After a slight delay due to a storm, I finally made it to the National Mall for pickleball.

I was hosted by Humana representatives, who welcomed me with open arms. I was able to meet several members of the D.C. Pickleball Team, a Major League Pickleball (MLP) team. The Grand Prize that I won was a trip to Washington D.C. to play in the Ultimate Duos Match.

Team Gerace came a little short in making it to the finals, but I had some great matches and met some fantastic people. 

Everyone asks about my big takeaway. I keep going to the amazing opportunity for an average guy like me to play pickleball, a game I love, at the Mall at the Washington Monument. 

The backdrop was amazing. The D.C. people that were involved were just top-notch people. If you ever wanted to go to DC and like pickleball, you must pay attention to the Trust of the National Mall. It is an annual event that is open to the public and is free.

Those interested in learning more about pickleball in the Lexington community have plenty of ways to do so. There are courts around the county that have minimal fees to play and rent gear. There is also a group Facebook page where residents ask questions and look for other competitors to play with.