It was probably the second Derby Dolls bout I attended several years ago when I was struck by something. It wasn't on the track, or even during game play. It was in the center ring before the bout started. A couple of the girls were dancing. They were wearing skates and were dancing. I'm not talking about figure skating or even that roller skate dancing stuff. They wet just dancing to the music. I was awestruck. How is it possible to be so balance and comfortable on roller skates that you can just stand there and dance?
Today I am in my kitchen, wearing skates, dancing with my kids. I wear my skates around the house sometimes to build my balance and strengthen my skating muscles. Also, sometimes I just want to wear my skates. I miss them sometimes.
So I'm wearing my skates, washing dishes or something boring, when I notice the kids have broken into dance. This is a common occurrence in our home. Well, what am I to do? I start dancing.
It's a bit stilted and awkward and is quite goofy. To be honest, my dancing is always that way. I'm legitimately dancing. I'm picking up my feet, hopping a bit, turning and everything. It takes me a minute to even realize what I'm doing.
I love my skates.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Visiting Skater Clinic
I arrive quite late. We couldn't find the car keys and we couldn't find my husband's headset and one of the kids was in a grumpy mood. I just couldn't get out of the house on time. I feel awful about it. Today we have a special guest skater coming to do a clinic with the us. It is so disrespectful to be late like this. I worry a little that they won't let me in, since I missed sign up.
No worries, though. Because I have not passed my skills test, I won't be skating in the clinic. I'll just be there to take notes and watch. Since I don't need I suit up and such, I'm not all that late.
She is superb. She has an amazing teaching style, and imparts great information to us. She includes life advice as well as derby strategy, but manages to do so without sounding preachy.
In addition to watching her teach, I'm having a great time watching Christie skate in the clinic. Part of me really really wants to be out there skating with everyone, but part of me is a tad bit relieved. These exercises are way above my skillset. I fear I would have been too stressed about performing to have any fun. It does look like fun, though. Christie is out there putting her whole self into it. It's hard work but she's obviously having a blast.
When the clinic comes to an end, I realize something important. This is hard work for everyone. All of the girls - new girls and vets - are panting and glistening. As skates come off, aching feet are rubbed. Dripping knee and elbow pads are removed with the sharp rip of Velcro. Everyone is exhausted past the point of pain, yet everyone glows with happiness. It is not just me. It is not just being new. Skating your ass off is hard work. That is part of the reward.
The best part of the day, however, comes at the end. After the clinic is over, pictures are taken with the guest skater. The team is called to come get a group photo with her.
I'm not officially an team member. I did not pass my test. I can't play, or even scrimmage. I don't join the team photo. As the girls gather and prepare to say, "cheese," two or three girls tell to me, "Ramona, what are you doing? Get over here!". I'm called in to be in the team photo.
It is a little thing. Still, it means the world to me. More and more, with every practice, I feel less like a newcomer/outsider and more like a part of the group. Today I truly feel like I belong.
No worries, though. Because I have not passed my skills test, I won't be skating in the clinic. I'll just be there to take notes and watch. Since I don't need I suit up and such, I'm not all that late.
She is superb. She has an amazing teaching style, and imparts great information to us. She includes life advice as well as derby strategy, but manages to do so without sounding preachy.
In addition to watching her teach, I'm having a great time watching Christie skate in the clinic. Part of me really really wants to be out there skating with everyone, but part of me is a tad bit relieved. These exercises are way above my skillset. I fear I would have been too stressed about performing to have any fun. It does look like fun, though. Christie is out there putting her whole self into it. It's hard work but she's obviously having a blast.
When the clinic comes to an end, I realize something important. This is hard work for everyone. All of the girls - new girls and vets - are panting and glistening. As skates come off, aching feet are rubbed. Dripping knee and elbow pads are removed with the sharp rip of Velcro. Everyone is exhausted past the point of pain, yet everyone glows with happiness. It is not just me. It is not just being new. Skating your ass off is hard work. That is part of the reward.
The best part of the day, however, comes at the end. After the clinic is over, pictures are taken with the guest skater. The team is called to come get a group photo with her.
I'm not officially an team member. I did not pass my test. I can't play, or even scrimmage. I don't join the team photo. As the girls gather and prepare to say, "cheese," two or three girls tell to me, "Ramona, what are you doing? Get over here!". I'm called in to be in the team photo.
It is a little thing. Still, it means the world to me. More and more, with every practice, I feel less like a newcomer/outsider and more like a part of the group. Today I truly feel like I belong.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Decisions decisions
So, when do I retake my skills test? I need to decide on a goal and meet it.
The husband thinks I should go again next Wednesday. I am certain this is not a good idea. There aren't any practices between now and then.
I don't want to take it too soon and have the same issues I had the first time. Still, I'd like to get this under my belt. I don't want to fall into the trap of listening to my head telling me I'm not ready. I know I can do this, but a part of me will always fear that I am not ready. The longer I wait before re-taking, the louder that voice is going to become.
In short, if I wait until I'm really really ready, I'll never do it.
Next wednesday, however, is too soon. I have a plan for beating the heat, but I'd like to test it out. I'd also like to test my ability to at least go ten laps in two minutes before attempting the 25 in 5. I'd like to get a handle on my 180 turns and get a bit more practice taking and giving hip checks.
