Only one blog entry for March, I will attempt more frequency in April. Spring is here and outside of work my mind is on this skateboarding season. I think now until November I have a chance of skating on most of my off days. This is exciting for me, because I started back late in the summer of 2007. My ACL injury occurred in May of 2008, and I did not start back until June of 2009. So this is the earliest start to a season I’ve had in recent years. I was able to skate during most of the winter too, except for February. So this season I think I can progress.
For the past two weeks I’ve skated several times, and I noticed more fatigue since I haven’t been going to the gym. So my game plan needs to coordinate workouts and days of skating. In February and early March I pushed it at the gym and on one skating session I was exhausted. Because of that weak session and a health problem I stopped the gym. I did not like the results of that, so I need to find a balance between workouts and skating.
With rain being the only weather enemy against skating right now, I think I’m going to concentrate on the skating. Ideally I would skate twice a week, on my days off from work. My options in NYC are awesome with plenty of variety in the parks and more parks on the way. I think skating in NYC is in a renaissance or perhaps even pushing new boundaries, it’s an exciting time to be a skater here. On my days off I’m set, but I do have a problem. I would like to skate 3 to 4 times a week. In order to do that I need to find some night spots for after work. I get home around seven, so if I found a place it would be cool to skate from 9 to 11, and I would still be able to get a decent amount of sleep. Unfortunately all of these great parks in NYC do not have lights. So I would need to find an empty lit parking lot, obstacles would be optional. That seems to be tougher than I thought, I may have to go exploring. I’ve heard that people skate at a burger king parking lot in Rego Park near where I live. Last night I hanged out with some friends at a nearby bar (I did not drink of course) and I actually checked it out afterwards. It is a nice amount of space, and I noticed a big sign for only customers to park, which people abided by, so late at night I wouldn’t have to worry about parked cars. It closes at midnight but the drive-through is open 24 hours. No one was skating there. I’m tempted to skate it, but I’m not sure, and I would have to go late.
Hopefully I can skate 2 to 4 times a week, and for the gym I’m going to try for 3 times a week. I notice every time I try to push it with exercise and do more days I end up stopping after a little bit. I remember around the millennium I ran 4 to 5 times a week for a total of 20 miles a week. I did this for a year or more. But when I increased it to train for a marathon I came across all sorts of problems and ended up ending my running aspirations. Today the gym is both aerobic and lifting, so I think I need to make sure I average 3 times a week. Make it consistent and simple. It could be every other day, or if I miss a few days I could do a few days in a row. I think if I did that months and years in a row and skated, I’d be extremely fit. For the follow up to my minor health problem, my doctor said my blood work was really good. So I’m already healthy and in good shape, but my life would have more satisfaction and be better if I become more consistent with exercise.
Skating 2 to 4 times a week and the gym 3 nights a week does not leave much time for reading, writing, intellectual pursuits, and socializing but I’ll enjoy all those more because of increased energy.
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