That smell.
It’s a smell you’ll never forget: high school locker rooms. 🤮
It’s a smell far more complex than Lynx Africa (that’s Axe body spray for the Americans in the room or STR8 body spray if you’re from the Czech Republic). It’s the smell of hormones and gender expectations and awkwardness and that one boy who developed really early into a full-grown man. Like, what was THAT about?! It was a repugnant smell and totally unforgettable all at the same time and, no matter how hard you tried to forget your gym clothes, you’d always end up having to spend time surrounded by that awful smell.
More generally speaking, I feel that the typical high school experience can be summed-up neatly into two defined experiences:
Sweet Vally High - Where you truly lived your best life.
Sunnydale High School - Welcome to the hellmouth.
Prove me wrong - I dare ya!
God bless the liars that say their, “High school days were the best days”. I mean, if they really believe that, then great. Good for you buddy! But I have a strong feeling these individuals will be wearing a pair of rose-tinted glasses firmly on their face, and will be ignoring the true brutality of their high school experience or just simply forgetting the true awkwardness of their scrawny and socially inept teenage self.
So You Think You Can Run?
Needless to say, I really didn’t enjoy physical education at high school. Even though I’m Scottish, through-and-through, I think football is dull and by football, I mean soccer you guys - keep up!
Rangers, Celtic or Partick Thistle, you ask?
Sorry, I’m busy. Forever.
My high school P.E. class wasn’t really an environment to flourish in for all. That is, for those who didn’t like the most basic of sports: athletics, football, basketball et al. However, during my second last year of high school we had to run short distances for an athletics P.E. class. This must have been during one of the few days I had forgotten to forget my gym clothes.
After blasting my way through the short distance run my P.E. teacher - a tall and unremarkable man - decided to comment on my running skills,
“You sure can run fast.”
To which my response was, “Yes.” As I walked off.
You see, this was supposed to be the part of my bio pic where a heart-to-heart was had between teacher and student. Where the teacher inspired the student to “follow their dreams” and “reach for the stars” and “join our high school athletics club so our department can regain relevance”. But, for me, I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction and so I preempted the conversation, and withdrew.
It wasn’t until later in life - and on my own terms - that a love for sports grew! Since graduating high school I’ve ran two 10Ks and a 5K, whilst raising hundreds of pounds for charities. When training for longer distance runs eventually became tiresome, I mixed it up with teaching myself parkour. This was because life is short and well, I really enjoyed playing the video game Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst and I figured parkour in real life would be even more exciting.
It was but even THAT eventually became dull and so I sought out new adventures, overseas.
“Born in Scotland, made in America.”
In summer 2018, I took part in Camp America - at the age of 34! Why? Because I needed an adventure but also as I saw there was a real need for positive male role models in a youth work setting again.
As Camp Friendship’s Senior Village 1 Supervisor I was challenged and spurred further than I had been in any other role in my whole career. In addition to teaching Yoga daily and becoming an accredited US archery instructor, during one of my days off I went rock climbing in the woodlands of Virginia. This experience sparked a renewed focus and passion for outdoor sports. It was, quite simply, a life altering experience.
Since returning to the UK I’ve kept the momentum going with indoor and outdoor bouldering (climbing without ropes), mountain biking, hiking, archery and Yoga.
How to Become a Superhero
Whilst I no longer run on a regular basis—mostly because I’m getting super old and my left knee dislikes it—I do still love running! Why? Well, I feel my reason for loving it is best summed-up by everyone’s favourite Scottish Olympian, Sir Roger Bannister...
"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves...The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, 'You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.' The human spirit is indomitable."
—Sir Roger Bannister
Inspiring words, right?
Choosing the right blend of sports will push you further than you thought possible. It will help you to define, sculpt and refine both your body and your mind. Your capacity for stress management will be elevated, your desire for adventure will grow and your determination and dexterity will go through the roof. In short, choosing the right blend of sports will help you to become the best version of you.
However, you’ll soon realise that even your “best”, isn’t.
You’ll soon realise that there are no limits and that the only thing holding you back is your levels of determination.
It won’t be about “chasing gains” or conforming to gender expectations. Nor will it be about conforming to societal standards of beauty. It will be about making you feel unstoppable and capable to take on any challenge. To look to adventure instead - face forwards, looking onto life’s challenges with razor-sharp focus.
You’ll no longer be defined by the world’s perception of you.
You’ll run towards adventure instead.