I hate being sick

Sunday it was a scratchy throat. Monday it was a REALLY sore throat. Tuesday it was a 100+ fever and swollen glands and an inability to stay awake more than 3 hours (to watch the hockey game). Today the fever is gone and the head congestion is full speed ahead, plus a bit of coughing.

Took sick days yesterday and today. About to take a shower and head to CVS for more Kleenex. Going through it like gas money today.

What has this got to do with hockey? Nothing. I just feel like whining cuz I'm a big baby when I'm sick.

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Stuff like this...

...is what sends me into total overdrive.

Words like "agility" have NEVER been in my workout vocabulary.

It seems clear to me, though, that strength and agility are up there with skating ability and ahead of goalie specific skills.

But then I remember that a lot of this sort of advice is for kids who have competitive aspirations, which of course, I don't. I just want to get a workout, and have fun, not necessarily in that order. So, while it's nice to incorporate these things when I can, I don't need to feel guilty for not doing two-a-days (or even one-a-days) every day en route to this goal.

I do little things... I walk around the house bouncing a tennis ball. I work on my juggling. I try to run up and down the stairs (foot speed purposes). I'll stand on one foot when I'm waiting in line just to work those balance muscles. And try not to use my hands or arms when I'm getting up off the floor or out of a chair (just core and leg muscles). Not sure such small things make any difference but it's better than nothing, right?

To compound matters, now I'm all worked up and wanting to go make some strides, but I'm sick and after my bronchitis episode last year, I'm very wary of working out when I'm sick (since I firmly believe that walking 10 miles when I was starting to get sick is what escalated it into something much worse than a cold). So, I'm spending yet more time with my tennis ball and juggling balls. Working on tracking the ball into my hand and such, which is a lot harder than it sounds. I can do some stretching and am going to do my Stretch-a-Flex DVD today come hell or high water since I didn't yesterday.

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Saturday Skate

Well, it seems I'm getting sick, but hopefully Zicam will nip it in the bud. It's making me a bit tired and grumpy though, so I've done NOTHING on this fine Sunday, other than eat ice cream. Moo Tracks. Evil stuff.

Anyway, on to yesterday. Coach Stalin isn't officially broken, according to the doc, but still wounded enough that I'm holding her skates hostage so she can't play hockey with her league tonight and delay her recovery further. So, I've been skating alone lately, but I think it's been good to just work on stuff on my own.

Worked on the usual stuff yesterday. My crossovers (left turn) are getting decent, though I figured out I have to pretend I'm actually chasing down a puck or a player to do it right. Need something to focus on. But I'm very pleased with my progress there, even though I'm pretty sure goalies can't do crossovers in pads. :)

Did a little bit of backwards. Man that's hard, but I'm getting better in TINY increments. Should probably work more on it, but I feel better doing it with Coach there to "clear a path" as I'm nowhere near able to look over my shoulder while I do it and I get spooked easily.

It started off not so good because I was really hungry and low blood sugary, but they cut the ice about 5 minutes after I got there, so I had a chance to grab a snack and shake the shakes. By the end, I was feeling pretty good and cutting all around working on my crossovers. Also did shuffles with my dumb leg all the way down the ice (and actually made it goal line to goal line this week).

Stopping is getting a little better. It's slow going.

What was coolest of all was that there was a kid goalie getting a coaching session. I've seen quite a few people getting power skating lessons, but never goalies in pads and stuff getting a lesson. It was fun to watch him. He was working hard but had a big grin on his face that's totally burned into my brain. That face is why I'm doing this. It's hard work but it's so much fucking fun. I was way inspired. Plus it was cool to see some of the drills he was doing. There were some skating drills I've never seen skaters do before. More of a short, quick kind of c-cut thing. He was booking it doing that move.

Also, the guy working with him wasn't Jiri, so there are obviously at least two coaches who work with goalies. That was good to know, as Jiri's is the only name I've heard at the Aerodrome. Not sure yet if either of them will work with adults, but options are always good.

