Tash Does Derby

WOMP.

But all in all tonight’s practice was really successful before we scrimmaged. I hung tight with the pace line, NAILED my pivot turn in my single break away, did rotation blocking and triple rotation blocking.I dropped out before the sprints, but was really impressed with myself for sticking through it and not giving up that whole 20 minutes or so!

After that, we learned some new techniques like a single left-over-right cross over into a block, using two blockers (you’re the third) to do cross overs and swing your hips to block. Both were exhausting but I was improving each time. And people noticed. :) 

The last mini drill we did was fun, We practiced our pivot turns at the jam line while catching a football pass from Deuce. I was able to do it every time, but my first throw went right to Dental DAM-Age’s injured shin :[ I suck at throwing a football. OH well.

Then in a surprise turn of events, due to said sweaty flat track, Deuce decided we would scrimmage on Judy, our banked track. HOLY SHIT. And also not all of our players who are skating Saturday were present OR able to skate the banked track so that didn’t benefit us much. BUT I did get a lot of out if. Like, taking hard hits to the gut/ribs from other Tasha, slipping and tripping on slippery spots on the track, and breaking out of the pack while jamming. Yosemite Slam gave me a break down of where I’ll be playing Saturday and it’s Jam, Pivot, and blocker 3. Tonight a lot of people commented on my great blocking so that was cool. All in all a successful practice. I’m excited for Saturday BUT also nervous cause the Dishonor Roll and Sadistic Sweethearts will be looking for alternates for their June 29th bout. They told us this. !!!

I am so pumped and ready for game #2 of my derby career. Let do it!

Yikes, it’s been a while since I updated with my derby adventures. There’s been some awesome changes in my life (new job, better schedule= more family time!) which have kept me away from my recreational computer time. But now I’m back to it!

Last Wednesday went really really well. We did a ton of work on our toe stops—running up and down the banked track, sliding down the track, drag blocking someone down the track. Pretty cool stuff. Halfway through practice Dueces told us we were moving to the flat track cause the guys were working on rigging the curtains for DHR’s game verses Love City’s Bettie Rages (we creamed ‘em once again, btw). So we did some practicing of constant movement behind a wall, using our hips to shimmy through and make space. I didn’t realize how much faster you roll on the flat track! SHIT. I felt like I had to regain my land legs cause I was spinning all over the place. Then we did suicides, which are never fun, but really help with building endurance and practicing control in stops and falls and recovery.

After practice, some of us stuck around to do post-derby workout of pyramid situps and push-ups. We started at 12 and worked our way to 0. I was aching for days after that, but it felt good. I need to stick with it if it’s gonna make a difference in my core and strength.

I went home SUPER sweaty (and smelly) that night. Thankfully Ali was off camping in the middle of NEPA, so she didn’t have to suffer.

Saturday Ali and I went to watch Philly and Gotham duke it out at the 1923 arena. (Sorry I didn’t go to the DHR game, PJRD fam. This is one of the only WFTDA games I REALLY wanted to see. And was so glad I went). Philly was lookin’ PHIERCE! Thanks to a few power jams in the middle of the first half, Philly maintained a 10 point lead on Gotham for about 10 minutes! UNHEARD OF!! It was great to see how pumped and focused they were. Fucking Deb, Seriously was kicking ass and had some amazing grand slam jams. She’s definitely one to keep an eye on! Unfortunately, Gotham came back in the second half to sweep us by about 100 points. Whatever. It wasn’t Champs or anything, and we had a fucking lead on Gotham. Totally worth it. AND we had a floor seats. My girlfriend is the best. J

Practice Monday was okay. Dueces wasn’t there, Skip ran practice. We basically did a long pace line which I still couldn’t stay in for its entirety, and then practiced blocking into the rail and spinning off of the base boards. We did some pursuit races which brought to light my inability to give or receive whips on the banked track. Thankfully, a very patient Pixie Stixxs took time after practice to teach me the art of whipping. Tout arms, slightly bent and spaced legs, timing! I need to stay super close to the person I’m getting a whip from to ensure no one tries to fuck it up and we can get our timing right. After about 10 attempts, I was catching on and she said I was doing TONS better. Again, so thankful for the patience of the vets in PJRD. <3

WE ALSO GOT INFO ABOUT OUR FIRST BANKED TRACK GAME ON JUNE 15^th at our WAREHOUSE. Be there or be square!

Also, just to whine, my derby crush and idol, Shenita Stretcher, was supposed to come do a workshop for us last night but got called into work last minute. :( Heart is BROKEN. But she’s coming again on the 1st so that’s exciting!!!!

