Transformation Journal

[Bearlysk8ing]

Well, here goes nothing.
I think I am finally ready to be honest with myself and the crappy condition I have been in. I just joined a gym, and am ready to stop being a big ol' caterpillar eating everything in sight, and ready to start becoming the butterfly (or moth?) [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] I feel like inside!

I have been speedskating for the last couple of years, and am ready to take that up a level also (hi krypto, I'm chasing YOU now! [img]/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]).

So here I will record my trials and hopeful tribulations for posterity. I welcome any feedback and ADVICE, because I am starting at a definite low!!

I am 5'2" and 168lbs of muscle and FAT. Measurements to follow. [img]/forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

Bear of TJ

Hey girl, it's about time you showed up!

Don't forget to check out the blue tabs at the top of the page, tons of great info there! Those articles will probably answer most of the questions you may have. And don't forget to check out the Women's Discussion forum, lots of great info there as well!

[Bearlysk8ing]

I have already visited the Women's Forum, thanks!!
And I have a new goal - the first annual Disney Inline Marathon! Well, 1/2 marathon for me, I think, for the first go 'round.
March 30, 2003 - it seems so soon.

This weekend was a less productive time than I had hoped - SATURDAY - Spent about 2 hours at the gym doing cardio and abs. For some reason my calves were KILLING me after walking (4mph) on the tread after about 15 minutes, so I had to switch to an elliptical machine. 3 sets/15 reps of hyperextensions holding 20lbs; 3 sets/40 reps of cable crunches @ 60lbs; 3 sets/25 reps "ball" crunches; 2 sets/15 reps leg curls; 5 hanging leg extensions.I need to find more lower ab excersises until I can master the art of hanging leg extensions.

I feel so weak. But everyone starts somewhere...

SUNDAY - My speed practice was cancelled, but I went to another team's practice in North Jersey. They have a great "dry-land" excersise program to start off. Still having trouble with my knee so I couldn't do the sprints or the jumps (knees UP to the chest!), but I think I am making progress in being able to stay down in a skating postition. After a quick warmup pace we did bull ring practice to work on cornering efficiently - I worked with the upper level junior team because the senior team is still a little above my level and I spend more time getting out of their way than I do working my technique when I do rings with them! [img]/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
We worked on starts, which is good. I need to get more power behind my first step, especially since I am at a slight disadvantage. I prefer an "up" or standing start, whereas most advanced skaters use a "down" or 3point start. I think I get more power from my legs staying up right now because I have to spend extra energy actually lifting myself off the ground. I think if I can shed about 15-20lbs and get my knee strengthened I will be able to attempt a down start by the time regional qualifiers come around in June. I actually beat one of the senior ladies once, so that is something.
The next task was a last man out elimination race - I HATE THIS! I wasn't the first out... I was the second out. [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] So while the better skaters finished off, I skated lightly on the inside track to keep my muscles warm. We finished off with relays. I am still a little nervous about crossing inside the track to the relay box, so I don't think I will be competing in any relays this year. [img]/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[Bearlysk8ing]

MONDAY WAS A BUST - I overdid it on Sunday at practice [img]/forum/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

TUESDAY - Practice started off kind of slow, but there were a lot of people there to feed off. (I do a lot of my training mentally, by watching others to see technical nuances etc.) We did some dry-land exercises - low walks, crossovers, one leg squats, side jumps. For some reason, even though these exercises aren't difficult, they take a lot out of me! [img]/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] By the time skates go on I am already feeling my legs weaken. Gotta do more of these, so they don't affect me so much.

Pretty standard practice - quick warm-up, stretch, and into a 20 minute pace. This time the pace was a "lap the pack" drill, which I was unable to stay with. My endurance is awful. But I did skate at my own pace for the ENTIRE 20 minutes with no breaks, which is a small milestone. My endurance had gradually gotten better. I still have to jump in and out of the pack, but at least I don't have to stop to breathe and puff on the ol' inhaler as much! [img]/forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
We did some starts, and I actually finished within a few steps of the other girls! (They must have been slacking [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]) I wasn't feeling very centered, so I hesitated on two of the starts, afraid I would jump off early... <grr> Then we moved on to circle drills - BREAK THROUGH! If you can get into a good skating stance, bent from the waist but still sitting back on the heels, you should be able to touch the ground with the inside hand when cornering. Well, partially due to inexperience, and partially due to too much bulk in my middle (makes it hard to crouch chest to knee with a big chest and a gut! [img]/forum/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]), I have never been able to lean in far enough and low enough to reach the floor. WELL TODAY I MADE IT! Briefly, for about half a circle, but I did it! Unfortunately I also fell a few times before I got there, so I wrenched my knee and my left shoulder [img]/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] But it feels better today, so I should be back to snuff by sunday's race. We finished off with a relay and a short distance race. I had to drop out of the last race because I was hurting, and I felt that mind over matter/suck it up wasn't the best course of action. [img]/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I am hoping to get to the gym tonight and at least do some tread and a light circuit to keep my muscles stretched, but we'll see.

[ QUOTE ]
We did some dry-land exercises - low walks, crossovers, one leg squats, side jumps.<hr /></blockquote>

You asked what sport specific exercises I do, well, there's your answer, basically just some dry land skating exercises on my own other than just at practice, same ones you do. [img]/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]