-Me finding my zen before the last game. Great pic by Kelly Castro

How do players get to that "special" place on the track during a game? You know what I mean . . . the place where your adrenalin amps you up, not makes you freeze. When you hit with vengeance and leave your opponents wincing in the pack as soon as the whistle blows.

I was the most timid player when I first started playing last year. I knew I had a wild animal in me ready to pounce, I just had no idea how to channel it when I needed to. My first few games where, for lack of a better word, terrifying. I moved like molasses and had about as much aggression as an elderly person eating jello. It was not until mid season last year that I had one game where it all came out. I blocked like mo-fo, screamed as I went for my pray and ended up earning my self a coaches choice badge for the game. Then, it (the aggression) went back into hiding - All I was left with was questions: How did I do that? Where did it go? How can I get back?

The rest of the season was pretty mediocre for me. I ended up banging my knee up pretty seriously and spent the remainder of the season petrified that I was going to seriously injure myself - Any derby player will agree that playing with an injury is a major distraction and can seriously take away from your game.

The off season came and I took it as my opportunity to research, train and amp up for a better year. I've talked about CrossFit before so I'll spare you - but it did help my game in more ways then I ever thought possible.

The last few games I've felt myself amping up during the game. It was not until the our game against Silicon Valley that the animal came out right away and has stayed. It's like I know how to provoke and use the adrenaline to my advantage now. Even looking at pictures from the last couple games, almost every shot of me is in motion with the most crazy look of determination on my face. Before I was all wide eyed and still, waiting for the action to come to me before I reacted.

I'm not sure what to attribute the change to. Before the last couple games I have listened to music that gets me super pumped and I visualize myself playing. It helps. I look at my teammates and think about all the stuff I want to do with them - plays, strategy, pack work.

Panda, one of my all time favorite players came and coached us one night last year. One thing she said kinda stuck with me - knowing you can do it. Being a little cocky. Sounds cheesy, but believing in yourself. Once I let that doubt in, especially during a game, it's going to feature into a cancer that completely enables every fear and weakness I have. So, fuck the fear.

I know what I can do and what I'm capable of. I know how to play with my teammates and believe in them. Why get scared? Why go through the agony of self-doubt?

Maybe the Little Engine the Could was on to something?

Hugs & Bruises,

Raven

Labels: santa cruz derby girls, training

With the upcoming home game on Saturday and two loses under our belt, I'm left thinking about teamwork. Our loss against Sonoma I could take, those girls were just better then us. They have been skating together longer and really have their coaching dialed in. It was the loss two weeks ago that I'm just not accepting - as a team we determined that although we have some spectacular athletes and derby players we just have not been connecting as a team lately.

Team. That was the strongest thing about the All-Stars last season. We came up against some sticky situations and (seemed like) we always came up on top. Team work is what won us the game against LADD at the beginning of this season - so where did the spark go? The connection, the bond? I still feel it - I know it's there, it just needs a little dusting off. I recently read an article by a sports psychologist suggesting that teamwork really is a psychological thing - it does need to be inspired.

I wish I could be that person who knew just what to say and just how to say it to inspire everyone. I have so many strong feelings of the importance of teamwork and trust - I totally trust each and every one of my teammates and hope they feel the same about me. But how do I verbalize it? Whenever I try it all just comes out so awkward sounding. I guess I'm better with the written word.

If I had the opportunity to speak to my team on Saturday without the influence of my awkwardness, self consciousness and female hormones, I guess I would say something like this:

Today is about us. Our team, our league and our accomplishments. I am nothing on the track without you. Together we will win this. Individually we can take them, but as a team can conquer them. We have one brain out there - we think as a unit, one big derby robot controlling the track. We hit off the line at the first whistle and don't stop hitting until the game is over. We play smart, touching and talking to each other.
Whether we win or loose, we play as a team, we play aggressive, we play clean, WE play derby.

Short and sweet. No one said inspiration had to be pages long ;)

The game is this Saturday at 6:30 @the SC Civic Center. We're playing the Jet City Pink Pistols. Their a WFTDA league that has yet to be ranked. Should be a good game.

Hugs and Bruises,

Raven

Labels: jet city rollergirls, santa cruz derby girls, team building

Sorry I am not able to post as much as I want to, folks. I still watch what's going on in the derby world, but add that to a crazy day job, and massive training I am doing... and you get... no time left over!

