Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Eight...Nine....Ten Glasses a Day

Hey Ya'll

Staying properly hydrated is important for everyone, but because athletes are particularly prone to dehydration, I thought it would be important to share some tips on staying hydrated. Not only is staying hydrated important for your overall health (water flushes out toxins and carries nutrients to cells as well as performs several other vital tasks) but according to a source on the runner’s world website dehydration can significantly lower an athlete's performance. It is recommended by the Institute of Medicine that women drink approximately 2.2 liters (9 cups) and that men drink 3 liters (13 cups) (there was not explanation for the gender difference).

*If you are exercising it is likely that you should consume more water, and the American Council on Fitness had suggested that those doing moderate to high intensity work outs should drink:

 17-20 ounces of water 2/3 hours before you start exercising
  8 ounces of water 20/30 minutes before exercise
  7/10 ounces of water for every 10/20 minutes of exercise
  8 more ounces of water 30 minutes after exercise

Tips on Staying Hydrated:

            *Keep a reusable water bottle with you, this will encourage you to drink water through out the day. If you purchase a plastic water bottle try to buy one that is BPA free.
            *Add a slice of lemon or lime to flavor water naturally
            *Try to create a schedule to help getting in the habit of drinking more water.
            *To keep your water cold try filling it up half way, freezing it, and then toping it of with water (cooler drinks also help keep body temperatures down).
            *Alcohol and caffeine are both linked to an increase of fluid loss, if you are planning to exercise the morning after consuming either of these, remember to drink plenty of water before your exercise routine.



Derby Love,
Pomona Bomber


Friday, April 8, 2011

Femininity in Derby


In the wake of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, I have heard several comments from my male friends and students relating to the personal appearances and attractiveness of these female athletes.  After spending a little over a year in the world of roller derby and female athletes, these reactions to the perceived attractiveness of the highlighted female basketball players caught my attention in a new light.
I’m what you might call a girly girl, I guess.  I like clothes and shoes and getting my nails done.  I hate slugs; I worry about my weight; I get a haircut every five weeks, and I compare myself to other women.  Maybe like a few of my “girly girl” comrades, I fit the stereotype of not being a big sports fan.  I am not a basketball follower, which can be viewed as a sin in North Carolina; however, I did find myself Google image searching Notre Dame guard, Skylar Diggins, because of all the hype about how hot she is.  Only, the motivation to see what this Diggins chic looks like did not come from a place of girlish insecurity or competition, but rather a curiosity to see if and how she maintained her femininity and allure on the court.  Something about her was creating a buzz.

I never really thought about femininity in athletics before until a conversation I was having with a News and Record reporter a couple of months ago.  We were talking about the sport of roller derby and the interview had shifted to talking about the aesthetics and performance aspect of the game, namely the outfits that skaters are known for wearing.  The topic was how some people look at derby players and scoff at the bathing suit-like bottoms paired with tights or the dress or the tutu.  Many derby doubters might tell you that the players are more concerned with their outfits and make-up than anything else, and that derby is an excuse for players to parade around in little to no clothing.

So here’s the thing, I told the reporter, one reason I love my league is because a lot of us ARE concerned with our outfits and make-up.  I love that my uniform often consists of derby skinz, which yes, are essentially bathing suit bottoms that I pair with tights.  I love that my home team, The Mad Dollies, are considering dresses as our uniforms.  These things are means to an end because ultimately what I love is that I play a sport that allows me to own and be proud of my femininity and womanhood, while playing a very physically demanding game. 

