Back in the Swing (and Roll) of Things

So the name of this blog is Life in the Rolling Lane, inspired in part, by the great year I've had learning to skate and how to play "recreational" roller derby. I put recreational in quotations, because there isn't yet a consensus on what that means, but at Derby Lite we have our spin on it and are having fun. Last night was our first skate after the holiday break: hallelujah! Just in time before the holiday fun set permanently into my butt and thighs!

It felt great to be back on skates. And even better to feel like my skating has been improving. Both endurance and skill-wise. Ten minutes in hell could have been worse (skate for one minute, sprint for one minute, then one minute of a floor exercise - crunches, push-ups, etc. for, well, 10 minutes). Then we did a paceline, and while 15 minutes of skating in close formation in one direction did tweak my back or hip or something toward the end (I'm still not exactly sure what it is), it cleared right up and did not keep me from completing the drill. And my two races during the pace line could have been worse.

Ah, and the scrimmaging. Our team, chosen only by shirt colors was black/brown, or the Happy Jammers (we were mostly reluctant jammers, because after skating for an hour and 15 minutes, pumping it up to race through the pack is well, hard). It is becoming more comprehensible as a blocker. As blockers we need to work together to stop the opposing team's scorer (jammer). The pack moves slowly, the jammer is going really fast and whizzes by before you can block...darn! But if we spread out and go a little faster the momentum is more equal and can create more opportunities to actually block the jammer. And I realized at this point I won't often stop a jammer, but I can certainly aim to slow them down, and work with my teammates. And playing as a jammer, while dreaded (it's hard, and exhausting, and, for me, often frustrating) was not as bad as I had feared. I scored a few points, I got through the pack! Woo hoo for me. At one point while I was blocking I took a bang from someone and thought, ha, I'm so staaaaaaable, and by the time I was done with the thought I was on my bum. But not for long. And that's the beauty of Derby Lite. You fall on your butt, but you get right back up and keep going! And if you get a big bruise, you might even get an award for it.

So while the rest of the week is back to school, homework, bedtimes, ballet, etc. etc., I can look forward to my nights on skates!

Viva Underpants!