Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Not Just Skating

Practice is improving. I still couldn't keep the pace line for 30 laps (dammit) but I gave it the ol' college try. I continued skating around the outside, but my back just kept getting worse shooting pains and cramping. But Monday I held on for the rest of the practice - from Brian torturing us slowly, to tag-team laps. We cut off early (about 8:30) and a lot of girls went to see the new warehouse. I personally was exhausted and headed home.

Tuesday was more "quality time" with Brian, and there were only about 15 skaters that showed up (compared to about 35 the night before). Then line exercises (Rose showed me I could go faster without compromising form OR falling on my butt), and suicides (which, when done properly, do make you want to kill yourself). And we couldn't stop there! Rose had us skating around the rink doing all sorts of drills, the worst I think was the right-knee-left-knee dance until I collapsed. I dropped out a tiny bit early and examined the huge blister on my pusher foot big toe. Lovely.

But what's really on my mind... As any rollergirl knows, "by the skaters, for the skaters" is code for a WHOLE lotta work when you AREN'T skating! When the organization grows, so do the responsibilities. And it's a weird transition, having to delegate to volunteers. Since I'm a newbie, I'm still wondering where I fit in with all this. I'm a great volunteer (obvious by my crazy animal rescue obligations), but I do NOT want to sign up for more than I want to maintain. Unfortunately so far the jobs I prefer are already taken. Hopefully things will fall into place. I certainly DON'T want to be asked to swipe credit cards all next season!!!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Just Do It - it's more than a Nike slogan!

I did go to practice on Tuesday. Recently our Monday practices have been super crowded, with 40+ people, but Tuesdays have just over half that (25 with some leaving in the middle). I like the less crowded option much better!

I made it through practice on Tuesday! First was a lot of off-skates including a ton of lunges. Then skates on. I still can't keep up with even the "slow" pace-line, so went to the outside and kept skating. Out of 5 suicide drills I skipped one. I ended up with bruises on both my knees though because my pads slipped down. Grr.

The next day (AND the day after that) my butt muscles were absolutely killing me from all the squats, knee drops, and down-ups. From the top of my bum to the backs of my knees. I still feel a little soreness when I sit on the toilet even today.

Thursday was fun at Choctaw, and I figured out dodgeball is a great way to improve agility! We should try it at practice!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

A Positive Attitude

My thoughts lately have been self-degradating and defeatist. I compare myself to others and only see where I fall short. I have started to dread practice because we may do something I'm not good at, or an exercise where I won't be able to keep up. This must stop! How am I supposed to get better when I don't try? Or when I expect myself to fail??

Tonight is practice, and I will complete the ENTIRE practice.

In other news: I went skating outdoors with a few girls last week, and at just about the halfway point, Abby Lobotomy (one of our on-again-off-again newbies) broke both bones in her leg! We waited for what seemed like forever for the ambulance to get there, and once they loaded her up we realize that we are left on the opposite side of the park, in the dark, on skates. Luckily we were only about 3 miles from my house, so my mom came to pick us up and cart us back to our vehicles. Then Rican Rage and I headed over to the hospital after hearing from her hubby that she could have visitors. She had surgery the next day and spent 3 days in the hospital. OUCH.