In theory I can work on all of this next Wednesday, and retake on Sunday. That is what I would really like to do - to get my test passed before the 4th of July trip. I'm talking to the Sioux Falls League about visiting and observing one of their practices. Although I'm not planning to skate with them (but will bring my gear just in case) I would still like to be able to tell them I had just passed my skills test.
I know that's silly.
What's more important is momentum. I took yesterday off, but today I'm back to my off-skates workouts and harder than ever. I'm bumping up the intensity of my treadmill time, as well as the number of sets of squats I'm doing. I'm adding more lunges, and we're going to try to finally set up the bowflex so I can get some leg training in to help with recovery time. Even though I won't have practice for a week, I'll still be building strength and endurance.
So this week I'll be focusing on off skates workouts, then we have two practices before 4th of July vacation. I'll probably miss two or three practices over the 4th, and probably will not be able/willing to focus much on working out. It will be a true week off, and I fear I will lose all the progress I am making this week. Also, if you figure I'd need a couple weeks at least after returning to prepare, that puts me in August for the test. August, of course, is hotter than June.
My plan now is to have another look at my score sheet, and see how close I would've been to passing. That will make my decision for me, really.
The husband thinks I should go again next Wednesday. I am certain this is not a good idea. There aren't any practices between now and then.
I don't want to take it too soon and have the same issues I had the first time. Still, I'd like to get this under my belt. I don't want to fall into the trap of listening to my head telling me I'm not ready. I know I can do this, but a part of me will always fear that I am not ready. The longer I wait before re-taking, the louder that voice is going to become.
In short, if I wait until I'm really really ready, I'll never do it.
Next wednesday, however, is too soon. I have a plan for beating the heat, but I'd like to test it out. I'd also like to test my ability to at least go ten laps in two minutes before attempting the 25 in 5. I'd like to get a handle on my 180 turns and get a bit more practice taking and giving hip checks.
In theory I can work on all of this next Wednesday, and retake on Sunday. That is what I would really like to do - to get my test passed before the 4th of July trip. I'm talking to the Sioux Falls League about visiting and observing one of their practices. Although I'm not planning to skate with them (but will bring my gear just in case) I would still like to be able to tell them I had just passed my skills test.
I know that's silly.
What's more important is momentum. I took yesterday off, but today I'm back to my off-skates workouts and harder than ever. I'm bumping up the intensity of my treadmill time, as well as the number of sets of squats I'm doing. I'm adding more lunges, and we're going to try to finally set up the bowflex so I can get some leg training in to help with recovery time. Even though I won't have practice for a week, I'll still be building strength and endurance.
So this week I'll be focusing on off skates workouts, then we have two practices before 4th of July vacation. I'll probably miss two or three practices over the 4th, and probably will not be able/willing to focus much on working out. It will be a true week off, and I fear I will lose all the progress I am making this week. Also, if you figure I'd need a couple weeks at least after returning to prepare, that puts me in August for the test. August, of course, is hotter than June.
My plan now is to have another look at my score sheet, and see how close I would've been to passing. That will make my decision for me, really.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Minimum Skills Day - Tossing' Cookies
So this is how it goes.
We take the track and start skating. They call out t-stop. I do it. Another t-stop. This one catches me off guard and on a turn and it's quite sloppy. That's okay. 180 turn. I fall. 180 turn. I stay up but wobble. Left knee drop. I know I can do this. Nope, fall. Right knee drop. I'm excellent with these. Nope- fall. Screwing up the knee drops destroys my game face. This was my go-to. I had thought that doing flawless knee drops would help make up for other shortcomings. Now I feel defeated. In my mind, this is already over. Left leg glides- not stellar. Right leg glides- awful. One more try. Left leg glides - pretty well nail it! Yay! Right leg glides- still awful. I'm already exhausted, hot, in pain, and I'm sure I failed. Should I keep going? Why kill myself? I want to cry and I want to go home to my family. I'm wasting my time and everybody else's. Im too old and too dat and I'm never going to be able to do this. Okay, deep breath. I swallow my misery and I decide to stay. I don't want to quit.
Falls. I do a rockstar a little roughly, then a second one a bit better. I do a couple of four points, but they are rough. I have a bit of trouble getting up from them. I do my three laps squatting okay and a lap of watermelon. Then we're asked to do scissor skate, which I have never heard of. It is demonstrated, and I recognize it as a technique for learning crossovers, but I didn't know it was its own thing. I've never really practiced it. I am not stellar at it.
We take a break before doing hits. I ask Mary if I should even continue. Seriously, I feel like I'm dying. Yonus, it's just so hard to keep pushing myself when there's no hope. She says I'm doing better than I think I am. I don't believe her, but I hang in there.
There are four of us taking the test, so they pair us up for whips. Whips go very well for me. I'd like to thank Val, Harmony, and Tanya for teaching them to us. Next it is time for hits. Generally I'm not bad at hits. I'm hopeful this will go well. Now, I had thought that we would be paired with a vet for taking and giving hits. Instead, we are paired up with each other again. I am paired with Christie. This is a problem for me. You see, it's much more nerve wracking and difficult to trade hits with another newbie than it is with a vet. You both know you're not as stable, and you don't want to be too rough or to trip anybody. On top of that, Christie broke her leg a while back, and just got her cast off about two weeks ago. I already know that when I give hits I tend to accidentally lock wheels with the person I am hitting, causing both of us to go flying. I've asked the vets about this, and they say this will go away with practice.
