There's always next year

My current plan for weight loss pointed toward the 2017 World Amateur disc golf championship next summer in the Quad Cities area (IL/IA). I qualified to play in 2015 and 2016 in the 50+ age division (based on year of birth) but could not go due to vacation and recovery from an injury. I also realized that at my weight, the four days of play would be difficult for me.

Yesterday, I saw a post about the qualifying standards changing and discovered that they were increased in my division by a factor of 10 from 2015 in order to reduce the number of available players no doubt because of the large number that wanted to play this year but couldn't because they were unable to reserve their spot as it filled minutes after it was opened.

Looking at the current listing, I realized that just over 100 players are currently qualified while over 500 would be at the level I was expecting it to be raised. It makes sense for them to do it since an event like that should be for those worthy.

So what would I have to do to be able to play? There are two choices, get better or get older. In 2025 when I turn 60, the requirement would be significantly lower but who knows how my game would change as my arthritic body ages let alone it is valid to question would I be able to play at a tournament level at all in 9 years?

So getting better would be my only option. 2016 did mark new personal bests in a two round tournament and a single tournament round so I am getting better but I know it is not enough. In Aug, I stated the first 50 things I need to do to get better are all to lose one pound but I need more than just that.

What I need requires a full commitment. That first means getting my body to the point where I can physically play an entire Mar-Oct season. It also means playing (and paying to play) the events I did in the first half of 2015 and second half of 2016 as well as others I skipped due to "life". It also would require playing in A level two day events where I would need to get a hotel near Bowling Green, KY in May and Peoria, IL in Aug as opposed to the hotel rooms I would get in Bloomington, MN next March and one in the Chicago area sometime during summer 2017.

I did invest in a fitness center membership so I believe my choice has been made.

When I told people I had to cancel in 2015, I was told there is always next year which is the same thing that I heard in 2000 when working after a golf tournament led to me losing. During the time for the 2001 golf tournament, I had my right knee scoped and was not the same after. Next year is NOT guaranteed. Now is what needed to happen when I decided to not play in 2015 and I failed again in spite of my desire to not let it happen.