Purple Pinky

So it's been a month of rugby thus far. I haven't been very dedicated to this blog, however, more importantly I have been dedicated to rugby!

Let's catch you up. Tuesday and Thursday practices have gone fairly smoothly. It's good feeling sore again, legs, thighs, arms, chest. I can feel muscle growing where previously there was jiggle.

Something that is NOT jiggling is my left pinky finger. It got jammed up pretty good during a tackle practice last evening. Ed (Gold Side Flanker) was the culprit! My pinky looks like an italian sausage.

Otherwise nothing to complain about. The new recruits are fantastic this season! There's alot of great potential and they're putting alot of enthusiasm into the practices. There is a general sense of excitement as well.

Bloody Cold

I overslept and missed last Saturday's outdoor practice. My mate Glenn told me it was so cold that his knuckles bled. Tonight's practice will be indoors and less bloody, hopefully.

Friday Physical Week One

Luckily my firm has a small physicians office located on the 21st floor. Employees may take advantage of the facility for at work injuries or general health issues like weight-loss or help with stopping smoking. They helped Bryce quit and I couldn't be happier for him.

As I ease my way back into the rugby season, I've decided I'm going to use the office's resources to track my physical process along the way towards the Bingham Cup. Also the Nurst Practictioner is a really sweet lady who had me cracking up.

Let's get physical!

• Height: 5'11"
  
• Weight: 220.5 lbs.
  Wow. I've certainly gained some weight. But I knew that. I can see it in the mirror.
  
• Blood Pressure: 140/90
  The NP advised me this is an elevated reading. The American Heart Association says Americans should aim for 120/80 and 110/70 is perfect.
  Let's go to the AHA website and take their body fat quiz, shall we?
  
  I'M OBSESE!!!
  
  I actually guessed this fact. But having a website tell me is a bit disconcerning. Suggestion: "Lifestyle Changes." Let's see what else their quiz tells me...
  Stage I Hypertension! That's not good. What else...
  Hah. Ok now I get a disclaimer to calm my rapidly beating heart. (Makes me wonder how many people have died of heart attacks after reading they are Obese and Heart Attack Prone?)
  
  Disclaimers from AHA's Fat Slob Calculator:
  1) The predictions shown in this program are estimates. The risk results are shown as specific numbers. However, these results are not actual predictions. They are simply estimates to give you a general idea of your future risk. The numbers are averages from studies of large groups of people and may or may not apply specifically to you.
  2) Your actual risks may or may not be the same as the estimates shown. This program shows the estimated health risks of people your same age, gender and blood pressure.
  3) Every person is different. Your current health status, your medical history and the traits you inherited from your family make you unique.
  4) The results may not be accurate for you if you already have health problems from high blood pressure. This program provides estimates of your future risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. If you already have had one or more of these problems, the estimates may be inaccurate.
  5) This program is not meant to provide medical or other professional advice. Talk with your doctor or other healthcare professional for information specific to you and for advice in making decisions on managing your blood pressure and improving your health.
  

OK. Well I have no faith in the Fat Slob Calculator at this point. But what else can it tell me?

Apparently 31 is too young to determine if I'm likely to die of a stroke or heart failure or kidney disease. Whatever. How did this post spiral so out of control??? Whatelse... Ah good, suggestions for a healthier lifestyle:

1. Weight Loss
2. Daily Physical Activity
3. Healthy Diet
4. Limit Salt
5. Limit Alcohol

Rugby easily provides the first two, whereas the drink-ups completely negate the final three. My heart is so screwed. Moving on!

• Pulse: 68 beats per minute and regular.
  
• Breathing: Excellent lung capacity and strong.
  
• Vision: Poor. My vision is one of my biggest handicaps in the sport. I'll definately have an entire post (or more) dedicated to this topic...

#1, Monday, February the 27th and #2, Wednesday, March 1st

Exhausting. Due to the wintery conditions here in New York, the first three or four weeks of the Spring season are held indoors, typically at a school gymnasium.

Gym floors are brutal, but both practice #1 and #2 showed me (better than any doctor's chart) just how out of shape I've gotten since the end of last season. That is saying alot considering the lack of focus and committment I had going into November and the Fall season's end.

I'm fat. I wish that were phat, alas my muffin top poking out of my jeans only punctuates just how not phat I am. I'm F. A. T.

Well... not that fat, I guess. Considering in high school I made it up to 263 on the doctor's scale. The irony is not lost on me that I never thought I was fat while I was actually fat. Of course back in 1993 at fat boy didn't have the same obese stigma that he might have today. Media and American culture is obsessed with fatness.

