the prediction. I’m sure due to many older folks showing an interest. Couch to pickle ball.  A sure way to get injured. Why not? Life is short.

challenges, change

Oh My Aches

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Well 50 has been glorious thus far. So many aches creep up after the big 5-0. Today, I thought I would jot a few down.

The tennis ache: I have a love hate relationship with this kind of ache. I love tennis. I hate the ache in my forearm from overuse. A year ago the ache seemed insignificant. Could the big 5-0 really cause aches?

The CrossFit ache: this ache comes and goes depending on the programming of movements and/or the frequency of my attendance on a regular basis. The ache however is the same. It’s a graduating ache. You must move to keep the tightness from settling in any one place, especially the buttocks. Nobody likes a tight ass. Consistency helps with this ache but age does enlighten you when evaluating aches.

The knee ache: this one is ever so annoying. I can walk. I can bend. I can ride a bike. However, if I sit in a plane seat or a car seat for any length of time my knee is locked. The unlocking part leaves a lingering pain deep inside. Could this be old age? I have no idea what a bad knee feels like but now that I’m fifty I think about it.

Although there are physical aches, there are also emotional and social aches. The social aches come and go with time conflicts and scheduling for adults. Those who want to spend time together but then schedules and life gets in the way. The emotional aches can swing from one side to the other.

One side of the emotional ache could be with growth. Watching your child or young adult grow or not grow. The other side could be emotional aches resulting from the loss of loved ones near and far. Add that 5-0 menopausal self and you might get a an emotional wreck, front and center.

Environmental aches sneak up on you too. The annoying neighbor. The boss who is a pain. The co-worker who slacks causing you extra work.  The weather might even throw you off or makes your aches worse if it’s cold or rainy. One seems easily shaken or disturbed as into that crotchety self over fifty.

I never used to notice aches and pains as much as I have this year. Menopause. Aging. Life. It all hits at once. Or so it seems to me. My forty-five year old self was so much more indestructible. My forty-seven year old self was so adventurous. My fifty and challenged self is changing daily. Likes. Dislikes. Wants. Don’t wants. Needs. No’s. Do’s. Dont’s. I can’t even name them all because change is on the horizon, daily. I also think snoring magnifies over 50.

As I write today, I think of how much I enjoy the still of my day today. The fall air. The cool breeze. The comfy sweatpants. As day shifts to night, I will enjoy something different. The outdoors. The giggles. The challenges. The competition. I hit the field tonight with my new team. I will enjoy some fall memories with this group that will surely keep me on my toes and easily make me forget my aches of the ages.

For now I focus on moving as much as I can and as often as I can. I try to stretch my mind to try new things to counter balance my aging. I often remember to giggle. I also disregard those around me who attempt to suck the life out of me. This is a necessary step to keep the other aches at bay.

Nobody wants to add heartache or worse on top of the other aches I listed above. Well not me anyway. Time to throw my frisbees to my dogs and breathe fresh air.