For Beckett’s 8th birthday, he wanted a little adventure. Kirsten found a Trapeze deal on Groupon that cost about $70 for 2 people to have an introductory lesson. Mara doesn’t dig heights, so Beckett and I gave it a shot.
They start with a 10 minute safety and commands briefing, then do a brief on-ground lesson on how to leave the platform, then off we go to the real thing!
Beckett’s Lesson
He was quite fearless in climbing the little ladder that took him up to the platform (about 20 feet high), and didn’t show any reservations when it was time to take off, either.
First off, we just learned to swing properly and dismount. Beckett did great!
The next time around, he hooked his legs up over the bar and swung upside down.
Chuck’s Lesson
My experience started the same as Beckett, with the on-ground lesson, basic swinging, and learning to swing by my legs.
After mastering that, I got the chance to swing and be caught by someone on the other trapeze. I’d have never guessed when we showed up that I could do that within the hour, but it worked the first time!
Nailed it!
This was really a thrill to do. It looked really difficult and I was proud to be able to do something like this quickly. All the other adults did it, as well, so I had no special talent. But it looks hard, and I was really stoked to complete the catch. I felt sore in odd spots for a couple days, but otherwise had no ill effects. So if you get the chance, give it a shot!
For a few years now, Kirsten had a bucket list item of attending a big-time European soccer match. So once we made plans to come to Spain, we started working out how to knock this off.
Barcelona was already on our list to visit while in Spain, and FC Barcelona is one of the top teams in the world and regarded by many as one of the great teams of all time, so we decided to schedule our trip there to coincide with a game.
Camp Nou is the stadium for FCB and it’s big, holding about 99,000, the vast majority of which are season tickets. Lucky for us, they were playing a terrible team the week we were going, so were able to find 4 seats together after some searching. 4 seats together in the 3rd of 4 levels ran us 43 Euros each.
First impression as we walked in – WOW. What an incredibly beautiful pitch (field)!! Seems weird to fawn over some grass, but it was immaculate and spectacular!
Beckett and I are wearing the FCB jerseys we bought in Chiang Mai before leaving. They’ve got to be authentic, right?!
There were about 75,000 in attendance for the game, making it about 75% full. People sang team cheers and songs at times, but it was fairly quiet most of the time.
It was also much different than a US sporting event in that it was all about the game. No music during dead balls, no halftime entertainment, no contests, no smoke and pyros during the player introductions. The food was very basic – just a few sandwiches, hot dogs, and popcorn, but no “culinary experience”. What a concept, eh?
The game itself was great – Barca scored in the 2nd minute and went on to win 6-0. Messi had a couple goals and Neymar had a rocket for the 6th goal. While it wasn’t the intense and rowdy experience one often associates with European soccer, it was still a fantastic experience and definitely gave us a better appreciation of the game.
Surprisingly, this was about as crazy or rowdy as it got, with flag waving and cheering.Pregame handshakesFree kickGoalkeeper is in trouble here but the pass across didn’t connectThe goalkeeper came way out and Messi chipped the shot over his head and into the netGOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!Layin’ out for a save6-0 is about as good as it gets!Lots of fun merchandise outside the gates.
We’d seen signs for Chiangmai F.C. (FC = football club / soccer in U.S) around town and figured it would be cool to get out to a sporting event with the kids while we’re here. We enjoyed it so much, we’ve gone back 2 more times!
They play in a stadium about 20 minutes from town and it would probably hold 8,000-10,000 fans if full. We weren’t really sure what to expect, whether the crowd would be rowdy, what the food situation was, etc.
For our first game, we decided to spring for the expensive tickets. And by expensive, I mean 80 baht ($2.60). That gets you a general admission ticket in a good location with a roof overhead. Note: Roof is useful during rainy season!
All food and drink is sold outside the stadium at an outdoor market, with a mini outdoor market set up that has all the foods you see at the night markets. (you can just carry it in.) There’s usually some music, promotional events, and merchandise sales near the main gate as well.
Food and drink stands outside Chiangmai F.C. game
The stadium isn’t optimal for viewing, as it’s multipurpose and there’s a track running around the outside of the field, causing a gap between the field and the seats.
The game environment was pretty positive. People cheered the team, but not in a rabid way. I didn’t see any violence, drunk-ass idiots, or anyone yelling inappropriate things. For the most part, it felt like a big party. It probably helps that the team is pretty good this year and they didn’t lose any of the games we’ve attended.
Beckett got a jersey (just $14!) at the first game and he has a good time, though occasionally his attention wanders. Mara seems to like the whole process of attending the game and eating snacks, but doesn’t seem to give a crap about the game.
After two of the games, we’ve been able to go down to the field and get Beckett’s picture with a few players. He was very excited to meet the goalie since he was a goalie in hockey and seems to have a fascination with them.
I’ve loved attending the games. It just feels more laid back than major US sporting events. It almost has the feel of a minor league baseball game. There are lots of advertising signs, but game experience isn’t dominated by them. Basically, it just feels much less structured than a U.S. sporting experience.
Did I say less structured? That leads to the fun part – after the game.
The players walk around and pause at each section of the stadium so the fans can cheer them. Several of the sections have people lighting what look like road flares as the players approach. Can’t fathom seeing this at home, but it is AWESOME.
There are 2 more home games while we’re here and we’re hoping to make it out to them. It’s really a great time!
