Tested

I promised to put together a little video about my wrestling training sessions.  Here it is:



Sheesh.

My training sessions last an hour, although by the time you add getting there, getting ready, warming up, and then stretching afterwards it's 2 hours or more.  That makes for long days.  I go there straight after work 3 days a week (if I can) - usually getting there around 5:30 or so.  After I change I warm up and stretch for 20 minutes or so.  Then we drill, have "practice" matches, and coach brings various guys from the Citadel team to beat up on me.

As is obvious, there are no women to train against.  The only time I get to wrestle against other women is in tournaments.  There are a number of reasons for that, including the fact that there just aren't that many of us and most that do compete are part of university programs.  Thankfully, the guys who they bring in to spar with me have been universally great and don't go full bore.  Regardless, getting to this point mentally, physically, and emotionally has been a significant test of creativity and will.

My weekend was consumed with trying to make weight which isn't a bad thing as I got to both enjoy our spring weather and spend some time at the gym.  Whatever energy I've been lacking over the past few weeks has been in abundance over the weekend.  On Saturday I visited the gym twice, and yesterday I went for a long run/walk to enjoy a beautiful spring Sunday afternoon.  I've still got a long way to go and one of my most focused efforts this week will be to achieve it.

When I watch that video sometimes I'm enthused that I can even do this at this stage of life.  Why?  I don't know.  I stopped asking why.  It's just something that I've set my mind on.  But sometimes I watch it and wonder if I shouldn't just stop before I get hurt.  I very much do believe that the most important aspect of this is in the doing, not in the winning.  So as far as I'm concerned getting ready to do what I'm about to do is the bigger battle - what happens between the ears, and in the heart.  Whether that can translate itself into what happens on the mat, well, that's another story.

In other news, as expected the Miss Universe Canada folks disqualified one of their finalists because of her trans history (story here).  In a dubious statement they indicate she doesn't meet a mysterious qualification of being "female since birth".  Mara from NCTE has rightfully questioned the validity of that "rule" as nothing more than keeping this particular contestant from participating.  It's infuriating, but it's reality right now.

Gotta keep this short.  For anyone who has written to me or left me messages lately that I haven't returned, just know that I'm focused on other things right now and am a little behind.  It's not intentional, but I haven't had extra time or energy to do my usual "stuff".  I'll get caught up.  And thanks for your patience...