This is a quick one because I think I just pulled something. I went to a different rink tonight and wiped out before I even hit the floor. Shoo mercy-- that was embarrassing! The floor there is masonite instead of concrete but isn't exactly even.My feet flew out right at the edge where the carpet meets the rink. Way to go, me!

I was definitely the fastest woman there except for a third grader who was speedy and agile. My husband said that other than the teenage boys, I was one of the better skaters. He said, "those other girls aren't trying to exert themselves." "Yeah, I know. They squeal every time one of the teen Y chromosomes comes speeding by." I did ask one of the fast boys how he got so good at the crossovers. It was funny-- he became all flustered and chatty. Skated with me a couple of laps just talking about how his first pair o'skates were the old school rollerblades. I didn't tell him how old this made me feel, especially when he referred to my skates as quads????? These guys were fast, crossing over on the turns, jumping road cones, and switching from a fast forward skate to a backwards skate --- all on roller blades. I texted one of my fresh meat girls and she called them "showoffs!" Told her that I secretly wanted to be as good as those boys.

I drank two bottles of water (the little ones) and my HR was up to 185 a couple of times. Uhhh....my max HR is 184!!!!! I talked to my trainer about this and her opinion for me was that it doesn't hurt to go up that high if you don't stay there for a prolonged period of time. I did a lot of skating with all eight wheels on the floor. You sort of do figure 8s with your feet--never lifting your skates up off the rink. Works the thighs in a Bond-girl-death-grip fashion. I think this move is what pulled the muscle. Either that or the total wipe out which occurred within the first 5 minutes of being on the property. Anyhow, I looked around and the women that were bigger than me were mainly on the sidelines. There was another about my size skating backwards but she wasn't trying to break any records in speed and endurance. I am not trying to be judgmental but I have to sometimes be my own cheerleader. It's tough to get out on a skating rink filled with juveniles when you aren't that in shape. O.k. I am off to try and relax these wannabe muscles.