Tuesday, Jun 27 2006 | 17:24:01
Working to Exhaustion
This morning, I played my usual game of hockey at 6:15am. I play three or four times a week, anywhere from an hour to two hours at a time.
Tuesday/Thursday games are especially demanding; they go for close to two hours, and usually there's only one goalie. The skaters all play in one zone, tagging back to the blue line when the puck changes posession. As such, there's constant action for the goalie -- I play a straight two hours, with only two or three small breaks to catch my breath and drink down some water. The skaters, on the other hand, regularly switch off, since there's enough of them to do so.
Anyways, after the game this morning, I was tired. My stomach had been growling for a good hour, and I hadn't eaten for close to three hours. Driving home, I got really nauseous. I could have thrown up at any moment. I had a PB&J sandwich to get my stomach quiet, and some Powerade to get re-hydrated fast. Even still, it took a good half-hour before I felt any better. I almost called in sick, since it felt like a stomach flu.
It's the first time I felt nauseous after exercise for quite some time...since 1993, IIRC. In the past two years, I've driven my heart rate to 90% of my MHR for ten minutes at a time on the treadmill; I felt fine afterwards. I've skated hard for two hours at a time with no breaks except for stopping at the bench for water. But goaltending...it's taking it's toll. Drop to the ice in the blink of an eye, get up just as fast, and prepare for the next save. Repeat for two hours, with a turnover giving you a ten second break.
I think I'm going to go on a break, at least for a few days. Relax. Give my body a rest. I think I'm becoming somewhat addicted to exercise; the thought of not getting on the bike, or putting on skates, or running around the racquetball court scares me a bit. I know that when you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which affect your mood and make you feel better. A natural high, if you will. I always feel good after exercise. Not having that high...
But if it'll give my body some time to recover, I can take comfort in knowing that I'll be able to perform better next week.
Tuesday/Thursday games are especially demanding; they go for close to two hours, and usually there's only one goalie. The skaters all play in one zone, tagging back to the blue line when the puck changes posession. As such, there's constant action for the goalie -- I play a straight two hours, with only two or three small breaks to catch my breath and drink down some water. The skaters, on the other hand, regularly switch off, since there's enough of them to do so.
Anyways, after the game this morning, I was tired. My stomach had been growling for a good hour, and I hadn't eaten for close to three hours. Driving home, I got really nauseous. I could have thrown up at any moment. I had a PB&J sandwich to get my stomach quiet, and some Powerade to get re-hydrated fast. Even still, it took a good half-hour before I felt any better. I almost called in sick, since it felt like a stomach flu.
It's the first time I felt nauseous after exercise for quite some time...since 1993, IIRC. In the past two years, I've driven my heart rate to 90% of my MHR for ten minutes at a time on the treadmill; I felt fine afterwards. I've skated hard for two hours at a time with no breaks except for stopping at the bench for water. But goaltending...it's taking it's toll. Drop to the ice in the blink of an eye, get up just as fast, and prepare for the next save. Repeat for two hours, with a turnover giving you a ten second break.
I think I'm going to go on a break, at least for a few days. Relax. Give my body a rest. I think I'm becoming somewhat addicted to exercise; the thought of not getting on the bike, or putting on skates, or running around the racquetball court scares me a bit. I know that when you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which affect your mood and make you feel better. A natural high, if you will. I always feel good after exercise. Not having that high...
But if it'll give my body some time to recover, I can take comfort in knowing that I'll be able to perform better next week.
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