Showing posts with label paralympics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paralympics. Show all posts
Friday, August 24
Thursday, August 23
another day, another horse
So, most of the tickets to Paralympic events are sold out. At least, it appears so according to the web site of the agency through which we Americans are supposed to order.
This strikes me as odd considering the last time I was at the Games, most of the seats were empty. And I suppose that is why I waited so long to make reservations. Leave it to me to procrastinate on the one thing most crucial to visiting the Paralympics, access to the actual Games.
Not all is lost, however. I have ordered two day passes, which afford access to several different sporting events. Unfortunately, none of these are events that I particularly wanted to see. But who knows, I may really love boccia, whatever that is.
Oddly, this oversight is due, in part, to my sudden preoccupation with getting into better physical shape. I'm not sure if it's sympathy training for the actual athletes preparing for competition or if I'm just nesting for the big event, but I've taken to stretching a lot more, taking daily walks, and last night I did some vaulting.
I haven't been on a vaulting horse in several months at least. I decided to visit an adult class with a different club. Why not change everything in my life at once, eh?
But it felt good to be back. The coach, who is about my age, seems excited to take on my unusual physical situation as a challenge. She led me through some much needed back to basics, like not relying on my one arm for strength and balance.
If you promise not to laugh, I'll give you a little peek into the highly scientific approach she suggested for getting into the 'box' position, or up on all fours on the back of the horse....
OK, you can laugh if you must. Note, I did not show you the clip of me trying this on the actual horse. That was not going well at all until she reminded me to stop relying on my right arm. Then Poof!, I was up before I knew what was going on.
Leave it to me to make something harder than it has to be. Like with most things, I had learned to rely on my right arm so much, I didn't even know that's what I was doing anymore. I was stuck in a brain rut.
I had to mentally let go of my right arm, reconnect with my core, balance, and use the momentum of the horse. And just like that, I was up.
Sometimes I'm astonished at how inept I am at using my own body. What potential we have, and how little we use to get by. Makes me wonder how many other situations in my life I am strong-arming my way through, focusing only on the end result.
No amount of brute force is going to get me into the 2012 Paralympic Games. I'm hoping London will decide to be nice and open up some seats as the days get closer. Poor access to an event promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in world class sport is kinda bad PR if you ask me.
But I have to wonder what might happen if I just reconnect with my core, balance, and let the momentum take me...
OneArmGirl
Not all is lost, however. I have ordered two day passes, which afford access to several different sporting events. Unfortunately, none of these are events that I particularly wanted to see. But who knows, I may really love boccia, whatever that is.
Oddly, this oversight is due, in part, to my sudden preoccupation with getting into better physical shape. I'm not sure if it's sympathy training for the actual athletes preparing for competition or if I'm just nesting for the big event, but I've taken to stretching a lot more, taking daily walks, and last night I did some vaulting.
I haven't been on a vaulting horse in several months at least. I decided to visit an adult class with a different club. Why not change everything in my life at once, eh?
But it felt good to be back. The coach, who is about my age, seems excited to take on my unusual physical situation as a challenge. She led me through some much needed back to basics, like not relying on my one arm for strength and balance.
If you promise not to laugh, I'll give you a little peek into the highly scientific approach she suggested for getting into the 'box' position, or up on all fours on the back of the horse....
OK, you can laugh if you must. Note, I did not show you the clip of me trying this on the actual horse. That was not going well at all until she reminded me to stop relying on my right arm. Then Poof!, I was up before I knew what was going on.
Leave it to me to make something harder than it has to be. Like with most things, I had learned to rely on my right arm so much, I didn't even know that's what I was doing anymore. I was stuck in a brain rut.
I had to mentally let go of my right arm, reconnect with my core, balance, and use the momentum of the horse. And just like that, I was up.
Sometimes I'm astonished at how inept I am at using my own body. What potential we have, and how little we use to get by. Makes me wonder how many other situations in my life I am strong-arming my way through, focusing only on the end result.
No amount of brute force is going to get me into the 2012 Paralympic Games. I'm hoping London will decide to be nice and open up some seats as the days get closer. Poor access to an event promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in world class sport is kinda bad PR if you ask me.
