#pickleball near me

[webuniseo]

Uniting Enthusiasts: The Vital Role of a Pickleball Association

Introduction: Pickleball Association, a sport that seamlessly blends elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, has been steadily gaining popularity across all age groups. As this exciting sport continues to capture hearts, the role of a Pickleball Association becomes paramount. In this article, we delve into the significance of a Pickleball Association and explore the ways it fosters community, growth, and competition within the realm of pickleball.

Building Bridges: The Purpose of a Pickleball Association

A Pickleball Association serves as the cornerstone of unity for players, enthusiasts, and even newcomers to the sport. By bringing together individuals who share a passion for pickleball, associations create a platform for networking, learning, and sharing experiences. From organizing events to promoting the sport's ethos, these associations contribute to the sport's widespread appeal and longevity.

Nurturing Growth: Development Programs and Workshops

One of the core missions of a Pickleball Association is to nurture the growth of the sport. Through structured development programs, workshops, and coaching initiatives, associations ensure that players of all skill levels have access to resources that can enhance their abilities. From introducing beginners to the basics to refining advanced players' techniques, these programs play a pivotal role in raising the overall standard of play.

The Heartbeat of Competition: Tournaments and Leagues

Pickleball enthusiasts often find their competitive spirit ignited through tournaments and leagues organized by associations. These events not only provide a platform for showcasing skills but also foster a sense of camaraderie among players. Whether you're a casual player or a seasoned competitor, participating in these tournaments can be a thrilling experience that solidifies your connection to the sport and the larger pickleball community.

Creating Connections: Social Events and Networking

Beyond the court, Pickleball Associations curate social events that go beyond the game itself. From meet-and-greet sessions to community picnics, these gatherings foster genuine friendships and connections among players who share a common interest. The bonds formed through these events often extend far beyond the sport, enriching lives in unexpected ways.

Supporting Sportsmanship: Ethical Play and Respect

Pickleball Associations play a vital role in upholding the values of sportsmanship and respect within the community. By establishing codes of conduct and promoting ethical play, associations create an environment where fair competition thrives. These principles contribute not only to the integrity of the sport but also to the growth of players as individuals.

Joining the Movement: Embrace Your Local Pickleball Association

As the pickleball craze continues to sweep the nation, there's no better time to connect with your local Pickleball Association. Whether you're a seasoned player or a curious newcomer, these associations offer a gateway to a world of fun, friendship, and active living. By becoming a part of the pickleball community, you're embarking on a journey that transcends the boundaries of the court.

Conclusion: The Pickleball Association is the heartbeat of the sport, pulsating with the collective energy of players who are passionate about pickleball's unique blend of competition and camaraderie. From facilitating growth and development to fostering ethical play and community spirit, these associations lay the foundation for a sport that unites people from all walks of life. So, whether you're looking to enhance your skills, make new friends, or simply revel in the joy of pickleball, your local Pickleball Association is waiting to welcome you with open arms.

[d1a2v3i4d5]

Upgrade Your Game: Pro Paddle Pickleball Set in Canada

Discover the best pickleball set near you with the Pro Paddle Pickleball Set featuring a high-performance Glass Fiber Paddles Set. Experience superior quality and performance with these top-rated pickleball paddles and rackets. Elevate your skills and dominate the court with the ultimate pickleball set available in Canada.

[wheeboo]

some sky photos from last night cuz we smiled a lot :)

are those even stars? i have no fuckinf clue prob not but oh well we looked up at the night sky, put our feet in the air, and thought maybe this little life isn’t so bad after all 🫶

[rallysportsclub]

Summer Camp at Rally Sports Club in CA

Summer camp at Rally Sports Club is about to start. Up for Action-Packed Activities? Dynamic Experiences? Exciting Games?

If yes, then Rally Sports Club is organizing a Summer Camp from 8th July to 30th August, 9 AM to 3 PM.

Children aged 7-14 years can register for:

Badminton Classes for Beginners

Learning Table Tennis for Beginners

Learn Pickleball

Elevate your summer with adventure and lasting memories. Enroll in the Fit n Fun Summer Camp for an unforgettable experience!

[racquet-sports]

Pickleball originated in 1965, and this game has quickly become popular among players of all ages. But how did pickleball get its name? This article will explain the history behind this odd title and why they chose it. The sport was believed to be named after one of the creator’s dog – Pickles – who would chase after the ball as it bounced across their backyard court.

Pickleball’s Origins

Pickleball is a sport that has been famous over the past several years, and its origin story is often overlooked. It all began in 1965 when three dads were looking for something to do while their kids were away at summer camp.

Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum came up with pickleball as an enjoyable alternative to badminton. They created it using some of the materials they had on hand, such as wooden paddles, ping pong balls, and a low net made from a badminton court.

Early Beginnings

The pickleball game got its name from a funny story involving the creator’s dog, Pickles. According to legend, pickleball was invented by three men on Bainbridge Island in Washington State during the summer of 1965.

[timothyledick]

High Quality Pickleball Shoes near Me - Leguano Inc.

Leguano Inc. specializes in manufacturing the highest quality barefoot shoes for men and women of all ages including children. They also offer pickleball shoes at the best price to the customers. From comfort and support to durability and style, they have evaluated all the key factors to help you buy the right pickleball shoes near me. For more details, visit https://leguanoshoes.com/best-pickleball-shoes-for-men-and-women/.

[gaily-daily-musings]

Literally no one asked for the nursing home reverse trope and because I am upset I'm taking it upon myself to make y'all suffer

(I've decided to make it a senior community rather than a nursing home)

-

Obi-Wan is 55. An official senior. He hates it. It's awful. Quinlan won't stop making fun of him despite being older than him.

Despite his initial hesitation, the community is regretfully nice. Mace and Yoda and Qui-Gon are all welcoming. He never thought he would be reduced to this but when the divorce hit he'd lost the house. He'd been living with Quinlan for over a year and felt bad for taking advantage. Given his money situation, his options were reduced to a housing community for seniors. He'd heard about it through Qui-Gon who was on his pickleball team.

There's a young man (34) working there. A maintenance man named Anakin Skywalker. Anakin is quite handsome and very charismatic. The ladies will often flirt with him and giggle over his arms. It's all harmless fun. Normally Obi-Wan isn't one to leer, but goodness he was certainly striking.

Obi-Wan near has a heart attack one day when he witnesses Anakin in swim trunks attending the pool. Lord, he's never felt like such a lecher. He's not used to this. To looking. He's a monogamous sort of a man. Never cheated. Even when he and Satine started growing apart years ago he never wavered.

Obi-Wan starts working out more for no particular reason. He was always fit for his age but feels more self conscious than ever. He tries to tell himself he was just trying to stay healthy, but he knew he was lying to himself. He feels ridiculous. The hell was he doing? Anakin was just a nice man jokingly flirting with the elderly. It wasn't serious.

The center puts together an annual event for the residents. This year they decide the theme is “senior prom”. It's stupid. Quinlan talks him into RSVPing.

Anakin is invited by Maria, one of the ladies who is particularly forward in her intentions. Obi-Wan tells himself not to be jealous and fails spectacularly.

Throughout the evening Anakin dances with several ladies. Obi-Wan yearns from the sidelines. He tries to work up the courage to ask. He's not afraid of being rejected, he's just afraid Anakin will see he's being earnest. Did he even want to be taken seriously? Did he want to pursue something real?

