Treadmills are Boring

There is one sure way to get me to exercise. Organize a game of anything that involves two teams playing against each other. Send out an email asking for participants and I will be there. Soccer, I'm there. Softball, I'm there. Team thumb twiddling, count me in!

I've loved team sports since I was kid. I'm sure that my parents remember all the different sports that I needed to play when I was younger (which they paid for and drove me to). I don't know why, but individual sports never appealed to me as much. I do like golfing, but that's more of a "get out with the guys" activity than a sport for me. I certainly don't like going to the gym and walking/running on a monotonous treadmill or going to a track and running in circles.

As I get older, I am lucky to get out and play one game of football a year (Turkey Bowl!). The muscles ache bad after the day of annual exertion. One aspect of my assignment that I've loved has been playing 5-on-5 soccer on Monday/Tuesday nights. I sucked early on, but my play has gotten much better - specifically in goal. However, I still have two left feet when trying to dribble and pass.

My goal keeper skills have won me the starting position for an 11-on-11 grudge match between my company and the hotel where we're working. Next Tuesday night we'll see if I can translate my skills from a small, artificial pitch to a large, grass pitch. I don't have any cleats with me, so I'm not predicting a particularly good showing. Also, I have to protect a goal that is much, much bigger.

Wish me luck!