Meanwhile, however, I'll be damned before I become the person that sends Christie back to the hospital. I'm concentrating so hard on keeping my skates away from hers that I can't even connect to her when I try to hip check.
This is awful. The sting of tears burns my eyes. My lungs are full of hot coals. I can't control my breathing; I gulp for air. The room is spinning. I've failed. Why am I still punishing myself. I remove my helmet.
"You're up Ramona."
"Nope I'm out. I think it's obvious I'm not ready."
"Ramona, you really are doing better than you think. There are only a couple of skills left."
Okay. Here I go. I surprise myself with my weaves, do my jumps, attempt the bounce-off-the-rail exercise, and fight my way through quick feet.
It's time for laps. 25 laps in 5 minutes. You know what? I'm going to do this. I want to know that I can make this happen. I'm no longer trying to pass or to impress anybody else. I need to grab this strength from inside myself. I take a drink and get to the track.
The whistle blows. I take off. I keep up with the others. I'm doing it. I'm exhausted and I hurt all over and I'm discouraged but I'm doing it. It's crazy hot in here and I'm woozy and nauseous but I'm doing it.
I'm very woozy and nauseous.
Extremely woozy and nauseous.
Make that dizzy and sick. Very sick. If I don't get off this track RIGHT NOW I'm going to vomit. I slow down and step off the track. I'm disappointed but need to recover.
Oops, too late.
As my skates hit the floor outside the track, I realize there is no stopping what is about to happen. Can I make it to the bathroom, or do I need the trash can? I think I can make the bathroom.
As I head that way, I hear, "Ramona keep going, you can do it!"
Nope. I can't.
I can, however skate the fastest I have ever skated in my life, jump over the huge crack in the floor, hurl myself sideways into the bathroom hallway, and do a rockstar knee slide up to the toilet. I do all of this while removing my mouth guard and helmet. I make it in time- barely.
I am quite embarrassed though.
Vera says I can work on a few things and try again as soon as I am ready. I'd like to try again in a couple of weeks. How do I get ready?
I think a lot of my trouble is the heat. For the past couple of weeks, my endurance is shot. I'm like a brand new skater again. That's why I'm screwing up knee drops and such. I just feel like my body can't do it. I had thought it was a mental thing and I just had to push through it. I think my body's signal is pretty clear now, though.
Any ideas how to increase endurance and reduce vomiting when skating in the heat?
We take the track and start skating. They call out t-stop. I do it. Another t-stop. This one catches me off guard and on a turn and it's quite sloppy. That's okay. 180 turn. I fall. 180 turn. I stay up but wobble. Left knee drop. I know I can do this. Nope, fall. Right knee drop. I'm excellent with these. Nope- fall. Screwing up the knee drops destroys my game face. This was my go-to. I had thought that doing flawless knee drops would help make up for other shortcomings. Now I feel defeated. In my mind, this is already over. Left leg glides- not stellar. Right leg glides- awful. One more try. Left leg glides - pretty well nail it! Yay! Right leg glides- still awful. I'm already exhausted, hot, in pain, and I'm sure I failed. Should I keep going? Why kill myself? I want to cry and I want to go home to my family. I'm wasting my time and everybody else's. Im too old and too dat and I'm never going to be able to do this. Okay, deep breath. I swallow my misery and I decide to stay. I don't want to quit.
Falls. I do a rockstar a little roughly, then a second one a bit better. I do a couple of four points, but they are rough. I have a bit of trouble getting up from them. I do my three laps squatting okay and a lap of watermelon. Then we're asked to do scissor skate, which I have never heard of. It is demonstrated, and I recognize it as a technique for learning crossovers, but I didn't know it was its own thing. I've never really practiced it. I am not stellar at it.
We take a break before doing hits. I ask Mary if I should even continue. Seriously, I feel like I'm dying. Yonus, it's just so hard to keep pushing myself when there's no hope. She says I'm doing better than I think I am. I don't believe her, but I hang in there.
There are four of us taking the test, so they pair us up for whips. Whips go very well for me. I'd like to thank Val, Harmony, and Tanya for teaching them to us. Next it is time for hits. Generally I'm not bad at hits. I'm hopeful this will go well. Now, I had thought that we would be paired with a vet for taking and giving hits. Instead, we are paired up with each other again. I am paired with Christie. This is a problem for me. You see, it's much more nerve wracking and difficult to trade hits with another newbie than it is with a vet. You both know you're not as stable, and you don't want to be too rough or to trip anybody. On top of that, Christie broke her leg a while back, and just got her cast off about two weeks ago. I already know that when I give hits I tend to accidentally lock wheels with the person I am hitting, causing both of us to go flying. I've asked the vets about this, and they say this will go away with practice.
Meanwhile, however, I'll be damned before I become the person that sends Christie back to the hospital. I'm concentrating so hard on keeping my skates away from hers that I can't even connect to her when I try to hip check.
This is awful. The sting of tears burns my eyes. My lungs are full of hot coals. I can't control my breathing; I gulp for air. The room is spinning. I've failed. Why am I still punishing myself. I remove my helmet.
"You're up Ramona."
"Nope I'm out. I think it's obvious I'm not ready."
"Ramona, you really are doing better than you think. There are only a couple of skills left."