Maria makes her way to Anakin again as I've Had The Time of My Life plays. She has no shame as she feels up Anakin's arms and strokes his chest. He takes it in stride and winks down at her. She laughs as they spin around the room.

Three songs later Obi-Wan contemplates slinking back to his room.

“Would you like to dance?”

Obi-Wan startles. He hadn't heard him approach.

“I…uh, y-yes…” he stammers.

He takes Anakin's hand feeling like a school boy. His heart flutters in his chest. He knows Anakin is just being nice, he's already danced with everyone else after all, but he can't help the blush on his cheeks.

Obi-Wan let's Anakin take the lead as he's unsure if he'll be able to keep his head on straight.

“Did you go to your school prom?” Anakin asks.

“Yes. With my ex-wife actually. You?”

Anakin smiles. “Coincidentally I went with my ex too.”

“I didn't know you were divorced.”

“Widowed.”

Obi-Wan winces. “I'm sorry.”

“It's fine. You didn't know. It was years ago anyway.”

They move slowly across the floor. Obi-Wan consciously keeps his hands where they are appropriate.

“So, any kids?”

“Twins. They're 13.”

Obi-Wan chuckles. “I don't envy you. I remember when my son was that age. He went through a whole goth phase.”

Anakin laughs. It's beautiful. “Aw man, you would have hated me then. I was really into the goth scene as a teen.”

They keep talking and dancing. At some point Maria kindly asks for her date back and they reluctantly part.

-

They come across each other while Obi-Wan is visiting the local park. He sees Anakin walking a dog as his kids eat ice cream. He doesn't want to intrude on what is clearly a family outing. But then Anakin spots him and waves him over.

Anakin introduces his children.

“You're that old guy dad talks about,” Leia says.

Anakin flushes.

“Did you fight in a war?” Luke asks. “Do you have any battle scars?”

After the initial awkwardness and round of interrogation, Anakin asks Obi-Wan if he wanted to join them for dinner. Unable to find a reason to say no he accepts.

For the record, Obi-Wan isn't an idiot. Normally when a young person sought out the company of a significantly older person, it was because they were a gold digger. But Obi-Wan hasn't much money to offer. He doesn't have much of anything really. He recalls Anakin mentioning that he never knew his father. With a heavy heart he realizes perhaps that was why Anakin wanted to be around him. He was an older father figure to him. Of course that must be it.

After dinner Anakin tucks his kids into bed (or rather just Luke as Leia has outgrown that). Obi-Wan helps clean up. Anakin says he should stay. It was late and he didn't want to send him home like this. Besides he had work in the morning so they could go in together.

Anakin lets him have the bed and sleeps on the couch despite his protests. The next morning Anakin sees the kids off to school. Obi-Wan makes everyone breakfast as a thank you. Anakin then drives them to the senior community. Obi-Wan gets out and goes to his apartment.

He is unfortunately seen getting out of Anakin's car. Rumors fly. His friends crowd him for details. Obi-Wan tries to tell them nothing happened but nobody believes him.

On his 56th birthday his pickleball team takes him out to celebrate. Little does he know that Qui-Gon has invited Anakin. He shows up with a present. Its pink shorts with the word pickleball on the booty. Obi-Wan's face feels warm.

Soon Anakin has to leave to go pick up his kids from school. Now gone, Quinlan takes Obi-Wan aside to ask him when he's gonna make a move on Anakin. Obi-Wan thinks he's being insane. Never? Anakin wasn't interested? Now Quinlan looks at him like he's the insane one.

“He literally gave you booty shorts! He wants to see your thighs!”

“That was a joke!”

Quinlan sighs. He asks the table if they thought Anakin was into Obi-Wan. They all say yes immediately.

“I thought you were already dating?” Bant asks.

The next day Obi-Wan sees Anakin doing maintenance in the lobby. He starts up a conversation. It was so easy to talk to him. Far too easy.

“By the way, thank you for your gift yesterday. Though I'm not sure they'll fit me, they may be a little small.” He jokes.

“I dunno, I think they'll fit just fine.” Anakin deliberately looks him up and down, lingering on his ass.

Obi-Wan gulps.

-

Later Obi-Wan is doing some swim aerobics in the pool with Yoda and Qui-Gon. Yoda mentions having had a heart attack two years ago.

“Seize the moment, one must. Lest life passes you by.” he looks straight at Obi-Wan as he says it.

Obi-Wan blinks. He frowns. He really didn't appreciate his friends barging into his love life. He tells them so.

“What love life? You're single.”

Obi-Wan has no retort.

Is it so wrong to not want to burden a strapping young man with someone like him? Someone who is wrinkled and old and has nothing to offer?

After swimming Obi-Wan grabs a towel and heads off back to his apartment. It's just a short walk over to the building. On the way he spots Anakin between the hedges fixing a sprinkler. He pauses. He looks down at his protruding belly. The worst he could do is utterly humiliate himself and be forced to avoid Anakin the rest of his life. Or until he moves.

“Hi.”

Anakin looks up. He smiles.

“Hey.”

His eyes linger on Obi-Wan’s chest. He swallows. It gives him the boost of confidence he needs.

“I was just, um, wondering if perhaps you wanted to…have dinner again? I can cook.”

Anakin hums, “I can't this week.”

Obi-Wan nearly deflates. He tells himself it's not the end of the world. It's fine. He starts to retreat, backing up the way he came.

“Sorry, of course. I didn't mean to impose. Anyway, I have to head back but it was nice to see you.”

Anakin catches his arm. “Woah, I didn't say I didn't want to, just that this week is no good.”

Obi-Wan blinks.

“But next week I'm open? I can pop by after work. That is if you're up for it still?”

Obi-Wan smiles. “Yes I'd like that.”

Anakin's hand lingers on his arm. Neither wanting to pull away just yet. Obi-Wan clears his throat.

“What would you like? F-for dinner I mean.”

“I'm not picky. Surprise me.”

“Alright then.”

“Alright.”

From the sidelines, Qui-Gon, Mace, Yoda, Maria, and several others are watching from inside the pool center. Maria sighs forlornly. “Should have known he would steal him right out from under my nose.”

“I think it's sweet,” her friend Amanda says.

“Very sweet.” Yoda nods sagely.

[laura1633]

can you do a short smutty drabble of max wanting to fuck charles, and charles just wants to win the paddle match

Hi Anon,

Thanks for the ask ♥️ I am not sure if this is the dynamic you were asking for but this is what randomly came to me so I just went with it as I was too tired to think too much. Hopefully it is still okay. I have actually spent the day playing pickleball and squash so racket sports have truly wiped me out today😂

*****

“Max, wake up” Charles hums softly against Max’s ear, his breath warm as it fans against the Dutchman’s skin. 

Max grumbles something in his sleep. He is far too tired to really form words at this time of the morning. Not that he is entirely sure what time it actually is but he’s not particularly keen on the idea of opening his eyes to find out. 

“It’s time to wake up” Charles hums again, still nice and soft. The Monegasque presses his lips against Max’s neck, kissing gently as he works his way down the Dutchman’s throat until he is licking and kissing along the collarbone. 

Max moans happily at the sensation, there is no greater way to be woken up than having Charles all over him. 

“Are you too tired to get up?” The mattress dips a little as Charles clambers on top of Max’s body and starts grinding his ass down over the Dutchman’s cock. 

