Michael

Our official photographer and lifeguard.

Walter

Staying cool, Walter shows his stuff.

Walter drops

Having fun!

Sammy

Rippin it up! 

Showing us how it's done!

Guess who?

Having a lot of fun. Showing off some old school style.

James

Droppin in!

James tears it up!

I'm bad

Looking like I'm ready to drop...dead tired that is! Notice I am not wearing any elbow pads and also notice that the kids are not wearing any protective gear. I left my blood in the bowl coarse and have a nasty little elbow mark to remind me of my fun. Next time full gear. Nice shot Michael!

Overall view of the park. For a detailed description go to: http://www.skateboardpark.com/skateboardpark/viewpark.asp?ID=3009 

Training

Still training for the Frostbite. I am up to 12 miles but I walked the last mile and a half. Took a lot out of me and I got sick the day after. I have some kind of bug. Looks like I will be taking it easy for a week or so. Christmas is next week, hope to be better by then. I met up with a realy good running group and it has paid off in training for this long run.

First Half Marathon

I have been training for this race for the past month
and I am up to 7 miles. Should
run my first 10 miler this weekend.

Training can be fun but I realy don't
like watching my diet. I want to eat
like a horse. (Not to mention it is
the holiday season) I want to loose 10 lbs
before the big day but so far I just don't
have the willpower. 

Oxford Skatepark

I am excited and jealous at the same time. Oxford, MS has plans to build a skatepark. It should be finished by spring of 2006. http://www.oxfordms.net/recent/skatepark.htm 

Tupelo Skateboard Park

I went to Tupelo this past Friday. This is the park that was finished about a year ago. It is pretty simple but fun. Located in the middle of some soccer fields and behind a museum. Admission is free so that was nice. The ramps are metal and not very forgiving when you fall. I would recommend wearing full pads and helmet if you want to go all out.

Half Pipe

I skated this ramp the most. Great for building strength in your legs. 5ft on the high end and 4ft on the low. 

Simple Ramps

These ramps were about 2.5 to 4ft high. 

1st Place

I caught a ride to the race with a good friend and running partner. We both placed 1st in our age group. Cool trophies, I love this sport!

Timing is everything

It is humbling when a child beats you across the finish, but this time I had a lot of fun. We stayed with each other for the last half mile and sprinted side by side for the last tenth. I guess there is no lying about my finishing time for this race.

Race to Save the Face

It was very cold this morning, around 35 degrees. The sun was the only warmth. Thank God we started at 8:30 am. This was a fun race with a long downhill sprint at the start. Being an out and back course, it was fun sizing up the hill on the way down because you knew you would see it again at the finish.

Old geezer still knows his stuff

Well, not bad for an old guy like me. I skated my heart out and took some spills but I had the time of my life remembering what it was like in my 20s. I am still hurting from this day. My body needs time to heal and Ibuprophen is my closest friend for a few days but I want to go back once a month if I can. I burned more calleries in that hr then I have any day running. My legs are sore... and my neck... and my butt. OK Dave Campbell, you got me started. I am right behind you.

Intimidated at first

Certainly looked intimidating at first but after a while I got the hang of it. I showed up early and beat the crowd. I was the only one there for the first hr.

What is this?

I have no idea what this ramp was supposed to do other then help you gain speed for the ramps on the other side of the park. I am so old school! 

Dock 36 in Jackson, MS

A long awaited visit to my first skateboard park since I can't remember when. (I think I was in my 20's.) Let's see what I can do. 

100 complete Run for Education Saturday

10-16-05
By BECKY WILKES/Starkville Daily News
There were 100 people who finished the 5K Hannah Pote Run for
Education Saturday morning at the Starkville Sportsplex.

Other top finishers in the 5K run were...

Age 40-44: Male - Tom Thompson at 22.33, Nick Filipov at
23.11...

.... finishers grade 6 and under in the 1 Mile Fun
Run/Walk...

Sixth grade: Male - John Robert Tomlinson, Austin Wilemon, Quartez Shields, Dolvin Tate, Joey
Pritchett, and Michael Thompson

10-15-05 A few seconds before the kids 1 mile run.  

10-15-05 Michael and Dad after the race. 

10-15-05 A highlight after the race. Children answer questions about Mississippi for prizes. 

10-15-05 Michael running in the "Run for Education"