#okrd

This weekend, I get to see what 2 years of the grind looks like. I get to see what numerous derby games, countless bootcamps, and much sacrifice gets me. I get to go to my hometown and I get to leave it all on the track.. Derby ate my life, my soul and my relationship… and I don’t look back in regret. Sure, I probably should’ve…

Awesome things in 2014

2014 is nearing the end, and to reflect on the year that was… I figure I would write about a few awesome things that took place in 2014 …

1) I did a mud run and then played roller derby in the same day (capping off a 5 week streak of derby games – starting with a tournament!)

Photo by Kelly Dutchak

I have played more roller derby this year alone, than the previous 4 combined. Most of which took…

I'm not going to lie, this morning on my way to work I told myself.. Don't think about derby. Don't think about derby.

It's not that I don't like the derbz, I'll be the first one to say that I fucking love the sport, it has opened up so many doors for me, and has changed me to be a better person.. it has transformed me from a lazy couch potato to aspiring-aspiring team Canada wanna-be! It has been one of the best things to ever happen to me, and also one of the most life-sucking things to ever exist.

It is very true, "oh! you've joined derby? better cancel the rest of your life!"

I have been serving the past 2 years as the Captain of the K City Rollers, a house team for the OKRD. I know that there are far more people who do more things in the league, but there's a certain amount of dedication you need to remain as a captain.

In a league where the population is 99% women, you're going to encounter differing personality types and some are just going to clash, it's just a fact of derby life. I work hard to ensure that my team gets the respect it deserves from fellow league members, and outside sources. I work hard for my team to ensure that everyone respects each other, attendance is taken, volunteer hours logged, practices run... small things that end up adding up... and as I commute to work, they start to run around in my head, I know these things can easily be solved with a few types of a keyboard, but it's usually the outside factors that worry me... and the world can say "you shouldn't worry about what others think"

.. I do worry, sometimes I worry too much. I want my team to be able to skate and have fun without any issue... and in between all of this, I want to be training myself to the best of my ability, working full-time and going to school part time... along with many other hobbies, and of course balancing being a homeowner, a wife and a doggie mommy.

So while I do love roller derby, on my commute to and from work, I don't want to think about it.. it makes the hamster in my head do far too many laps. Derby has it's place (Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and the occasional Sunday), Balance is the key to leading a happier derby life, as well as a happier life in general.