Trading in the star for a stripe/How to deal with allergies

It's true, I'm trading my star in. It's been a nice run as a jammer, but it's time to expand my game. For the past few seasons, all I've really known is the jammer star. Don't get me wrong, I've gotten to play in the pack PLENTY since joining Emerald City, but mostly…I jam….and I jam like a freight train. On travel team, when we go around and tell each other our goals or say our mantras, I hear some people saying "Block like a jammer and jam like a blocker!" I never say it, but I like to think I embody that mantra pretty well. However, I feel that my game has been shifting a bit. So now I'm going to go from this:

Taking a massive hit from Lethal Whoopin of Lava City Roller Dolls in Bend, OR

…to this:

Notice my amazing photoshop skills…I'm for hire btw! lol

I'm very excited to learn a new role for my home team. I've been told that I'm a pretty intimidating force on the track. I'm excited to bring this intimidation to a new position. Don't get me wrong, you'll still see me donning the star every now and then. But for now, look for the stripe! 

I've never really played pivot. I did a few times when I first started playing roller derby back in Oklahoma. But the position didn't mean much…in fact, I've never given any thought to the importance of the position before moving to Eugene. Pivot means a lot more than what I thought it initially did. It's a pretty big role on the track, pivots aren't just another blocker. There's a lot to consider when playing this role like, what the other team is doing and how to counteract, where to position on the track to get an optimal view of the game, working on plays and strategy, communication with team mates, and all around knowing when to play O, when to play D and when to play both. This is just what I've gathered of the position so far, but I'm sure there is a lot more. 

My initial plan is to watch a ton of derby and pay attention to what the best pivots in the sport are doing. One of my team mates also recommended calling out where blockers are on the track while watching derby. What are they doing? Is it effective? Where are their jammers? I thought about creating derby watching assignments just to aid with the research of this role, like analyzing one bout a week. I'm also interested in who the best pivots of the sport are…tell me, who do you think the best pivots are? What do you see them doing?

Aside from being super excited about playing a pivotal role (heh…get it?) I've been dealing with some pretty nasty allergies. I recently received one of these bad boys from my team mate Krazy Kurlz:

…I must say, I was pretty nervous to use this thing. When Kurlz texted me about bringing me a Neti Pot, I got a little anxious. I watched a demo video on youtube and thought "no freakin' way!" Burnadeath had this to say about the Neti Pot:

"I find it reminiscent of drowning at the Jersey Shore. But it helps me."

Kurlz brought it to practice for me last night, and all the way home I had gave myself the most epic Neti Pot pep talk. A lot of "Frank, if you can take massive hits from Lotta Leadpipe, and skate on a broken toe for half a season, you can pour some salt water down your nose!" When I got home, without any hesitation or second thought…I proceeded to "Neti Pot". I read the directions very carefully, mixed the warm water with the solution…and slowly bent over the sink and began pouring salty goodness in my sinuses! At first I didn't quite have my head tilted forward enough, so some of the solution went in my mouth (and made me gag a bit), but once I got the hang of it…it was smooth sailing! 

The Neti Pot is awesome! I used it again today and managed to flush out a GIGANTOR neon greenish yellowish mucus blockage (the size of my palm!) I had to stop neti potting and stare at it for a good two minutes. That thing was HUGE! I can't believe something that huge existed in my sinuses. I can certainly breath a lot better (although I'm still a little congested). I did miss practice tonight though, because last night I was struggling to breathe. I don't recommend derby when you can't breathe.

So yeah, Neti Pot…Frankie approved! Thanks Kurlz! 

Haaaaaaave you met the Flat Track Furies?

I've seen a lot of derby in the past five years, played against a number of different teams all over the midwest and the west, but never have I met a team quite like my most recent home team, the Flat Track Furies. These women are some of the strongest women I know in roller derby! They are some of the most dedicated players, most supportive team mates, and most positive influences in my life. They are smart, they are driven, and they sure as hell can cook a mean casserole (or any other dish for that matter). Never have I felt so a part of a team. I consider these women my family in the Pacific Northwest.

Boneyard Brawler and I screaming at halftime! The Furies had taken the lead against the Andromedolls!

I was so inspired from watching my team play a neck and neck bout against the Andromedolls, that the first thing I did when I woke up the next morning was email Vexine, our coach, to ask her if I could interview her about the team! She was more than kind enough to answer some questions that had been on my mind for a while.

