Doing What I Should, and Feeling Good About It

I watched the final out of the World Series with my two kids on my lap. They couldn't understand my excitement, but were amused at my reactions and the celebrations on the field. Even though I told them how rare Game 7 is and how the bottom of the 9th inning is such great drama, they are 3 and 5 and they just nodded to humor me. It was great.

Before that, I watched a few innings while running on the treadmill. Yep, I went to the gym even though I had lots of good reasons not to, and it was probably the second best part of my day. 3.02 miles in 36 minutes. 5.1 mph pace, faster than I usually run (but nowhere near as fast as I want to be able to run) and my sinuses magically felt great for the whole run. The kids, though they were rushed from one daycare to another, love they daycare gym and were completely cool with some gym time. 

My brother, who is a huge Giants fan, and I were texting during the game. 

The Verlander comment is because I am a huge Tiger fan. We actually went to Game 1 of the World Series in San Fran 2 years ago, which was a great bucket-list thing to do for both of us, but was much sweeter for him than me because of how the Giants dismantled Verlander and the Tigers on the way to a sweep. 

I'm a huge sports fan. The culture of sports, the physical stress of fandom, is ridiculous. It makes no difference in my life whether my team's are amazing or terrible, but year after year I live and die with them. Being a fan of Detroit sports, time and again I realize there is far more disappointment than reward. I take pride in being a fan that has never abandoned my teams, and it has been sweet that I can enjoy the Tigers' the past several years when I supported them in the lean lean lean years. I remember going to old Tiger Stadium on a rainy day to see them play the equally hapless Royals. There had to be less than 3,000 people there. 

That trip to the World Series two years ago made me wonder if being a sports fan was good for me. It is a matter of priorities. Sure, there is nothing wrong with rooting for a team. But a team losing shouldn't ruin your day or add to the stress in your life. It shouldn't be an excuse to drink, or cause you to get into a fight, or ruin a once in a lifetime trip with your brother. It's one thing to know something in your mind, and sometimes another thing to feel things in your heart. 

I think I've gotten better at this the past few years (and I'm sure the teams in Detroit are going to give me a lot more practice in the future). That is why I am proud of yesterday. I could have gotten a sitter and went to a sports bar to soak in the gravity of the epic Game 7. Granted, my brother lives in North Carolina and I am in Arizona, so there wasn't a temptation to go drink with him. Still, I'm sure I could have gone to Buffalo Wild Wings, ordered some wings and had a few beers, and I would have had a great time. Instead, while this game was on I was at work, then at the gym, then with my kids. A year ago I would have felt like I missed out, now I think I probably enjoyed the game even more because I didn't invest hours into it, taking away from what should be my priorities. 

Today I'm feeling a little better. I'm definitely less stressed because I got to the gym yesterday and because Claire is back tomorrow. I'm down to 242.8. Whoopie, I guess. I'm glad I'm losing weight but I guess the next number I'm excited for is 215, and at the rate I am going it is going to be a while before I get there. 236.5 will be cool because I'll officially be down 50, but I'm already proud of where I am at, and I'm not too concerned about the number on the scale. I'm focusing more on staying locked in nutritionally and setting goals for my upcoming races. Which reminds me, I registered for the Rock n' Roll 10k in January and the Phoenix 1/2 Marathon in February! Now to plan my training. The Half Marathon is 120 days away!