Athletic Dad

Sunday Mornin' Coming Down - A post about my Dad each Sunday, named after a song that he loved.

My dad was very fit, not due to his love of fitness but more as a result of his need to be active and involved in athletic-types of recreation. Until he had to stop to have his hip replacement, to correct a birth defect, Dad played squash multiple times a week. He would set up games with his "Squash Buddies" and was also a part of an intramural league at his gym. for a couple of years I can remember him even being a part of the travel team.

He didn't like running because it was hard on his joints. Whenever he would join Mom and I he would also always be trying to add other elements to the run. "Let's run backwards, pump your arms, high kicks!" So I think running also bored him. He preferred biking. My parents did bike trips together and we used to go as a family to the trails around Niagara Falls.

Dad also sailed both dinghies and keel-boats, which is much more athletic than most people think, especially when racing. In high school he was on the basketball team, he played football casually in university intramural, and he enjoyed the occasional golf game.