“If you haven’t already noticed, part of me is very much up already” Max smirks as he slowly blinks open his eyes. The sight above him is not quite what he was expecting though. Charles is fully dressed. Fully dressed and holding a padel racket in his hand like some sort of padel wielding maniac, “Charles! What the …?”

“It’s padel time, we have to practice” Charles scoots up and off Max’s body leaving the Dutchman groaning in disappointment as he palms over his now hard cock. 

“That is not for hours, surely” Max pouts, he doesn’t know exactly what time it is but it is still clearly morning and nowhere near time for padel. The Dutchman reaches out and tries to pull Charles back down into bed.  

“I’m not losing” Charles wiggles away from Max’s grasp and then proceeds to try and swat him away with his padel racket. 

“We will of course not lose” Max sighs as he shuffles up in bed. He was very much expecting to be woken up with sleepy lazy morning sex not get dragged out of bed to play sport at god knows what time of the morning. 

“No I know we will not lose, because we are going to practice before the game” Charles gives Max an encouraging smile like he is trying to pep him up. 

“Fine I will practice but come back to bed first” Max grabs his cock and gives it a few long slow strokes, “I just need like ten minutes with you” Max gives Charles his neediest look, “Or I could 

probably be done in a few minutes if you don’t need any foreplay” 

Charles snorts in response but doesn’t inch any closer to the bed. 

“Are you really going to make me beg? I will, if you want me to” Max groans, he’s not above begging though, if Charles wants him to get on his knees and literally beg for it he will, it is not like has hasn’t done that in the past. 

“I will make a deal with you” Charles is still gripping his padel racket firmly and doesn’t look like he is returning to bed anytime soon, “You can have me as many times as you want if we win. I will let you do whatever you want to me. Anything. All week. I am all yours. But first we have to win” 

Max frowns, he is still a little too tired to think the offer through. A week of getting exactly what he wants from Charles sounds great but he’s also pretty horny right now, his cock is still rock hard despite having to sit through this long winded negotiation and all he wants to do is fuck up into Charles’ tight little body and make them both come. 

“But if we lose then no sex for a week” Charles adds resolutely. 

“You would not last a week” Max huffs out a laugh, it is an empty threat, surely even Charles would not be that stubborn over padel. 

“Max” Charles changes tactic and coos  the Dutchman’s name softly, it’s a little like the voice Max uses when he is trying to get his cats to do as they are told, “Just come and practice a little and then we can win our match and I am all yours to do with whatever you want.” 

“Fine” Max concedes rather reluctantly, he has no other choice really. Charles looks so eager and defiant and other than clubbing the Monegasque over the head with a racket and dragging him back to bed caveman style Max isn’t sure he is going to win this argument.  

He just really hopes they win. 

A few hours later ….

“I can’t believe you tried to switch teams” Max pouts as he flops down on the hotel suite couch and looks up at Charles.

“You know I love you” Charles soothes, “I love you so much but Max you are so bad at this game. Like so bad. I did not even realise how bad until today.” 

Max’s brow furrows and he crosses his arms as he starts to sulk. Not only did he lose - something he does not really relish even if he is new to the game - but he also had to stand there whilst Charles desperately tried to switch teams. His own boyfriend trying to abandon him. What made it worse was that there were no takers. 

“If it makes you feel any better then I thought you looked hot, even when you did miss that really easy point which would have drawn us level” 

Max’s frown lines deepen, “I would not have played so poorly if we had fucked this morning, I was all tense” 

“I thought it would help to hold off, lots of athletes don’t have sex the night before a big match” Charles offers by way of an explanation. The Monegasque tries not to get too mad because Max really did try. Like really really hard and he looked so cute whenever he stumbled on to the floor or giggled as he missed an easy shot. But even so, Charles really wanted to win so the sight of his boyfriend crumpled on the floor mid point was not as endearing as it should be. 

“But not me” Max whines, “You know I like to fuck before a race” 

“I know” Charles laughs faintly, boy does he know! Porpoising is one thing but porpoising when your boyfriend’s cock has been stretching you wide only a few hours before is quite a different experience all together. 

“And you looked so good, all sweaty and in your shorts” Max can’t help the little waver in his voice, “I couldn’t concentrate”

“It is fine” Charles sighs even though the sight of Max waving his racket around and hitting nothing more than thin air is going to haunt the Monegasque in his sleep, “I have set up another match for next week so we can practice lots beforehand” 

“And the sex ban? That is ….. that was all talk right?” Max looks up hopefully. Charles is still a little rosy faced - mostly from the frustration of losing but even so he looks hot. Riled up even. Max wouldn’t mind being on the receiving end of some hot “fucking out your frustration” sex

“It was not all talk” Charles shakes his head, “No sex until we win a match”: 

“No” Max wails perhaps a bit too high pitched, “Charles that is not fair” 

“Well I have to stick to my word. If we would have won I would have let you do whatever you want to me” 

Max groans in desperation but then decides that he just can not let Charles have all his own way. It’s not like he lost the match for them on purpose. The Dutchman hops up off the couch and rips his top up and over his head before slipping out of the rest of his clothes. He’s got a semi but he has no idea why, maybe Charles making fun of his padel attempts is doing something to him - it’s quite the way to find out he has an undiscovered degradation kink.

“What are you doing? Why are you naked?” Charles sounds a little panicked, like he is slowly losing control of the situation.

“I am hot and sweaty and I think I need to go and have a lie down on the bed ” Max gives Charles his sweetest smile before wandering through to the bedroom without looking back. 

The Dutchman has to wait less than ten minutes for Charles to join him. The Monegasque is already stripping out of his clothes as he comes bounding into the room and on to the bed, “I am going to ride you and you are not allowed to touch me until I say so” 

Max’s breath catches in his chest, this was not quite the reaction he was expecting to provoke but its more than welcome. He tries not to make any sudden movements incase it reminds Charles of how truly uncoordinated he was on court today and the Monegasque changes his mind.

“I have decided the deal should be reversed. If we had won you could use me all week. We lost so I get to use you. It is the only fair way” 

“Sure. Definitely. Sounds fair” Max nods eagerly, his tongue practically hanging out of his mouth, “Do whatever you want with me” 

Charles does exactly that. Hops on to Max’s cock and rides him hard and fast until they are both coming and the Monegasque is collapsing in a sweaty heap down on to Max’s body.  

“No don’t move” Charles mumbles into the crook of the Dutchman’s neck as he feels Max’s hips twitching, “Don’t move, stay there, I am going to go again in a few minutes” 

Max moans, his dick perking up again almost instantly. 

“Remember, you are all mine all week” Charles is mouthing against Max’s neck. His lips nice and soft and mouth warm and wet. 

“All yours. Use me” Max hums contently, It’s hardly a punishment having Charles jumping on his cock at various points during the day. If he knew being bad at padel would end like this he wouldn’t have even bothered trying so hard. 

“Okay” Charles mumbles, “We are going to fuck all night. Fuck all that tension out of you. Fuck every last bit out of you” 

Max’s breath hitches. 

“So then tomorrow when I wake you up at 5am to go practice padel you will be tension free and ready to go. Remember Max, you are all mine all week. We are going to practice so much”  

Max whines and goes to argue but Charles is already clenching around his cock again so he closes his eyes and gives into the fact that his boyfriend is the most insane, competitive person he has ever met. Max knows that without a doubt he is going to spend the week alternating between having the Monegasque bouncing up and down on his cock and being dragged to the courts to take part in Charles Leclerc’s padel bootcamp for dummies. 

