Back to skating!

Last night, with the approval of my new doctor, I went to practice and actually skated. It was, of course, freaking awesome.
We didn't have as many of the vets come this week, so we just stayed in one big group and worked drills together. It was good to get back on skates, and nice that after a few minutes, I actually felt pretty comfortable again. We did endurance laps, timing to see what our time was for 25 laps. I took it VERY easy, since I wasn't sure how my knee was going to react to abrupt changes in direction. I still managed a not completely pitiful 7 minutes. Now, I need to trim two full minutes off this time, but I feel like I can do that since a little over a month ago I could do 24 laps in 5 minutes and was coming around turn four on lap 25 when time was called. I trust that I will get back there after I have gotten the strength back in my knees.
After endurance, we did a drill called "shopping carts" which basically helps you ease into the idea of hip whips, which is what we practiced next. I ended up paired off with one of the other Toffuti Cuties who hadn't been skating long. We took it very easy to help her maintain control. She did very well, and I felt good about my efforts. After hip whips we practiced arm whips. I did well with inside whips, and receiving whips, but my outside whips need a bit of work. I need to remember to keep my thumb up. I am sore today, but in that good, "I worked hard" sort of way. Surprisingly, the stretches we do in derby helped to pull things back in alignment a little, and I sound less like a pencil sharpener when I walk today.
I feel great today. Oh, and just a little side note, I gained four pounds this week instead of losing, but my belt is loose now...I must be gaining muscle.

Little update.

I finally had my doctor's appointment today. I went in and we talked about when and where my knee hurts. I was grilled on my exercise regimen, and how hard I have been hit in derby. Do I remember any injury that preceded the pain..blah blah blah. Three X-rays and a few pokes and prods and "does this hurt"s later, the doctor believes that I have patellofemoral disorder which means that I have over worked my major quad (thigh) muscle and need to strengthen my inner thigh muscles to compensate. Wow. I have an over-training injury. COOL! The best part is, with physical therapy, I can get completely better! YAY! I have also been greenlighted to get back to practice, though I have been advised to continue to take it somewhat easy until the horrible crunching noises stop. That's right. Indy is back in action! (Within limits)

At this rate, it's going to be "Adventures in never skating"

I missed practice last night.
My in-laws are very nice people, who want to spend time with Hubby and I. My Mother-in-law bought tickets to a play in a local theater for the four of us to go see a play. Sweet right? I love the theater!
She didn't check with hubby or me before scheduling our "date" and bought tickets for a Thursday night. Last night. Hubby has a class on Thursday nights. I have practice on Thursday nights. When hubby mentioned his class, his mom flipped out and said "if you don't want to come with us that's fine, but I bought these tickets so we could spend time together and they were expensive....blah blah blah." We didn't even bother to mention that I would be missing practice for this. As previously noted, she doesn't approve.
SOOOOO. No skating for me. I did manage to clunk around a little in my skates. Tried to walk without rolling like Wanton recommended. I wasn't horrible. I can do side to side just fine, but for some reason, I just can't walk forward or backward.
I also have one more fear to conquer. Backwards skating, and switching front to back and vice versa. And tomahawk stops.
I have three weeks until test for min requirements. Not enough time!

Somebody call the WAAAAHHHHHmbulance!

So I decided to do the "Roller derby Workout Challenge". I thought"Oh that will be awesome! I can build some muscle and be a better skater, and maybe even drop a few inches!"
Sadly, this was not to be. I started out the week, ate mostly what the meal plan dictated with a few changes for both financial reasons and for preference. I gave up booze. No skin off my nose, I needed to cut back anyway. I gave up white flour of all kinds and all processed sugars. Diet isn't a big issue, I followed the Weight Watchers plan for years with little problem.
Then I tried to do the workout. I have had a little pain in my knees since starting to skate. I am not 25 anymore. I can live with it. The workout however, with what felt like five million lunges and squats in addition to what seemed to be hours of planks, was pure evil. The next morning I got out of bed, and as soon as I put weight on my right knee, I heard a sickening crunch. I didn't think much about it, because it only hurt a little bit. Over the course of the day at work, it became more and more painful. Okay, I'll take a day off of the workout, put a little pain gel on my knee, and I'll be just fine. Nope. Tuesday, Wednesday, still painful. Limping around work. Getting more and more aggravated by the day. Thursday comes and I am just hoping that I can get in some endurance skating, or maybe even just the warmups. I NEED to skate with my girls! The rest of the Tofutti Cuties need me! I need them! "Not a chance" says my stupid knee. I finally broke down and scheduled an appointment with a doctor, but since I work in a doctor's office, I had to work around my work schedule, so my appointment is January 25. Crap. Well. I feel a bit less pain today, so I will continue to take it relatively easy until I find out just WTF is going on. I am going to skate next week, even if all I accomplish is warmups and stretches. I think we're supposed to be learning falls. I need to know this, so maybe I will stay and watch if I can't do it. It is strange to be sitting here on Friday, and not have that delightful soreness that comes from a good practice session.
Whine, whine, whine.
I'm a wimp.

