But practise was good. I enjoyed it, lots. The endurance exercise was... tough. I have no stamina so 10 alternating laps of sprint / something else was kinda painful (not helped by the aforementioned ass-landing which meant I ended up sitting out a few laps and taking it really slowly on the remaining ones I did do). The back pain I'd say was partially the landing, partially the unfitness and partially that my back ain't in great condition after having 4 kids.
They are, however, all things which would be improved by better fitness and stamina levels which is why as of today I'm starting a running program - specifically this one which looks to be just what I need - a training program for someone who's never run for more than a bus before! Was pointed in the direction of matching podcasts which tell you exactly when to walk and when to run which sounds like genius to me.
So, back to skating. My legs were obviously slightly less bloated this week as my shiny new knee pads felt fine and supportive rather than trying to cut off the circulation to my feet and they're definitely easier to land on We also did a speed test which meant for the first time I have a timed 5 minute sprint. I was pretty happy with my 1 minute 10, particularly given that I'd been doubled over in pain 10 minutes previously. Need to be under a minute but that will come relatively easily I think.
It would help if I actually got my ass to every practise, I have missed an unfortunate amount. I dance around the reasons why using 'illness' or my favourite euphemism, 'tantrums' but the actual reason is my mental state at the time. But I doubt anyone on my team will judge me for it, I know my friends and family don't and I couldn't give a stuff about anyone else so the actual reason is I'm bipolar II. Manic depressive that is, the II referring to the type that's up and down like a bloody yoyo (type I possibly have it worse in that they stay very down or very very up for months or even years at a time. I at least get variety :p). I wouldn't be surprised if its relatively common amongst rollergirls, among (many, many!) other things a common characteristic is a need for adrenaline buzzes and limited perception of personal danger. I have both. Except when I'm down in which case mainly I just want to avoid being around anyone. Hence the missing practises. Its an issue and to be brutally honest, its not one that's going to go away but it will lessen with time, particularly as one of my main reasons for not going is paranoia - in the clinical sense - and that reduces with, well, trust.
Moving on so you can all stop looking vaguely embarrassed and uncomfortable, my chest hurts. You wouldn't have thought chest & shoulder muscles would take punishment skating but we did an exercise known as 'shopping cart' which, unsurprisingly involves one skater pushing another around the track. That bit was easy. The difficult bit was being the shopper and being pulled by the 'cart' - holding on was a lot harder than it looks and my arm strength is way less than my leg strength (even given relative scaling and sizes) and the muscles at the side front of the top of my chest really hurt. Not in a bad-oh-I'm-injured way... just in on ohmygod these muscles didn't know they even existed way.
Now gearing up to an extremely long Sunday this week, we're at Chelmsford Race Course from stupid-early in the morning doing a car boot sale to raise SRT funds which means I need to sort through vast amounts of accumulated crap and get it ready for flogging. Then its pretty much going to be straight from there to practise. But it will be good! And profitable! And I'll get to wear my shiny new SRT hoody which I got along with assorted tshirts and vests on Sunday (I got Geoff a tshirt with DERBY WIDOW on the back as well which amused me greatly. He's since gone out and bought a longsleeve orange top to wear underneath it at bouts (including the Blitz Dames match in a couple of weeks!) so he doesn't freeze to death.
Finally, a highly suspicious me, in sepia.
Take care, guys & girlies
xx Rebel xx
Don't worry about no being able to make all the practices, everyone goes when they can and you're a good skater anyway. Thank you again for all your hard work regarding the fundraiser. it was awesome :)
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