Beyond that, I didn't do anything this week. My excuse is that I traveled and was out of town Monday-Wednesday, and was lazy on Thursday and Friday. Gonna try and do my Stretch-a-Flex DVD tonight after the game. I'll see how I'm feeling. Pretty ucky right now, so we'll see. It's not like it's that hard... I should do it.

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Saturday Skate on Sunday

Ended up skating on Sunday afternoon instead of Saturday night. Worked out pretty well since I was able to drop off my and Coach Stalin's skates for sharpening. I think my last sharpening job was a little whack, which is unfortunate because they'll do it while I wait, which is pretty nice given the 35 minute drive to the 'burbs. Oh well.

Anyway, I worked on a little of bit of everything and I feel like I'm starting to "get" stopping. I still suck at it and am scared of it (because it's taking about 6 weeks for my wrists to stop hurting after the two falls I've taken), but I'm getting there. I even forced myself to do shuffles with my dumb leg all the way up the ice. Boy is that hard. Phew.

Went to a concert last night and man, I'm tired today. And now I have to drive to Austin this evening for a 2 day seminar. Very much looking forward to the seminar, but not so much the drive, esp. being this tired. But hey, at least this trip will fill the gap between the end of the conference semi-finals and the start of the finals. :) Go Stars!

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New toy

I got my Stretch-a-flex today (thank you Mom and Dad!) and tried it out tonight with the accompanying DVD. I wasn't as uncoordinated as I expected, but I had trouble feeling the stretch on some of the moves. I need to go through it a little slower next time with liberal use of the pause button. My legs are definitely feeling wrung out though, so I guess it did something. It's a pretty cool deal.

Thought about going skating tonight but decided to take it easy and color my hair instead while Mr and his friend are at the Astros game. After watching the Flyers beat the Habs (please, if there's any justice left after it was served to Colorado).

P.S. I added a countdown to the NHL draft to this page. Get Ms. Conduct some fresh meat, DR!

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Friday Skate 5/2

Worked in a quickie skate at lunchtime today. I can always tell when it's time to go skating again because I can't shake the thoughts about stopping, edges, and stuff I want to try next time I'm on the ice. It's like I just need to go and get it out of my system.

And thankfully, there were only about 4 of us on the ice, which was crappy but not the worst it's been. Though it was foggy when I got there, which was kinda weird. And condensation had formed on the ceiling and dripped these icky lumps onto the ice. I swear... worst rink ever.

Worked on stopping quite a bit more than usual. I'm trying to get the idea out of my head that I need to stop quickly and just snowplow that foot evenly until I stop. Seems to be helping. It was good to just play around with it a bit.

I tried to work on crossing over to the right but I couldn't do it yet. For some reason, I really don't trust that outer edge of my right side and it's hard for me to lean that way without feeling like I'm going to bust it big time. Or maybe my right side knows not to trust my left side to actually catch it on the crossover. :) Smart side doesn't trust the dumb side.... and rightly so.

Did a little backwards and it was scary as usual. I wish there was some way to practice that off ice. I get so shaky and tense, I can't go very long at it before I just feel wiped out. Like one length of the ice doing backwards swizzles and I'm fried. Such a spazz.

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What a week

Mr. Conduct's NY apartment junk got moved home on Tuesday and we've been "re-integrating" all of it ever since. I think we're pretty much done, but it was pretty laborious Tuesday and Wednesday. I was getting pretty snarly by Wednesday night.

As such, I've skipped workouts for the last three days (though my aching knees tell me I did LOTS of stairs those two days). Yesterday, I couldn't contemplate anything but sitting on my ass, eating pizza, and watching the Rangers come back to life and the Avs get pounded into glorious rubble. Thanks Red Wings! Can't think of another team I'd rather see lose by 6 points. :D Franzen for president!

I think Coach Stalin has wounded herself again, in a way only Coach can. So I'm guessing I'm OMO for skating this week. I'm feeling a little excess energy today, so maybe I'll hit the Galleria ice at lunch and then one of the good rinks on Sunday afternoon. I'd like to make it to spinning tomorrow morning now that my favorite instructor is back. I've got some class tickets burning a hole in my purse. Or at least I hope I still do after cleaning out my purse the other day. *concern*

Okay. Time to work.

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