What to Be … or Not to Be
(Photo credit: Kim Magrini)
Over the last few years, I’ve grappled with injuries, motivation and the dawning realization that I might be entering the twilight of this particular phase of my athletic career. That is, I may eventually want to find a sport that isn’t full contact. Eventually.
Since the 2006 Women’s Rugby World Cup, where I was a traveling reserve for the U.S. squad, I’ve been playing less rugby than I used to. Prior to that, I often played year-round; sometimes on as many as seven teams, counting select-sides and national team events.
But looking back, I can see where I sacrificed my fitness to avoid burnout, and over the past three years, I’ve basically ground to a halt on the fitness front.
That’s disappointing to me on a personal and professional level — I constantly delve into the world of fitness on behalf of the magazine, and I love learning about new concepts, so it’s time I start applying them to my own life again. After all, one cannot subsist on practice and games alone.
I suspect the trick will be in the reinvention process. I’m not done with rugby, by any means, but I’ve got to find something else I can’t wait to do — something that will get me in prison shape, preferably.
I’ve got friends who have broad interests and are masters of reinvention, whereas I tend to throw myself into my chosen sport with a single-mindedness that comes in handy when attempting to reach a specific goal, but is less valuable from a diversification perspective.
So the real question is, what else can I be? (Accepting suggestions….)
So far, two potential options:
1) A martial artist? A sign about a submission grappling class captured my attention the other day. (So much for finding a sport that isn’t full contact.)
2) Or maybe a trail runner? I’ve been tempted to hit the trail more often since we published Dimity McDowell’s article on the topic in April 2006. I’ve enjoyed trail running the few times I’ve done it, and if it holds true that this version of running is kinder on the joints, I just may have a shot.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. The trick for now, I think, is to just try a bunch of things and see what sticks.
To that end, on Sunday I went for a long walk in the woods alongside gorgeous Wissahickon Creek, part of Philadelphia’s 9,200-acre Fairmount Park. Last night I ran — well, shuffled — a couple miles around South Philly, and on the docket for tonight is at least part of the Pavel Tsatsouline DVD From Russia With Tough Love: Pavel’s Kettlebell Workout for a Femme Fatale (Dragon Door, 2003).
I have a hunch the woods might stick.
January 29th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
My first suggestion is you should “be” a prisoner. If you want to get in prison shape, go to prison. It probably isn’t that hard to get thrown in jail.
On a serious note, I think you should try rock climbing and/or ping pong. As a fellow rugby player, I have found that rock climbing really tests an entirely different set of skills and creates all new frustrations…in a good way. Plus it is incentive to lose those fat rolls - too many fat rolls and you fall off the wall.
Ping pong is just fascinating. Although it probably wouldn’t result in you becoming “fit.” Eye hand coordination would definitly improve, which can come in handy in prison.
How about triathlons? Or swimming? Or adventure racing? There are these race things where you do activities like canoeing and trail running and navigating through the woods with a compass and other things all at once. I’m thinking about doing a triathlon this spring/summer. Not sure why. It seems to be the fad. But I need a new bike. Keep your eye peeled for any bikes that just might be lying around. Then wait until a police man drives by and take it. That might get you into prison…
January 30th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Kim,
Thank you for your suggestion that I find a way into the big house. I will, aaah, consider that.
The semester-long rock-climbing course I took in college was enough to convince me I don’t have the skills or the patience to be a good climber — I often ended up stuck in one spot, clinging to the wall until either my arms gave out or I leapt for and missed the next hold. But rappelling? Now that is a rush. If only you could always start at the top….
I’m intrigued by the prospect of adventure racing. EL did a story on the topic in April 2004 called “Team Adventure,” if you’re interested in seeing it.
Thanks for all the ideas, and good luck with your triathlon this spring. Check out the forum for some training resources.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Hey Jen,
I recently started taking a bag boxing class at my gym and love it! I’ve never worked out so hard my shoes were wet by the end. This particular gym has a variety of classes I’ve never taken before - I say you should just try a bunch of stuff though I’m very curious to hear about submission grappling.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
See if there is dodgeball in your area. They have it at the Y on Friday nights in Minneapolis. You get out what you put into it. If you wanna stand around and hide in the back that’s fine but if you wanna race to the line, steal a ball and try to take out as many people as possible (my preferred method) that works as well. When the game is over we line up and play again, for an hour. It is a pretty good aerobic workout and good for competitive individuals. The balls we use are much softer than the playground balls but you can still get alot of speed with them. I don’t know, I can’t think of a better way to start my weekend than running around and throwing things at people, tends to relieve some of my work weeks stress. Otherwise I have been thinking about one of those boot camp fitness programs. If you become a submission grappler I will fight you. Let that be said now.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:54 am
Michaela,
A boxing class in which no one punches you back — I like the sound of that a lot!
Halvo,
You read my mind — I just signed up to participate in a dodgeball tournament a couple weeks from now!