So, with much trepidation, i decided to try Sychro for another season. This time however, it's an ALL ADULT team (no obnoxious teenagers) and required an audition to join. I made the team, and have been going to practice. And wow, things are different this season. Most of the changes are with me...
1. I'm more physically fit and nearly 40 pounds lighter than last season. I can make it through a whole practice... a WHOLE practice without stopping, without being out of breath, and without needing to puke from exertion.
2. I'm a better skater. Last year when i started, it had been 9 years since i had last been on the ice. This year, i've been skating regularly and have been working on my skills so the things we're doing in synchro aren't as much of a challenge to me. In fact, i'm able to do things the other skaters can't (like an Ina Bauer and realy pretty spirals and even chochtaws). I even had a teammate last night tell me "you're really good".
3. I'm more confident. I feel good on the ice. We practice at the rink where i work, so it's my "home ice" and i feel like i know what i'm doing and that i can learn what i don't know. people on the team are looking to me for information and for help...they think i know what's going on. suddenly i'm not the worst/slowest/fattest skater on the team and am instead one of the ones the coach looks to for an example or for assistance.
but some of the changes are in my relationship with coach Karen. We've been spending more time together off ice and working together and she's my regular coach and suddenly she's getting it. She knows how to "coach" me now without making me crazy upset. She's also more patient this season so far...and more tolerant of folks who are struggling.
Last night we did calesthenics for 45 minutes...45 minutes! Running, lunges, spirals, jumping jacks, off-ice run throughs of the program. 45 minutes! I didn't stop, I didn't puke, I didn't die.
Then we practiced full speed for an hour...a whole hour-- with no water breaks. ANd i made it! I didn't have to stop and "breathe" or rest. I made it through the whole practice, even the 5 solid minutes of intense conditioning drills at the end (backwards cross overs full speed to the beat of music).... at the end of practice...after 45 minutes of calesthenics and an hour of practice...and i made it! I did it!
and omg today i'm sore. but it's that good "omg i did it sore" and i'm not nearly as sore as i was from practice 2 weeks ago.
I'm getting fit.
I'm losing weight.
I'm having fun.
Oh...and i'm working full time at the rink now.
Yay!
