When Dedication Looks Like Crazy

My dad is still, at age 62-ish, a world-class pole-vaulter. Now he's in the Master's class, but still.

I was talking to him this morning, asking if he was out skiing in all the snow they're getting up in Oregon. He said he was, but that what was really difficult in all the crazy weather has been keeping up with his polevaulting. A sampling of the conversation:

Me: So, Dad, how's the skiing?

Dad: Well, it's pretty good, but it's been hard to keep up with the polevaulting. I go out there to the track, and first it's snowing so it's hard to see the pit. Then another day, it's freezing rain, so the runway is awfully slippery. Then, it's pouring down rain so the pit fills up with water.

Me: Uh..

Dad: I mean, I'm running down the runway, and all of a sudden the pit is filled with two inches of water, so I gotta stop, dump all the water, then hurry up and run back to the beginning to start all over because if you hesitate a minute, it's full of water again!

Me: Wow, that sounds, um, difficult.

Dad (chuckling): Yep, it's been kind of tricky vaulting every day. Nobody else is out there, though! Good time for practicing.

***
Folks, this is what it takes to be really good at something.

I think I'll just stick with baking and drawing. With the occasional Olympic sleeping.