When I came to skate for Emerald City Roller Girls, I had to start out on the Bloomin' Doom team (the fresh meat team). As a transfer skater from another WFTDA chartered team, I was lucky enough to bypass some of the things a Doomer has to do in order to be drafted, and I almost immediately started getting invites to all the different teams practices. I knew very little, at the time, of each team. All I knew was that the Furies used to be the dominant hand, and the Andromedolls had recently beaten them in the championship.

The more practices I went to, the more I learned that the Furies had suffered a few losses due to pregnancy and injury. I was up for draft soon, along with a handful of others, and I just knew I wanted to be a Fury. They made me feel the most welcome, and I knew that everyone on the team was going to be fairly new to each other, so it made the most sense for me to grow together with others (rather than trying to find my niche in an already established family).

I was pretty nervous about the draft. I was in a draft pool with some other really really talented skaters, and I was afraid that we would all be drafted to different teams. I didn't want to line up on the jammer line against these ladies! Lucky enough, the Furies needed the most players, so we weren't split a part from each other. Good thing too, because Faithless Baumer is super fast and can play just about any position, Katarina Van Rotten is an amazing jammer with mad juking skills, and Diezaster is one hell of a blocker! I'm glad we all ended up on the same team!

After being drafted though, there wasn't really any time to learn about the history of the team. We had a lot of work to do to get back up to speed with everyone else. This season was deemed the Resurgence of Fury, and we impressively enough bonded very quickly as a team on the track and started to slowly put the fear of Fury in everyone who dared take us on! And without further adieu, I give you my interview with coach Vexine. Enjoy!

FF: I understand that the Furies used to be the top dog team of the Emerald City Roller Girls. Can you tell me a little about the history of the Furies?

V: When the league first divided into teams a few years ago, we had the only two skaters with previous derby experience, plus a bunch of skaters who became incredibly proficient incredibly fast.  This caused a bit of tension in the league at first, but it obviously evened out with time. 

FF: Where did the name Flat Track Furies come from? 

V: Our original name was actually supposed to be the Black Heart Brigade, but in a last minute coup, that decision was overturned and we ended up with the Furies.  We fell in love with the Medusa imagery and the fierceness of the story.  The Furies are the avenging angels of Greek mythology who track down people who've escaped justice - especially for harming women and children! 

FF: What are some of the things that sets this seasons team apart from previous seasons? 

V: Well, last spring - halfway through the season - we had a mass exodus of first-string players.  Injury and pregnancy, as well as just plain old burn out.  Burnadeath retired.  Then Darrah-lict  got knocked up.  Then Ambruisia tore her ACL (and then got pregnant!).  Then I tore my ACL.  Then One Eyed Jack decided to retire, as well. 

It was a really hard time for us.  The Furies were forced to forfeit our place in the championship and we had to borrow new skaters (Katarina Van Rotten, F-Baum - who would later become Furies - and Ophelia Melons) to even have the numbers to play in the last game of the season.  Our team was decimated - I think we were down to eight players at the lowest point - and our skill level was nowhere near the other teams.  So we began to rebuild from the ground up.   

FF: What are some of the challenges that the team has had to go through with the two most recent seasons? How has the team over come these challenges?

V: Blue Ruin and I were team captains when all this stuff happened last season.  We decided to just shake it off and get a jump start on the next season.  The biggest challenge facing us was how to get a bunch of 2nd string players to play like 1st stringers in a few months' time.  We started thinking creatively and came up with a bunch of new training ideas that no one else was really doing.  We had to find a way to gain an edge and I think that's what we did.

One of our greatest successes was the creation of J-HOP - the Jammer Hour of Power.  We had lost all of our jammers and we needed to develop new ones immediately.  We scheduled an extra hour of practice time once a week to devote to jammer development - juking, jumping, acceleration, evasion, etc.  All that stuff that's hard to focus on at team practice because you're usually working on team strategy.  We watched super-star jammers like Suzie Hot Rod and Bonnie Thunders, analyzed what they were doing, and designed drills to focus on those skills.  And it's been working! 

We expected maybe the five or six skaters who were jammers or emerging jammers to attend.  A real testament to the Furies' dedication is that - even though it's not a required practice - practically the entire team shows up for every single J-HOP. 

FF:  We all know that training (cross training and practice) makes a good skater, but it also takes strong leadership to mold a team. Can you tell me a little about the leadership of the Furies? 

