Trying new things, and paying the price

Today, instead of riding my bike, I headed up the Skidmore athletic facility with Steve S. to play a little racquetball. Although I grew up playing the occasional game of racquetball with my Dad and brother (who learned many traumatic lessons about sportsmanship on the raquetball court), I didn't really get into playing until college, when I discovered that you can get academic credit for whacking the blue rubber ball against a wall for about 3 hours a week. Can you say "easy final?"

That kind of credit was incredible to me then, and it is still incredible to me now. Anyway, Tom and Travis and I used to have some epic racquetball matches in our day. In fact, I'd say for us it was a pass time second only to playing darts and eating Oreos (that was one activity that I later lived to regret).

I was a little rusty, but still managed to find the front wall most of the time, and beat Steve -- who may not have known what he was getting into -- in four of five games. Sorry buddy, that one game was pretty solid, though!

After Saturday's hot lap around southern Washington County, I tried something new (or, at least, long-ignored) on Sunday: touch football, with Jamie, Rachel, Steve G., Pete, and a few others. My brother and I used to play two-on-two football on the street with some freinds back in the day, but the street's narrow width really served to put a limit on the game's tactical nature, while putting a premium on speed. Good times. Anyway, the grass at the East Side Rec was much more amenable.

Although I had a great time playing football, the game also served to re-affirm a few things, which I will list here:
1) I'm bad at catching things thrown at me.
2) I'm bad at throwing things at specific targets.
3) I don't look pretty while running.
4) I don't run very fast, or change direction efficiently.
5) Cycling is poor training for football -- though, apparently better than no training at all.
6) Touch football will not be this year's boutique off-season training method of choice for bicycle racers.

As a result of my football foibles on Sunday, I am now feeling extremely sore, especially in the hip flexors and quads. I expect my right arm to be sore from racquetball tomorrow, and will find some way to injure my back before the end of the week. I've been stretching each of those body parts more than usual, and it does seem to be helping a bit, but I suspect that it'll be a few days before I get back up to full strength.

Tomorrow, if everything goes according to plan, I'll get back on the bike, just to remind my legs that they are still good at something -- even if it's just one thing. Of course, these short daylight hours are not conducive to riding. Bahhumbug.