So, on a non-derby-related note, tomorrow is my last day at my current job and things are just now starting to sink in (now that I’m in the office for my last late night alone…) Having to give my closest co-worker and now one of my dearest friends a HUGE hug made things a bit too real. I’m feeling overwhelmed and like my time at CHOICE was SO short, but the move I’m making is right and so is the timing. My friend is also leaving in exactly one month to begin MIdwifery school, so although I’m the first to go, she’s also off onto a new adventure. She’s still going to be in the city, so realistically, this good-bye shouldn’t have been so emotional. BUT because of all the shit that happened and that I’ve gone through while working here, she’s really seen the good bad and ugly of me and been there through it all to talk to listen to laugh to buy my a chai to pick my spirits up. I am just so fortunately to have crossed paths with someone who I can trust and call confidently a true friend. It’s hard when you get older…

So, tomorrow I’m in the office just with my two supervisors, the ED, and that’s it. AND once again, I’m in for an hour extra alone on my last day. Small nonprofit problems for sure. I’m definitely going to stay in touch with everyone and come visit, but now I’m thinking about my new job and the MANY new people I’m about to meet and work so closely with in really heavy stuff. And I’m like AJKDJLJWIJWOIJRIO@U$(*@QUE($@EUPQJM. 

I just have to breathe. Everything is working out for a reason. I need to put my faith in the Universe and its greatness and know that things will be good. They may be hard and scary at first, but it’s going to be amazing and fulfilling and I cannot wait.

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.  (I know it’s stupidly cliche to quote Semisonic but seriously how I need to think right now.)

I may be losing some amazing coworkers but I’ve gained lifetime friends and a great support system. SO grateful.

rump-of-steel-skin:

rollerderbynerd:

positiveconnotation:

I’m considering joining a Roller Derby team - what do you all think?

Do eeet!

https://www.facebook.com/events/348625671909634/?fref=ts

So, after a week of staying off skates to recover from whatever nasty allergy-cold-“derby ick” (as Tasha said) I had, I was back on skates Monday night. I was a little nervous to be up on the banked track the whole time, but, besides the pace line figure 8 rotations and full-speed/strength laps, I stuck it out and held my own! And Dueces, who I never really worked with before who’s the vet coach, was SUPER awesome and nicer than I imagined (she just seemed like a pretty tough / strict coach). We worked a lot on running on all 4 wheels with relays, running through the pack along the top outside line and twisting our upper half to not bump into people. We also did some hip checks which was fun, but made me realize how right Ali was in my need for more cushion for the hitting and blocking. It’ll get there… WE ALSO JUMPED OVER OUR COACHES and yoga mats. I was so nervous to jump Dueces so I just jumped Skip and kind went around her, haha. Didn’t want to make a bad first impression! Finally, we practiced pivot blocking…I guess mostly for funsies but at first I was like HOLY SHIT HOW AM I GONNA SPIN AROUND UP HERE??!  But once we practiced a little just going around the track and turning (and, with guidance from Honeybee) I started to get the hang of it and was gliding and spinning like a pro. THEN we added another element: a two person wall. We had to pivot block around them and I just couldn’t quite get it. It’s something I’m definitely going to continue to work on cause A- it looks fucking cool and B- I’ll probably realistically use/need to use that move when I least expect it. 

Needless to say I was drenched in sweat by the end of the night, but felt like I had already started making progress!

I’m looking forward to tonight and seeing what’s in store!!

Has been the worst. I missed Monday cause I was still feeling like death and today I’m not much better. :/ I missed hearing about my skater stats, but hopefully will get them when I go in on Monday next week. Ah I’m going to be dying on the track come Monday, so I’m going to try and make it out to the workout Saturday morning. But I’m not pushing myself too much, cause this cold is in my chest and I cannot handle getting sick again. NO.

On a happy note, Ali comes back from work tonight! :))

Yesterday was the Rookie Rampage game for PennJersey—my first real derby game! 

I was so nervous and excited and overwhelmed. I had a million thoughts in my head.

      I wish Ali were here.

           Omg, this floor sucks, I’ll never get good speed.

                 OMG soo many friends and family are gonna be here. DONT FUCK IT UP!

                    I can’t wait for Ali to be home.

                            Holy shit one minute til game time!

      Deep breath….   

OUCH! D:

Just a sampling of the many emotions I was feeling last night. My line up was based on an 8 jam rotation: Pivot for Jam 1, Jammer for Jams 4 & 7, Blacker 3 for Jam 8. Four out of Eight Aint bad, right?

I got to be part of the example jam which help squelch my nerves. In my first time as Blocker 3, I was coming around the second turn got hit and fell, and before I could move away, I was hearing my pelvic bone crunch under the wrath of Juggernaut. I was paralyzed from shock, and after that jam was over I was able to scoot myself over to my team’s bench, sit out a jam, and get right back into the game. (I’m only now feeling my pain and have done very little icing, which isn’t going to help things… I’m trying but my body is extremely uncomfortable. :/ ) We got a comfortable lead in the first half, until the last two jams when the red team’s jammers pulled ahead and made it a one point game. The first half went by so fast I was surprised at the amount of energy I still had. I was ready to go again! 

