Here’s an interesting fact about our team. We can’t handle cold. I definitely can’t and I’m certain people are tired of hearing me talk about it. But its true. With just five days before we leave for California our team is in pitiful shape.
I played CCC last year in the snow. I was cold but not miserable. I’m ok with being toolish and wearing gloves. I’m not above having hand warmers in my pockets and sticking my hands down my pants between points, on the line, or even on the field after a call is made. I’m ok wearing 7 layers on the field or in desperate times I’ve even stuck those sexy little body warmers to my legs when I couldn’t seem to get them warm. (Yes it helps) But even with all of that I still couldn’t finish the weekend. I took myself out Sunday in the middle of the Notre Dame game. (I remember this because a girl I was guarding kept yelling “You can’t get in my way like that!” Yes dear. Yes I can. It’s called defense.) I had a pulled hip flexor. Not sure if I strained it before the tournament, but I first started noticing it warming up day one in the snow. Clearly I should have paid more attention.
Last Thursday we had practice in what was probably below freezing temps. Laugh all you want but its cold to us. Come on out and play a tournament in the summer and we can compare. I did the warm up. Felt great. We started a drill. Decided to ease into it. After all, I’m old and wise and smart right? Next thing I know my hamstring hurts. Really? I don’t even know what I did. I would like to say I was making an awesome cut, or stepping out really far, but I can’t. It just suddenly hurt. Finished the drill unable to sprint and then I joined Janel and Markham (both with muscle pulls) on the sidelines. Alexe was also unable to get warm and with an already hurting quad joined us as well.
Friday we had another practice. My leg wasn’t bad. I forgot about it completely until someone asked if I was playing. After the warm up I decided the answer was no. So yet again I joined Janel and Markham and Alexe on the sidelines. And then Elise joined us with a quad pull. And then near the end of practice Libby joined us with a hamstring pull. Adding Diana to the mix, who is on our sidelines faithfully at every practice, we had an entire line of gimps. Our full roster was at practice and we didn’t have any subs in the scrimmage. Not good.
Honestly I just don’t know what to do in the cold. I don’t know how my body works well enough to deal with it. I don’t know how to tell when I’m not warm enough. I have so many layers on that I’m not even sure my muscles are actually moving half the time. We just don’t know. Give us heat and we are fine. It always amuses me when I see people come to Texas and die on the sidelines in the heat. I’m used to it. I know how to put on sunscreen every five seconds and drink enough water. When its time for Gatorade or pickle juice. Yes, pickle juice. It’s legit. I can generally tell what my body needs and when it needs it. But in the cold it’s like everything shuts down and I can’t feel anything until its too late.
Melee just doesn’t do well in cold. Hopefully this week begins spring weather.
I don’t know what to expect going into presday. How many of the gimps will be 100% come tournament time is uncertain. I’m almost positive I won’t be completely healed. (This is not related to the previous story. The hamstring is fine. It’s an entirely different situation, different muscle, same result.) At least we are all experienced players and are fully capable of handling. I will probably offend a few people, but lets be honest, a smart handler can play without their legs being 100%. Keyword: Smart. I’m not too worried about anyone sitting out the entire weekend but I am concerned that people will push themselves too far. It’s still early. Don’t throw the season away for a February tournament. It’s just not worth it.
Note: Today I really wanted to play in the last day of winter league. My team was awesome. Ranked number one going into the tournament. But after two points I took myself out and sat on the sidelines watching us lose, not able to do anything about it. That is melee love right there.
T minus 5 days! The next post will probably be written on the plane back from San Diego. Let the season begin.