One of the things I like about public speaking is that it evens the odds. You don’t have to be a physical specimen the way you do in pro sports or a genius or even all that smart. You just get up there and do your best and you keep pushing at it. It’s more like long-distance running than making it in the NBA. And I’m not just thinking of thinking of new age “I speak to release the music inside me” business. You can be a great speaker no matter where you are now.

Each year Toastmasters has contest where people give speeches and the winner goes onto the next level in a tournament. A few years ago I was at a District Speech Contest. My District, D2, had about 130 or so clubs back then and covers Greater Seattle and a bunch of Western Washington. To make it this far, a speaker had to win at three levels already.

There were six speakers that night. At least two of them were men who were middle aged men, not the greatest shape, I’d guess both weighing 200 lbs. There was an older woman - I’m afraid to guess on this one, but if I had to I’d say she was in her 60’s. And to top it off there was a blind woman. What sporting event could you ever see such a broad range of folks able to compete, never mind at this high a level? And having taken up running and blown my knees out at it, I’m happy I’ve found something I love that doesn’t ruin the body.