It is time for a new journal, especially as I've neglected the old one for almost a month.

Rugby is now in full swing and so my priorities have changed slightly, with improving my game and upping my fitness for matches. I’ve put on a bit of weight since my cut end of July but there’s more muscle there now. I’d like to cut down again and see what I look like, but it's not my biggest priority

I don’t have the time to put in all the training I’ve done in the last 3 weeks so to summarise:

I’ve quit smoking

• 45mins fasted low impact cardio every morning before breakfast AKA a walk.
• 20mins jogging 3x a week
• BW exercises 2x a week – this is more for flexibility
• Rugby 2-3x a week
• Weights 2x a week + a heavy session every weekend I don't have a match

Thursday – rugby

Spence was in a foul mood today. After watching all of us, guys and girls, play touch for 20minutes he exploded with a “You’re all crap!” and made us run around the pitch until he’d calmed down.

We split to our trainer and practiced passing, everyone is getting better at spinning but to improve our coordination we’re doing drills where you need to throw the ball in the air, catch then pass, or pass it round your back or through your legs etc etc etc. whilst moving in a circle, direction switches and so on. Often we look like total tits but it’s paying off.

We’re practicing plays a lot more, like line outs, formation and so on. Had a brilliant session and communication, we now have calls for our various plays, and the team is working more as a unit and less like a bunch of women bulldozing their way across the pitch. Got more ladies in the club than ever. This has lead to a bit of team rejigging. I posted ages back about a Canadian, Brittany joining the team. She has a bucket load of natural talent and has the makings of a great prop. The only problem now is I am the smallest of the forwards. I still train with them, scrum, rucks, mauls, but it looks like I’m gonna get shifted to the wing. So must definitely improve general fitness and speed. I’ve tweaked my calf, feels like an elastic band with too much tension that goes twang if I sprint, so need to watch that.

Random piece of advice sought. Any tips on how to shout around a mouth guard so it doesn’t come out as “muuuuumpph!”

Whilst I can't help with how to shout with a mouth guard in...I am really proud of you for all this! Especially the quitting smoking. Boy do I know how hard it is. You are training hard and smart and deserve to get the results. I will watch with interest.

Did you get that DVD yet?

You should get them to add a tennis ball in when practicing ball and passing co-ordination as you really need to concentrate on catching. You can do something simple such as passing it through hands while running your lines or mix it up a little by having a group of 4-5 with one in the middle catching and passing to the others standing around you. They simply take turns passing you the Rugby ball (which you pass back out to someone else) then the Tennis ball and so on.

I don't wear a Mouthguard so I'm no help there.

The DVD hasn't arrived yet, I ordered it at the end of last month when the strike was on but am hoping it will turn up this week!

That's a great idea on the tennis ball will pass it on. Have already passed on your kicking tips to the ladies and that has helped! Eeske has improved her score rate from less than 1/2 to 80% which really helped us win our last 2 matches.

Cool, thats great to hear.

Alex should wear a gum shield as should anyone who plays.

Shouting with a gum shield takes time, so don't worry about taking it out in breaks in play to explain things.

Alex's tennis ball idea is great.

Definitely agree with Si re the gumshield. Alex you're mad not to wear one!

GB - it's worth getting one made by your dentist as it'll fit far more snugly and will therefore be easier to shout with etc. Other than that, I find that trying to tuck my upper lip over it helps. Or just take it out if you need to (easier if you're in the backs).

I've never worn one.

There are a few top players that don't though.

Alex wrote:I've never worn one.

There are a few top players that don't though.

JUst because they're idiots doesn't excuse you! Mrs T would be even angier with you if you smashed your pretty face in!

So far all the knocks I've taken in that area would have made no difference whether I was wearing one or not. It keeps me more alert and concentration higher

Losing teeth is no fun - I went without 3 bottom ones (at the fornt) for years after a bridge went wrong and 2 teeth either side of the original one I lost died - I now have implants but boy are they expensive, not helped by the fact that if you wait for years like I did the bone in your gum fades (can't think of teh proper term) and so I had to have a bone transplant so they had somehing to put the screws into - Not worth risking it imo!

The guys I used to play hoops with were always making fun of my babbling through my mouthguard. I'd be yip-yapping constantly either arguing calls with the refs, trashtalking with the opponents, yelling directions at teammates or even singing. Anything I could do to throw the opponents off, I'd do. It's a skill that takes practice to master and even if you master it, you'll have a slight lisp, but who cares.

I don't mind lisping but I want to be able to yell without it coming out as "mmmmpppph" *spit* Will practise more.

Walk around with it in at home. Sing a song or talk to yourself like a proper scientist.

Like that idea Rilla.

