That was a chilly swim
Until Sunday I hadn't played polo in about three weeks, so I was excited to get out in the forecast 70-degree sun. And it was sunny, and around 70, but there was a chilly wind blowing and the lake was COLD. Before we started I made the mistake of commenting to one of the other players that I hadn't practiced rolling in a while, and that I should, so naturally I got pushed over about five minutes into the first half. I guess I tried to get back over too quickly to get out of that cold water ... and it didn't work. Missing that roll freaked me out, so I started flailing around and ended up popping off my skirt, and I was suddenly swimming in that cold damn water. :(
A couple of other players paddled over so I could climb onto their bows to get out of the water while two others dumped out my boat, so I was back in quickly enough (and I didn't have to swim back to shore!). But I'm pretty disappointed in myself for not staying calm enough to remain in the boat until someone got there to help me back up ... even if I didn't get the roll, I should have been able to do that. After that I felt sort of out of it for the rest of the game, and I was afraid that if I flipped over again I'd miss the roll again, so my playing regressed back to how it was before I could roll; I was afraid to bump people too hard, turn too fast, or do anything that might flip me over. My playing has gotten somewhat better in recent months because I've been a more aggressive defender - I still can't catch or throw worth a damn, and most everyone paddles faster than me, but I do a decent job (for me) of turning people away from the goal. But that was gone on Sunday ... it was definitely my worst practice in a while.
I do have to say, though, that my mysterioso thermals are awesome - I had on the short-sleeved top and capri-length bottoms and felt dry and warm within a few minutes of being back in the boat. My feet stayed cold, though - apparently even good hiking socks won't keep you warm when they're completely soaked. The cold traveled up my legs and they were pretty tired and chilled by the time we stopped playing an hour and half later. I finally decided I'd have to spring for the socks made of the mysterioso material ... and then REI was out of them. Sigh...
Altogether, not my best day.
A couple of other players paddled over so I could climb onto their bows to get out of the water while two others dumped out my boat, so I was back in quickly enough (and I didn't have to swim back to shore!). But I'm pretty disappointed in myself for not staying calm enough to remain in the boat until someone got there to help me back up ... even if I didn't get the roll, I should have been able to do that. After that I felt sort of out of it for the rest of the game, and I was afraid that if I flipped over again I'd miss the roll again, so my playing regressed back to how it was before I could roll; I was afraid to bump people too hard, turn too fast, or do anything that might flip me over. My playing has gotten somewhat better in recent months because I've been a more aggressive defender - I still can't catch or throw worth a damn, and most everyone paddles faster than me, but I do a decent job (for me) of turning people away from the goal. But that was gone on Sunday ... it was definitely my worst practice in a while.
I do have to say, though, that my mysterioso thermals are awesome - I had on the short-sleeved top and capri-length bottoms and felt dry and warm within a few minutes of being back in the boat. My feet stayed cold, though - apparently even good hiking socks won't keep you warm when they're completely soaked. The cold traveled up my legs and they were pretty tired and chilled by the time we stopped playing an hour and half later. I finally decided I'd have to spring for the socks made of the mysterioso material ... and then REI was out of them. Sigh...
Altogether, not my best day.