Dallas School Board responds to teachers’ union strike notice

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Judge sentences 76-year-old babysitter who molested child

<p>It was about 10 minutes after leaving the starting line at the Warrior Dash at Pocono Raceway &#8211; keeping pace with the top third of my wave of fellow dashers &#8211; that I really, really wished I had had a second cup of coffee.</p><p>I knew there would be a dozen obstacles that included climbing through channels of mud and through pits of mud and wading through muddy water with barbed wire inches above your head, but this running thing?</p><p>That was going to get old quickly.</p><p>Notably, though, within about 15 minutes after starting, participants were not running like they were in a marathon.</p><p>Instead, they were walking and talking with each other and enjoying the experience.</p><p>What I learned was that this &#8220;race&#8221; was not really a race at all.</p><p>The competition was inside your head.</p><p>Could you clamber up the side of a tall barn-shaped structure and climb down the other side?</p><p>Could you walk across a narrow board spanning a pool of muddy water and not lose your balance?</p><p>Could you take a rope and climb a steep incline and then use a rope to get yourself down? (I felt like Batman and Robin from the 1960s television series where they scale the side of a building.)</p><p>I truly was not sure how I would perform until I got out there.</p><p>Each obstacle was marked with a sign that read &#8220;Danger: Obstacle Ahead.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Danger&#8221;?</p><p>Holy crap. That was intimidating.</p><p>Reading the fine print on the waiver I signed was also not exactly reassuring.</p><p>It said that I understood the dash was a test of my physical and mental limits and &#8220;an inherently dangerous activity&#8221; that included extreme obstacles of fire, mud pits, barbed wire, cargo nets, heights, climbing and jumping into water, among other feats of derring-do.</p><p>It went on to say that the course might include plants, insects and wild animals.</p><p>It even mentioned death three times for crying out loud!</p><p>I will say though that the course was infused with a sense of humor. The obstacles were dotted with signs like &#8220;Yes, we wish you had trained too&#8221; and &#8220;If your ex could see you now.&#8221;</p><p>The thing that I came to appreciate as I climbed and crawled was that if you kept your mind focused on the fun, you could have a good time.</p><p>Yes, I had poured myself into some tight-fitting bike shorts that made me feel like a sausage. There were plenty of muscled shirtless guys who easily lapped me.</p><p>But you know what?</p><p>There were also people of every shape and size and a few guys of a certain age like me out there giving it their all.</p><p>Driving home I was a bit sore, hungry and had some muddy grit in my ears even after showering.</p><p>Still, I was elated because:</p><p>1. I made it.</p><p>2. The median age of the participants had to be, like, 27.</p><p>3. I got through the course in respectable time.</p><p>Maybe as A.A. Milne said: &#8220;You&#8217;re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem &#8230;&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Christopher Mele</p><p>Mele&#8217;s Musings</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Christopher Mele is married and dad of two sons and two stepchildren. His childhood in the Bronx defined his friendships, which endure today. A career newsman, writer and editor, the Lords Valley resident is glad to share stories and insights about the challenges that the modern-day middle-aged guy faces. Reach Chris at seaosprey22@gmail.com.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Mele’s Musings: The competition was all in my head