Okay. Here I go. I surprise myself with my weaves, do my jumps, attempt the bounce-off-the-rail exercise, and fight my way through quick feet.
It's time for laps. 25 laps in 5 minutes. You know what? I'm going to do this. I want to know that I can make this happen. I'm no longer trying to pass or to impress anybody else. I need to grab this strength from inside myself. I take a drink and get to the track.
The whistle blows. I take off. I keep up with the others. I'm doing it. I'm exhausted and I hurt all over and I'm discouraged but I'm doing it. It's crazy hot in here and I'm woozy and nauseous but I'm doing it.
I'm very woozy and nauseous.
Extremely woozy and nauseous.
Make that dizzy and sick. Very sick. If I don't get off this track RIGHT NOW I'm going to vomit. I slow down and step off the track. I'm disappointed but need to recover.
Oops, too late.
As my skates hit the floor outside the track, I realize there is no stopping what is about to happen. Can I make it to the bathroom, or do I need the trash can? I think I can make the bathroom.
As I head that way, I hear, "Ramona keep going, you can do it!"
Nope. I can't.
I can, however skate the fastest I have ever skated in my life, jump over the huge crack in the floor, hurl myself sideways into the bathroom hallway, and do a rockstar knee slide up to the toilet. I do all of this while removing my mouth guard and helmet. I make it in time- barely.
I am quite embarrassed though.
Vera says I can work on a few things and try again as soon as I am ready. I'd like to try again in a couple of weeks. How do I get ready?
I think a lot of my trouble is the heat. For the past couple of weeks, my endurance is shot. I'm like a brand new skater again. That's why I'm screwing up knee drops and such. I just feel like my body can't do it. I had thought it was a mental thing and I just had to push through it. I think my body's signal is pretty clear now, though.
Any ideas how to increase endurance and reduce vomiting when skating in the heat?
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Final Countdown to Minimum Skills - One Day Left!
I'm crazy nervous, but I'm taking today off. I need a day of rest, and a day with my family.
I'm going to the lake bitches!
I'll report on my test tomorrow evening or Monday.
I'm going to the lake bitches!
I'll report on my test tomorrow evening or Monday.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Final Countdown to Minimum Skills - 2 Days
I'm so nervous! I have butterflies in my stomach every time I think about Sunday.
Today we have the Rookie Round Up. All the new girls and some of the vets are meeting at Vera's house to clean our skates and gossip. I'm really looking forward to it.
On the way there, I plan to stop at the skating rink to practice cornering. As I head out, however, I have the forethought to call and check their hours. They don't open until later. What? This is summer break! Shouldn't they have some daytime hours on a Friday?
I make a last minute change in plans and swing by the bike trails. I won't really be able to practice cornering but I will be able to get some skate time in. Of course, this means changing out my wheels to my soft outdoor wheels again. This takes about 20 minutes, leaving me with 10 minutes to skate. I take that ten minutes and skate my butt off. I get outside in 1000 degree heat with 150% humidity in my soft skates on a slightly sloped surface and skate a hard and fast as I can. By the end of what becomes 15 minutes, I am panting and my thighs burn. I think I got a good workout in considering the time.
Now off to the roundup! I had been looking forward to seeing the girls without being all sweaty and smelly. I guess that's all out the window now. I arrive stringy haired and slightly smelly, still damp from my outdoor skating excursion. Nobody seems to mind, and I settle in for the evening.
Together we disassemble, clean and oil our wheels and bearings. More importantly, we talk. This is not a formal event of any kind. Rather, it is an inclusion of the new girls into the chatter and discussions of the vets. They talk about their hopes for our league, the strengths and weaknesses of past, present, and prospective team members, and the merits of neighboring leagues. They catch up on the lives of skaters that are no longer with the league. Perhaps for our benefit, they share their experiences with the minimum skills test.
It is not all about Derby, however. They talk about husbands, kids, and the upcoming Father's Day. They talk about Bath Salts and the upcoming Zombie Apocalypse. They talk about surround sound and how the new high definition TVs make all the special effects look fake.
Roller derby is what brought these women together, but it is not the only glue that binds them. They have shared many experiences in their tim together. They genuinely care about what is going on in each other's lives.
Before tonight, even though everyone has been welcoming and friendly, I still felt like an observer. Now I feel more a part of things.
I am growing very fond of this group of women. I hope I can remain with them for quite a while.
I hope cleaning my skates doesn't jinx the test.
Today we have the Rookie Round Up. All the new girls and some of the vets are meeting at Vera's house to clean our skates and gossip. I'm really looking forward to it.
On the way there, I plan to stop at the skating rink to practice cornering. As I head out, however, I have the forethought to call and check their hours. They don't open until later. What? This is summer break! Shouldn't they have some daytime hours on a Friday?
I make a last minute change in plans and swing by the bike trails. I won't really be able to practice cornering but I will be able to get some skate time in. Of course, this means changing out my wheels to my soft outdoor wheels again. This takes about 20 minutes, leaving me with 10 minutes to skate. I take that ten minutes and skate my butt off. I get outside in 1000 degree heat with 150% humidity in my soft skates on a slightly sloped surface and skate a hard and fast as I can. By the end of what becomes 15 minutes, I am panting and my thighs burn. I think I got a good workout in considering the time.
Now off to the roundup! I had been looking forward to seeing the girls without being all sweaty and smelly. I guess that's all out the window now. I arrive stringy haired and slightly smelly, still damp from my outdoor skating excursion. Nobody seems to mind, and I settle in for the evening.