[ryebecca]

people i want to get to know better ✨

thanks for the tags @sorchathered and @sugarcoated-lame!

last song: "bells and whistles" - bright eyes

favorite color: purple

currently watching: just finished watching a watergate documentary miniseries and i'm off to find something new! oh, and my soap. but that's a constant.

last movie: i saw my old ass in theaters last week and it made me more emotional than i expected!

current obsessions: trader joe's dill pickle potato chips, lewis pullman's arm vein, david corenswet, glen powell, etc etc etc

relationship status: perpetually single

last thing i googled: "indoor pickleball courts near me"

no pressure tagging: @writercole @hederasgarden @roosterforme @a-reader-and-a-writer @attapullman

@sometimesanalice @bobfloydsbabe @gretagerwigsmuse @clairewritesandrambles @lewmagoo

@laracrofted @statichvm @goddesspharo @hedlunds

[babybluebanshee]

so a dead mall near me is being torn down in October and while I’m glad the space will hopefully be used for something better, the little freak part of me is sad to lose such an interesting, cursed space. I love dead malls. I find them fascinating. So I shall recount to you my personal experience inside this particular dead mall, which I shall call C Mall.

so a little context - shae and I were there because I got a v-stock (vintage resale shop that mostly specializes in movies, video games, and other nerd swag; I buy a lot of movies from them) gift card for Christmas one year and that was the closest one to where we’d been shopping that day. I had never been to C Mall, the entire time it was open. I didn’t even know it was still open at the time. We drove out and, kids, you’ve never seen a parking lot that big that deserted. Only about a third of it had any cars in it, and that’s because those were the spots closest to the movie theater and Cheesecake Factory that were somehow chugging along inside. Even then, that third was barely a quarter full. I knew right away I was gonna love this place.

the v-stock was on the populated side of the mall, so if you just stayed in there, you probably wouldn’t have ever known it was in a dead mall. It was fairly bustling, there was even a line at the register. But there were signs all around if you paid attention - water stained ceilings, a musty smell despite the clerks’ best efforts, and, creepiest of all, on the lower level where the movies were, a huge window that offered you a look into the darkened food court. The chairs all put up on tables to clean the floor, but never put down again. Most of the food stands shuttered and bare, but some still wide open with signage. The only light the sunlight pouring in from skylights a story up. I have no doubt, at night, that food court was black as pitch.

so I get my movies (spending waaaaay more than my $25 gift card, but that’s life), when shae and I both realize we have to use the bathroom. The v-stock only has employee bathrooms. The closest open ones are in the Macy’s. Clear on the other end of the building. And our bladders were juuuuust full enough to make the trek, rather than find a gas station nearby or something. Honestly, we probably were just at the point where we didn’t even remember there was a world outside this dying symbol of capitalism. There was only Mall. There had always only been Mall.

so we set off, leaving the brightly lit, populated v-stock for parts unknown. And even though it probably only took us about ten minutes to get to the Macy’s, it felt like years. Most of the stores were shuttered. A few were clearly falling apart - broken ceiling tiles, cracked glass, a light dangling by a single frayed wire. Some had been converted to storage for what did remain. What appeared to have been a store for fancy home decor had become a tangled mess of mannequin limbs. Fortunately, no heads that we could see. Just arms and legs, reaching for a god who’d long since abandoned them.

the only other humans we encountered were some older ladies on the lower level. In a last ditch effort to attract customers, any customers, the mall had turned the southern food court into a pickleball court. These ladies were maybe a few feet from the crypt of a food court on the north side. As shae and I watched them, we wondered if they were as uncomfortable with that knowledge as we were.

the only store we saw before the Macy’s that was open was an arcade/party space. “Open” is actually a pretty generous description tbh. The gate wasn’t down, and the arcade machines were on, but it was completely dark aside from those arcade cabinets, and we didn’t see anyone at the counter or at the games. There was a sign advertising party packages. To me it felt like a honey trap, like someone or something was waiting in the dark for some unsuspecting child to walk in.

finally, we reached the Macy’s. Now, malls are typically considered dead once either their profit margins drop below a certain point or their flagship store (usually a large department store like macys or dillards) closes up shop and nothing replaces it. Macys was still chugging along, but clearly in hospice. They were just waiting for the old girl to die peacefully. Sparse shelves, about two employees for the entire store, so quiet you could hear every word of the music playing over the speakers. It was haunting. And, like all department stores, labyrinthine. Felt like Will Navidson trying to find the bathroom, but we eventually did. Two of the four toilets were out of order and the hand dryer only ran for a second or two before shutting off. It was surreal.

I don’t remember walking back to the car, which remember, was on the other side of the mall by the v-stock. I just remember we eventually stepped out into the sun, and were absolutely slammed with traffic noise and human voices. It was like coming out a dark, soundproof room. It was one of the most cursed experiences of my life.

I found out that C Mall is getting demolished from an article that included pictures of the huge, empty space. I could feel the unease, the wrongness of a place that should be full of people and noise being silent and derelict. It was almost sad that this place was going out with such a whimper. I feel this picture says it all:

We did this to it. And it knows that. And it wants to know why it has to die because of us.

[webuniseo]

Uniting Enthusiasts: The Vital Role of a Pickleball Association

Introduction:

Pickleball Association, a sport that seamlessly blends elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, has been steadily gaining popularity across all age groups. As this exciting sport continues to capture hearts, the role of a Pickleball Association becomes paramount. In this article, we delve into the significance of a Pickleball Association and explore the ways it fosters community, growth, and competition within the realm of pickleball.

 Building Bridges: The Purpose of a Pickleball Association

A Pickleball Association serves as the cornerstone of unity for players, enthusiasts, and even newcomers to the sport. By bringing together individuals who share a passion for pickleball, associations create a platform for networking, learning, and sharing experiences. From organizing events to promoting the sport's ethos, these associations contribute to the sport's widespread appeal and longevity.

Nurturing Growth: Development Programs and Workshops

One of the core missions of a Pickleball Association is to nurture the growth of the sport. Through structured development programs, workshops, and coaching initiatives, associations ensure that players of all skill levels have access to resources that can enhance their abilities. From introducing beginners to the basics to refining advanced players' techniques, these programs play a pivotal role in raising the overall standard of play.

The Heartbeat of Competition: Tournaments and Leagues

Pickleball enthusiasts often find their competitive spirit ignited through tournaments and leagues organized by associations. These events not only provide a platform for showcasing skills but also foster a sense of camaraderie among players. Whether you're a casual player or a seasoned competitor, participating in these tournaments can be a thrilling experience that solidifies your connection to the sport and the larger pickleball community.

Creating Connections: Social Events and Networking

Beyond the court, Pickleball Associations curate social events that go beyond the game itself. From meet-and-greet sessions to community picnics, these gatherings foster genuine friendships and connections among players who share a common interest. The bonds formed through these events often extend far beyond the sport, enriching lives in unexpected ways.

Supporting Sportsmanship: Ethical Play and Respect

Pickleball Associations play a vital role in upholding the values of sportsmanship and respect within the community. By establishing codes of conduct and promoting ethical play, associations create an environment where fair competition thrives. These principles contribute not only to the integrity of the sport but also to the growth of players as individuals.