But I have to wonder what might happen if I just reconnect with my core, balance, and let the momentum take me...
OneArmGirl
Thursday, August 9
going
Some time ago, I began to form a plan to attend the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
In the mean time, as one never seems to plan, life happened. At the beginning of this summer, everything was tentative, London 2012 included. I didn't know if I would have a job come Fall, my romantic relationship was on the rocks, and I wish there was a third thing to complete this triad, but in life, that was enough to turn future travel plans into just one spinning plate.
But the plates have come down. Fortunately, I am no longer employed, not romantically attached, and if I had a dog, I'm sure it would be dead. And what does one do when one's life is reduced to a pile of rubble? Travel, of course.
And so, I'm going. London 2012 or bust.
I spent a semester in London when I was in college, and I covered the 2004 Paralympics in Greece as a broadcast journalist, so attending the Paralympics in London seems fitting.
I also experienced two of my worst episodes of illness in London and as a result of working the Paralympics, so I feel attending the London Games will be a small triumph. Of course, if I get sick again, not so much.
But my odds are good. I will not be working this time, aside from promoting OneArmGirl, which tends to happen much more naturally than any other work I've done. Mostly, I will be a spectator. Or, one may say, a writer.
The first time I experienced the Paralympics, it changed my life. And exactly what are the Paralympics you may be wondering halfway through this post? Kudos if you've hung in there.
The Paralympics immediately follow the Olympic Games, thus "para" or alongside the Olympics, and showcase top athletes from around the world with physical disabilities.
The real question is how I ever ended up there, being neither an athlete to speak of nor very much into sports in general. But I'm certainly glad I did. Attending the Athens Games started a journey of self-actualization for me. I've learned that just as I have a 'non-traditional' body type, I am a non-traditional athlete [true, this is mostly because I am into horseback acrobatics and dancing on hanging fabrics].
But that is only the beginning. It could even be argued that this very blog is a result of my coming into contact with the Paralympics.
So, what is the plan? Ha, ha, good one. As has become my custom of late, I have none. What I know is that I have a plane ticket to London at the beginning of September. What happens once I arrive remains to be seen. But I will be sure to keep you abreast of any developments.
OneArmGirl
In the mean time, as one never seems to plan, life happened. At the beginning of this summer, everything was tentative, London 2012 included. I didn't know if I would have a job come Fall, my romantic relationship was on the rocks, and I wish there was a third thing to complete this triad, but in life, that was enough to turn future travel plans into just one spinning plate.
 |
| Interviewing fans, Athens 2004 |
And so, I'm going. London 2012 or bust.
I spent a semester in London when I was in college, and I covered the 2004 Paralympics in Greece as a broadcast journalist, so attending the Paralympics in London seems fitting.
I also experienced two of my worst episodes of illness in London and as a result of working the Paralympics, so I feel attending the London Games will be a small triumph. Of course, if I get sick again, not so much.
But my odds are good. I will not be working this time, aside from promoting OneArmGirl, which tends to happen much more naturally than any other work I've done. Mostly, I will be a spectator. Or, one may say, a writer.
The first time I experienced the Paralympics, it changed my life. And exactly what are the Paralympics you may be wondering halfway through this post? Kudos if you've hung in there.
The Paralympics immediately follow the Olympic Games, thus "para" or alongside the Olympics, and showcase top athletes from around the world with physical disabilities.
The real question is how I ever ended up there, being neither an athlete to speak of nor very much into sports in general. But I'm certainly glad I did. Attending the Athens Games started a journey of self-actualization for me. I've learned that just as I have a 'non-traditional' body type, I am a non-traditional athlete [true, this is mostly because I am into horseback acrobatics and dancing on hanging fabrics].
But that is only the beginning. It could even be argued that this very blog is a result of my coming into contact with the Paralympics.
So, what is the plan? Ha, ha, good one. As has become my custom of late, I have none. What I know is that I have a plane ticket to London at the beginning of September. What happens once I arrive remains to be seen. But I will be sure to keep you abreast of any developments.
OneArmGirl
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