But more about rugby. I got a few jokes about the pudge peeking from under my sweaty t-shirt as the team ran back and forth across the greasy gym floor. I can handle jokes from my mates.

I have felt self-concious at work lately. My dress shirts feel constricting. My slacks are tighter. I'm looking forward to getting slimmed down again. My first season with the Gotham Knights (Sept 2004) I lost 30 pounds. Last Fall I only lost maybe 15 pounds.

With this more quantitative approach - perhaps I can create a realistic goal for myself. I am making up a process as I go along here, people. So, whatever.

Sore legs

Oh the sore legs. Tuesday I could barely walk up a flight of stairs. My quadriceps were so sore. Fatigued. Monday night I couldn't move them to cuddle with my boyfriend. These are the sacrifices I make for this team!

But, not surprisingly, Wednesday's practice was more intense (more running and sprinting) and my legs turned out less sore the morning after. Dramatically less so. Very good.

Harold suggested we pick two items from every practice to focus as weak areas on which we need to work. Mine are:

• Lowering my stance and widening my base of support.
  In my position (Flanker) I do alot of tackling. Well, Coach Bob may joke that I'm SUPPOSED to do alot of tackling. I certainly try to tackle alot. To be a better tackler I need to get lower, closer to the ground. Strength from my quadriceps will support my body so I can squat lower and create a better base. This helps for several reasons:
  1) Easy movement left to right. If I'm up high I don't have the reaction mobility to adjust quickly to an opponent.
  2) I'm already low to the ground and will be more likely to tackle around the knees instead of the hips or waist.
  
  
• Endurance.
  By the final repitition (six total) of thirty second sprints (offset by thirty seconds of muscular endurance excercises) I was huffing and puffing and could barely keep pace with my teammates. My muscular and cardiovascular endurance are key this season, espcially to the Bingham Cup. Unlike regular seasons, where at most there'd be one game on a Saturday, Bingham is three days of matches against several different teams.
  
  If I can't sprint for 180 seconds, I'm toast. Mmm... I love toast.
  
  
• Self-Analysis Forms.
  Monday, we were also charged with rating our various rugby skills and then getting feedback from our coaches regarding our perceived (or actual) weaknesses and strengths. I'll be scanning and showing my sheet here after Saturday's practice.

Saturday, 8:00 a.m. No cuddling with my cozy, warm boyfriend. Instead it's an outdoor practice at Pier 40 in NYC! See you there.

Details, details, details...

So practice starts next Monday... not tonight.

(From the ever helpful Coach John)
Hey guys... just to clarify and update our practice schedule:

Tuesday 2/21 - Chalk Talk at Lee's- 7-9 PM
Indoor practices - Mondays & Wednesdays - 2/27-3/13 - Norman Thomas HS, 9th Floor, 33rd St & Park Ave - 7-9 PM
Outdoor practices - Tuesdays & Thursdays - 3/16-3/25 - Randall's Island, pitch # TBA, 7-9 PM
Outdoor practice - Saturday - 3/4 - Pier 40 Courtyard Field East #1 - 8-10 AM
Bootcamp - Saturday -3/11 - Randall's Island, pitch # TBA - 11 AM - 4 PM

This gives me a few more days to stress out before the practice season officially starts.

No "I" in Team

I ran into Healy and Doug and Turtle at the Eagle on Sunday. Yeah, I'm on the website too. Nice photo, eh? I love it when I get "crazy eyes".

At the Eagle there was much whooping and drinking and cheer. I spilled my beer all over myself - a common occurrence when I'm tipsy, be it rugby drink-up or just an early morning commute to work.

"Are we gonna see you (this season)?!", was asked more than a few times. And I blustered and thumped my chest and declared a resounding "Yes!"

Even as an inner dialogue tacked on, "…but I don't know if I really want to. I mean. This shit is a lot of work, yo."

Stupid little voices. And weirdly enough I'm confronted with whether I should identify teammates on this forum. I'd like to. Bingham/Rugby is a team endeavor. I love these guys dearly and want to celebrate their accomplishments. I'm constantly amazed at the dedication they put into their sport.

Maybe if I complain, I won't identify friends. No need for a derogatory blog affecting team morale. I think the tone of this tome will be very honest - sure a little catty? But nothing hurtful.

Rugby hurts enough without emotional jabs tossed in. So tonight is first practice, specifically indoor practice. We're meeting at a High School gym to do passing drills and running back and forth. Primarily stuff that you don't require space for and excercises that can be taught on the unforgiving hardness of a gymnasium floor. So no tackling.