Joining the Movement: Embrace Your Local Pickleball Association

As the pickleball craze continues to sweep the nation, there's no better time to connect with your local Pickleball Association. Whether you're a seasoned player or a curious newcomer, these associations offer a gateway to a world of fun, friendship, and active living. By becoming a part of the pickleball community, you're embarking on a journey that transcends the boundaries of the court.

Conclusion:

The Pickleball Association is the heartbeat of the sport, pulsating with the collective energy of players who are passionate about pickleball's unique blend of competition and camaraderie. From facilitating growth and development to fostering ethical play and community spirit, these associations lay the foundation for a sport that unites people from all walks of life. So, whether you're looking to enhance your skills, make new friends, or simply revel in the joy of pickleball, your local Pickleball Association is waiting to welcome you with open arms.

[rallysportsclub]

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Experience the perfect blend of fun & fitness at Rally Sports Clubs! Book Indoor Pickleball Courts & start your Pickleball Club journey today in Oshawa, CA. Dive into the world of Pickleball at Rally Sports! Experience the thrill of this exciting racquet sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Join us for fast-paced, engaging gameplay suitable for all skill levels. Unleash the Pickleball passion.

Please note that Pickleball at Rally Sports Club is only available through pre-booking.

[racquet-sports]

Pickleball is a thrilling game that consolidates the components of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. This well known game is not difficult to learn, amusing to play and can be delighted in by all ages. It was designed in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by three families searching for an astonishing game to play on their mid year excursion.

Players utilize an oar made of wood or composite to raise a ruckus around town over the net. The court size is 20×44 feet, with a help region 7 feet wide on one or the other side of the middle line. A pickleball net stands 36 inches high in the center and 34 creeps on one or the other side.

Players serve from behind the standard slantingly across the court to begin a game into their rival's administration box. Focuses are scored when your rival neglects to return your shot or returns it beyond the field of play.

What You Really want to Play

Pickleball is a well known sport that joins components of three games: tennis, badminton, and ping pong. You can play it with two, three, or four players.

The game is played on a court looking like a tennis court. It is set apart with various limits for singles or pairs. To play pickleball, you will require a couple of things of gear.

[sugawhaaa]

Jeongin x reader

"If only it were a birdie,"

Pairing:: Jeongin x female!reader

Warnings:: mention of blood and broken bones, mild foul language,based on the Canadian school system and is set in Canada bc I'm Canadian and it felt more accurate and safe to set it in Canada.

Word count::2, 553

Songs to listen to while reading::

A/N:: Another Jeongin fanfic 😍 it's to be expected lolol but the reason this fanfic came about was because we were playing pickleball in gym on Monday and everytime the guys playing infront of me would hit the ball I'd flinch because it was so loud. Then my brain went on a little tangent and then ta-daaa fanfic

"Alright class dismissed," your Science teacher clapped his hands and your classmates filed out of the room. You were going to head back to your locker when you remembered. This period is gym class. You groaned as you opened your locker. There was one good thing about gym class. All of your friends shared that same period. Despite it being just before break it was nice to spend time with all your friends for two whole hours. 

While you were sorting through your locker to find your gym bag the boy next to you asked you a question.

"Do you know what class we have next?" 

He was a super nice guy but he didn't have many friends. He's Korean, wears square glasses 90% of the time and has a unique fashion sense which most kids in your school don't like. He tries to fit in but when he realizes he can't, he just moves along. He's near the top of your class though, he's very smart. 

"We have gym now," you said, smiling up at him.

"Thanks," he said as he continued to mind his own business. You know all these things about him because you share every single class with him. Both semesters. Everyday. Like what are the chances! Must've been some kind of mistake in the system but oh well. Also he's very friendly so you just naturally get along with him.

As you were on your way to the gym you ran into your friends.

"Claire! Kira!" You called out as you sped up to them.

"Oh hey Y/N," Kira said waving to you. The three of you went into the locker room. You changed into your gym clothes while talking about the latest gossip with your friends. 

"Did you hear about that girl in 10th grade?"

"The one that got expelled, you mean?"

"Yeah!"

"I can't believe it's October and someone already got expelled,"

"I really don't wanna deal with Mr. Congies bs today,"

The girls chatted amongst themselves as you tied your shoelaces. You finally decided to join the Convo.

"Have you thought about going to Sarah's party next weekend?" You said grabbing your water bottle and going over to the other girls.

"Yeah," most of them said.

"And???"

"No way I'm going," they all shook their heads.

"Please! Any of you," you pleaded.

"We all know what goes down at her parties,"

"Yeah,"

"Man you guys are no fun," you said crossing your arms. You're just joking of course because they had the right to not want to go. Sarah's parties usually involve too many drinks for high-schoolers and too many…questionable sounds from the bedrooms. Either way you were gonna go, mainly to just get out there, but if your friends aren't going you probably won't either.

You and your friends walked into the gym to see…pickleball. You put your hands on your hips and shook your head. Your class has been doing pickleball for the past like 2 weeks. You went to the nearest court and stood on the side to wait for your turn with all the other girls. There were already four people playing and they had all the paddles so you stood there bored as fuck. Sure the talk between your friends was entertaining enough. Suddenly a girl shrieked, catching everyone's attention. Your gaze shot to where the ear piercing sound came from. There was the boy from earlier and a girl covering her body. Everyone stopped playing to see what the fuss was all about.

"He was taking lewd photos of me!!!!" She accused the black haired boy. 

"No I didn't! I was just looking at my phone!" The boy protested. Then Mr. Congies came over. 

"What's all the drama about," he said loud and proud. The girl explained that while she was waiting in line to play the boy behind her was taking inappropriate photos of her. The gym teacher snatched the boy's phone, "that's quite an accusation, we all know taking photos in school is illegal! Not to mention lewd ones," the teacher put his tiny glasses on and looked through the boy's phone. He looked terrified. "There is no evidence of any photos on Jeongin's phone of you." The teacher said, handing the phone back to the boy. Jeongin, that was his name. I forgot. You thought to yourself.

"I will get the councilors to look further into this later. For now, Jeongin on the court before I send you to the office," he said sternly pointing his wrinkled finger to the court and jeongin abided. He went over to the court, took a paddle from the other players and started playing. Mr. Congies put his hands on his hips with pride.

"Alright the rest of ya' back to playing," he said, waving the clipboard in his hand. Everyone continued to play as if nothing happened, including yourself. You kept talking amongst your friends.

"Ugh we haven't done anything all class,"

"Is that a bad thing though?"

"Yes! I wanna do something. Hey Y/N what time is it?"

Your friends all looked at you and you looked up to the clock in front of you.

"It's only eleven twenty," you said "why couldn't you have just looked at it?" You laughed with your eyes shut. That's when there was a sudden excruciating pain on the bridge of your nose. You opened your eyes to see everyone staring at you and a boy running over to you. Your friends were freaking out as you put your hand up to your nose, right between your eyes. It was SO painful. You slid your fingers down your nose and when you looked at them there was blood. Your eyes widened. What the hell just happened.

You looked down between your shoes as another drop of blood fell on them. Between your shoes there was a neon yellow pickleball with the tiniest bit of blood on it. You then pieced everything together. When you were laughing someone hit you right in between your eyes with a ball. 

"I'll go get some ice!" Claire got up and ran to Mr. Congies. The boy that was running to you earlier sat next to you. It was Jeongin. He kept apologizing as you just sat there awkwardly. "Here Y/N," Claire said as she offered you the ice with Mr. Congies standing next to her. 

