Issue 68 - Reliving Our Firsts. Again
This is not about me
👋 Good morning and happy Friday. I’m Scott and feel free to reach me here.
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How about IRONMAN Texas last weekend? My god what a race. It’s so early in the season but all of these superstars lined up together and racing is so exciting. Let’s see what injuries occur and what division amongst IRONMAN and the PTO athletes looks like but exciting stuff thus far.
FIRSTS — ALL OVER AGAIN
This past weekend, I unlocked a new level of parenthood—one I didn’t know existed until I was standing on the sidelines of a U8 softball tournament. Unable to sit still with my heart pounding; you’d have thought I was watching Game 7 of the World Series.
My daughter is in her first season of softball. She's learning this complicated game, finding her stance, and figuring out how to work with a team.
As a kid, I played ALL OF THE SPORTS — I swam, played baseball, soccer, and ice-hockey. I can still picture the first blue ribbon I ever won. I can remember the feeling of stepping onto the mound with all eyes on me, the sting of a ball hitting my glove, even the time a classmate threatened to beat me up if I hit him while pitching. (Spoiler: I did, but he didn’t beat me up.)
Those moments were defining for me.
They weren’t just childhood memories, they were formative, and foundational.
They helped build the person I became - teaching me about independence, team work, and resiliency.
But this past weekend? I learned that nothing compares to watching your child live through their firsts.
I stood behind those metal bleachers with such a pit in my stomach, knowing my daughter was living through her own firsts. How would she react? What would she learn? How would she push through?
Every pitch, every hit, every throw to first—I felt it all in my chest. The wins felt electric and dramatic and the final loss was gutting.
But through it all, I saw something even bigger: my daughter is becoming and growing into her true self.
She delivered some key hits and RBI’s when it mattered most.
She made tough outs under pressure. She made mistakes she’ll hopefully learn from. She held her head high when the final out came and the tournament run ended.
I watched her be a great teammate, celebrating friends that were complete strangers two months prior.
I saw her becoming a competitor and a leader. And a kid who had to sit with heartbreak. And while she doesn’t know it now, a kid that will come out stronger for it.
All weekend though, I tried to rationalize all of this (for this newsletter).
And I came up with this.
As humans, our lives are shaped by a series of firsts. Our first race, first job, first love, first heart break. For all of these things, they’re uncomfortable and you either show up, or you don’t.
And when you become a parent, you relive them all over again—this time from the front row. Not by doing the thing, but watching it from afar. You get to relive the magic, that anxiety, that pure, wide-eyed joy of something being new and unknown and still doing it anyway.
Watching others do the doing… hits different.
And here’s the bigger thing I’ve been chewing. All of this, the long weekends, the cheering, the emotional rollercoaster of it all is not just nostalgia. It’s our investment as parents and people in the future of our children or friends.
It is our act of building someone strong, and confident, and independent.
These moments become the foundation for her story.
Her confidence and her own belief in what’s possible.
Every time we show up for someone else’s “first,” we’re doing more than witnessing it, we are fueling that person for success.
And if we’re doing it right, we’re not just reliving our own story of firsts, we’re laying down bricks so the people behind us, our own kids, our teammates, our friends, our community can stand a little taller when it’s their turn.
This isn’t about parenthood. It’s about being a person
Maybe you’re coaching, mentoring, or cheering on a friend or family member.
Or maybe you’re holding space for someone to take their first real swing at something they’ve been terrified to try.
Do not discourage them, enable them!
The term “community” gets thrown around way too much but a true community can be 1:1 interaction, or a group of runners at a Sunday group run.
It’s not always about being the fastest or in my daughters case, winning the whole thing. It is about being first to show up for others. To high-five someone at mile 8 or to hold them after the last out because they’re balling.
So next time you’re in a situation to help. Do it. Tell a friend, or a stranger - “You’ve got this. I remember my first time—and you’re doing great.”
Because we all remember our firsts. But we never forget who was there to remind us we were ready.
Keep moving. ✌️
SB
The Biz
IRONMAN Returns to KONA 1 Day Format: This was the big news of the week. In recent years, IRONMAN has flip flopped the men/women’s race between Kona and Nice (FR) but is returning to Kona for good starting in 2026. IRONMAN’s research and polling made it clear that age group and pro athletes alike wanted to race in Kona. So they made it happen. But how do the locals feel? From what I’ve read, they’re happy to move forward with the 1-day format, but anything beyond that was a hard, NO. Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda thinks the Kona community can handle a single race day. He said Ironman continues to get better in streamlining the event, making things easier for participants and volunteers. He said they have become better at informing athletes the best protocol for training in Kona’s public pool and roads before the race. Read more…
OCEANMAN Hits US: The leading global open water swimming series, is proud to announce its official launch in the United States. Founded in 2015, OCEANMAN is the first global open water swimming circuit created by and for open water swimmers. OCEANMAN USA will maintain the international format of the series, offering various distances — including short, medium, and long races — in stunning open water locations across the country. The events will be open to all levels, from recreational swimmers to professionals, with a strong emphasis on safety, inclusion, and excellence. Read more…
CrossFit x YETI: Known for being outdoor focused, YETI and CrossFit will extend their partnership for another three years, solidifying YETI’s role as the Official Drinkware and Cooler of the CrossFit Games® through 2027. As part of this new agreement this year, YETI will also be named the presenting sponsor of CrossFit’s inaugural Community Cup, a new celebration of local Affiliate excellence and grassroots impact. YETI will award $30,000 in product to CrossFit Affiliate Owners around the globe, recognizing their daily dedication and service to our every day CrossFit members. Read more…
AG1 Reformulates: It’s first product reformulation since 2016. Called AG1 Next Gen - the new green powder supplement contains added vitamins and minerals and upgraded probiotics, which AG1 says have been shown in clinical studies to support gut health and plug common nutrient gaps – even among healthy eaters. Like its previous formulation, AG1 Next Gen retails for $79 for a subscription plan and $99 for a one-time purchase. Read more…
Things
American teenager Maya Merhige withstood thousands of jellyfish stings during a 14-hour swim across the Cook Strait: A 17-year-old high school student crossed the Cook Strait, which separates New Zealand’s North and South Islands, last month. It was another step towards her goal of becoming the youngest person to complete the Oceans Seven – a series of brutal open water swims around the globe. In line with Marathon Swimmers Federation guidelines, only swimsuits – not wetsuits – can be used by those undertaking solo, unassisted marathon swims in open water. Read more…