Together we disassemble, clean and oil our wheels and bearings. More importantly, we talk. This is not a formal event of any kind. Rather, it is an inclusion of the new girls into the chatter and discussions of the vets. They talk about their hopes for our league, the strengths and weaknesses of past, present, and prospective team members, and the merits of neighboring leagues. They catch up on the lives of skaters that are no longer with the league. Perhaps for our benefit, they share their experiences with the minimum skills test.
It is not all about Derby, however. They talk about husbands, kids, and the upcoming Father's Day. They talk about Bath Salts and the upcoming Zombie Apocalypse. They talk about surround sound and how the new high definition TVs make all the special effects look fake.
Roller derby is what brought these women together, but it is not the only glue that binds them. They have shared many experiences in their tim together. They genuinely care about what is going on in each other's lives.
Before tonight, even though everyone has been welcoming and friendly, I still felt like an observer. Now I feel more a part of things.
I am growing very fond of this group of women. I hope I can remain with them for quite a while.
I hope cleaning my skates doesn't jinx the test.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Final Countdown to Minimum Skills - 3 Days
My plans to run drills in the garage before the kids wake up are thwarted when one of the kids wakes up a SIX freakin A.M.! Poor guy. I don't think he feels well.
It's probably for the best. Sure, my weaves could use some work, but overall I feel okay about my basic skills. I worked a lot of things out in Wednesday's practice, and feeling a lot more confident overall. My ability to pass or fail most of the test will depend on the expectations. If I need to do passable knee drops, hits and whips, I'll be fine. If I need to do expert knee drops, hard hits, and powerful whips, I'm out of luck. Either way, an hour in the garage isn't going to help me.
The huge variable for me is the 25 laps. I am certain that I can do more than 17 laps in 5 minutes, but I don't know how close I can get to 25. I have some strategies in place now. Thanks to my team mates, I now know the sweet spot in the track. I can't exactly do crossovers, but I can kind of step around the corners in a way that saves a LOT of wear and tear on my left leg. I don't know if these strategies will improve my speed, but I believe they must improve my stamina since I no longer feel my legs are going to fall off after five laps. That has to help. Not feeling like you're losing your legs can only be a good thing.
It does seem that my time between now and the test is best spent improving my endurance. I replace garage time with treadmill time. In the morning and the evening, I hit the treadmill for 30 (25) minutes. I alternate walking at a good clip with running (jogging) for two (one and a half) minutes at a time.
I feel good.
It's probably for the best. Sure, my weaves could use some work, but overall I feel okay about my basic skills. I worked a lot of things out in Wednesday's practice, and feeling a lot more confident overall. My ability to pass or fail most of the test will depend on the expectations. If I need to do passable knee drops, hits and whips, I'll be fine. If I need to do expert knee drops, hard hits, and powerful whips, I'm out of luck. Either way, an hour in the garage isn't going to help me.
The huge variable for me is the 25 laps. I am certain that I can do more than 17 laps in 5 minutes, but I don't know how close I can get to 25. I have some strategies in place now. Thanks to my team mates, I now know the sweet spot in the track. I can't exactly do crossovers, but I can kind of step around the corners in a way that saves a LOT of wear and tear on my left leg. I don't know if these strategies will improve my speed, but I believe they must improve my stamina since I no longer feel my legs are going to fall off after five laps. That has to help. Not feeling like you're losing your legs can only be a good thing.
It does seem that my time between now and the test is best spent improving my endurance. I replace garage time with treadmill time. In the morning and the evening, I hit the treadmill for 30 (25) minutes. I alternate walking at a good clip with running (jogging) for two (one and a half) minutes at a time.
I feel good.
Final Countdown to Minimum Skills - 4 Days
Today is Wednesday. It is the final practice before our skills test on Sunday.
Deep breaths!
I try to work on my speed and crossovers during the warm up. The results of this effort are that I wear myself out and I get wicked cramping above my outside ankles.
I am thrilled to report, however, that going back to slightly firmer bushings has resolved a lot of my recent agonies! This is nothing short of miraculous and is a huge relief. I no longer feel wobbly. I no longer feel like ice picks are jabbing into my ankles. What's more, I no longer feel like quitting derby altogether after three laps.
After warming up and having a much needed stretch, we run a weaving drill. We get into pairs and line up. The pair in the back then weaves through the other pairs until they are at the front. Once every pair has weaved through, the pair in the front then weaves backwards through the other pairs until they are in the back. At first this is terrifying. How will I manage this? Pack skating in general makes me intensely uncomfortable. Slicing back and forth behind and in front of pther skaters? This is the definition of Outside the Comfort Zone. I am paired with Melinda, however, and she is such a huge help. She guides me with words and with her hand on my wrist she encourages me. Together we make our way to the front an then again to the back. The other ladies help as well, adjusting their speeds to make it easier for me to get between them. I begin the drill feeling the sting of tears as I fear I will be unable to do this. I finish up feeling amazing.
Even though this is fun, I am relieved when they have us new girls break off from the rest of practice. I really need to focus on the upcoming test. Harmony and Tanya are our instructors today. Yay!
This practice is driven by the new girls. We talk about what we feel we lack, and then we work on it. I get a lot of great practice, and I have so much more confidence now. Harmony and Tanya are both exceptional instructors, alternating between giving direction and encouragement.