"She should go to the nurse's office. Will one of you take her for me?" He said as you put the freezing ice to your nose. You flinched at the feeling. Jeongin shot his hand up before standing up.

"I'll take her!" He called out.

"Fine but first, who did this?" Mr. Congies crossed his arms.

"It's my fault Mr. Congies, I wasn't paying attention," 

"No. It was Jeongin he hit you didn't he," he said glaring at Jeongin. All your friends nodded their heads along with I.N. "Alright go on now I don't want anymore blood on my precious gym floors," Mr. Congies said with a wave of his clipboard. Jeongin took your arm and held the ice pack to your nose for you. He took you down the hall. You had your eyes gently shut because you now have a piercing headache. 

"Careful there's stairs here," He said, making you open your eyes and wobbly step down the stairs. He held you gently, guiding you. "We're gonna go in the elevator so we don't have to go up more steps," 

You two arrived at the elevator and you were still dizzy. Why are these damn pickleballs so hard? You thought to yourself as you heard the elevator ding open. Jeongin tripped on your way in making your eyes shoot open.

"You okay?" 

"Yeah, just my shoe laces," he chuckled as he pressed the third floor button. "Can you hold your ice for a sec? I'm going to tie my shoes," he said as you put your hand over his to hold the pack. He then bent down and fixed his laces but when he stood back up he didn't hold the ice. That's when the elevator suddenly started causing you to lose your balance a bit. You tilted over but Jeongin caught you. "Whoa, easy," he said as he held you up. Your cheeks get flushed at his tone of voice. 

"Thank you," you said as you stood back up properly.

After an awkward walk to the nurse's office you finally arrived. 

"Whoa whoa what happened here," the kind woman in the office stood up coming over to you as Jeongin held you up.

"I accidently hit her square in the nose with a pickleball!" Jeongin said as he set you on a little bench. 

"Oh ouch are you okay sweetie?" The lady said, sitting back down in her white chair as she rolled over to you. Her dark hair and questionable outfit was quite eye-catching. She sighed and shook her head. "How many times have you been here this year?" The nurse asked as she crossed her legs and turned to Jeongin. He just laughed awkwardly before her attention got drawn back to you. "Alright, I'm afraid there's not much else I can do for you dear. You want me to call home?" She said as she grabbed her clipboard. What's with this school and clipboards? 

"Yeah, my mom's number is [phone number of your choice]" you said as the nurse quickly wrote it down. 

"Alright I'll call her now. You two talk amongst yourselves in the meantime," she said as she rolled her chair over to the room next door.

"Y/N?" Jeongin randomly sat down next to you. You replied with a simple hum. "Why did you take the blame for getting hit, we all know it's my fault," he said with those big, doey, eyes. You couldn't help but tell him the truth.

"Well I just think people blame you too much for things that aren't your fault," you explained to him while shutting your eyes. "You get a bad wrap for no reason," you sighed. The chocolate haired boy thought for a moment, supposedly about your words. "You weren't taking lewd photos were you?" You asked out of the blue.

"Huh? Oh yeah. I'd never, I always screw shit like this up," he said with a sigh. You looked over at him sadly. "It's sounds corny but I feel so misunderstood here-"

The nurse came back interrupting your conversation. "Your mother said she'll be here in about 20 to 30 minutes," she said with her hand on her hip. "In the meantime," she turned to a big table in the center of the office. She grabbed bandaids and tissues. "Use these to stop the blood," she said, handing you the tissues. You did as she asked and whipped away most of the blood. Most of it had already come out of your nose so it was just the extra gunk. "And Jeongin can help you put this on your nose while I go take this call," she handed Jeongin a box of bandaids and left. 

When you open your eyes you see him pulling out hello kitty bandaids.

"Seriously, hello kitty," you laughed.

"Awe I think they're cute!" Jeongin chuckled as he opened one of them. "Now close your eyes," 

You did as he suggested. You felt a sticky feeling across your nose. "Oh thank you," you said touching it lightly. He threw the wrapping in the garbage and sat back down next to you. There was an awkward silence as you swayed your feet lightly. You pulled out your phone and turned on the camera. You analyzed your new accessory across your face. "Oh it looks so weird," you laughed.

"I think you look cute!" He said with a smile. You cooked a brow at him. "I mean! It looks cute!!!" He said as he waved his hands around with a pink face. 

"Thanks Jeongin," you said putting your hand on his shoulder with a smile. "I'm gonna ask the nurse if I can go pack up my things before my ride gets here," you said standing up. 

"You think your feeling steady enough?" He asked as he stood up next to you. 

"I'll be fine," you said as you turned the corner to the nurse's office room. You talked to her and she said it's fine but you should bring Jeongin with you, or someone. You relayed this to him and he happily joined you to your locker. You were collecting up your things when you ran out of hands to hold everything. "You mind holding this for me," you said as you handed him your Science textbook. He held everything with no complaints and quickly gave you something back when you said you needed it. "Damn I forgot I'm in my gym clothes still!" You shot up on your feet.

"Here take your bag with you and we'll go back to the locker rooms," he said calmly as he handed you your bag. You smiled back as you took it from him. You two went to the lock rooms and you walked into the girls one. You turned back to look at him.

"You comin'?" You raised an eyebrow at him. 

"No, I'm a man," he shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm sure it's fine just this once, there's no one else in here," you waved a hand at him.

"Okay," he said as he shyly followed you into the pink painted room. He held some of your things as you gathered your things and took off your gym shoes. "It really isn't that different is it?" He said as he looked around. "It's just pink," 

"Yup,"

"And there's not garbage everywhere,"

"Mhm,"

"And no condoms…" he laughed after the silence. You giggled too.

"Okay," you said before taking your shirt off right infront of him. He jumped and covered the view of you with a yelp. 

"Haha maybe a warning next time?" He awkwardly laughed as he turned around.

"Oh sorry, I'm so used to doing this infront of girls who don't care," you smiled innocently while shrugging. After you finished changing everything the two of you went back to your locker. That's when there was an announcement over the PA system. 

"Y/N L/N please come to the office ready to go your ride is here. Y/N L/N please come to the office ready to leave, your ride is outside," you put on your thin spring jacket and your backpack. 

"Alright, thank you for all your help In," you smiled up at Jeongin.

"In?" He said with a confused expression.

"Yeah, I was trying to think of nicknames for you when I was getting changed," you said lightly blushing.

"Hm? Okay then, Noona," he said with a wink.

"Noona?" You tried to copy his accent but it was kinda hard. He chuckled.

"In Korea it's a term younger Koreans use to address older woman," Jeongin said with a smile that reached his eyes. 

"Noona, I like!" You said with a smile that mimicked In's. "Okay I'll see you soon In!" You said while waving and walking to the door.

"See you Noona!" He said as he waved back. "Oh, what am I gonna tell my teacher," Jeongin sighed as he walked back to his class.

[dirtanddistance]

Grandma's Marathon 2024 Race Recap: Sometimes, you PR. Other times, you're just trying to stay out of the ER.

A wise woman once told me "a marathon in 20 miles of hope and 6.2 miles of truth." At the 2024 Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota, I can confidently say I did not get a full 20 miles of hope, and certainly got more than 6.2 miles of truth.

