Early in the pandemic, we canceled our membership to the YMCA and bought a treadmill. It was more than just a Dick’s Sporting Goods treadmill—we were told it was a grade just below a gym treadmill. For a year or so, it worked fine. But then it developed some curious traits. The deck seemed toContinue reading “Treadmill, Deadmill, Dreadmill”
Tag Archives: Fitness
Let Us Now Praise Track Athletes
Graham had a dual meet on Tuesday against nearby track rival Marshfield. His buddy Jack, a sophomore on his team, had been promising to beat him in the eight hundred, and finally they squared off. With three hundred meters to go, Graham passed Jack, but on the final curve, Jack ran Graham down. I wasContinue reading “Let Us Now Praise Track Athletes”
Is Graham a Psychopath? Nevermind
Lauren was on afternoon pickup duty Thursday, but Graham texted 3:20 that track hadn’t even started yet. The coaches had a department meeting and were supposed to arrive by 3. That was going to cause a conflict with a meeting Lauren had, so I wound up on driving duty. I imagine the coaches weren’t inContinue reading “Is Graham a Psychopath? Nevermind”
Tinder Hour at the Gym
Lindsay is now way deep into knee rehab, and Lock Haven seems the greatest place to do it. The school is full of people doing degrees in physical therapy and similar health-care specialties, so Lindsay does two days at an official practice off-campus and two on-campus with the training staff. She had originally been toldContinue reading “Tinder Hour at the Gym”
How Lauren Is Helping Me Accelerate My Weight Loss Journey
On Sunday, I was in the front yard playing with Dobby when Lauren texted me. L: I’m working on the grocery order for tomorrow. Do you need anything? G: Chicken, steak tips, and vegetables. The stuff I use to prep for lunches. L: Okay Simple enough. I start off weeks by cutting up a bunchContinue reading “How Lauren Is Helping Me Accelerate My Weight Loss Journey”
Dobby Wins a Race; So Does Graham
With Lauren still in Pennsylvania and just Graham home with me, you’d think we’d be in for a Saturday of sleeping in. And you would be wrong. The high school hosts an annual run for suicide prevention, and the expectation is that all the track athletes compete. I also signed up with little intention ofContinue reading “Dobby Wins a Race; So Does Graham”
Lauren Is Armed with Gyatt as a Weapon
We spent Saturday at Lock Haven University to watch Lindsay and her teammates compete in the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Region 1 Championships. Wrestling tournaments are somewhat like amusement parks: hours of walking around or sitting and staring punctuated by bursts of terror and occasional thrills. Lindsay wound up placing seventh and on the podium—aContinue reading “Lauren Is Armed with Gyatt as a Weapon”
Our Ghost Likes Brooklyn Drill
A few weeks ago I was scrolling Facebook on my laptop and came upon some recommended reels. The first was a super fit girl hitting a golf ball. I clicked it. I have no memory of it was demonstrating or entertaining about—its song knocked me out. But I had never heard it and needed toContinue reading “Our Ghost Likes Brooklyn Drill”
Riverboat Gambler Graham
This weekend is the biggest betting weekend of the year. The American Gaming Association estimates that $23.1 billion will be bet on the Big Game. FanDuel has literally hundreds of prop bets you can “invest” in, ranging from the length of the National Anthem (folks, it’s prerecorded—someone already knows how long it is!) to theContinue reading “Riverboat Gambler Graham”
That’s Not What He Wanted to Cook
Sunday was the statewide indoor relays—all relays, no individual events. Graham was assigned to the distance medley relay, as were three other freshmen. A team stacked with four freshmen is not likely to be a main contender, and indeed, they were seeded twenty-first in the field and put in the slow heat. The medley relayContinue reading “That’s Not What He Wanted to Cook”
His Smile Lit Up a Room and Other Things to Say at My Funeral 