V: I happened to be co-captains with Blue when I tore my ACL in the midst of the mass exodus, and I was looking at nine months of recovery.  I took that time to really focus on rebuilding my team.  The big focus was designing the training program and keeping everyone motivated and optimistic, even though we were in for a steep struggle.  Furies leadership seems to always fit what the team needs at the time and that was exactly what happened. 

We tend to have one of our two captains swap out every season, which really keeps things fresh and also creates this nice egalitarian feel on the team.

The leadership of the Furies has always been responsive to skaters' suggestions and concerns, which has made us a cohesive and positive group.  I think the leadership style for the past three seasons has been to lead by example.  Leaders need to be strong and confident of the path they've chosen.  They need to know how to look at an apparent crisis and see the opportunity for growth.  It helps to have a sense of humor and a nice set of ta-tas, too.          

FF: Speaking of leadership, can you tell me a little about your role with the Furies? 

V: I have recently retired because, when I finally came back from my first ACL tear and reconstruction, I promptly busted my other one.  It was a painfully difficult transition and I miss being a competitor with all my heart.  It's hard for me to imagine ever leaving this team, though, so I've moved into coaching.   

During my initial recovery, I took on being the head trainer of the team and I absolutely loved it.  I'm a teacher by vocation, so it was a natural choice for me - plus I think I'm pretty good at it.  I am now back in that role, as well as being the bench manager, which is a whole new challenge, but a pretty good fit.

More than anything, I think my job is being motivational and creative.  I like to deconstruct the game and put it back together in different ways, hoping to come up with something innovative that no one else has seen.  My job is to bring positive energy to the track and to keep my skaters excited to learn and push themselves.  I've earned their trust and respect, so I'm actually able to do that.         

FF: What inspires you the most about the Furies?

V: Everyone on my team is incredibly smart and responsible.  They're all grown-ups.  They are rational, empathetic, and kind.  I am constantly inspired by the fact that all of these women with families and careers and everything are willing to take on the challenge of achieving excellence in this sport.  It shows a passion and dedication beyond that of your average human.   

FF: In your opinion, what does it mean to be a Fury, and what does it take to be a Fury? 

V: Being a Fury means putting your sisters first and not letting them down.  It means bringing your best effort every time.  It means being honest - to yourself and your teammates - even if it's difficult.  And it means seeing the opportunity in every challenge and holding the belief that we will prevail. 

FF: What are you looking forward to the most about the season championship bout? What are you looking forward to the most about going into next season?

V: I am looking forward to pushing my skaters to the next level.  For the final home bout of the season, we'll be playing Jet City's B Team and I imagine it will be a great match-up.  The plan is to get a jump on next season by diversifying the roles our skaters currently hold and improving the general fluency of the pack.  I'd like to see this start happening by the May bout, for sure, so we can learn and grow from that experience. 

This team is hungry and we have definitely paid our dues.  Next season will be totally dominated by the Furies - of that I have no doubt. 

My final thought is this: even though we've been through some hard times as a team, we have learned from every bump and bruise and we have turned those lessons into experience and skill.  For pure heart and dedication, we've already won the championship.         

2011 Flat Track Furies, Emerald City Roller Girls, Eugene OR

When the going gets tough...

Taken right after the HARDEST workout thus far. I puked in my mouth at least 5 different times…I guess I'm too proud to just puke during a workout.

During my workout today, I kept asking myself, "when is this going to get any easier?" I pushed and pushed. I cried a little during (yes during) my dive bomb push up set, threw up in my mouth multiple times, and raced to catch my breath the entire hour and a half of my workout! I finally came to the following conclusion: 

The workouts shouldn't get easier. If they are, then you aren't working hard enough! 

It's true! Every workout that I've done has gotten harder and harder. Sets get larger, distances get longer, and endurance…well…you get the idea! So what keeps me motivated? Well, lots! My team, my pride, my dogs, my heroes. I'm motivated by a lot! I have the support of so many, and I want to not only make myself proud, I want to make everyone else proud as well. What motivates you?

I watched my team play the BEST BOUT I've EVER seen them play last night…and I'm more inspired than ever before to be the best athlete I can be for my team:) Stay tuned for the first "Derby Inspired by….DERBY!" interview! It's going to be a doozy! 

Choco-goodness!