In the second half, it was obvious the Red team got their second wind and was ready to pummel us. They had some successful break-aways and good hard hits. BUT, this kid still managed to get a nice grand slam in the middle of the last quarter to close the gap on team Red. It felt so good to hop around on the track, find holes, and break away. I even psyched out a jammer when we were going head-to-head and made him fall without hitting him. (Sorry Critical Hit!) But, despite our incredible teamwork and drive, the Red team pulled ahead in the end with a ten point lead. We just couldn’t pull it together. But even in the end only one of our teammates let the lost and his many penalties go to his head…head would have been ejected if it were a sanctioned game, so that’s something he’ll definitely need to work on.

At the end of the long long night, I stopped and remembered: these people are ALL now my teammates. We are going to be forces to be reckoned with! I am so proud of myself and my teammates for going hard and strong for those 60 minutes. Never giving up or losing faith in ourselves. The future is bright for Penn Jersey’s teams, I can’t wait to get drafted! 

Also, my “dermama” Honeybee gave me some things to work on for the future:

- Skating stance when jamming

- falling better, smaller

- quicker recovery from a fall

- USE MY TOE STOPS!

Tomorrow we have practice, but my hips pelvis and ass are killing me and I feel like I’ve got the flu. :{ Riding the struggle bus, may not skate tomorrow but I need to stretch and do some much need yoga/ PT to recover by Wednesday. 

I can’t wait for Ali to be home and cuddle with her. <3

Going to try and ice some more!

G’night all!

iron-maven:

dahmersdearest817:

The apex jump remains on my goal list…

ME TOO

SAME

When Honeybee told me I did a good job pivoting last night I was like….?!!? :D

Yesterday was the last last lasttttt practice before our scrimmage Saturday. We got our official scrimmage  red and black shirts with our names so I’m feeling pretty legit it. Skated the banked pace line as long as I could, made it through rotation blocking then tried to get back in but couldn’t. I’m gonna take Calamity’s advice and take small victories up there. Every step makes you better. Every extra lap you’re able to do you’ll add on to next time. That’s what I keep telling myself.. I hopped down to the flat track while most of the team held their own up on the banked track (you all kicked ASS! So proud and envious of your endurance.) 

Once everyone was done with their pacing, we took a quick break and broke into our two teams to prep for our scrimmage! Glitz n Slam is our coach/captain. She’s all around fucking amazing and really supportive of all of us. She asked us where we like to skate and what we think we’re good at. once both teams were settled, we got into our first jam—it’s pathetic but I can’t even remember where I played that first time last night, but after one to two jams, but dermama/derby buddy —- i still don’t understand how derby relationships/wifery works with PennJersey so if someone can explain I’d appreciate it!—Honeybee took me aside and gave me some great advice about pivoting, “Mar’ge (my skating name). I want you to bust out of the pack, slow it down, and whatever you do, do NOT give up that inside line.” So I didn’t. And once I played pivot a few times in a row I was feel a lot more confident. I use to be terrified and intimidated as hell of pivoting, but now I could definitely grow to love and thrive up front. I was worried about Honeybee’s attitude at first, but I couldn’t be more thankful for such a driven and talented woman to be my guide, thank you! And I will be working on my stance til the cows come home! ;) <3 

Our team was doing just o.k. for a while—granted, the other team had Ruby, Cookie, AND Tasha skating with them, so they were really laying into us. After the first few jams, the Black team (the BEST team… MY team) started really working together and paying attention. I had a few lame jams ending in a stalemate or the red team trapping me in the back, but that last jam, I was ready to score. Kyle was my main blocker and Juggernaut was in AND I was skating against Ruby AGAIN. I felt like the desk was stacked against me but then Kyle made an amazing move as I approached the first apex; subtly pointing where he was going to push Juggs, and then HE DID. I was fucking amazed at the ease it took for him to knock him down and out as I made my way inside and got to the front only to have my teammates fry to block me out haha. It was fine because my 3 and main were really keeping Ruby back. Their pivot broke but I was too quick for her to score and called it off gaining 3-4 points.

It felt great.

The cherry on top of a successful practice.

My confidence is soaring and shaking out all of my nerves. Saturday can’t come soon enough!

Start your engines and may the best (wo)men win!

(via fuckyeahdragracegifs)

theblacksophisticate:

Janelle Monae photographed by Kwaku Alston.

Her and those balloons. Ahhh. Lovee love love her!

(Source: teairachanel, via feisty-feminist)