Suddenly, I remember. Whips are in the test. I've done them before, but I'm certain Christie hasn't. I point this out. I'm so glad I did. Christie didn't know we are to be tested on whips, and I was correct that she's never done them. I would have hated it if she had gotten to the test and had a shock. We practice whips.
At the end of practice, I think we're going to do the 25 in 5 again. Of course now I have to use the restroom. I rush to the potty and try to hurry, but peeing in a tiny bathroom while wearing skates, pads and spandex takes some coordination and a bit of extra time. It should be on the skills test! Upon emerging from the restroom, I see Christie and Melinda skating laps. Someone yells, "Ramona, 25 in 5!" I rush over to the track, but I notice the other girls aren't exactly booking it. Then I'm told they're not timing us. We're just skating laps. Okay. I set a brisk pace, planning to go 25 laps. Around lap 15, however, we are stopped so the vets can run one more drill. Darn it. I wish I'd done the 25, and I wish I'd've asked someone to time me. For some reason, I feel like it would be embarrassing to be out there grunting and yelling and whimpering through the laps when nobody else is. I could really use that benchmark, though.
I feel good. I feel optimistic. I feel strong. Tomorrow morning I will wake to some drills and then will go to a rink in the afternoon.
I can do this.
Deep breaths!
I try to work on my speed and crossovers during the warm up. The results of this effort are that I wear myself out and I get wicked cramping above my outside ankles.
I am thrilled to report, however, that going back to slightly firmer bushings has resolved a lot of my recent agonies! This is nothing short of miraculous and is a huge relief. I no longer feel wobbly. I no longer feel like ice picks are jabbing into my ankles. What's more, I no longer feel like quitting derby altogether after three laps.
After warming up and having a much needed stretch, we run a weaving drill. We get into pairs and line up. The pair in the back then weaves through the other pairs until they are at the front. Once every pair has weaved through, the pair in the front then weaves backwards through the other pairs until they are in the back. At first this is terrifying. How will I manage this? Pack skating in general makes me intensely uncomfortable. Slicing back and forth behind and in front of pther skaters? This is the definition of Outside the Comfort Zone. I am paired with Melinda, however, and she is such a huge help. She guides me with words and with her hand on my wrist she encourages me. Together we make our way to the front an then again to the back. The other ladies help as well, adjusting their speeds to make it easier for me to get between them. I begin the drill feeling the sting of tears as I fear I will be unable to do this. I finish up feeling amazing.
Even though this is fun, I am relieved when they have us new girls break off from the rest of practice. I really need to focus on the upcoming test. Harmony and Tanya are our instructors today. Yay!
This practice is driven by the new girls. We talk about what we feel we lack, and then we work on it. I get a lot of great practice, and I have so much more confidence now. Harmony and Tanya are both exceptional instructors, alternating between giving direction and encouragement.
Suddenly, I remember. Whips are in the test. I've done them before, but I'm certain Christie hasn't. I point this out. I'm so glad I did. Christie didn't know we are to be tested on whips, and I was correct that she's never done them. I would have hated it if she had gotten to the test and had a shock. We practice whips.
At the end of practice, I think we're going to do the 25 in 5 again. Of course now I have to use the restroom. I rush to the potty and try to hurry, but peeing in a tiny bathroom while wearing skates, pads and spandex takes some coordination and a bit of extra time. It should be on the skills test! Upon emerging from the restroom, I see Christie and Melinda skating laps. Someone yells, "Ramona, 25 in 5!" I rush over to the track, but I notice the other girls aren't exactly booking it. Then I'm told they're not timing us. We're just skating laps. Okay. I set a brisk pace, planning to go 25 laps. Around lap 15, however, we are stopped so the vets can run one more drill. Darn it. I wish I'd done the 25, and I wish I'd've asked someone to time me. For some reason, I feel like it would be embarrassing to be out there grunting and yelling and whimpering through the laps when nobody else is. I could really use that benchmark, though.
I feel good. I feel optimistic. I feel strong. Tomorrow morning I will wake to some drills and then will go to a rink in the afternoon.
I can do this.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Final Countdown to Minimum Skills 5 Days
Today is Tuesday. My minimum skills test is Sunday.
I wake at 6:00 a.m. Actually, I wake at 6:10. Okay, 6:20. I wake the husband and remind him he'll be on breakfast duty when the kids wake. I fumble for the clothes I set out last night and hop in the car already containing my skate bag. I'm heading for the local bike trails.
This is an unusual event for me for two reasons: my kids and my fear. I love being with my kids, and I don't like to leave my kids for any reason. Being away from home the two nights a week we have derby practice has been a major adjustment for me. I gave up my career so I would be here for my kids. I want to wake them and make breakfast, and I want to put them to bed at night. Roller derby is something I want very much for myself, but I still want to maximize my time with my boys.
The fear I'm experiencing is that of skating outside. After my friend broke her leg so badly, the rest of us newbies were strongly discouraged from skating outside. Uneven ground, cracks and rocks, pebbles of death, and the possibility of moisture all combine to make outdoor skating treacherous for inexperienced skaters.
Up to this point, any between practice skating has been done in my kitchen or in my garage. It's not super effective, but I can just nip out for half an hour instead of driving 20 minutes each way. It doesn't take me away from the kids. My garage floor is smooth and I can sweep any offending particles out of it. it's a safe, convenient way to get some time on skates.
