This is an Olympic year. The games start July 27th in London http://www.olympic.org/london-2012-summer-olympics. My mother was British and I lived in England for most of my early childhood so naturally I have strong associations with the country.
I heard London has hosted more Games than any other country. I didn't know that but it doesn't surprise me. The backdrop for Chariots of Fire was around the 1924 games in London and that was a long time ago. I liked the movie, being a true story -n- all. There was palpable power in Scotsman Eric Liddells' comment "When I run I feel his pleasure". It was categorical and his essence. I don't compete for God like that but hearing him say it like that, right there, was moving. He fought with courage.
I have several friends of Scottish descent and have competed against them too and it's always a full frontal assault and pure to the finish. Brave stock here, lets leave it at that. If you doubt just ask the Romans.
The last Summer Olympics I watched were the 2004 games. We were staying at The Admiral Inn in Saco, ME for a race weekend. It poured rain the whole time so we watched a lot of Olympic coverage in our room. I remember the women's lifting. A girl from Poland won. She was a cool, bright pink hair in pigtails wearing rainbow striped knee socks, a power suit, thighs caked in white chalk and massive lifting belt giving her a herculean posture. I think she put like 380lbs over her head. We sat there mouths wide open.
I don't lift anymore. The benefits don't last or transfer to the bike for me. Plus I always get sick sharing equipment with sick Fred's walking around w/ pneumonia. I grew up as a track&field and footballer so I lived on lifting. It was my oxygen. But now it's nothing more than something I like to watch other people with pigtails and Cat in the Hat knee socks do.
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