I look forward to the tackling. But that's several weeks down the road. Oh yeah. And considering it is February in New York - it's a wee bit chilly to be out of doors.

Doing my work, I'm surprised how I keep cycling my thoughts back towards anticipation of tonight's practice. Why am I so nervous?

Paying My Dues

10:14AM Mystery Teammate: hhhmmm, the cost of bingham goes up after tuesday

10:15AM Gayest Neil: YIKES!
10:15AM Gayest Neil: to what?

10:16AM Mystery Teammate: One more thing: You can pay a combined Spring Dues/Early Bingham for $400 (before 2/28) (not sure what the price will be after 2/28..stay tuned)...Please make sure that you register!!! Even if you have paid the above dues combo YOU STILL HAVE TO REGISTER (if you don't register, you will not be allowed on the pitch during the tournament) **
10:16AM Mystery Teammate: I think it goes up to either $450 or $475 total

10:16AM Gayest Neil: huh...i need to register now then. I guess.
10:17AM Gayest Neil: so it's $175 for bingham
10:17AM Gayest Neil: that means dues are 225? Momma is poor!

10:19AM Mystery Teammate: Spring 2006 Dues will be $250. Players who return in the fall will pay another $100 for the fall season. We may revisit the fall amount if our expenses run less than anticipated or we find ourselves in a better financial position by the end of the summer. Players who play the fall season only will pay $200. That amount will not change (any fall price decrease will only apply to players who paid for the spring). **

10:19AM Mystery Teammate: As you know, Bingham Registration has begun, and fees are $175 of paid by February 28. You may pay both your Spring Dues and your early deadline Bingham fees for a total amount of $400, but you must pay the full amount by February 28 to take advantage of this offer. If you're planning on playing in the Bingham Cup and know you're going to be able to have everything paid by the end of February, then this is the way to go because you'll end up saving $50 (based on the price of Bingham registration after Feb. 28). **

10:21AM Mystery Teammate: the math doesn't come out right, lol

10:24AM Gayest Neil: yeah we save $25 by registering now?

10:25AM Mystery Teammate: oh, you mean $25 off the normal early bird registration of $175?

10:26AM Gayest Neil: no. $25 … I don't know …

10:26AM Mystery Teammate: ha

10:26AM Gayest Neil: its' $400 if we register now
10:26AM Gayest Neil: it's $222 for bingham and $250 for Gotham if we don't register now
10:26AM Gayest Neil: sorry $225
10:27AM Gayest Neil: so we shave $75?
10:27AM Gayest Neil: i don't know
10:31AM Gayest Neil: Haha. I said "Shave"!

**Note: Text in BOLD are from player reminders.

Bingham Blogged Begins

Hello there. Some of you may know me from my Diary. I'm Neil and I play rugby.

Everyone in unison: "Hello, Neil."

Aw...thank you. That's very kind. Well, I've been playing rugby for almost two years now. I started in September of 2004. I belong to the Gotham Knights. This Spring we're hosting the third annual Bingham Cup.

The Bingham Cup is an international, rugby tournament named in the memory of Mark Bingham.

"Why another blog Neil?"

Good question. I've mentioned my rugby experiences a few times on DoaCD. With Bingham, though, I think I have an opportunity to create a beginning and an end.

Beginning

The season started with a meeting to discuss team goals on Tuesday. I missed it. A work party with an open bar pulled me away. C'mon, an open bar versus a "chalk talk" would give any footballer pause to consider which is more important. I see Tuesday's free vodkas as ample training for those strenuous post game drink-ups.

I've puked at one too many. I needed my liver kicked back into the rugby season.

I actually need alot kicked back into the season. The past "off-season" I've not run. I've not gone to the gym. I've not lifted a barbell. Nothing. I'm anticipating getting back into shape will be horrible. Eh. I anticipate horror in most things. I've leared rugby isn't the sport for the habitual worry-wart.

That is precisely why I fell in love with it two years ago. Running and colliding on "the pitch" takes me out of my neurotic head. Adrenalin is an addictive substance. Those instinctual decisions and pushing as hard you can - and yeah... sometimes simply puttering out..

So - let's take a nervous ride for a few months to the Bingham Cup together. Enough excuses and enough putting it off. Tonight the indoor practices begin. I'll push myself and complain about it here. And maybe, just maybe, if I push myself hard enough - I'll stop bitching and actually rediscover why I enjoyed this sport as much as I did two years ago.