My first sports day: mud, laughter, and lessons

This year has been full of firsts for me, and attending my very first Sports Day was no exception. Spoiler alert: it was a mix of chaos, fun, and a lot of learning (about both sports and life).

The Rainy Start

The day started with what else…rain. To make matters worse, the power went out as I was getting ready. Still, I was determined. I threw on what I now realize was more "dinner wear" than "sports wear" and proudly laced up my white sneakers. Yes, white sneakers... on a rainy, muddy day. Genius, right?

By the time I got to town, my shoes looked like a mud monster’s snack. My once-pristine sneakers were now a tragic shade of brown. But hey, I made it on time which, for me, is practically a miracle!

Where Are My Friends?

When I got to the meet-up spot, guess what? My friends were either MIA or still asleep. Classic. Luckily, I spotted an acquaintance (let’s call them X) and hitched onto their group. X, with their effortless humor and knack for storytelling, turned my shoe tragedy into a shared laugh. Shoutout to X for being cool and distracting me from my muddy shoe crisis with some great conversation.

The Field of Dreams

When we arrived, the rain finally stopped, and the field was stunning. I was hyped! The games hadn’t started yet, but I was already plotting how I’d bring pom-poms and maybe even start a cheer squad next time.

X tried to get me to "chill," but let’s be honest—patience isn’t my thing. Thankfully, X’s stories kept me entertained until the games kicked off.

Friends Finally Show Up

Eventually, my friends arrived, and one of them was even playing. Now it felt like a party! I managed to find a spot to charge my phone (thank you, kind receptionists), so I didn’t have to stress about battery life.

Now, I’m not a big sports fan unless it’s happening in a novel, so for the first twenty minutes, I was mostly confused. Thankfully, my football-obsessed friends kept me in the loop whenever my mind wandered.

Exploring and Learning

Being my curious self, I couldn’t stick to just watching the games. I wandered around, and let me tell you, it was worth it.

• Photoshoot Fun: I took some silly, unfiltered photos with new friends. I’d recently watched a TED Talk that said photos don’t have to be perfect—they just need to capture the moment. So, I embraced the chaos.
• STI Testing Booth: I stopped by for some health checks and learned a lot. The staff were super kind and even helped me calm down when I started overthinking.
• Breast Cancer Screening: This time, it wasn’t scary or overwhelming—just helpful and supportive.

I also popped into a group therapy session hosted by Diversify. It was a safe space to vent, and hearing "it’s okay to be sad" made a huge difference. Bonus: they also discussed how queer-owned businesses could contribute to events like this, which gave me lots to think about.

Basketball and Nostalgia

Later, I watched a basketball game, and wow—high school memories came flooding back. Also, side note: basketball players have some of the most aesthetically pleasing faces. No offense to other sports, but... yeah.

Wrapping Up

The day ended with food, light Pilates (which I kind of winged), and some chill time with my friends. By the end, I was tired but happy, with muddy shoes, a full heart, and a head full of new knowledge.

Lesson learned: Sports Day is about way more than sports—it’s about trying new things, making connections, and just having fun. Would I do it again? Absolutely! Next time, though, I’ll leave the white sneakers at home.