On the 4th of July, Truckee has a run called the Firecracker Mile that kicks off the annual 4th of July parade… Typically, participants will be decked out in USA apparel celebrating America’s B Day…
A couple days before, I just so happened to come across a red, white, and blue shirt that read; “Sky’s Out Thighs Out.”
Obviously, it only seemed natural to pair the shirt with my American Flag speedo… Duh. 🙄
So, on the morning of the 4th, I went blazing down Donner Pass Road with only 2 goals in mind:
- Run as fast as I can for 5 minutes
- Keep my package tucked in
Both were a success. 👍
The next day, I got wind of a public personality that apparently trolled my social media accounts and didn’t appreciate the run for old’ glory…
Basically, this person is sick and tired of seeing me do these goofy “look at me” runs, and he doesn’t care or want to hear about how many of the endurance endeavors are for charity…
Fair enough.
Look, I understand where somebody like this person could be coming from… I obviously put myself out there by competing in these endurance events, and sometimes, my outfits and or promotion of the events through social media is too much for self righteous, take themselves too serious, holier than thou persons to handle…
Whether it is an Ironman, a 100-Mile run, a triathlon across the country, or a 24 hour speed golf world record event, when we do something out of the ordinary, we naturally are going to draw attention to ourselves… Then if we try to add some fun into it by wearing a fish taco costume or an American Flag Speedo with a “Sky’s Out Thighs Out” tank top, we may even offend people…
One thing I have learned in the endurance sports world is that we are all much better off when we smile in the face of the struggle… Personally, I am fueled when I see people dress up in whacked out costumes, so every now and again I feel like I should return the favor…
Bottom line is that regardless if 1 other person pays attention or gives two f*cks about any endurance event that I do, I am going to do it anyway… The physical and psychological benefits of these events are what allow me to CHARGE the journey of life…
That said, it just makes sense to me to use this platform to try to inspire and encourage people of all ages to keep moving…
Regardless if this public figure doesn’t care about charity, WE DO.
In just over a year since the creation of the LTP Foundation, we have handed out over 50 grants and $100,000 to youth activity organizations across the country and have watched first hand how impactful even small amounts of money can have on getting kids active…
Ironically, the day before, my 7 year old happened to come home from camp in tears saying there was an older bully in camp that was mean and hated him… The other kid called him names and made fun of his haircut and the way he talked (Colton has yet to grow out of the kid style Boston accent many kids deal with). This was my response…
“Look here young GO HARD… My entire life I have been made fun of and ridiculed because people don’t like the way I look and/or the way I talk… Many people didn’t like the way I played baseball and there are even some people who think the only reason I do any of my Ironman’s, 100-mile races, the Tri Across America or the Speed Golf World Record is solely to get people to ‘look at me.’ “
Colton’s Response: “But Daddy… It’s about Let Them Play.”
“I know young Jedi, but not everybody is always going to understand your intentions, and why would they? They are not you… So long as you are authentic and live your life with passion, purpose and a genuine caring spirit, you will be able to have an incredible positive influence on other people in your life…”
The reality though is that there are jealous, mean and hateful people in this world that will attempt to do everything in their power to try to get you to share in their miserable, pathetic, bottom dwelling life sucking pessimistic lives…
Although it may be difficult at times, what we do with these people is we thank them…
The kid interjected once again: “Why would we thank them Daddy?”
“We thank them because they are the ones that help inspire our positive actions by being narcissistic condescending pricks that remind us exactly how NOT to act. Their pitiful and disgusting actions show us what D-Bags they are and by the sheer nature of the yin and yang of life, it’s these sack-less f*ck-o’s that lead us to being optimistic energy giving humble servants to all mankind… These people are the little bitty weenies that talk shit while hiding behind some fake ass tough guy persona… The obvious reality that we all know and can see is that these penis faced pussies are incredibly insecure because they haven’t done a single f*cking thing of REAL significance in their entire lives… Their desperate hope to hang on to any sort of self worth is by trying to verbally bully the people in the arena who continue to work hard doing what they can to spread positivity and love… And of course, we know its a BAD idea to EVER f*ck with the man in the arena…”
With a look of astonishment, amazement and joy on his face, possibly from the choice language, this was the 7 year olds response:
“Oh yea Daddy!!! And remember what our 26th President Teddy Roosevelt said about the man in the arena!?!?!?!”
Damn f*cking right I do my mini ninja…
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
-Teddy Roosevelt
-EB