The first question you might be asking yourself about this race report is, "What on Earth were you doing in Duluth, Minnesota? You live in Canada. Your brother who went with you lives in Florida. You are not trying to qualify for Boston. If you were trying to qualify for Boston you are a day trip away from any number of other net downhill qualifying races. Explain yourself." Dear reader, winding up spending a long weekend in Minnesota with my brother is the consequence of a pact that we made last year to run a destination race (a marathon - this detail will matter later) together every year now that we do not live near each other, and we both are very much into running far. We both compiled wish lists of sorts for marathons we thought would be great adventures to go on together, and after running the Vancouver Marathon together last year, it was my brother's turn to choose. I honestly do not know what exactly made him select Grandma's Marathon, but of course as it is a very well reviewed and beloved event in the marathon world, it made it onto his list. I did not check his math on this decision. We signed up when registration opened, virtual high fived at our brilliant decision, and carried on with our lives.

We were not fully aware of the logistics that would come for us in the ensuing months. As you might have noticed, there is no mention of 'booking flights' or 'reserving hotel rooms' in our initial description. And that would be because we did not do any of those things until about 2 months before the race. I can confidently tell you that everyone else on the internet is right when they tell you that you should be booking your hotel for Grandma's the day after the previous year's race. We were ready to book an RV 38 miles outside of town on AirBnb before I finally found a hotel room with a much more reasonable location and amenities. Holding my nose and paying for the hotel room aside, it was time to book flights. Duluth, Minnesota is conveniently located pretty much between Florida and British Columbia, which sounds like a good compromise for two people 3,000 miles apart seeking a destination to meet in. What this does not mention is the fact that flying into the Duluth airport is prohibitively expensive, and you will be flying into Minneapolis, renting a car, and driving two and a half hours to Duluth instead. Now, for two siblings who haven't caught up in a minute, this is not a massive imposition and allowed for a memorable side quest for tacky souvenirs at the Mall of America. However, it is a less charming feature when you have to get back to the airport for one sibling's 9am flight on Monday morning after the race. All of this to say, if you are considering Grandma's Marathon, do not overlook the logistical details.

Warnings out of the way, I rolled out of bed at 3am on a Thursday morning and dragged myself through YVR onto what was thankfully a direct flight to Minneapolis. After an unremarkable plane ride (as unremarkable as hurtling through the sky in a metal tube to a destination over a thousand miles away), I landed in the Land of 10,000 Lakes and lumbered off the jetway to the sight of my little brother, clad in a matching pickleball jacket and shorts set with his Pit Viper sunglasses and a coffee in hand. We found our way to the car rental counter, where we discovered our first hurdle of the trip: some kind of crisis which resulted in us standing in a line for about an hour to pick up the rental car. This left us plenty of time to commiserate about air travel and snap a selfie for our ever-concerned mother. Car keys in hand, we rolled out to find some lunch at the famed Mall of America. Now, the Mall of America is the largest mall in the United States, maybe all of North America, I don't know. I find this claim a bit spurious because while it is a very big mall which contains an entire theme park and aquarium, a number of the retail stores are DUPLICATES. Which, fine, maybe you do need multiple Caribou Coffee locations in case fatigue strikes while you're several floors and a couple of wings separated from the coffee shop, but I will draw the line at multiple Bath and Body Works location in a single mall. This is the American Excess they warn you about. Anyway, we wandered the Nickelodeon Universe and wax nostalgic about the icons of our childhood before finding our way to the food court, the ultimate lunch destination for diametrically different dietary needs travel parties. I snagged the largest acai bowl I've ever seen (it was called 'yacht' size and while I don't think it could fit an entire Leonardo DiCaprio and whichever model he is currently dating, it was still a formidable opponent even for as hungry as I was) and waited up while my brother fetched a fried chicken sandwich meal from Popeye's, which he would later admit to regretting. We then proceeded to put in our first 10,000 steps in the land of 10,000 lakes by wandering every wing of every floor of the Mall of America in search of the perfect tacky treats to bring back to our loved ones and also so that we could say we'd walked the entire Mall of America and seen everything it had to offer. As someone who grew up in a state known for its endless theme park offerings and moved somewhere known for its endless natural amenities while also having tons of large and vibrant indoor shopping malls, I can't say that the Mall of America was for me, but if you ever happen to find yourself in the Twin Cities it was an interesting stop (and there is a food for every appetite in that food court).

Several hours, a stop at the oldest Target location, and numerous gossip topics later, we found ourselves at the hotel in Superior, Wisconsin. When the race materials suggested that the entire surrounding area was really invested in this event, I was not prepared for the random Holiday Inn we were staying at to be completely decked out for marathon weekend. Balloon banners, buckets of bananas and water bottles, little party favor bags in the rooms with more snacks and sunscreen and race-day instruction printouts. I have never been to an event where the city so thoroughly embraces the race weekend energy. We settled in before exhaustedly conceding that we did in fact have to eat dinner, and dragged ourselves to the Perkins across the street where we reminisced about our family's long abandoned ritual of weekly dinner at Perkin's after church on Sunday while I picked at a rather sad collection of side dishes (eating vegan in the Midwest isn't that hard. Eating vegan at Perkins on the other hand...).

Friday dawned and it was time to hit the race expo and check out a bit of downtown Duluth. The race expo had everything you'd expect... many booths hawking Gu and related products, headbands and shirts with cheesy slogans, booths touting methods to 'reset your nervous system' and 'refresh your blood'. After doing a maple syrup shot and drinking a few different flavors of Celcius, we grabbed our packets and were struck with immediate concern at the lack of t-shirts. As it turns out, Grandma's Marathon gatekeeps its finisher shirts and you will not be collecting one unless you cross that finish line yourself.

Friday evening brought the highly touted Michelena's All You Can Eat Spaghetti Dinner. I'm not certain I've ever seen so many people eating in one location, not even in a university dining hall. The quantities of pasta served were gargantuan. You are by default presented with two dinner rolls as your starting portion, with entire loaves of bread out on the table to follow up. Choccy milk and ice cream also abounded. For the low price of just under $20, there was truly no excuse for not being properly fueled for race day.

Speaking of no excuses, we arrive at race day (yes, I know, we're far into a race report for only just getting to the actual race now. Sorry not sorry). After being rudely awakened by two iPhone alarms perfectly in sync, we dragged ourselves through a semblance of a morning routine. Being so early, and being the more morning-oriented sibling of the two of us, I did succeed in convincing my brother to adorn himself with stick on face gems, as is my custom for races these days. He quite appropriately selected two teardrop shaped gems, "one for every marathon I've killed". Boys will be boys (wholesome) I suppose. We rolled up to the parking lot at the University of Wisconsin - Superior, and beheld the bus line to get to the starting line. This is another quirk of Grandma's Marathon - it is a point to point race, and you get to contemplate the full gravity of your decision to sign up for it on a half hour or so bus ride to the start line. I cannot imagine the logistics gymnastics required to get 9,000 people to the start lines via school buses, but after waiting in line for a bit in the misting rain as busload after busload ahead of us were ferried off, we got onto a bus and the journey truly began.

The starting line was a gauntlet of finish line drop bag collection trucks and porta potties, and a nervous huddled mass praying that the rain would continue to hold off on such a gray and dismal morning. We did our rounds of bathroom and stand-around-observing until it was time to surrender our jackets to the drop back trash cans to be reclaimed at the end of our Ordeal.

