There's a javelin in my office

This summer I signed my daughter up for a track club. It is run by a family friend of ours who is nationally treasured in the track community and is an incredible woman. The club met for the first time and I saw my daughter take to the events of the day like a fish to water. She ran, jumped, and flew around like she was programmed for it.

I felt like a scout looking for the next generation of athletes to take and train through their growing years to one day be Olympians the way some countries do. Well, instead I talked with my daughter about the events and how she felt. She liked them! Even wanted to keep going!

That week again I had the feeling like I was pushing her towards something maybe I wanted her to do? Is that because I wanted her to be good at something I could have been good at? I never went out for track and field as a kid. Back then I didn't see myself as an athlete.

I started a dialogue with my dad, a 3 time Olympian in the Hammer throw, who at 69 is heading to Finland next week to compete and will most likely win for his age group in the World Masters Championship Games. I wanted to know about the events, and asked him to take me out to throw a few things. I threw the javelin, discus and hammer. Not far, but enough to see for myself that I can do something that would put me right in the competition if I wanted.

That's the question... do I want it? I could start competing in the women's masters category 35-39 in all three events, or one. Do I want my name called? To feel the anxiety, the butterflies of not knowing if my throws will go out of the sector? Step past the circle or over the line?

I set a goal for next summer to enter the Master's Nationals in Sacramento. I have been to so many meets as a spectator, but never been in one myself. I will start practicing, training a bit, and gearing up over the next year to see what I can do. It needs to be 3 things though and I have no doubt it will be:

1. fun
2. challenging
3. rewarding

For the past month I have watched my daughter run in All Comers meets and I can see some older folks who are competing as masters and I think, cool. They are getting out there. Now that I have the life experience to know I have nothing to lose, I too will get myself out there.

If my daughter loves track and field as she grows up I will be ecstatic. I love track and field. If she moves on to something else, it's ok. She will have her own journey. I have found a new one for me.