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For the past nine years, Ginny Nyhus has collected calluses on her hands and spent hundreds of hours lifting and pushing giant tires, running up hills and doing planks. Shes also gained a new appreciation for lower-back pain.The reason? Tug-of-war. Its a sport she first thought of as weird, but its now become her passion. The sport tapped into her competitive spirit, fed her desire to be fit and has taken her around the world as a member of DJs Tug of War club, one of the countrys most successful programs.By day, Nyhus, 38, is a director of special education for Minneapolis public schools. On nights and weekends, she trains, competes and escapes into a different world. The work that I do in education, it can be intense. Some people go to an elliptical [machine] and put headphones on. Some people read books. I go pull tug-of-war. ... Thats my outlet.The strenuous workouts and matches clear her mind and allow her to be more present as an educator and as a mother to her 5-year-old son, Shea.Nyhus grew up in Prior Lake, Minnesota, where she still lives. In her home, her parents had three expectations: She had to take music lessons, have a sport and be involved in a community-based activity. For her, the sport was swimming from about the age of 7. In high school, she also dabbled in gymnastics, cross-country skiing and track.But after graduating from college and starting her career, Nyhus couldnt find an activity she liked. She was out of shape and eager to get fit. Thats when she found tug-of-war, a stroke of serendipity she owes to her reluctance to pay for a professional trainer. I started looking into personal trainers and found out how much they cost monthly, and I was like, This is crazy! she says.Thats when she remembered a friend -- who had tried to entice her to join her tug-of-war club -- had mentioned they worked out three nights a week with a trainer. Im like, Brilliant idea! I should go to tug-of-war, she recalls. I can get three nights a week of a workout and get into a routine that Im looking for. So, I kind of stumbled into tug-of-war.The history of tug-of-war goes back centuries, to ancient Greece and Asia. The sport was part of the Summer Olympics from 1900 through 1920, and today, tug-of-war is still aligned with the Olympic movement. The governing body of the sport is the Tug of War International Federation (TWIF), which received recognition from the International Olympic Committee in 2002. More than 50 countries have organizations (here its the U.S. Tug-of-War Association) that stage national championships and send teams to the world championships. Nyhus has become so involved that shes on the executive board of the U.S. Tug-of-War Association as its treasurer.During Nyhus time with DJs Tug of War, the women have won multiple national championships and a bronze medal at the 2014 world championships in Madison, Wisconsin. Shes also traveled to Ireland, Switzerland and South Africa to compete in world championships.Its a year-round sport, with indoor and outdoor workouts. When Nyhus first attended workouts nine years ago, she liked the exercise and the friendships. But when she took part in her first competition a few months later, she was truly hooked. All the teams, the energy, the camaraderie and the physical demands of pulling opened her eyes. I was like, This is all right. This is cool, she says.In competition, each team has eight pullers, and teams compete in a best-of-three match. There is a spot marked on the rope, aligned in the middle between the two teams. The goal for each team is to pull that spot on the rope past a line on the ground 4 meters (13.1 feet) away. Each round (called an end) can be as quick as 30 seconds -- or last as long as several minutes.When good teams are evenly matched, a three-end competition can be grueling. Nyhus says her teams bronze-medal match in the club competition at the 2014 world championships was tough. I think our first end of the match was just shy of five minutes, the second over three minutes and the last one was right around two because we were all burned out, she says. Thats five minutes [where its like doing] a full-body plank with your arms, your legs, your core. Mentally you have to be in it to win it. That was more than nine minutes of pulling.But, she says, it was worth every second. After winning their medals, Nyhus took a selfie of the grinning team. It ranks as her tug-of-war career highlight. Having everyone come to our home turf, she says. American pride, representing your country in your country just provides for a significant amount of spirit. Youre feeling like a host and a competitor and you dont want to disappoint. Plus, you have way more people cheering. It was fantastic.To be part of a pulling machine takes some serious training -- just the kind Nyhus was looking for nine years ago. She works out five times a week on her own, 30 to 45 minutes at a time lifting weights. She also attends team workouts and practices three times per week. Each session