Elyse's Laces

 Every time I go skating, there really is such an adjustment period for me, and I wonder if other people experience this, too.  Each time I get on the rink for the first time that day, I feel out of my depth, as if I've never skated before.  My feet cramp up along my arches and ache so much.  My shins fatigue almost immediately, and my thighs shake from effort.  It doesn't last beyond the group lessons--once I'm skating laps, it feels totally normal again.  I think it's because I have to stand still for so long while hearing the instructions, and it's harder to balance when I'm not moving, so I'm using my muscles in a way they're not used to. I don't know how to fix the foot and leg pain--I now have Dr. Scholl's insoles in my skates, IN ADDITION to my podiatrist-recommended insoles that I wear in my sneakers.  I tried a different arch support from Amazon, but that was so ridiculously uncomfortable, I had to take my skates off before I could even ...

 I realize I haven't posted since writing about my big fall, but don't worry, I'm still skating!  I didn't get to do most of my usual things all October long because, here in Florida, we had Hurricane Milton.  Then I got Covid, followed by Hurricane Helene, and finally, I stubbed my pinky toe pretty hard on furniture while, ironically, getting ready to skate in the backyard.  All of my family and friends and their properties survived the storms, thank goodness!  We were very lucky, as many people are still recovering. When I returned to the rink, I took part in the "intermediate" class, which happens on the other side of the rink from the beginner class, simultaneously.  Though it feels WAY more advanced and beyond my abilities, there isn't anything new for me to learn in the beginner class.  I'm proud of myself for all the progress I've made since my start--I can skate forwards with MUCH more confidence, like it's the easiest thing in the worl...

 I remember when we were first taught to fall safely.  Our instructor said, "Everyone pays the floor tax."  It made us all give a nervous chuckle.  You KNOW I'd considered myself very lucky over NOT falling during my first few weeks of lessons, but I knew it was inevitable.  And it finally happened. I decided to be brave and use our longer, less-structured lesson to practice stopping (something I still haven't mastered, and this was weeks ago).  I fell, but almost in slow motion, squatting down and putting my hands out in front of me.  It was a gentle, baby fall.  I was okay. During the free skate that follows all lessons, my friends were trying to do crossovers.  This is a basic-looking skating technique.  You see people zoom ahead of you and cross one skate seamlessly in front of the other, easy like Sunday morning.  I had read not to try it until you're comfortable, and that it's not as easy as it looks. Before the fall I gained ...

     I'd done my homework, I'd tried on a few pairs of skates, and I was sold on a pair of lilac size 8 Jackson Finesse quads.  It's a big decision!!  So I gave myself a week to mull it over.     The next Monday, I rented as usual, and a few laps after the lesson, I went to the skate shop.  I tried my pair again.  I was happy they had the same pair, but the toe box felt surprisingly roomy, given my bunion on each foot and difficulty buying shoes in general.  I asked to try a size down, just in case.  The shop manager only had size 7 in pink, so I tried that.        I did the carpet-version of skating (and was told, "maybe don't use your arms so much," which made me joke about that Seinfeld episode where the woman doesn't swing her arms when she walks, but seriously, I need momentum to move on the carpet!) but immediately felt the discomfort around the middle of both feet.  The skates were too tight....

     In my excitement for my newfound hobby, my boyfriend Wayne suggested I connect with friends of his who he knew skated as well.  He remembered one friend used her inline skates during run club, so we messaged back and forth about going skating!  I mentioned that Wayne had told me she did figure skating, and she told me she had an extra pair of skates for me to try before I bought my own pair (I had bought my own by the time we saw each other--I couldn't wait)!        She was on vacation when we started talking, so our plans were a long time coming.  I was curious when she suggested a rink that was pretty out of the way from both of us.  As the day got closer, I looked it up to see how far it would be, and realized it was an ICE SKATING rink.  I scrolled back through our texts and realized I’d never typed “roller” before the word “skates.” It was totally my blunder, and actually a pretty funny misunderstanding.   ...

 I was busy between my first Newbie Night and my next!  Busy  recovering from various aches and pains (sore hip flexors and a blister under my right big toe), and  ordering padding for all my joints so I would be less afraid of falling in the rink.  Turns out knee pads usually come in a set that includes elbow pads and wrist guards.  (The rink provides wrist guards, in fact they're required if you're renting their skates!)        Each different company I found on Amazon had different measurements that yielded different sizes.  What I mean to say is, there was no universal sizing among these different companies.  I was annoyed because I usually wear a small or medium in clothing, however I seemed to be abnormally large in my thigh measurements (I really don't think I am) and had to go with the largest of every size offered in 3 different companies before I could find a set that fit me comfortably!  Maybe they're SUPPOS...