Red Rockettes Fresh Tofu....

Last night was my first official practice with the Red Rockettes! It was SO much fun I can't walk!
We started the evening with the obligatory paperwork, WFTDA insurance, emergency contacts etc.
Then we did some quick warm up laps and stretches. While we were stretching, we did basic introductions. There were lots of new girls, which included me even though I did attend the last two sessions of the last round. We broke into two groups after stretching, one for the vets and the ladies who attended the last round of practices. The vets took the last group through testing for basics and the "fresh tofu" (some of us are vegetarians not me, but some...) broke off and started with the very basics.
We practiced derby position, which I can do, but my knee is still giving me fits when I hold it for too long. We practiced stops. I am MUCH better at stopping. We worked on weaves, which I have also improved immensely. I was one of the more stable of the freshies, but I did manage to hit two separate sets of bleachers head on. I have a pretty nice little bruise forming on my hand and shoulder. Nothing to post pics of, but they do hurt.
After we finished weaves, we had a discussion about gear, what we need to have, and what quality it should be. A lot of the other girls were wearing borrowed pads from the "Box Of Stench", and most of them needed better skates. I was sitting pretty in my awesome gear.
I am sore today, but not as bad as some of the other ladies, since I took it a little easy on my knee. I still know that Wanton Rebellion is going to be a tough Derby Momma. She kicked my (not so) little hiney. She is great though. She knew when I was giving up due to pain in the knee rather than due to quivering quads.
All in all, I am super stoked and loving every minute!

New Year. Yeah, I know everyone is doing it.

So we rang in the new year with a few of our closest friends and several of their other friends. It was pretty awesome. So now that we have bid farewell to a somewhat trying but generally good year, it is time to decide what tone to give the brand new year.
Obviously, I have chosen to make this year my year for obtaining "mad derby skillz" and am super excited to get started with this on Thursday. I have decided that in order to truly take advantage of all that these awesome women have to teach me, I have to work at home also. In the spirit of this idea, I have decided to undergo the "roller derby fitness challenge" which I discovered on Facecrack...I mean Facebook. I have also committed to resuming the Weight Watchers lifestyle. I can't afford to go to the meetings, but I have obtained some of the materials for the new program. I actually really liked Weight Watchers the first time I did it, but gained most of my original weight loss back due to a health issue and was never able to regain the momentum (heh, momentum).
I really haven't set any clear goals, really more like ideas. I have a distinct tendency to fail when I set resolutions, so I am just going to set a new attitude.
On another note, I was able to get in one last skate of 2010. Even though I have been nursing my stupid knee, which still hurts most of the time for no obvious reason, I went out on Thursday with my best friend, who hadn't skated in around 10 years. She was really not bad, and watching her helped me realize how far I have actually come. I'd encourage her to skate too, but she has a health issue also which pretty much means she shouldn't let people knock her down at high speeds, so I have to settle for having her be my cheerleader. (Love you S!) Anyway...I digress. What I set out to say, was that I found myself trying things while skating with her that I had been hesitant to try before. I was able to execute a few T-stops, which I have been chicken to try since the first time I tried and ate rink. Hard. I think that being on a rink without people who are considerably more experienced than me gave me a little confidence since I wouldn't be the only one falling down. Yay for false confidence!
I should probably stop rambling now.
I will catch you all on the flip side and keep y'all posted on my first real practice.