Frustration

Monday, April 02, 2012

Yeap, this is all about practise again. Since passing basic skills, I view Monday and Thursday Practise with a mixture of excitement of getting to scrim with the 'grown up's and dread that I'm scrimming with the 'grown ups'. I always leave the srims trying to feel optimistic that I may have learnt something, and feeling like I just suck in general. Today, was more a case of sucking. For starters, we had five people on our team, and so we had to play every mini bout. And I just didn't feel like I was useful.

For example, when I blocked, I wasn't getting in peoples way fast enough, and when I DID hit people, I may as well have been a sack of feathers! I bounced right off them. I kept falling over and losing my balance, when I KNOW I can actually skate. I saw Damage fall once, which made me feel better, in a kind of 'even A team bouters just fall over' kind of way, but not for long. And when I jammed! I just kept getting stuck behind the pack. My team worked their butts off to create spaces for me and I just kept fouling it up. The final straw came when I came crashing down onto another player when jamming, got sent off for a low block (I can see why I had the low block btw, but it's just annoying when you didn't mean to block anyone!) and as I got up to skate off, felt a stabbing pain above my ankle where someones Derby wheel had slammed into me. The pain pretty much got worse as it went on, but I decided to suck it up and skate (which is why I now have two ankle lumps on my inner left leg!)

Even though people said I did some good jamming, I still can't really think of anything to be proud of, other than I sucked it up and kept getting back up and didn't give in. WHich isn't that special, every Roller Girl worth her bearings does that. I think that being the only none bouting girl on a team full of A team players was kind of scary (Including Roisin Roulette, who played for the Ireland team in the Roller Derby world cup-yes I know celebs!), but I really should have taken that as a chance to learn more, rather than be intimidated.

I think I need a hot bath and to rest my ankle and get some sleep and hope that things look better in the morning.

And please Lord: heal my ankle so I can RUN!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CLEAVHER 4/3/2012 1:56PM

I like what BTLSMUM said. We ALL have nights like that. The best thing you can do in that situation is to relize it's not your best night and focus on one thing to work on. Last night I was off on my defensive blocking so the rest of the scrimmage I focused mainly on offensive. If your hits aren't great, positionally block. If you're not seeing strategy clearly let someone else lead on that. I also like to partner up with a higher level girl on an off night for me. Stick by someone at a higher skill level and just keep making walls with that person. A 2 wall is always stronger than you by yourself. And the more you push yourself out of your comfort zone the more you will fall, or penalty! Just make sure to work on problem areas. I hope your ankle feels better. Report Inappropriate Comment

IGSBETH 4/3/2012 12:24PM

That sounds intense. Wow. Good for you for keeping at it. That's the only way to improve. Report Inappropriate Comment

BTLSMUM 4/3/2012 9:54AM

I think everyone feels that way, even if they've been playing a long time. Two words of advice for the specific things you mentioned. If you feel like your blocks aren't effective, change your thinking. Don't hit people with the intention of knocking them down or destabilizing them. Hit them and stick. Hit them just enough to slide in front them and then sit on their lap or hit them just enough to mold yourself to them and then ride them right out of bounds. Slowing a player down, taking away the space of the jammer...those things are *power*. Taking away someone's power gives *you* power. Knocking someone down is fun, but a lot of times it creates chaos that allows for jammers to slip by or someone else to hit you. You want to be in control. As for jamming, don't look at the opposing team. I know it's hard, especially when you are stuck behind a wall of them. But it's easier to follow your blocks when you are looking at your own team. If you do get stuck behind a wall, keep moving laterally back and forth. If the wall is moving slow enough, you might be able to get them to trip over each other's feet a bit. All you need is one person to stumble or fall and you've got a hole. Don't get down on yourself! Report Inappropriate Comment

AWOL and misbehaving

Sunday, April 01, 2012

So the last week before half term was awful. I think for three days I ate nothing but chocolate and hot cross buns. Not even joking. Exercise wise, I just went to Rollder Derby and that's t. Not good. So I'm back on track now (even though I have eaten 2,400 kcals today!)

Actually, I'm not that bothered about the huge kcal intake. I was STARVING after my run (which is ridiculous-how does ANYONE not notice they are running three times further than they intended to?!) so I just started to eat fatitas. When I was totting up the kcals after wards, I couldn't BELIEVE how many kcals a flour torila was?! If I hadn't wrapped my chicken in those wraps, I would have saved 600kcals?! That's obscene!!!

Anyway, I had a bit of an up and down weekend. A 'friend' (with benefits) that I've known for six years was meant to come and stay. About an hour before I was meant to meet him off the bus, I texted him to check where abouts I should meet him, and he texted back saying that he wasn't coming anymore, and that he had to stop 'this' because it wasn't going anywhere. I didn't really get the text, because at no stage in the six years I have known him, has he ever made any serious indication that he wanted more. He talked about it a lot, but he never followed through on anything he said. So if I'm honest, I don't have any idea what was going through his head. But although I was annoyed that he pulled out late, the main thing I felt, was relief. Because if he was ending it, not me, then I couldn't change my mind and take him back. And I'm hoping he means it and lets me get on with my life (which I so much as said in my responding text.)