When I was a competitive swimmer, I used to crave all sorts of goodies after a workout! Applesauce, tacos, pizza, pasta, bananas, chocolate shakes…you name…I wanted to eat it! I would reach for whatever was in the pantry and ready to eat (which turned out to be one of three things…wheat thins, cookies, or cheez-its) and still be able to maintain my endurance, my muscle, and my shape without any signs of junk foodness.

…Fast forward nearly ten years to the present day! For the most part, I'm a pretty healthy eater. I watch my portions, I don't eat too many sweets (even though I manage a doughnut shop), and I make sure I get in all the food groups throughout the day. For the most part, I'm a grazer. I snack on fruits, eat cans of tuna or sandwich meat slices, handfuls of grape tomatoes and carrots, whatever I can get my grubby little paws on. There are times that require a huge meal though (and I'm talking steak and potatoes!)

After working out now, I get cravings for the same foods that I used to, but I know that my body is different than it used to be. So reaching for those cheez-its (which weren't good for me then) are definitely not going to do me any justice now! It's hard to find a good after workout snack that helps curb cravings AND satisfy a body's needs.

That is why I am proud to say that I have found the perfect after workout snack. It's not for everyone, but it works well for me! For the past year or so, after I work out, I always ALWAYS drink a cold glass of chocolate milk and eat some sort of fruit. I prefer to eat a handful of mixed berries…but that's not always available. If I'm out of fruit, I reach for a couple of slices of turkey sandwich meat.

I've read that the benefits of chocolate milk are comparable to almost any protein shake (and much cheaper and tastier too). I also read in Splash magazine an article (from olympic swimmer/ foodie Garret Weber Gale) about different foods to eat after a swim (or any workout really). Berries and fish topped the list. I'm no nutritionist, but I trust olympic swimmers and I sure feel great after a glass of chocolate milk (who doesn't?)

What's your favorite after workout snack?

Playing fetch with my workout buddy!

I've always thought that having a workout buddy would be the coolest thing in the world. Helping each other stay motivated, holding each other accountable for workouts, and companionship. What more could you ask for? The idea of having this buddy would sometimes make me feel bad though. What would I say to a workout buddy? I'm not much of a talker. What if my workout buddy didn't enjoy the same types of workouts as myself?  Not to mention coordinating times, rushing around trying to be punctual, and my ever so coveted after workout quiet time. I guess my ideal buddy would have and exude the following qualities:

1. quiet personality (someone who doesn't talk)

2. endurance

3. doesn't interrupt the workout

4. unconditional love and support for me

Wow, kind of sounds like I should be working out with the Terminator! While I haven't really been searching for a workout buddy (just liked the idea of one), I've managed to find the best workout buddies in the world! And they've been right at my feet the whole time! Sure, they require a lot from me. I have to feed them, love them, and pick up their poop…but in the end I totally get to reap the benefits of these amazing creatures! 

My dogs are the greatest workout buddies in the world. Seriously. Have you worked out with your dog lately? If your dogs are like mine, they'll keep you on your toes and force you to keep moving! I've been taking Roc C on runs for the past couple of days. I figure, she needs to run further than the confides of the back yard (this has been proven about 5 times now by her scaling the 7 foot fence just to run around the neighborhood and come home), and I need to decompress from my day. What a great combination! Roc C keeps me on track, whenever I feel myself slowing down, she forces me to keep going. Don't get me wrong, she doesn't pull me…I have complete control over our walks, but she does have endurance that I could only dream of having.

Then there's Oliver. While I was working out in the backyard, Oliver would run up and look at me with the cutest Oliver face, then run off. He never once interrupted my sets, and never once got in my face or started attacking my head while I was close to the ground. After completing my workout, I played a little chase and fetch with him. It was a nice cool down to my workout and also gave me a chance to work on my quick feet and juking skills. I even pulled a couple of transition jukes on him (which was cool, because he would almost block me with his hips!) Oliver likes to hide whenever we play fetch (for some reason). He goes behind tree trunks (which are a lot thinner than he is) and thinks I can't see him. I just play along. It's the cutest thing ever. 

After running and working out with the dogs, we all come inside and the dogs just crash! I love how worn out they get, and they love how much time we get to spend together. It's nice to end a workout with quiet reflection. Plus, not only am I getting a workout, my dogs are getting to stay active and healthy! 

Do you have a workout buddy? What's your favorite thing about your buddy?