Diversification

diversify
Dictionary.com tells us that the term diversify as a verb as an object, 

diversified, diversifying is to make diverse, as in form or character; give variety or diversity to; variegate.

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As I stand with calcified knee and aching back up on the high lofty rocky ledge high above the escarpment that surrounds Terrey Hills and Duffy's Forest, with littered crushed VB cans at my feet and the crumbs of many abandoned corn chips, I see before me many men who have gone on to forge new adventures. New adventures that go well beyond the simple game of Touch Football.

The Chairman saw a vision in his corporation and has made is true. The Over Touchers were always to be more than men who run around at the behest of an official with a whistle.

The men of the OT were to go forth and conquer. Well I use that term loosely, but to conquer a challenge within oneself is to conquer by all means.

So on this special night of ORIGIN, I felt it timely to look back and ahead on what has been achieved so far in the year 2015.

To start with I will stare deeply into the mirror and declare my failure at the 1.5km Freshwater Ocean Swim in the summer, were-after about 700 metres I pulled the cord and said no more. Flung onto the IRB with ease, dunno how they did that, I was whisked back to shore to perform the walk of shame in sluggos. A conquer to fail was etched into the annals of history that day.

Some weeks later, an off the cuff chat with the Chairman brought us to Saturday morning trail runs through the fire trails that surround us and a match was lit under his butt.

It was running through open bush land, with his mad dog racing ahead, early on a Saturday and the prize of store bought cappuccinos, discussions on the resolution of third world debt, religion and the outside backs at Manly that born the identity of the Mountain Men Monster Training Group.

Aligning the running team with the Monday Night Sweaters which had in 2014 swathed themselves in glory and mud over 20km's, the group formed an alliance that would take on all challenges.

Runs over fire trail, around lakes, headlands saw the corporation diversify into a broader unit.

Yes part of the core group were already long committed to many bike races and Friday morning 52 km sprints, but those guys are touched in the head to enjoy wearing lycra for that many hours a week. This change was needed as after 5 grand final appearances as Over Touchers things needed to Shaken Up.

BBB and myself went on recon missions for trail running competitions. BBB plundering the 12km Bobbin Head run in record time and myself crawling  on hands and knees to finish the incomparable 8km run around the Dam of Manly.

Heck, the Rookie was so determined to raise the bar that he chose to jam one down on his finger, intentionally, looking to severe a chunk of his distal phalanx just to give himself a new challenge.

The Sponsor has done what some would say is a brilliant job to run colourful text around the adventures of the training teams. However, when offered the quill of condemnation and thinly veiled praise, the masses howled down the offer and demanded status quo.

With the challenges broadening I see future events in team triathlons. 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. We have the swimmers, those touched bike riders and runners we are blessed with. These such events are held across the country so the opportunity to tour would be voted on at board level.

Diversification, the success and downfall of many a corporation.

Yours who was in the need to write another story

FMJ 

NOTE: The new name to our website 'Over Touchers Corporation' and the mantra shown below of 'The stories of men who challenge themselves day in day out across grass, road, trail and mud'.