Rugby!
“Soccer is a gentleman’s game played by hooligans. On the other hand, rugby is a hooligans game played by gentlemen.” – at least partially attributed to Winston Churchill
Yes, rugby is a rough sport. That’s what drew me to it. The chance to get physical with other guys. The chance to play a sport where you really leave it all out on the field. This is serious sport around the world. In the South Pacific islands a HAKA is performed before every game to let the opposing team know the home team is ready for “WAR”. If you’ve never seen a HAKA watch one here performed by the New Zealand All Blacks – the best in the world.
That’s me in the picture here – the guy on the far right. The position is called the #8. Tough guy, right? I loved playing rugby, but I noticed early on that I wasn’t in very good shape when I played. We practiced two days a week, but I wasn’t in good enough shape for that either. My solution? I went for a run on my off days; 3-4 miles a day. Pretty soon I noticed I wasn’t gassed halfway through practice. I started to lead the other players in sprints AND distance running. I also was able to complete a whole game (two 40 minute halves of nonstop play) without throwing up. I was onto something. The coaches noticed my change and asked me about it. Soon the whole team was doing extra 3 mile runs before AND after practice (that didn’t exactly endear me to my teammates). I had been running on and off since high school but now running was benefiting me in a real way. My rugby playing days lasted only 6 years. It’s a young man’s sport, but running? I’ve been running consistently ever since. I started racing too. To date I have run a dozen marathons, about 10 half marathons and countless 5k’s, 10k’s and turkey trots, even a couple of duathalons.
Rugby got me started in organized sport, but when that was over, I realized I could still participate in the competition. I was now going to compete against my toughest opponent; myself. After a rugby game, I was totally exhausted. I left everything I had out on the pitch. It was only natural then that I would gravitate toward the marathon. It was the only activity I could legally participate in that gave me that same satisfaction (and it was a satisfaction!). Things have evened out for me in recent years. I don’t have to feel exhausted after every competition. I can enjoy myself now. I have a wife and son to run with. It’s NOT all about me anymore. And you know what? I’m ok with that.