Today, went to physio about my calf and was told I'm trying to compensate for the right foot,and it looks like the start of lateral compartment syndrome, so I haven't actually strained it. Had deep sports massage and tho painful as hell I feel a lot better. Have done some stretches and gone for a long walk.

Advised to try and walk barefoot as much as possible and to do muscle fascia stretching exercises. No jogging for a while, but I will be allowed to rugby train on Tuesday.

GymBunny wrote:Today, went to physio about my calf and was told I'm trying to compensate for the right foot,and it looks like the start of lateral compartment syndrome, so I haven't actually strained it.

You have my sympathy here. Had it in my wonky arm. Hurts like a bastard. I really hope you can get it sorted without needing to resort to surgery or anything like that.

glad you back GB. Sports massage on your legs hurts like hell. My sports massage on my calves had me laughing it hurt so much

GymBunny wrote:Like that idea Rilla.

Today, went to physio about my calf and was told I'm trying to compensate for the right foot,and it looks like the start of lateral compartment syndrome, so I haven't actually strained it. Had deep sports massage and tho painful as hell I feel a lot better. Have done some stretches and gone for a long walk.

Advised to try and walk barefoot as much as possible and to do muscle fascia stretching exercises. No jogging for a while, but I will be allowed to rugby train on Tuesday.

Dude, in that case you've been ordered by your Doc to get vibrams. Will have mine by the end of this week and I'm planning on running in them.
Also, you should check out Vivo Barefoot shoes (actually we all should) - I'm looking at getting a paur at some point soon.

Rilla wrote:

GymBunny wrote:Like that idea Rilla.

Today, went to physio about my calf and was told I'm trying to compensate for the right foot,and it looks like the start of lateral compartment syndrome, so I haven't actually strained it. Had deep sports massage and tho painful as hell I feel a lot better. Have done some stretches and gone for a long walk.

Advised to try and walk barefoot as much as possible and to do muscle fascia stretching exercises. No jogging for a while, but I will be allowed to rugby train on Tuesday.

Dude, in that case you've been ordered by your Doc to get vibrams. Will have mine by the end of this week and I'm planning on running in them.
Also, you should check out Vivo Barefoot shoes (actually we all should) - I'm looking at getting a paur at some point soon.

Yep! I actually found out about them before the summer and have been wanting to get a pair ever since. But money isn't exactly something I have ATM and we're arguing with my insurance as to whether or not they'll cough up.

Leg is much better after just one torture session with the sports massage therapist and training last night rocked.

Tuesday - Rugby

Our trainer had work so we trained with the guys.

1/2 hour touch to warm up.

Lena had requested a conditioning session. So:

• sprint 5m - 10x pressups - return to start
• sprint 10m - 10x situps - return to start
• sprint 15m - 10x starjumps - return to start
• sprint 20m - return to start

repeat 3x
run round pitch
and again......Think we did this 5x in total

Then we did 20m shuttle runs, with our partner in a fireman's lift - x5 each
20m runs with ball passing. x10
Handstand pressups (partner holding our legs) x10

Another game of touch

Tackling practise. How to go down in a ruck. Indiviually doing this with tackle bags. Then we repeated this in groups. One goes down and others step over, protect ball and clear opposition. So practising binding and best way to clear the ball, small steps, stay low, don't stand up.

Final 20mins smother tackling game. Much better. Everyone's coming on a lot. Love training with the boys, as the competitative instinct comes to the fore and all the girls up their game. Took an elbow in the face at some point so it's a touch sore to eat, this is why I wear a mouthguard. Was only forward at training last night and really appreciated the conditioning training. Leg much better.

Almost perfect conditions, soft turf, a touch of mud but not enough to become creatures from the black lagoon. It's getting cold now and I'm wearing thermals to train.

Good exercises and training session, although I'd have added in burpees to the mix.

When laying back the ball when you go to ground do you place it behind you with your arm outstretched? If you don't you should as it makes the of side line easier for the ref and allows your players to pick up and drive on as well.

I shall suggest burpees...and then make sure I run away at the end of training so I don't get killed and eaten by the squad. Yep, go down, ball out, protect head. Failure to do so = getting abuse yelled at us and being made repeat until we get it right

I will be posting reviews of my KSOs as soon as they get here.

Rilla wrote:I will be posting reviews of my KSOs as soon as they get here.

Sweet! I would have guessed you'd go for flow as those are the warmest, but KSO look very good. I think I'd prefer them over classic.

The flows look like scuba fins though.
From what I've seen the KSOs have gotten the best reviews by far, I'm planning on using socks in them during the winter (bought some from toetoesocks.co.uk (also got the multicolored striped ones for kicks, man does the GF hate them.)).
At some point I think a pair of KSO Treks might find their way to my place too.