Mara and Beckett with 2013 regular season championship trophy
Logistics: The official CMFC website is: http://www.chiangmaifc.com/ But seeing as its in Thai, it wasn’t the most helpful site to us. There is an English website built by CMFC fans which is where I got the schedule: http://chiangmaifootballclub.com/ . The CMFC Facebook group is quite active and you can find information out about games so its worth checking them out: https://www.facebook.com/cmfcenglish
I had been looking forward to watching the Ironman World Championships since we moved here. I thought it’d be so neat to see some of the top triathletes in the entire world come here to train and compete. I wanted to see their fitness levels, their determination and their athleticism.
I also wanted to go down and cheer the every-day folks on. I wanted to be out on the course and give them some support (or shaka-love as I’ve been calling it).
Thing is, it was far better, emotional, and life-changing than I ever could’ve imagined.
The day started simply enough watching the professionals start the swim portion at 6:30am. And then the non-professionals started at 7am. It was neat to watch them swim the same places we swim and to be part of it.
Age groupers starting the swim
And then we went over and saw the professionals transition to the bike portion and start on their 112 miles journey.
Starting the 112 mile bike ride
And then the magic started to happen. We heard about the lady doing the race that has stage 4 colon cancer. We saw the amputees and paraplegics starting their “bike” rides. We saw the ordinary citizens getting on their bikes.
Then later in the day we went along the running portion. We saw bikers coming in and starting the run, people about to finish the race and those mid-way through the marathon. It was beyond inspiring and humbling standing there cheering them on.
The bike courseAlong the run course
The bike cut-off was 5:30pm, meaning if you aren’t done biking by then, your race is over and you stop racing wherever you are. Well I saw a number of people come in right before 5:30. These people had been racing for 10 1/2 hours already and were just NOW starting a marathon! The champions had been done with the entire thing for 2-3 hours already. And these folks were just STARTING a MARATHON!
I stood there with my cowbell cheering as loud as I could for them hoping to give them some support and inspiration for the task ahead. I saw some 70s and probably 80 year olds walking by. I saw the double amputee start his run. It was all I could do to not cry at the determination and amazing feat they were performing and I found myself getting choked up a number of times as these athletes went by.
Chuck went down from 8pm – midnight to cheer on these folks coming in. Midnight was the official cut off for the race and we didn’t want these late finishers to finish the race with no one there.
Well neither of us expected the crowd to grow and grow and grow as the evening went on. At 9pm the woman’s champion came out to give each finisher a lei. Some of the other professionals came out to cheer. And the crowds at 10pm were far bigger and louder than any crowds earlier in the day, even for the world champion.
It didn’t matter when people finished. Everyone was a winner. Everyone was an Ironman. And everyone was celebrated.
Chuck watched the woman battling stage 4 colon cancer finish the race to an emotional crowd. He watched, Scott Rigsby, a double amputee, finish and be celebrated. He saw the person come in with literally seconds left before the race was over. He was part of the crowd that was trying to be so loud so the competitors 4 miles away could hear them and could help inspire them to the finish.
Finishing after 16 hours, 58 minutes and 59 seconds of racing!She’s 71. Finished after 16 hours, 58 minutes and 38 seconds!
I wish I’d been able to go down at night too but after being around it all day, my heart was so full and I had a complete new outlook on what is possible. These ordinary people changed my perspective and what a person can achieve and erased walls I didn’t think were erasable. And seeing the community of people from all over the world come together to cheer, love, and celebrate together was such an amazing testament to the human spirit and to peace and love. In a day when everyone tears each other apart, it was beyond words to see people come together to share joy and lift each other up.
I am changed because of watching this. I can tell something has shifted. I now believe what is possible for anyone is far greater than I ever thought. I realized that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.
I saw the good in people. The determination, the drive, the ability to overcome any obstacle. And I felt the power of the human spirit in a way I’ve never felt.
Chuck and I are both a bit sad now that its over. It was far beyond any experience we’ve both had and now its over for another year.
But I hope I can keep this spirit alive in me for a long time.
To all those that competed, I salute you. And I thank you.
The overall men’s winner finishing – Craig AlexanderMe high fiving one of the top finishers as he finishes the raceTop female finisher – Chrissie Wellington
Ironman has been heating up here the last couple of weeks. Athletes arrived early to start training and there has been a buzz in the air.
There have been signs all over town and lots of amazing looking athletes biking and running the roads.
The first main event was last night in town. They held a biathlon for the kids which both kids wanted to do. However, neither was ready for the swim portion so we had to watch instead. After the dip n’ dash, there was a parade of the participants and volunteers. It was like the opening ceremony’s parade of the Olympics – the athletes walked by alphabetically by country while carrying their country’s flag. Some of the countries hammed it up and it was cool to give them cheers and Aloha-love.
JapanFloatKidsSwedenSwitzerland
Kayak rescue crew
After that, we walked over to the little Ironman “village” set up with vendors and SWAG. They were debuting a new bike at one place and had a Hawaiian blessing, hula and fire dancing performance to bless the new bike. I don’t know who the athletes were there but do know they were famous as everyone seemed to go up and get their picture taken with the one guy.
Ironman VillageFire dancerFamous triathletesChuck and the Shiv girls
It was so inspiring being around this athleticism. Made me want to go home and run 4 miles so I can look and be like them next year 🙂
Tomorrow is the underwear run. And Saturday is the main event. I’m sure there will be plenty of pictures coming your way in the next few days.