My trek to The trails is an act of determination (desperation) to pass the skills test. This week my family and my home will take a back seat to my derby.
Once I arrive at the track, I spend 20 minutes putting soft wheels on my skates. These wheels are more suited to outside skating. They tend to roll over pebbles and cracks instead of screeching to a halt at them. I hope they work. I'd rather not go flying today. I gear up and set off skating.
I had forgotten how difficult it is to skate on soft wheels. It's like skating through thick mud. It takes a lot of pushing to get anywhere. My thighs burn and my shins ache. I tire out quickly, but this is good. I'm working all the right muscles. The wheels live up to their promise of taking road imperfections in stride. I glide over many obstacles that would've sent me flying off my hard wheels. It's still nerve wracking, though. I can't shake the fear of the uneven ground. Overall, though, this is a successful venture.
Later, after the boys go to bed, I drag my skate bag out of the car. I put the hard wheels back on it and prepare to run some drills in the garage. A lace is broken! My first broken skate lace feels like a rite of passage.
Tired and hungry, I suit up.
Ewwwwww! My pads are still wet with this morning's sweat.
In the garage , I set soda cans at five foot intervals and practice weaving. It's difficult in a garage where you can't get up any speed. I also work on my 180 turns, again awkwardly because of the confined space. By the end of the evening, I feel much more confident in my weaving, jumping, and turns. Tomorrow morning I work on left knee drops and single leg glides.
I can do this.
I wake at 6:00 a.m. Actually, I wake at 6:10. Okay, 6:20. I wake the husband and remind him he'll be on breakfast duty when the kids wake. I fumble for the clothes I set out last night and hop in the car already containing my skate bag. I'm heading for the local bike trails.
This is an unusual event for me for two reasons: my kids and my fear. I love being with my kids, and I don't like to leave my kids for any reason. Being away from home the two nights a week we have derby practice has been a major adjustment for me. I gave up my career so I would be here for my kids. I want to wake them and make breakfast, and I want to put them to bed at night. Roller derby is something I want very much for myself, but I still want to maximize my time with my boys.
The fear I'm experiencing is that of skating outside. After my friend broke her leg so badly, the rest of us newbies were strongly discouraged from skating outside. Uneven ground, cracks and rocks, pebbles of death, and the possibility of moisture all combine to make outdoor skating treacherous for inexperienced skaters.
Up to this point, any between practice skating has been done in my kitchen or in my garage. It's not super effective, but I can just nip out for half an hour instead of driving 20 minutes each way. It doesn't take me away from the kids. My garage floor is smooth and I can sweep any offending particles out of it. it's a safe, convenient way to get some time on skates.
My trek to The trails is an act of determination (desperation) to pass the skills test. This week my family and my home will take a back seat to my derby.
Once I arrive at the track, I spend 20 minutes putting soft wheels on my skates. These wheels are more suited to outside skating. They tend to roll over pebbles and cracks instead of screeching to a halt at them. I hope they work. I'd rather not go flying today. I gear up and set off skating.
I had forgotten how difficult it is to skate on soft wheels. It's like skating through thick mud. It takes a lot of pushing to get anywhere. My thighs burn and my shins ache. I tire out quickly, but this is good. I'm working all the right muscles. The wheels live up to their promise of taking road imperfections in stride. I glide over many obstacles that would've sent me flying off my hard wheels. It's still nerve wracking, though. I can't shake the fear of the uneven ground. Overall, though, this is a successful venture.
Later, after the boys go to bed, I drag my skate bag out of the car. I put the hard wheels back on it and prepare to run some drills in the garage. A lace is broken! My first broken skate lace feels like a rite of passage.
Tired and hungry, I suit up.
Ewwwwww! My pads are still wet with this morning's sweat.
In the garage , I set soda cans at five foot intervals and practice weaving. It's difficult in a garage where you can't get up any speed. I also work on my 180 turns, again awkwardly because of the confined space. By the end of the evening, I feel much more confident in my weaving, jumping, and turns. Tomorrow morning I work on left knee drops and single leg glides.
I can do this.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Minimum Skills?!? Ba Ba Bummmmmm!
I knew the skills test would be coming up soon, but I thought it would be in 2-3 weeks. Next week we have a bout and a training clinic, so I assumed it would be after all of that.
As the saying goes, assuming made an ass of me. We're doing the skills test BEFORE. We're doing it THIS COMING SUNDAY. Oof.
I won't have a practice available to just work on learning crossovers. I don't have a month to increase treadmill time and therefore endurance. Everything I keep thinking I need to work on? It's do or die time.
We have one practice between now and the test. Eeeep! (I'm pretty sure a real Derby player never says eeep.)
We did a mock skills test yesterday, after which I went to my car and sobbed. I am so not ready.
Thing start going poorly right off the bat during our warm up. We are to do ten laps each direction. I think i manage four. I don't know if it's the heat or the new bushings or what, but for the past week my legs turn to jello after just a couple of laps. By lap four, I'm struggling just to stand. By lap six every muscle is stressed to the max, and I'm fighting the urge to puke. It's like my first practice all over again. It doesn't get any easier as the practice goes on. I can't make it all the way through a single exercise without just collapsing. The world spins. My legs declare mutiny. It is awful.