So here's what's been up for Nia Capps and FCDG since my last post.

We are 2 -0 against GTAR. We're planning a big Garage/Bake Sale for June 27, 2009 here in London, ON with roller girls, baked goods, retro furniture and garage sale stuff on sale, along with FCDG merch. Watch the website at www.forestcityderbygirls.com for info when I get it up this weekend.

The Garage and Bake sale are to raise funds towards the Thames Fatales travel out to Ottawa on July 11, 2009 to play the Rideau Valley Rollergirls. Bout info also coming soon.

As for me personally, I have been training like a mad woman and am actually seeing some improvements, I've seen it myself and noticed a few comments from our captain, president and my teammates that I'm coming back. I'm also really enjoying learning to be faster on my feet and not worrying so much about power low to high hits and being a power blocker that I was so slow to learn, and using my god-given child-bearing hips and giving them a reason to be big by utilizing feet and booty blocks to stop jammers, and learning more swoops than shoulder hits. I've also gotten improved endurance and speed lately too!

Off-skate I'm on bike a few days a week to work and back, and I'm happy to be a member of Goodlife Fitness. In the past two weeks I've tried my first ever spinning class at Quadspin.com in Toronto, led by spinning instructor and my work colleague, Rob McGarry. An awesome, sweaty, tough workout that was! he is great! My legs were so sore after (first -timer that I was) I even had to miss a skate practice! I've also this week tried my first BodyPump class at Goodlife Fitness. I also do BodyFlow and want to do BodyAttack and BodyCombat if I can find scheduling time. I'm not as sore as I thought I'd be, but I'm looking forward to building some new muscle and burning off the fat. Classes are way more fun to me than treadmills and ellipticals. I get so bored!

And derby girls, the fact that you play such an awesome sport is always a good conversation starter for new friends and instructors at the gym. My favorite is to say, "Hi!, I'm Tracy, aka Nia Capps, and if you see me with weird bruises, I want you to know I am not clumsy or abused, I play roller derby!" And of course I have to follow up with a description of what it is today and all about my own league.

So let's look at my current training schedule. Tell me if you think I should see further improvements coming fast over the next three months or if you see things I should change:
Monday: Roller Derby Practice - 2 hours
Tuesday: Bike to work and home (weather permitted (WP)) (40-45 minutes total)
1 Hour BodyPump class at Goodlife Fitness
Wednesday: SLEEP IN! hahaha
Bike to work and home (WP)
REST DAY if too tired OR
1 hour Body Attack (cardio) OR 1 hour BodyFlow (Yoga/Pilates)
Thursday: Roller Derby Practice - 2 hours (sometimes includes 15 mins Plyo)
Friday - Bike to work and home (WP)
1 hour BodyFlow (yoga)
Couch to 5K Run - progressive running program
Saturday - For June 20 (class schedule update coming) : Bike to gym ad home (40-45 mins)
1 hr BodyPump 9 AM
1 hr Body Attack 10:15 AM
1 hr BodyFloe 11:15 Am
I haven't made a Saturday like this before, but I was doing 1 hr of BodyFlow, 20 minutes Couch to 5K and Fit Flex weight training at Goodlife before. I think I can do it. I have a 15 min break between the weight and cardio where I can down a granola bar or banana for energy.

I may change this up and sometimes do the GoodLife Fitness Spinning RPM class, or do weights instead, or a run. OH! I should add a run to the days I can't bike when it rains... YEAH!

WHEN I AM APPROVED TO PLAY on Thames Fatales I'll replace the gym with : Saturday Roller Derby Practice 2 hours. May even be starting this soon if the league approves.

Sunday - Rest day - which includes walking and bike riding for errands and transport, as needed. Potential for another Boday Flow and BodyJam class if I just want to.

Add to this a twice - three times a week walk uphill and back carrying groceries for a family of 3 (half) at night and bike rides/walks on weekends for fun and errands.

Not too shabby, eh? recommendations? More weight training, less rest days? More running? Anything?

Hey, I'll take all the help I can get! Keep rollin' folks, and off-skate training is really helpful if you're having trouble with something! I'll be on vacation the week of July 29-July 3 as Mama Capps is visiting London from North Carolina. I'll be swimming and walking with her, instead of being in the gym. I will only miss one practice though! Mama Capps is retiring this year and I hope that means she'll be able to visit more and make it to a game I play in sometime soon!

Labels: training