Together Even A-newbie Manages

So many things I could write about my first bout (and I probably will over the coming days) but I want to capture my first thoughts about it before I over-analyse them.

Pre bout nerves weren't too bad - too be honest I was so wrapped up in the logistics of it all to have time to worry about the skating part.  It proved to be a great distraction in the end.  
I'm one of those strange people who loves the challenge of pulling off a big event...I love the whole last minute stress of getting it done in time and even the last minute crises.
Like our guest MC Drag Queens not being allowed to wear stilletos on the gym floor! To their credit they still pulled it off with style, everyone did.
I enjoy seeing how everything magically comes together in the end. How everyone steps it up a notch and just makes it happen. 
But at 5.30pm it was time to take off the familiar and comfortable hat of events organising and exchange it for the brand spanking new cherry-coloured bout skater hat.  
I hoped like mad that this hat would fit me too but there was only one way to find out....
I am 36 years old and Saturday night was my first time playing a team sport (or any sport for that matter....) at a competitive level.  So forgive me if I seem blown away by the obvious, that which those of you from more sporty childhoods have known since you were a small black.  
But being part of Team Glee was amazing....from purposely knocking me over in the warmup to get me over my fear of falling in front of everyone.....to grabbing my hand to give it a squeeze when I was bummed that I let Gaga's jammer skate right past me untouched....my team was there.  
Their belief in me being able to do it made me believe it too.  
And for the most part I did - I held my part in the walls, I got up every time I got knocked down, I made space for our jammer to get through, I even managed to land a hit (just a little one!) on a Gaga jammer!
Just look at that booty of mine doing what it should....

My only regret was that I was so overwhelmed by the whole experience that I didn't throw myself into it completely.  
We had a healthy lead at halftime so I was offered the chance to jam in the second half.  
I am still terrified to jam at scrimmage let alone at a bout so I said no.  
It was an understandable and even logical response but I wish I had just not thought and jumped at it - even if I'd sucked it wouldn't have really mattered. 
I may have gotten hurt but to be honest it wasn't my body I was worried about hurting, it was my pride.  
I am gutted that I let my fear and pride make a decision for me.  Next time I will hip check those well out of the way!

"Believe me! The secret of reaping the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment from life is to live dangerously!” Friedrich Nietzsche

And having my kids there was awesome, I loved seeing them cheer me on.  
I loved it when they raced up to me at the end and asked me to skate a lap with them.  
And my husband, holding the fort at home for the last month while I drowned in bout organising...Standing at the sideline the entire bout keeping wee Erin busy and happy.  
I am one lucky woman.

So for awhile it's time to push derby into the background a little and give some attention and love to other things in my life.  
But I can't wait to get better at the derby too...and bout again.....
Next stop.....making it onto the All Stars team!!!

Gleek Out!

Tomorrow I get to skate....in a bout...in a uniform....in front of a crowd....with a team of amazing women.

Being the freshest skater on the track is a little nerve wracking.
I know I won't be able to pull any awesome moves out there but hopefully I can hold my place in the pack and make things easier for my team-mates.
Most of all I hope that I remember to enjoy it!
I have gone from doing no physical exercise what-so-ever to skating in a roller derby bout in 10 months and I am so proud of myself.
GO GLEE!!

Bout Doubt?

Prematch Jitters? First Bout Nerves? Cold Feet? 
Whatever you want to call it I didn't expect it to make an appearance till the week of the bout.  But here we are a whole 22 days out from the bout and it's already hit me.
Admittedly I'm an emotional character, especially prone to the ups and downs that accompany a big event.
I've been in it neck deep trying to help organise the bout itself as part of the Events committee.   
And even though I've been given the go ahead to bout by the coaches I know I still have heaps of work to do on my fitness and skating skills before I'll be happy with where I'm at on bout day.  
Then there's uniforms to get done, rollouts to learn, bearings to clean, posters to put up....it's all got me feeling more than a little overwhelmed. 
And disappointed that so many other events are on that same night which means my cheering section is looking pretty small at this stage! 
I won't opt out but it's tempting....crazy huh??
Crazy to even entertain the thought of not bouting after working so hard to get here.  
I just need to make sure I save enough in my tank for the skating side of things.  That's the bit I'm doing FOR ME after all, that's the bit I love.  I don't want to get so exhausted with everything else that it undermines the reason I'm doing it in the first place.  

So time for a little blog interaction.....tired of my comments section being empty!
What was it like for you coming up to your first bout??
What helped you???