After the warm up, we move on to practicing skills for the test. We start with "leisurely" laps, during which certain drops and stops are called at random intervals. I nail the left knee drop and the T-stop, which are both sketchy for me. Yay! I slam to the floor, however, doing the right knee drop which is usually consistent for me. Dammit. How could I have screwed up the easy one?
"Try it again, Ramona."
I would absolutely LOVE to try it again, to show you I can do it. I would love to prove I am worthy. In order to try it again, however, I must first get up off the floor. This is more difficult with each fall, and I've had several today. I fight my way to standing, push off, and successfully perform the knee drop. Whew! The 180 turns, however, are a different beast. I can do those if I'm skating very sloowwly. If I've already slowed myself to a neat stop, I can then spin around and put a toe down. Turning while actually moving forward, well, it results in me having to get up like six times.
Have you ever fallen down and seen the drops of sweat that dropped off your body when you hit the floor? It's pretty gross.
We go through weaving, jumping, taking and giving hits. I have varying degrees of success and have to get up 8-12 more times. The whole time, all I can think about is the final test: the 25 in 5. The massive undertaking looms large and heavy before me. It affects my ability to focus on the now.
Finally, the moment arrives. It is time to attempt 25 laps in 5 minutes on my aching wobbly legs. I have tried this once before. I gave it everything and managed 17 laps. My goal for today is 21.
I skate (drumroll) 16 laps. I am crushed, and I am fighting the tears. It is not just that I fell so far short that has me so upset. It is that I know I didn't give it everything this time. Physically, I could've driven harder, gone farther, pushed through the pain. Mentally, my head was not in it. I couldn't find my inner strength, that voice inside that says, "one more step, now one more step, now just get through one more step."
I just really let myself down.
I would have blogged right after practice, but I couldn't move even my thumbs. It's a good thing, because what you would have seen here would have been depressing an defeated. I spent all evening and part of this morning in a deep blue funk.
Today, however, is a new day. I know what I need to work on. Many of the things on which I am falling short only need a bit of work to perfect. I have a week. I can do this.
I need a theme song to get me through the 25 laps. I'm thinking The Sockness by Disturbed or Drowning Pool's Bodies.
I can do this. I will do this.
As the saying goes, assuming made an ass of me. We're doing the skills test BEFORE. We're doing it THIS COMING SUNDAY. Oof.
I won't have a practice available to just work on learning crossovers. I don't have a month to increase treadmill time and therefore endurance. Everything I keep thinking I need to work on? It's do or die time.
We have one practice between now and the test. Eeeep! (I'm pretty sure a real Derby player never says eeep.)
We did a mock skills test yesterday, after which I went to my car and sobbed. I am so not ready.
Thing start going poorly right off the bat during our warm up. We are to do ten laps each direction. I think i manage four. I don't know if it's the heat or the new bushings or what, but for the past week my legs turn to jello after just a couple of laps. By lap four, I'm struggling just to stand. By lap six every muscle is stressed to the max, and I'm fighting the urge to puke. It's like my first practice all over again. It doesn't get any easier as the practice goes on. I can't make it all the way through a single exercise without just collapsing. The world spins. My legs declare mutiny. It is awful.
After the warm up, we move on to practicing skills for the test. We start with "leisurely" laps, during which certain drops and stops are called at random intervals. I nail the left knee drop and the T-stop, which are both sketchy for me. Yay! I slam to the floor, however, doing the right knee drop which is usually consistent for me. Dammit. How could I have screwed up the easy one?
"Try it again, Ramona."
I would absolutely LOVE to try it again, to show you I can do it. I would love to prove I am worthy. In order to try it again, however, I must first get up off the floor. This is more difficult with each fall, and I've had several today. I fight my way to standing, push off, and successfully perform the knee drop. Whew! The 180 turns, however, are a different beast. I can do those if I'm skating very sloowwly. If I've already slowed myself to a neat stop, I can then spin around and put a toe down. Turning while actually moving forward, well, it results in me having to get up like six times.
Have you ever fallen down and seen the drops of sweat that dropped off your body when you hit the floor? It's pretty gross.
We go through weaving, jumping, taking and giving hits. I have varying degrees of success and have to get up 8-12 more times. The whole time, all I can think about is the final test: the 25 in 5. The massive undertaking looms large and heavy before me. It affects my ability to focus on the now.
Finally, the moment arrives. It is time to attempt 25 laps in 5 minutes on my aching wobbly legs. I have tried this once before. I gave it everything and managed 17 laps. My goal for today is 21.
I skate (drumroll) 16 laps. I am crushed, and I am fighting the tears. It is not just that I fell so far short that has me so upset. It is that I know I didn't give it everything this time. Physically, I could've driven harder, gone farther, pushed through the pain. Mentally, my head was not in it. I couldn't find my inner strength, that voice inside that says, "one more step, now one more step, now just get through one more step."
I just really let myself down.
I would have blogged right after practice, but I couldn't move even my thumbs. It's a good thing, because what you would have seen here would have been depressing an defeated. I spent all evening and part of this morning in a deep blue funk.
Today, however, is a new day. I know what I need to work on. Many of the things on which I am falling short only need a bit of work to perfect. I have a week. I can do this.
I need a theme song to get me through the 25 laps. I'm thinking The Sockness by Disturbed or Drowning Pool's Bodies.
I can do this. I will do this.
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