is two and a half to three hours, with extra time added ahead of national or world championships.Those workouts include hill sprints for endurance, box jumps for explosiveness and a variety of cardio exercises. Tractor-tire flips, four-minute planks, swimming scissor kicks and pushups are part of the routine. Rope climbs strengthen shoulders, the upper body, core and hands.Then, theres the pulling. Teams can pull at three to four stations in the gym, including some where pulleys, poles and weights create tremendous resistance. Because of the physical nature of the training and competition, there can be injuries. But so far, Nyhus hasnt had to deal with anything major. The most time shes missed was when she was pregnant with her son. For me, I typically have some lower-back issues, she says. Theres a lot of pressure on the rope; your bodys in funky positions. A really common injury is popping ribs out. Several of us have chiropractors that we visit frequently.Nyhus laughs at her aches and pains, but she plans to keep on pulling. The sport is a big part of her life. The exercise is great, but the social aspect is just as important. Shes proud to be part of a team.When her friend took her to that first club practice nine years ago, Nyhus had no idea what she was in for. What our coach has said is, if you come back a second time [to practice] well know well keep seeing you, she says. Because the first time its awkward. It puts weird pressure on your body in weird places and you just feel out of sorts because it doesnt feel natural. And I kept going.But, she adds, laughing, I think part of that was because my girlfriend kept taking me.Air Max Plus Tn Femme Pas Cher . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Air Max 270 Femme Pas Cher . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. http://www.chaussurepascherchine.fr/grossiste-air-max-97.html . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. Air Max 270 React Pas Cher . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada. Air Max 270 Pas Cher . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new.TULSA, Okla. - Ole Miss soccer got back in the win column in a big way Sunday night, closing out its non-conference slate with a 2-1 road win over Tulsa at Hurricane Stadium.The Rebels (5-5) fought back from a halftime deficit overcoming a 1-0 Tulsa lead to score two unanswered early on in the second period. It marked the first time this season Ole Miss would come back from being down at half.Tulsa (4-5-1), a program that won 13 games a year ago, took an early lead at the 9:53 mark in the first half (Reagan Whitlow goal) that would last for the remainder of the opening period. The Rebels finished the half with six shots for four on goal, while Tulsa had just the one shot on target at intermission.While Ole Miss didnt score in the opening 45 minutes, it sure put the pressure on including two shots off the foot of CeCe Kizer. The sophomore powered one from 15 yards out but high in the 31st minute, and went on to breakaway from a Tulsa defender and put herself in a 1-v-1 situation three minutes later with another shot on goal.Mackenze Parma, who entered as a sub late in the half, posted one of the better shots of the night as her attempt drifted just wide left in the 36th.After the break, the Rebels didnt waste much time cranking up the offense in the 50th minute for their first score of the night. At the 50:08 mark, Gabby Little crossed into the box to Addie Forbus, who then headed it to Gretchen Harknett. From there, Harknett punched in the equalizer from 12 yards out, her third score of the season and 113th of her career, tying the contest at 1-1.ddddddddddddxactly 10 minutes later, Forbus got possession, dribbled down field, beat two defenders and fired off a beautiful shot from 15 yards out that carried into the far left corner. The go-ahead goal was her third game-winner of the season, her eighth goal overall and 30th of her career, which now slots her in a three-way tie for sixth all-time in career goals.Tulsa went on to post a shot on goal in the 69th, but a nice save by Ole Miss keeper Marnie Merritt kept it away. The Golden Hurricane had one last chance late in the match, but the Rebel defense held strong on a corner kick with 20 seconds to go.Ole Miss finished the contest posting 10 of its 15 shots on target, while the backline and Merritt held Tulsa to just four shots on goal and nine overall. Merritt went on to fend off three shots as shes now in sole possession of eighth-place on the all-time saves list.Kizer was active offensively with six shots total, three of which were on target, while Forbus finished strong with four shots, all of which were on goal. Bella Fiorenzo posted three shots entering as a sub, while Harknetts only one went in, and Parmas one shot was saved.The Rebels return home to the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium Thursday night for the Magnolia Cup against Mississippi State. The match is slated for a 6 p.m. start and will air nationally on SEC Network. ' ' '