I have a real dilemma ...

It's fall. The candidates are busy trying to impress the polls. I have an important choice to make. And no, it's not which presidential candidate will receive my vote ... I must decide if I'm going to watch football or race!

Every year I miss the Georgia-Tennessee football game because I'm out in the woods. Well, my beloved Dawgs happen to be ranked number 2 in the polls as I write this. So, I'm especially conflicted as the fall adventure racing season heats up just as the Georgia football season gets underway.

Do I swap my paddle for the remote control? My bike for a couch? My energy food for some nachos and chips and join my Bulldawg brethren at the local sports & suds? College football is king in the South. So, I'm not alone in being conflicted (see this board post on race entry vs. game tickets on the Trailblazer message board).

This weekend I'll be mentoring in the Midnight Rush 12-hour race as part of the Checkpoint Challenge, which matches members of Team Checkpoint Zero/Inov-8 with newer racers. Jon and Peter will be taking teams out, too. My beloved Dawgs, meanwhile, will be facing off with the South Carolina Gamecocks. I know where I'd rather be.

As much as I love watching Georgia, I'd still rather be racing, especially this weekend when I get to share my passion for the sport with two guys making the leap from sprints to 12-hour races. So, while I'm tromping around in the woods, I likely will be singing the Georgia fight song in my head.

Or, if my teammates are not so lucky, I may sing it out loud. Go Dawgs! Sic 'em. Woof! Woof! Woof!

- Paul (P-dawg)