JR97's Journal

Today was the first game of the season.  I guess it was just a pre-season game but it's still my first league game in about 5 years.  The last year I've just been doing drop-ins. 

I was late and missed the warm-ups and first period because of a dead battery.  So basically I started off cold.  I never really got comfortable because of that.  I made some decent plays, but there were quite a few that I'd normally pull off that I didn't just because I was cold and bit nervous wondering if I was going to stiffen up or have a spasm right in the middle of a play. 

On the bright side, I didn't ever get really sore.  Mostly because we were changing lines so fast I never was out there long enough for the muscles to cramp up or spasm.  But I also took a lot of measures.  A few weeks the endo said to take 2 pills on the weekend days.  I had only done that on that first weekend about 4 weeks ago, but I took 2 yesterday and today.  I rode the stationary bike for about 45 min. an hour before the game to loosen everything up.  That was a good thing since I missed warmups.   I also took someone's advice and choked down a few spoon fulls of mustard before I left.  And for safe measure I threw down 4 ibufrofen.  I'm a tad stiff right now though and it's been an hour since we played.  I also had stiffness in the obliques and arms earlier today when I changed out the battery in my truck. 

So overall, I'm calling today a success.  I set out to play and Grave's didn't really get in the way.  Cardio wise, I felt great.  If I could have made warmups and the 1st period, I could have gotten into game mode and my cardio would have been strong.  If I can feel this same way next week I should be able to play 100% better because then I can focus just on playing and not worrying about the cramps/spasms all week.  So I'm gauging my goal 25% complete as Graves is only 1/4 of the equation.  Another 1/4 is my overall fitness and 1/2 is just my ability to get'er done.  Call 1/4 skating 1/4 stick work.. passing/shooting with some game smarts thrown in for good measure.  So even though my cardio is there, I still need to get my speed back 100% and work on the overall power in my stride and probably some more upper body which has totally been ignored.

btw, we tied 2-2.  I didn't figure into any of the scoring today but it'll come.