We shuffled into our packed corrals, and as the countdown proceeded and the gun went off, we trotted over the start line and down the highway. Now, I will say that the marathon course is quite pretty. You run along a two lane highway for miles and miles, sometimes getting a glimpse of the (angry and gray, on our race day) lake. It is a bit repetitive. You run along Superior for... well, basically the whole race. We were running along at a brisk clip, beating our pacing recommendations without much effort, chasing PRs (for us, sub 3:56:30). We made it to the half marathon point and continued along, but I quickly started to feel the pace catching up with me. By mile 15, I was starting to feel a bit dizzy and nauseous. My brother was doing ok, and he started to pull ahead. By Mile 17, we were officially separated out and my new goal was to stay out of the med tent and avoid an expensive trip to the emergency room. I was thirsty the entire time despite everything feeling sloshy and adhering religiously to my nutrition plan. My brain was simply not prepared for the reality of grinding out 26.2 miles as fast as I could manage on the road. I was quickly discovering that sandwiching a 'fast' road marathon between two trail ultras, without doing any speed workouts and avoiding road running to the greatest extent possible, was simply not something I had cracked this time around. I patted myself on the back metaphorically for coming to terms with my failure rather quickly and for deciding to grit my teeth and get to that finish line no matter how undignified I felt about it. This is where thing became surprising. Despite the pain, and the rain, and the fact that it was kinda cold (too cold to walk for the entire rest of the race for me), the entire race flew by. Even the miles I had to walk some of. I never was out there thinking, 'how much longer?! HOW WILL I ENDURE?!" It just... went by. It didn't matter that the course was kinda boring. It didn't matter that everything hurt and I didn't feel so good. I recalibrated my expectations, trucked along, enjoyed the silly signs and cheers of the spectators (they are just as enthusiastic after hours in the rain. Duluth has an A+ cheering section for sure). I paid attention to all of the makeshift aid stations with juice or beer or fruit. The sign that said "all toenails go to heaven". The fact that from what I could tell, the same spectators were moving from point to point, which is a feat of dedication in and of itself.

As I closed in on downtown Duluth in the final mile, the desire to just walk it in mounted. It was cold. It was rainy. I was over it. However, the spectators mercilessly encouraged anyone who dropped pace and I simply could not handle being yelled at to keep running, so I trudged along. Meters from the finish, the fellow next to me goes, "we're here! We did it!" in awe, and damn if I didn't kinda start crying because yeah, we are here, and we have done it. I have no idea what kind of journey it was for him (but from his tone I might guess it was his first marathon finish), and he had no idea that I too was feeling fairly awed by my ability to drag myself all the way to the finish line in spite of the many things that fell apart for me that morning. We both made it across the finish line, me with a new personal worst marathon time, and my new compatriot very dramatically dropped to his knees with his hands to the sky. I very quickly hobbled away at this point as that was not a narrative that I wished to be included in, and finally the pain and discontent had their chance to hit me full on. As I gimped along with my medal, a photographer flagged me to "Pose with your medal!". Which I totally did because no is not in my midwestern pedigreed vocabulary, but I quickly started crying seconds after that photo was taken. I was handed a mylar blanket (or 'heat sheet' as they called it) and continued my sad, damp, sniffly shuffle to find my brother. At this point I was aware of a new dire issue, which is that the empty Gu wrapper I had shoved in my side pocket under my phone felt as though it had chafed a hole through the side of my leg, and my only remaining consolation was that seeing as I had not passed my brother on the course, it was possible that he was having a slightly better day than me.

This hope was dashed as my eyes alighted on a sad red-headed boy sitting wrapped in a heat sheet under a tree. I hobbled over and also took a seat, at which point he says "I was going to go get my drop back but I can't get up". As the rain continued to fall, we looked forlornly at the lineups of people waiting to collect their drop bags. The competing desires of 'sit forever because wow my legs hurt' and 'I am going to freeze to death if I keep sitting here soaking wet with only a mylar blanket to my name' roiled in our heads until finally, the need to get dry and warmed up won out. While we did have to stand in line for a bit to finally reunite with our jackets and some dry clothes, I will say (full offense intended) that it was more organized than the Sun Run drop back pick up.

I will not go into graphic detail about peeling off clothes that are both sweat and rain soaked in a tent full of other sticky sweaty damp people, the floor blanketed in abandoned heat sheets. I was impressed to discover that while the wayward Gu packet that I was too polite to toss on the road did not bore a literal bleeding hole in my leg, I did have a chafe so bad that in subsequent hours and days it would scab over and make it difficult to sleep. Just when you think you've mastered your chafing prevention routine, nature finds a way.

The trial did not end with getting changed, however. Now that we were warm, dry, and in pain, it was time to hobble the quarter mile or so to the finish line bus stop. Finally checking our phones, we saw our mom's request for additional photos and snapped a very grumpy selfie on the way. Every foot step was a new nightmare as every few seconds one of us thought aloud, "are we there yet?" Finally we reached the buses; I will be the first to tell you that there is nothing more enjoyable than riding an un-air conditioned school bus packed full of sticky, sweaty, damp adults.

We finally made it back to the hotel in a torrent of vague discomfort and grumbling, cleaned up, and landed in the Nirvana that was the clean hotel beds with our respective Nintendo Switch/Steam Decks and snacks. When dinner time rolled around, we ventured back out (full of complaints) to a well reviewed Mexican restaurant. When I tell you this place was sketchy as hell to find, I am not exaggerating. We got lost on a 5 minute drive to the place. The windowless venue on the side of a larger warehouse type building was menacing and did not look like a promising place to find a post-marathon meal. However, upon opening the door, we were greeted by a delightful interior and more tortilla chips than either of us could safely house in our GI tracts. Sometimes, there are secrets to be found in the unlikeliest of places.

The remainder of the trip involves BOGO sourdough loaves, 'vacation coffee', and limping around Duluth the following day which was miraculously sunny. More important than any one thing we did on this trip, though, was the chance to just hang out together. We hadn't gotten to go on a sibling side quest that wasn't a funeral or funeral-adjacent in... well, a very long time. And while those tough experiences brought us together and shaped who we are, it's only in quiet moments of mundane togetherness that you truly get to enjoy who another person is.

In conclusion, our pilgrimage to Duluth taught me a few things.

Always check the full logistics before signing up for a race.

I have to do speed workouts if I want to run PR times. Lame.

We would've crushed a half marathon. Too bad we were signed up for a full marathon.

You should consider cherishing and curating your personal worst performances with as much love and care as your personal best performances.

Just because you hit a physical wall does not mean you need to build a mental wall to match, and your ability to scale your mental walls directly correlates to how you will navigate your physical walls.

The refried beans you eat after a marathon are the best refried beans you will ever experience in your life.

Consider travel insurance if you want to embody the PR-or-ER ethos.

Having a buddy, whether or not you run together, can very easily help you find a 'why' on a tough run. And that 'why' can be 'I need to not keep my brother waiting so long that he loses any remaining respect for me so no more walking'.

Road or trail, rain or shine, PR or ER, there's always more to learn about yourself and others out there.

[shrimp-scout]

(at the pickleball courts)

(my pickleball partner accidentally hits a shot over the fence, into the skatepark next door)

Partner and my opponents start requesting help

Me: We got a runner!

Skater dude: I got it!

Dude's friends: (cheering him on)

Skater dude: (throws the ball to us, but it makes it nowhere near the fence)

Me: WEAK ARMS.

Everyone on both sides: (ABSOLUTELY FUCKING LOSE IT)