On stand down.

I'm now a week and a half into my three-week stand down as I recover from concussion. My neck feels about back to normal thanks to some stretching exercises my long-suffering physio gave me, and I no longer feel hungover and stupid. I was told I could start running once my neck relaxed and came out of spasm, so yesterday I went out for a quick jog which turned into a 7km, 50-minute odyssey (yeah dude, I ROCK!).

I confess, it's been hard to muster much enthusiasm for derby at the moment. Being on stand down makes it hard to muster the energy or petrol money to drive for an HOUR to scrimmage practice just to stand and watch, and the fact the Cannon Brawlers (B travel team) don't have a game until November make it hard to see the point of sitting in the middle of the freezing cold rink for three hours on a Sunday afternoon. I understand why attendance procedures are in place, but free time is precious, yes?

I went skating today though, on the first day of my winter holidays (the last four days spent at an education conference). The rink was full of kids (as it should be, I think it's ace to see so many kids doing something active with their holiday) and after about half an hour of skating I gave up. Let the rink be for the target audience I think, I don't want to accidentally hit some wee sprog and put them off skating forever. Was great to get out there and stretch my wheels after what feels like ages.

It's funny, I had my accident three trainings ago. I've missed only three major trainings, and yet I feel like I've been away for months. Is this the effect derby has on your life, that without that constant twice-weekly tick of trainings in my life I feel a bit directionless?

I can't wait to come off stand down, but at the same time having a non-derby life for a few weeks has been quite special.