Skater Blogs

Saturday Morning Fun!

Ξ February 15th, 2009 |

Physical endurance training at 8:15 am on the one day a week I could sleep in? YES! *arm pumps* SIGN ME UP, I AM THERE! Or rather, I was, this morning at the Deptford Skating Center. Why all the excitement? It's ROLLER DERBY PRACTICE!

I look forward to every practice with the South Jersey Derby Girls. The girls are fantastic!

Prior to joining the team, I'd been on roller skates a total of, like, eight times. Maybe. I was falling all over myself and other people at the first practice. And the second practice. And the third.

And did anyone tell me to leave and come back when I'd learned to walk upright? No! Everyone was telling me about how much they fell when they first started, how nervous they felt their first few practices, and how fast improvement comes with a little effort; someone even complimented me on my falling technique, which I had just demonstrated by falling in front of her during a drill.

You will never meet a nicer bunch of ass-kicking ladies.

I'm a "training wheel" right now, but maybe by the end of the season I'll get to compete in a game.

That's where this morning's practice comes in. Saturdays are endurance days, where we work on pacing, sprinting, and basically getting ourselves into game-ready shape. Today we did a pacing drill where you skate 10 times around in a group, then sprint 2 times around, then rest. Lather (in sweat), Rinse (down some water, you're gonna need it!), and Repeat (10 times!).

Training wheel Katie got to get back into skates today, and it was cool to see her out there with the rest of the group. I fell a lot less today, which is comforting, both for my ego and my rear end. Afterward, we went for a short jog around the neighborhood. Christina, another training wheel, and I made it just a little further today than we did last week, and that was really encouraging. We ARE getting better! It's a really good workout, and it's fun!
 

I can't wait for the next practice!

~ Annie, Rookie (for now)