d_p_pank’s BodyBlog

Life has been a bit hectic lately. Soccer coaching, workplace wellness promotions, training a group of co-workers and friends to actually do a 5k race-walk, setting up presentations displaying the technology used in my workplace to others, house stuff, coaching, football season, friends popping in. . . All the normal stuff.

 I’ve made it up to University Park, PA for two games so far this month. It’s not about a good game, but the atmosphere of being in such a large stadium with so many crazy blue and white people. I didn’t go there, but spent enough time in Happy Valley during my collegiate days that it’s always a great place for football, soccer, or Creamery Ice Cream. I did skip tht last time for a visit to the North Club a mature gym. I guess that’s a big thing in a college town.

I have also given up on the girls team. I teach a total system, so once somebody throw’s a cog into my system, I really can’t allow that due to the confusion factor. I’m already struggling with that for my boy’s team since some of my players are also playing jr high soccer, jr high football, cup soccer, midget football, cub scouts and whatever else. I’m learning that the kids who play on other soccer teams are not forced to learn proper technique or new skills, but instead fall back on their old habits. However the hard ground due to lack of rain here has several of my team members on the IR.

I’ve also been making time to take friends and co-workers for longer training walks in preparation for Pittsburgh’s Great Race on Sunday. My workplace is challenging other sites in our company to a time and participation challenge for the event. I went out and recruited walkers/first time racers to give my sight a chance at the most participants. I’ve found some really neat parks and trails to conduct training walks.

Anyhow with the G20 in the big city this week, I’m laying low and only having one soccer practice this week. It will be all drills, that way by game day my kids will be really hungry to play.

Today’s my heavy day, hit the legs this morning, shoulders at lunch and spinning afterwork. Tomorrow is just going to be chest and arms. Then some weight lifting rest until the weekend.

I tried to take on more than I can handle. I knew this back in July when I said I would try, but I made it very clear that I would not tolerate any extra anything. The extra something happened last weekend and after pondering if I could do it for the girls still or just had to keep my own sanity, my sanity won. My ear, nose, and thoat are sore or filled with ugly byproduct of drainage. My body knows what’s best for me so when the stress of the extra stuff related to my girls team hit, my body decided to put me in slowdown mode! To make things worse I ended up going up another 2 lbs due to issues with being able to control my food between practices and games last week.

Anyhow with one less hour of soccer two nights a week that will give me time to get my own cardio in or find that extra hour for sleep. I’m not being selfish, it’s just I love to teach the game, but when it comes to breaking bad habits I’m extrememly inflexible. I’ve seen too many kids and parents ruin good teams because they think they know what’s best.

OK enough with the venting. I need to rewrite my workouts so I get my heavy leg day in on Friday. I’ve been sprinting a lot more while playing on the field with my boy’s team. I’ve learned that without pushing the game they will never be ready for the next level. I also need to get back to planning meals. I’m off to the store to pick up boneless chicken breasts for dinner tomorrow. I’d rather grill those than the hot dogs.