Stretch!

This past weekend was the annual 12 Days of Christmas Hat Tournament in Atlanta and I think i am pretty close to the sorest I have been after a tournament. Saturday was cold and sunny, but Sunday was even colder than Saturday and it was windy and overcast. I knew I wasn't going to warm up properly for Sunday getting out to the fields 15 minutes before the round started, but had I gotten out there earlier I probably still wouldn't have warmed up properly.

In my case this weekend, the cold weather was a double-edge sword. Standing around in 5 layers with 2 people huddled in a blanket was much more inviting than going through a proper warm up knowing full well I needed to get loose. When its cold out its even that more critical to warm up and get loose simply to avoid injury and soreness after the tournament. Clearly I am paying for making a rash decision.

Even so, this was a great tournament and a lot of fun.

In the off season I plan to get into a stretching routine to improve flexibility. I think my lateral movements on the field will be quicker, my overall speed will increase, jumping will be more fluid, and my body will be able to handle the beating it takes during the Club season better.

Desire in the Off-Season

It's been a little bit less than a month and a half since Nationals, but my mind can't help but progress to next season. Probably 6 months away from the start of practice and I am thinking about what i need to do come January 1. Fortunately, i have a consistent job, so I will be able to plan my evenings and get into a routine. Weightlifting and throwing will be the majority of my offseason ultimate activities. Mudbowl, Mardi Gras, Terminus, and Memorial Day Hat Tournaments will be scattered into the Spring as well. It can't all be work in the off season, right?

The feelings i have are different from the days of college when i couldn't get enough Ultimate. I wanted to win, but more importantly, I wanted to play as much as possible. Back then there were better teams (ill contribute that to better programs than GCSU) and getting to play against them was a learning experience. After this season with Chain, I have different thoughts and reflections on the past season and Ultimate altogether that, hopefully, will drive me next season. Maybe they are thoughts of a more mature player, who knows??? Ill reflect later...