Often society places a stigma on the female athlete.  That stigma is that she must have more masculine traits and exude more manly behavior in order to be deemed equal to a male athlete who plays the same sport.  Basketball is a good example of this type of androgynous cultivation, where players, for example, wear outfits that look exactly like their male counterparts’.  The ‘girlish’ qualities are left to the cheerleaders.  No one expects the cheerleaders to get out on the court and dominate.  The images we associate with athletic success don’t often incorporate pink or frills or sparkles. 
Roller derby is a sport that involves endurance, strength, balance, agility, and adeptness at game play.  Players can skate miles in a single practice, maneuvering their feet in a pack of women on wheels, playing defense and offense at the same time.  In addition to being very physically demanding, derby embraces the diversity amongst its players.  It is a game where a 115 pound woman on a 5’5’’ frame can take down a 200 pound 5’9” player if she plays her game right.  It is a game where some of the most aggressive players on the team are often the ‘girliest’ ones off the track.  

I’m certainly not saying that derby is the only sport where you find women that hold onto and embrace their femininity.  However, derby definitely is a front-runner in the list of sports that challenge the notion of who and what a female athlete is supposed to be and how she is supposed to look.  At the same time, the makeup and the frills and the short shorts aren’t for every derby player.  There are many players that feel much more comfortable in a t-shirt and basketball shorts, and some who don’t really get into the whole make-up or face paint thing.  That’s one of the many great and unique things about roller derby.  It acknowledges, embraces and thrives off of the stylistic differences and individuality of its players.  Derby allows us ‘girly girls’ to be forces in an area that doesn’t require us to feel as if we have to sacrifice our feminine qualities in order to be regarded as strong and capable athletes. 

Derby love,
Ann What?!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Often Awesome

Timothy LaFollette is an amazing man who has wonderful family and friends, several of who are a part of GSORD; in fact, Tim actually has his whole army.  Tim is a great friend and a great musician but is plagued with the incurable disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  This horrific and terrible disease prompted Tim and his friends and family to work together to raise awareness and money for a cure.

Often Awesome's website says this about Tim:

     "Tim survived his first diagnosis "birthday", but there have been no advances in treatment in the 28 years since his mother's death. Tim is almost house-bound and has lost his ability to care for his basic needs. There is a silver lining to this seemingly sad story. Tim can discuss his decline with humor and truthfulness and he has the kind of friends that give you faith in humanity. We felt helpless as we watched our friend lose muscle control and his ability to breathe on his own. We desperately wanted to care for our friend and so the Often Awesome Army was born. Our "Army" started off as a close-knit group. It grew into a 1400+ person movement with t-shirts, a care team, benefit shows and an award winning web series!"

Some of the ladies from GSORD knew Tim very well and soon enough we all knew who he was and his story... we got to be part of the army.  We have hosted several events with money going to Often Army.  Last year, GSORD threw a large "Release Yo' Self" dance party to help raise money for ALS.




Often Awesome also has a captivating series, documenting Tim's experience:   Often Awesome: The Series 

Please visit the Often Awesome Website (http://army.oftenawesome.org/) to learn more and become a part of the army.

Derby Love,
Brody Slaughterhouse


The results are in: Battleground Betties win!

Thank you to everyone who came out for our first intraleague bout of the season, Bouquet of Bruises! We had a blast and we hope that you did, too! If you weren't able to make it out, though, here is the re-cap:

The score was neck and neck until the second half, but the Battleground Betties stepped up their game to make the final score 166 (Battleground Betties) to 107 (Elm Street Nightmares). Congratulations to the Battleground Betties!

             Most Valuable Players:
                Rae Diation #003 (Elm Street Nightmares)
                Pinky la Pain #9 (Battleground Betties)

Sponsors:
    Cycles de Oro (www.cyclesdeoro.com)
    Seven Sagas Tattoo (http://www.myspace.com/sevensagas)
                Lotus Center (336-235-2730)
                GIGIgraphics (www.GIGIgraphics.com)
            Half-time Entertainment:
                Thank you fresh meat! We love you!
            Special Thanks to:
                Betty Rumble
                Radar-Luv
                Beard and Mustache Club of NC
                Team Zebra
                Erin Hayes
                DJ Bonzani & WUAG
                Westerwood Tavern
                Mary Bilotta

Derby love,
Jess the Ripper