Geared Up

 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 SUPPOSED to give you thigh muffin-top, but I was NOT comfortable skating out into public that way.  I settled on a complete set from SkateWiz and happily returned the other 2 sets.  They are plain black, and though I'm drawn to color, I resisted the happy, multi-color designs because black will go with everything!

    The week before, a friend joked about padded shorts.  I thought about this when we practiced falling, and immediately searched for a pair when I got home.  I bought a black pair that look like bike shorts with hot-pink-lined pads on the sides of the hips, the 2 sides of the bottom, and the entire tailbone, which makes me look like I'm starring in Pink Tron.  I bravely wore everything to the rink the following Newbie Night.

Geared up!

    During this second group lesson, we reviewed stopping, falling, and moving forward.  No backwards skating practice this time (different teacher).  I wore a strip of moleskine around my big toe to avoid another blister (it worked).  I talked to another woman I'd met the previous week and noticed she had brought her own skates this time.  She had never skated before that first lesson, and someone recommended buying skates because she could learn better on a pair that would eventually mold to her feet, rather than trying to get used to a new (used) pair every week from the rentals.  The rink has a skate shop inside, so I tried on a pair of gorgeous lavender skates with no intention of buying them yet.  I was kind to my wallet and only bought these cute ghost lace patches!

The skates I tried on with one of the patches I bought

    It ended up being another successful night of staying upright (knock on wood) and lots of fun!  I felt more confident and comfortable, thanks to my armor and another lesson in the books.  More updates coming soon!!

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