Cross-Training

So after having a big party last Saturday night (thanks to all tri peeps who made it!!!) I awoke on Sunday to a blurred vision, headache and all around soreness from dehydration and playing in my Saturday Flag football league (which by the way is full contact....I know very interesting). I had some good college friends in town that I hung out with Sunday morning for breakfast and then came home to get some much needed rest before hanging out with another close college friend that evening.

So now that I have been back from Hawaii I have been participating in some other sports I enjoy, football and basketball. I am on a football league on Saturdays with some close high-school friends and some other good guys that I have met over the years. I have been playing in this league for the past 6 years, with seasons twice a year. Other than when I have a big race coming up, I always try to play since football is a great outlet for my competitiveness.

So last night I decided to play basketball with a couple of friends in their league. I had played in this league last year when I was not in training for any marathon or triathlon, but this year I did not play until last night since I did not want to risk injury.

I love basketball probably more than football, but I am definitely not nearly as proficient. I am a white guy that canno slam or really shoot all that well, so if you know anything about basketball, these two traits I have are pretty unfavorable to being a good hoops player. However, what I do have is boundless energy, and a real good understanding of the game from a team approach. This lets me rebound quite proficiently and also play good defense.

I decided to play last night since Cole and Paul (two buddies on team from last season) had been begging me to come back and play. Up until last night, the team was 0-5 and had not been closer than down by 20 points to a win.....pretty atrocious. So I obliged, since at the very least it is a great workout.

We started off strong, played as a team on offense and actually played some defense too!!! We were up by 11 with about 3 minutes to go and then what I say from the sideline looked all too familiar to what Cole and Paul told me was happening this year.....the team plays sloppy and stops moving.

I had to watch this demise from the sideline and eventually watch our team blow the lead and the game. I do not know if I will play again next week, since 1 dang game made me so frustrated, I do not know what I will feel like week in and week out if this team continues to lose.....freaking cross-training.