I rarely watch a full sporting event on TV. I can't even recall the last time I saw an entire football, baseball, or basketball game. However several times a year, several events occur that hold my attention. These would be The Olympics, The Ironman in Kona, and several bike races to include the Tour de France. My crown jewel is watching the X-Games. Summer or Winter, it does not matter. The winter X-Games are going on this weekend. I find it much more interesting to see a guy pull of a 720 on a snowboard rather than watch a guy throw a football into an in-zone.

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It's kind of sorry to think that all our nation really cares about is football, basketball, baseball, race'n, and golf. There is so much more out there that is interesting and fulfilling. After this full weekend of folks sticking sick tricks at the X-Games, all that will be mentioned on Monday morning is who tackled who just before the big TD.

Making it look easy...

The reliable back flip. Top this Peyton Manning!!

Daddy, How come Billy's dad never wears tights?

Evolution is a curious thing. I not talking about the kind of evolution one thought of while watching birds off of the Galapagos Islands. I'm speaking more of how people become desensitized or comfortable with what or who they are. Often times, my comfort in certain types of clothing may define a part of me.

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Here are some personal examples:

As I have ran more and more over the years, I have become comfortable wearing shorts that are a little too short for my wife's taste. I used to wear knee length, loose fitting shorts to run in. But now they do come up a bit short and even have a small slit in the sides for extra movement. This is not a very impressive site, but oh are these shorts comfortable. I find myself wearing them to the grocery store or gas station after a run. I do get some funny looks at times, but I have grown quite secure, and give little thought to it now.

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My personal icing on the cake is my comfort in wearing running and cycling tights. I have worn them for around 10 years now during my winter play. I wasn't always this secure with them though. My first year or two of winter running races found me sporting my running tights with a pair of shorts over them. I was also known to wear a pair of baggy mtb shorts over my tights. There was just something less than flattering to me with wearing tights only. Well much to my wife's dismay, my comfort level has apparently crossed the line with wearing my tights. Sure I have gone to the grocery store and such, while sporting my tights, and yes people do give me a second look. However, Sara had to speak up on this one.

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You see....I had just put Bowen on the school bus and had suited up earlier so that I could get a run in before work. I had waited at the bus stop, walked Bowen up to the bus, and wished him a good day. I was walking back to the house and saw Sara with her mouth open.

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Sara: "Do you realize what you just did?"

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Running Dork: "Uhh just put'n Bo on the bus and tell'n the bus driver that her safety strobe-light was not flashing."

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Sara: "Look down." (It still did not register with me). "You are a grown man wearing tights at a bus stop with kids!"

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Running Dork: "Superheros wear tights! Kids love superheros!" (This caused a smile, but I know I couldn't win this argument.)

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I can see how this may come to play or haunt in the future. So I suppose I may have to curtail my "secureness" in the name of keeping my son from getting an ear full at school. I would hate for my boy to get into a scuffle because his dad is a Huge Dork.