We\u2019re a sports and fitness country. Our obsession ranges from Ironman athletes who compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run triathlon on one end of the scale, to old coots like me, who take a walk around the block and brag about it all day. But, more than sports and fitness fanatics, we\u2019re a country of equipment fanatics. No matter what the sport, no matter how slight the fitness routine, we load up on equipment!<\/p>\n
Take golfers; I golf, but you can\u2019t consider me a true golfer. My clubs are decades old. When I step to the tee with my ancient driver, a roar of laughter sweeps across the course, messing up golfers in their back swing five fairways away. And, that\u2019s before anyone sees my swing. I don\u2019t care. I still shoot my age, usually around the 15th<\/sup> hole. But, real golfers are equipment buyers: new drivers with bigger heads and adjustment screws that are guaranteed to get rid of that awful slice and add twenty yards to your drives \u2013 exotic putters that will cut six strokes off your round \u2013 reengineered balls that go farther \u2013 special unbreakable tees that hold the ball at the perfect height and angle, not to mention the shirts, shorts, raingear and shoes that make you, not only look better, but play better.<\/p>\n All sports are like this. Running shoes, hiking shoes, walking shoes, cross training shoes. No single shoe will do. Take a bike ride? Sure, on a $5,000, zero weight velocipede wearing spandex bike shorts and shirt, shod in an expensive pair of interlocking bike shoes. Even Little League baseball players have better uniforms, batting gloves and other accessories than the major league New York Yankees did back when I was a kid.<\/p>\n The fitness world is just as bad. Every week there\u2019s a new apparatus unveiled on TV that\u2019s guaranteed to get rid of that tummy flab, thigh bulge and under arm droop. Skiers, hikers, swimmers \u2013 you name it and I\u2019ll show you a list of \u201cmust have\u201d gear. Swimming goggles and a suit? No, you need training fins, hand paddles, spandex suits and underwater watches. All sport and fitness activities require electronic devices to go with the activity. It\u2019s not enough to take a jog; you have to know how many calories you burned, your rate of speed, your max heart rate, the number of steps you took and a graphic display of your training regimen that would befuddle a science professor of yesteryear. How else would you know you were having a good time? A sweaty shirt and the need to catch your breath just doesn\u2019t cut it anymore.<\/p>\n The last time I was in Florida I got to see just how far this trend has gone. A group of seniors signed up for a walking program. I spotted them doing laps in the park. They all wore brand new \u201cwalking\u201d shoes and held a walking stick in each hand. An instructor barked orders to them, \u201cStep to the left, stick to the right. Step to the right, stick to the left.\u201d Half the group did the opposite; they got pulled aside for one-on-one training. My favorite was the guy holding the sticks in the air, who shooed the instructor away, \u201cLeave me alone! I know how to walk!\u201d When I stopped laughing, I hopped on my crossover, hybrid, 21-speed bicycle and peddled home, but at least I wasn\u2019t wearing Spandex (or a helmet).<\/p>\n Complaints, comments \u2013 mlessler7@gmail.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We\u2019re a sports and fitness country. Our obsession ranges from Ironman athletes who compete in a 2.4-mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial"],"yoast_head":"\n