It’s way early on a Sunday morning. My kids are still sleeping because we took them to the drive-in last night complete with dancing hotdog commercials and smuggled in outside food. We stopped short at putting them in the trunk but it was a close call. I’m awake because my hamstrings are angry and sore, worse still, second day sore. I can barely move and have been holding my pee in for about an hour because the thought of standing up, walking and then attempting to sit again?
Not happening, people.
Aside from me attempting the World’s Record for squatting, the wrathful leg muscles can only be the result of one thing. I have started to exercise again. Why? Because speed skating starts in two weeks and I am a blob. A blob with sore hamstrings and abs made of muffin.
While I was lying in bed attempting not to move I was thinking about a conversation I had on twitter with @MortgageNancy. She wrote that she wanted to find her own “speed skating” but she’s never been athletic and is afraid of speed. I totally get that.
If someone had told me a year ago I would join speed skating, and I use that term loosely, I would have asked them to share the drugs they were on Right Now! because clearly that is good stuff and I need to get in on that. For so many years – too many - I didn’t do anything that really inspired me.
When I was in Grade 6, our school used to have these athletic days. Sometimes it was track and field but this particular time it was a baseball tournament against other Grade 6 classes from other schools. At the end of the day they handed out awards. I got most congenial player.
Ya.
Also, WTF.
Turns out in the world of athletics I am what is known as a ‘hospitable athlete’. I can’t hit a baseball to save my life but I can sure as hell make you feel really good about the home run you just hit. That right there describes my natural athletic ability in a nutshell.
I didn’t know I’d like speed skating so much. I didn’t know it would make me feel so alive. I didn’t know it would inspire me to try other things that scared me. I didn’t know this 42 year old body would allow me to skate around an Olympic sized rink in a squatting position - I can barely hold myself up when I’m trying to pee in a porta-potty.
I didn’t know any of that….until I tried.
So for you Nancy and all the other Nancy’s out there. You can sit down and try to figure out all the stuff you think will be your own personal speed skating. You can contemplate what will fit into your life or what may or may not match up to your current abilities. And you know what? It’s possible you’ll find the thing that makes you light up inside.
Or… you can stop the thinking and the analyzing and go out there, throw caution to the wind and just start to try – one thing at a time.
You may discover your body is capable of so much more than holding yourself over a hole in a porta-potty while you pee.
Pingback: Why Is It So Hard To Spend Money On Me? | Speed Skating Mom
Pingback: Who Makes This Stuff Up | Speed Skating Mom
Speed skating…that’s an interesting concept. I actually just googled it for my area and think I will look into it further. It sounds like another great item to add to my bucket list.
I love the post!
I had the exact same experience with those athletic days you described – and yes, I too, can make you feel really good about that goal you just scored – that really resonated with me =)
I think I’m getting closer to finding my own speed skating – I’ve talked to my hubby and daughters about it and my girls decided that we should all get some dancing lessons – not sure what kind yet but as fall is just about here all those classes will start up soon so this is a good time to sign up. Our local leisure centre sends out a guide every season with new classes so I’ll be looking that up in the next week or so – should be fun!
Thanks again for the inspiration – it was great to see that you started speed skating at 41 – I figure I can start something too!
First of all, my parents used to smuggle us into the drive-in by making us lie on the floor of the backseat and then piling pillows on top of us.
Also, YES!! I’m totally a Nancy. I’m the most uncoordinated and worst athlete around. Never mind being picked last, I tried to bribe kids to NOT pick me. Gym class was a horror show. So was step class, pole dancing class, kick boxing class, well you get the picture. But, I’ve found my ability in Hot Yoga. I can totally do it. So, all us potential speed skating yogis out there, we are inspired by your bravery to give it a go and show us it can be done!!
Good On Ya!
Ps it’s only a workout when you can’t pish the next day…