A-Sport, B-Sport

Last weekend was the Livestrong Challenge in Philadelphia. Reading Fatty's posts about the event made me sort of wish I could have been there. Obviously there are more pressing things here at home I need to worry about.

But with my foot injury this summer that has been so slow to heal (I've started running again, although I'm not totally sure it's healed yet), I've spent a lot of time on my bike. And it reminded me that I really like riding my bike!

I would go so far as to say it made me considering moving running over as my "B" sport.

For the past couple years, running has been my "A" sport, bowling has been my "B" sport and cycling has been my "C" sport. And I guess you could call golf my "D" sport, if it has earned a ranking at all.

So I got thinking about why I made running my "A" sport when I love cycling so much.

1. Running is more portable. If I'm traveling, I can just pack shorts, shirt, socks and my running shoes and I'm good to go. To travel with my bike involves...well, my bike. And airplanes? Forget about it!

2. Running is more winter-friendly. I simply can't tolerate cycling when it's under 40 degrees out. That being said, running gets pretty ugly when it's over 85, but around here, we spend months at a time at the blue-shaded side of 40 degrees, and 85 is fairly avoidable if you're willing to wake up early.

3. Running takes less time. I can get a decent run workout in about 35 minutes. Right now that number is more like 20 because I'm a little short on "running" fitness. But if I ride my bike for 45 minutes it feels like I'm just getting warmed up and a real workout takes about an hour.

4. You don't need a bike to run. This kind of goes along with numbers 1 and 3, but I don't have to worry about running shoe maintenance, there's nothing I need to oil or fill up with air or replace grips on when I'm running. I just lace up and go.

5. Running is more "slow-guy" friendly. If I were to get my racing license and line up for a road race, it would be embarrassing. I would almost certainly be unable to keep up with the pack and get dropped, lapped or otherwise destroyed. But in distance running I can be way behind the leaders and there will still be plenty of people way behind me.

So I'm not sure what my "A" sport is anymore. And maybe it's not up to me, but my body and my daughter. Whatever I can do that keeps me healthy and my family happy will turn out to be my "A" sport. I may even find myself an avid dayhiker because Adele falls in love with the pack that lets me carry her for miles on my back.

But I think bowling will remain "B" or lower. Even if I do get around to buying that new ball.