Ross Forman prepares for the World Outgames July 25-Aug. 2 in Copenhagen.
The paper and pens are packed. Same for the audio recorder. The camera is set and I have enough CompactFlash cards to secure more than 1,000 digital photos. I'm all set to report on and photograph the sights, sounds and spectacle that is the second-ever World Outgames ( July 25-Aug. 2 ) in Copenhagen.
About 5,000 sporting participants are ready for the biggest sporting showcase of the LGBT community in 2009, where worldwide participants will compete in basketball, soccer, badminton, volleyball, tennis ( regular and table ) , curling, golf, hockey ( ice and field ) , softball, squash and swimming, among other events.
I also have my Brooks Beast running shoes, size 12, packed for the nine-hour flight from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, as I will be running the half-marathon ( 13.1 miles ) on Sunday, July 26. This will be my first-ever half-marathon and I'm honestly just using it as a training run for my next ( full ) marathon: the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Oct. 11.
I still cannot believe I'm not worried one bit about running ( and finishing ) a half-marathon, but that's what having completed five marathons over a 20-month stretch will do. The Chicago Marathon will mark six marathons in a 22.5-month stretch.
I'm grateful to the National AIDS Marathon Training Program ( NAMTP ) for showing and training me that, yes, anyone can run and complete a marathon, and be healthy enough after to work the next day. I'll be running the NAMTP way in Denmark and really don't care about my time. Sure, time is key for some and no doubt I'll be humbled when I'm passed along the course by others, but I just want to finish, period. That's my goal in Copenhagen and for every marathon.
My race-day theory always is, finish and be healthy after.
After this half-marathon, I'm looking forward to a Carls Special, my favorite Danish brew, though of course I'll settle for a regular Carlsberg or any "over-there" imports, such as Coors Light, Corona Light or Michelob Ultra.
After the Rock N Roll San Diego Marathon in late-May, I decided to cut alcohol out of my diet, to hopefully help my training for Chicago. I've been really good on this so far, but sure looking forward to that Special.
And also am also excited for the sporting competition that I'll see in Copenhagen. Based on what I witnessed at the Gay Games in Chicago and the first Outgames in Montreal, both held during the summer of 2006, some of the competition in Copenhagen will be top-rate. In Chicago, for instance, I was an ice-hockey referee, and those Games featured two players who had been drafted into the NHL ( National Hockey League ) . Sure, they never skated in the NHL, but just being drafted speaks to their ability.
I know Copenhagen will feature great competition in soccer, volleyball and swimming, for sure. And I also plan to watch handball, which supposedly is another of the sports with highly skilled, mostly European players.
Look for Outgames coverage over the next two weeks, and then look for me on Oct. 11 along the 26.2 mile course of the Chicago Marathon.
I'm running the Chicago Marathon to benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Please consider donating to support this worthwhile cause as I push my body on yet another 26.2-mile grind. Donations can be made at afc.aidschicago.org/netcommunity/ross.
