Friday, June 3, 2016

Run, Emma, Run!


I never have been able to run well. As a child I was awkward and slower than the rest of the kids. Because I was not graceful my ankles would twist and slow me down even more. It still happens.

As a child I was active. I liked to play tag and other running games. Football, basketball, and baseball were sports I liked too. Those are the ones that require running.

I barely passed the 50 yard dash time for President Kennedy's fitness challenge. And I do mean barely.

So I learned very early that if I was playing baseball I would have to hit the ball hard and far to make it safely to base. I am a good batter. I do hit it far and hard. I usually make it to first base.

As an adult I have been on a few softball teams. Softball is similar to baseball. For some reason women are expected to play softball rather than baseball. Do not ask. I have no idea why.

One softball team I was a part of was pretty good. It consisted of many women who were younger than me. One of them was even a physical education major in her last year of college. I managed to hold my own most of the time.

There was one day in particular that sticks in my mind.

I was up to bat. I hit the ball way out to right field. I managed to make it to first base.

The phys ed major was batting next.  She also hit the ball long and hard. I started to run to second base. I made it. Unfortunately the phys ed major was right behind me.

I ran at my top speed toward third base. With the phys ed major breathing down my neck all the way.

I had to keep running after I touched third base because the phys ed major was ready to touch the bag too. And of course we could not both be on third base. So I kept running.

The phys ed major stayed right behind me. She was not quite touching me but she was close. I wheezed all the way to home plate with the phys ed major right behind me.

She hit an in the park home run. It took me until the next inning before I was breathing normally again.

It seems that if I am forced I can run a little.

16 comments:

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    1. I am not sure if I was afraid of have a heart attack or if I was afraid the phys ed teacher would run right over the top of me. You would have laughed at me as I did.

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  2. Life forces us at times to run above our ability. You did it! Good for you!

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    1. I never thought of it as me achieving something other than not getting run over. Thank you.

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  3. Great tale to share. Have a nice weekend!

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  4. Excellent descriptive writing, Emma! As I recall, I was famous in school for my spectacular foul balls --on the diamond, not the locker room (oh, how could you?)-- but sometimes I'd bat one over fielders' heads and clear the bases. I could hit just about any pitch but my aim was never any good. As an adult, I always preferred softball to hardball --a more friendly game.

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    1. I like baseball better but softball is a good game too. My oldest granddaughter was so good that she got a scholarship to college. She is the biggest athlete But everyone has a sport that is their favorite.

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  5. Run, Emma, run.

    Oh no, I start my virtual theater again.

    Oh there.

    Run, Emma, Run.

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    Replies
    1. I need to catch my breath now. I was breathing hard just writing about it.

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  6. Dear Emma, that reminds me of a friend from school-days: She often was late, whenever there was a date - but she managed to run like a chetah when she had to catch the tram for school.

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  7. About the only running I do is to the buffet in order to fill my plate up before everyone else...

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  8. What a fun story. I could picture that.

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