If you do something long enough, through sheer determination you get to be pretty good at it.
And, once in a while, on those all-too-rare occasions, everything comes together in a moment of perfection.
Gail Larsen of White Salmon knows that priceless feeling, because last month, he bowled not one but two 300 games, in back-to-back weeks of league competition at Orchard Lanes in Hood River.
Larsen's second 300 game of December 2001 -- and the third of his career -- was the centerpiece of an 862 series that ranks as the highest three-game series ever bowled in Hood River and among the top three in Oregon bowling history.
It followed a 295 game in which he left five pins standing on his last ball.
"I just kind of choked it," he said of the shot that concluded his opening game on Dec. 19.
But that game -- which would've made any kegler rightfully proud -- was the start of something great as he mowed down every pin in the next game en route to his third 300 game in a bowling career that began 31 years ago at Seattle's Sunset Bowl.
"I was in a groove that night. The ball was rolling just right and all the pins kept falling," he said.
The week before, on Dec. 12, he rolled just the third 300 game -- that's 12 consecutive strikes -- of the season at Orchard Lanes on his way to a then career-high 795 series.
What makes his accomplisments more impressive is that they happened in the heat of league competition sanctioned by the American Bowling Congress.
Prior to his 795 and 862 series, Larsen had a 204 average while bowling for Buntings in the Fraternal League. Because of those series, he has taken his game to another level and is averaging 223 pins per game.
"Bowling has always been fun, but since those two weeks in December, I'm having a lot more fun," Larsen, 38, said last week in between frames at Orchard Lanes. "My interest is definitely piqued."
So much so that he has signed up to play in tournaments this week in Hood River and next month in Billings, Mont., and Eugene, Ore.
"It's kind of a reality check for me," noted Larsen, who's putting in extra practice time these days to tune up for upcoming tournament competition.
Before spinning his 300 games, he said, "I never practiced. I just used to show up Wednesday nights and bowl my three games and go home."
Oh, how times have changed.
Larsen bowled the first 300 game of his life back in 1990. He began bowling at age seven in Seattle. He said every Saturday he'd tag along to the local bowling alley with his neighbors, a family of avid bowlers who were more than happy to introduce him to the game they loved.
In the years since, Larsen has been able to share his love the game with his family, which includes wife Michele, son Jered, 14, and daughter Sierra, 13. In fact, one year, while the Larsens lived in Kelso, Gail and Michele each won city league championships.
Michele, who bowls recreationally these days, missed all but the last frame of her husband's Dec. 12 300 game, but was there to see all 12 strikes on Dec. 19.
"It's fun just to watch Gail having so much fun. He really looks forward to Wednesday nights now," she said.
Starting on Wednesday of this week, Larsen looks to win his first Hood River men's championship. But, like bowling back-to-back 300 games, he knows it won't be easy.
"There are so many good bowlers in this area," he said. "Even if I don't win, I'm happy knowing I'm considered (by fellow bowlers) as one of them."
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