Anyway, on Thursday night, I had practise-and what a practise! I felt like I was just getting stuff! I jammed in scrimage and I actually passed people and spotted ways to get through. I knew I'd done well, because when I came of the track, all my team members told me it was good. I still can't decide if it was because I was good, or they were being nice. But either way, I hope this streak of 'getting it' continues.

The weekend (other than the idiotic man) was quite good. I even went to a toga party (a new experience for me, as in the UK we don't have Greek houses and such at university, so it was a novel experience.)

So here's to the new week and new month! Lets spark it out.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

FUNSIZESANDY 4/2/2012 5:52PM

Skate on, sista! Report Inappropriate Comment

CLEAVHER 4/2/2012 4:57PM

Congrats on the good jam, but sorry about the rest of the weekend. This week will be way better for you I'm sure! And never think your teammates were just being nice. You were probably really badass. Report Inappropriate Comment

IGSBETH 4/1/2012 5:56PM

Good luck with getting back on track! Report Inappropriate Comment

Results of the workout!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

SO

I didn't do the jump rope, I just didn't really want to. BUT I did do the Spartan Workout in FULL. The idea was you had to see how many of each exercise you could do in 50secs, take a 10 sec rest and then start the next exercise.
SO

BOUT ONE.

24 Pushups
27 Dumbell Curls
50 sec plank
9 Burpees
35 Bicycle crunches

One min rest

BOUT TWO.

17 Pushups
26 Dumbell Curls
50 sec plank
8Burpees
34 Bicycle crunches

One min rest

BOUT THREE.

20 Pushups
27 Dumbell Curls
50 sec plank
7 Burpees
28 Bicycle crunches

3.42 miles at a pace of 9.13min/mile.

I'm pretty pleased with that. I think next month on the 20th, or around that time, I'm going to do it again, and see how I do. See if I've improved at all. I hope I do!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

HEEEYBOOBOO 3/22/2012 7:49AM

Great job!! I have a love/hate relationship with burpees haha. But you rocked it chica!! Report Inappropriate Comment

DYSFUNCTIONALME 3/20/2012 11:23PM

Go You! I am pretty sure I would be dead way before I finished! Report Inappropriate Comment

RLT5089 3/20/2012 10:42PM

Sounds tough but like fun! Report Inappropriate Comment

FUNSIZESANDY 3/20/2012 9:56PM

Woot woot!! Report Inappropriate Comment

CHRISSYANNE3 3/20/2012 8:46PM

Nice job! Did burpees in a workout today and WOW! Also still working on my plank. I feel like I am weak in that area. Looking forward to seeing how things improve! Report Inappropriate Comment

Going to attempt my first PROPER Spartan Workout tonight

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

blog.spartanrace.com/wod-for-march-2
0th-2012-presented-by-gaspari-nutrition/

So I've made the decision to have a go at this workout. I'm not sure I'll finish it, but I'm going to try! What attracts me to this, is that's it's about how many you can do in a set time, rather than saying you have to do so many. Because I don't have a bar for chin ups, nor a set of 15lb dumbbells(!) I'll have to settle for my 9lb dumbells. I'm also going to warm up with 5 mins of jump rope (I love jump rope now) and then go for a short 2-3mile run afterwards. I say all this, I mean, I might do horribly! But as long as I try! I could also make this a bench mark fitness test, see if I get better as I get fitter? Maybe!

I'll be back on in 3 hours or so to update you all-wish me luck

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CLEAVHER 3/20/2012 1:31PM

Trying and not finishing is better than not trying at all! Good luck. Report Inappropriate Comment

A good day

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Woo

I have a shared tracker for my fitness and food, for accountability. But, Ima brag anyway.

10.16 miles in 99 mins, running at 9:45 mins a mile. However, I need to slow down my long runs, as they wear me out too quickly. I need to think about stamina rather than speed.

Roller Derby Girl Workouts for legs and butt. I've actually broken down what the exercises in the video are, and I'm hoping to be able to do sets twice over.

I skipped Spartan workout today. I think my run more than compensates for it, no?

I have MAJORLY overeaten today though. BUT seeing as I burnt 3x as many kcals as I'm suppose to, I'm not stressing. And the fact that I'm actually logging ALL my kcals rather than burying my head in the sand is an improvement. I think for the rest of the evening I'll do some various strength exercises in sets of 15 every half hour or so. I mean, why not?

Two weeks til Easter break. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to it.

Don't let Monday bring you down!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

HEEEYBOOBOO 3/19/2012 10:16AM

You are a serious running machine. I can totally appreciate your mileage! Great job on keeping accountable with your exercise and food tracker. I KNOW that tracking my meals always help me - but it's not the easiest. Def worth it though! Report Inappropriate Comment

DYSFUNCTIONALME 3/18/2012 11:11PM

Wow, you kicked today's butt!! I haven't worked out sense last Monday o_O But I should have yoga tomorrow, and aerial trial on Saturday, so it shouldn't last ^_^ Good luck with kicking tomorrows butt too!! ^_^ Report Inappropriate Comment

BTLSMUM 3/18/2012 4:57PM

Good for you! I wish I could keep up that pace when I run, but I am slow and steady. I skate waaaaay faster than I run, relatively speaking. (does that make sense? LOL) Report Inappropriate Comment