Skater Girl
So, given the ongoing battle with my weight that you will know about if you've ever met me/read this blog before, I've always thought it would be really helpful if I could find some serious exercise that I actually enjoyed. Big girls like me are fairly limited; joining clubs is a bit of a no-go, because who wants you in a team if you're a fatty? So I've spent years trying to muster enthusiasm for the gym, for running, for aerobic classes... all to no avail. I just don't like it. I do like to swim, and I'm good at it: I used to race back in the day. But, like most fatties, I don't like being seen in a swimming costume, which kind of puts the kybosh on the actual swimming... it's kind of essential.
Anyway, Chris- one of my bestest buds, and the accompanist for the choir I sing with- invited me and Rachie along to a roller disco with him and his flatmate as he'd taken up roller derby and wanted to get a bit of extra practice in. So we went along, and we had a lot of fun: I couldn't stop, but the technique came back from my days of racing my friends through the estate my parents used to live on.
And then Chris said he thought I'd make a great "derby girl." I didn't take him seriously: mostly because roller derby is so physical and it's not easy for big girls to take part in sport. I'm nervous about being looked at, about sweating around people I know, about all kinds of things. But actually, in the end, I decided to give it a go... Chris is training to referee bouts with Cardiff Roller Girls (he plays derby with SWS- the local men's team), so he asked me and Ceri to go along for a taster session. So along we went (and randomly bumped into Suzy, who I know from the lesbian choir I used to be in) and... well... we got hooked!! As newbies, or Fresh Meat as they call us (!), we're in a beginners class to help us learn the skills we need in order to actually participate in the game. It's incredibly hard work- learning to fall properly (you're all padded up, but you need to learn to land on the pads!) learning to stop, turn, skate backwards, paced skating, balancing on one leg... And in all of it, there's the very basic skill of confidently skating really fast round in a circle!
I love it.
This is the first time since secondary school that I've had a coach yelling at me. No one has ever wanted me to do sit ups and press-ups and cycle my (skate-clad!) legs in the air. I've never felt determined to build up my level of fitness and actually get *good* at something. But then... since I gave up swimming as part of a team, I've only done solo sports: swimming alone, racing only with the clock, and mostly not racing at all, just counting lengths. The gym, zumba class, even a brief flirtation with jogging. This is different. This is being part of something, wanting to be better so that I can be even more a part of that something. I think I should have found a team sport I liked before! I'm hooked on this. My thighs are sore, my feet are kinda sore, my mind is boggled with bits of skills that I've been learning. But I love skating. I love that endorphin high after exercise. I love being part of a group, and I love that I'm developing new skills. It's just... awesome.
I'm feeling much better now- I was ill for a good few weeks, but I think I'm about ready to return to work: I'm able to stay awake for more than 12 hours at a time now, and I'm back to being able to walk places, stand and cook... and even do the dance moves in choir! I've gained a little weight while I've been off, by virtue of little exercise and eating junk. But I'm starting to lose it again, by taking regular exercise and eating well. And frankly, my thighs are gonna be like steel by the time all this training is through.
As Chris says, Rachel, you're welcome ;-)
Anyway, Chris- one of my bestest buds, and the accompanist for the choir I sing with- invited me and Rachie along to a roller disco with him and his flatmate as he'd taken up roller derby and wanted to get a bit of extra practice in. So we went along, and we had a lot of fun: I couldn't stop, but the technique came back from my days of racing my friends through the estate my parents used to live on.
And then Chris said he thought I'd make a great "derby girl." I didn't take him seriously: mostly because roller derby is so physical and it's not easy for big girls to take part in sport. I'm nervous about being looked at, about sweating around people I know, about all kinds of things. But actually, in the end, I decided to give it a go... Chris is training to referee bouts with Cardiff Roller Girls (he plays derby with SWS- the local men's team), so he asked me and Ceri to go along for a taster session. So along we went (and randomly bumped into Suzy, who I know from the lesbian choir I used to be in) and... well... we got hooked!! As newbies, or Fresh Meat as they call us (!), we're in a beginners class to help us learn the skills we need in order to actually participate in the game. It's incredibly hard work- learning to fall properly (you're all padded up, but you need to learn to land on the pads!) learning to stop, turn, skate backwards, paced skating, balancing on one leg... And in all of it, there's the very basic skill of confidently skating really fast round in a circle!
I love it.
This is the first time since secondary school that I've had a coach yelling at me. No one has ever wanted me to do sit ups and press-ups and cycle my (skate-clad!) legs in the air. I've never felt determined to build up my level of fitness and actually get *good* at something. But then... since I gave up swimming as part of a team, I've only done solo sports: swimming alone, racing only with the clock, and mostly not racing at all, just counting lengths. The gym, zumba class, even a brief flirtation with jogging. This is different. This is being part of something, wanting to be better so that I can be even more a part of that something. I think I should have found a team sport I liked before! I'm hooked on this. My thighs are sore, my feet are kinda sore, my mind is boggled with bits of skills that I've been learning. But I love skating. I love that endorphin high after exercise. I love being part of a group, and I love that I'm developing new skills. It's just... awesome.
I'm feeling much better now- I was ill for a good few weeks, but I think I'm about ready to return to work: I'm able to stay awake for more than 12 hours at a time now, and I'm back to being able to walk places, stand and cook... and even do the dance moves in choir! I've gained a little weight while I've been off, by virtue of little exercise and eating junk. But I'm starting to lose it again, by taking regular exercise and eating well. And frankly, my thighs are gonna be like steel by the time all this training is through.
As Chris says, Rachel, you're welcome ;-)