MCUDL A League

Tonight's game was against the celebrated Mud Sharks and I learned that they have a player who's been playing in Mercer summer league since 1977. Awesome!

I arrived early enough to get in a decent warm-up and a bunch of throwing (more throwing = more better) before the game, but was generally hoping to take it easy for the night. Well, the Sharks were having none of that! The came out fired up and fought to a 7-6 lead before we rallied to take half 8-7. From then on we got things together and pulled away to 15-9ish victory.

NB - Post game sushi banquet was gluttonously awesome. Gonna miss Raph & Mere, and not just for post-league sushi.

Recovery Workout

15:00 Elliptical Machine

10:00 Exercise Bike

Lite Circuit:

30 x bench press w/ 25lb dumbbells
30 x declined sit-ups
30 x declined bench press w/ 25lb dumbbells
30 x declined sit-ups
30 x inclined bench press w/ 25lb dumbbells
30 x declined sit-ups

Long static stretching session.

Boston Invite, Day 2

Due to Saturday's storm, we had to get to the fields to continue our SoL match-up at 8am. Ouch. Apparently we didn't drink quite enough coffee because we ended up falling behind 4-8 at halftime before mounting a second half comeback only to lose on double game point. No quarterfinals for Pike.

Round 2 pitted us against DoG. We came out strong and mounted 7-2 lead only to lose half 8-7 and the game 15-13. No 9th place either.

Round 3 was against my MCUDL buddies, Roots of Rhythm. They play fast and loose and bring it physically, so they always provide a fun and competitive game. In the end, our discipline and depth were too much and we took the game 15-8 or so.

In Round 4, we faced off against Mephisto. For the third time this weekend, we jumped all over them on the onset, taking half 8-2. Sadly, more than our share of unforced errors saw us cough up the lead down the stretch and we ended up losing 15-13, which I think put us in 12th place.

Personally, I felt much better physically and played much better, although I still had a couple of throws that got D'd (one each in the SoL game and the Roots game) and even a drop (down the stretch vs. DoG) which just isn't going to cut it. Overall, I'd give myself about a B- on the weekend.

Boston Invite, Day 1

We went 2-1 on the day, with wins versus Medicine Men and Brooklyn and a loss to Providence Pack Dogs. In what would unfortunately become a theme for the weekend, we took an early lead in the game only to give it up at the end.

On a personal level, I didn't have my best day of ultimate. My legs were feeling pretty heavy and my play was less than sharp, resulting in a decent day of ultimate for me, but not great. And I'm certainly less than thrilled with getting skied twice in a row by Zip.

NB. Our fourth game of the day, vs. Sons of Liberty, ended up getting postponed due to lightning. We started the game on O, traded to 3-2, and had just forced a turn when the lightning began.

Son pocos y cobardes

Once again CHS bailed on our summer league game. Small and cowardly indeed. Despite the lack of the game, I headed to the fields to hang out and get in a bunch of throwing in pre-Easterns (what the hell is the Boston Invite?). It was probably better that way since I was pretty sore from Tuesday's workout (guess I overdid it a bit).

Afterwards, SUSHI!

Tabata Mash-up

Warm-up:

12:00 Elliptical Machine
Active Stretching

Tabata Mash-up:

8 x (:20 exercise 1, :10 rest, :20 exercise 2, :10 rest, :20 exercise 3, :10 rest)

1. Pull-ups: 15, 13, 8, 6, 7 w/ 50lbs assist, 8 w/ 70lbs, 9 w/ 90lbs, 11 w/ 110lbs
2. Push-ups: 35, 33, 28, 25, 23, 23, 22, 21
3. Crunches: 32, 30, 28, 30, 30, 28, 30, 30

10:00 Exercise Bike

Pike Scrimmage

Specific Jake and I returned to the scene of the crime for a few hours of live play. I went a disappointing 1 for 3 on the day and had some annoying decision-making errors and a couple of execution errors as well (gotta stay compact on that flick huck), leading to more than my share of turn-overs.

Pike Practice

Specific Jake, Matt and I headed down to the Edgely Ball Fields for some rainy day ultimate. We got rained on for most of the 5.5 hour session, but the team put in some solid and important work nonetheless. Afterward, most of the team headed to Ellis' for some purportedly awesome soul food, while I headed to Brick City to support the Sharpe James.

Frosty Complex

Warm-up:

10:00 Rowing Machine
Active Stretching

The following workout is a variation on one posted by Frostillicus. Check it out for explanations and sample videos.

Lunge Complex w/ 15lb dumbbells:

12/leg x Forward Lunge w/ overhead press
12/leg x Backward Lunge w/ overhead press
10/leg x Complex: Backward Lunge w/ press into full step through to forward lunge w/ press

Cross-over Barbell Step-ups:

2 x 12/leg w/ 20lb dumbbells

Deadlift to Snatch:

4 x 6 w/ 20lb dumbbells

Pistol Squats:

2 x 10/leg, paying special attention to keeping my weight centered over my supporting leg (IE - Not sticking my ass out).

MCUDL A League

I managed to make it to the Mercer fields in record time (2:15:00, ugh), giving me plenty of time to be bored, get changed, get in a great warm-up, throw a bunch (something I definitely needed) cool-off, re-warm up again, and throw even more (still something I needed) before game time.

In a re-match of the last 2 finals, Big Stick faced off against Roots of Rhythm. Unfortunately, neither team was at full strength tonight, but I think Roots was lacking a few more key players then we were (IE - 2/3 of the Saul clan). Even so, Stick was hungry for revenge and we came out strong early on in the game and were able to built a comfortable lead by half-time by capitalizing on some uncharacteristic mistakes by RoR.

In the second half, Roots picked up the intensity and physicality of the game but it was too little too late and we held them off to take the game 15-9. I'm definitely looking forward to a full-strength re-match down the road.

Post game workout: Hoagie Haven, Princeton Sushi, Halo Pub. DAMN, Son!

Upper Body & Core

Warm-up:

10:00 Elliptical Machine
Active Stretching

21-15-9:

Dumbbell Bench Press, 40 lb Dumbbells
Bent Over Row, 40 lb Dumbells

21-15-9:

K2Es
Back Extensions

Tabata Mahlers:

5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5

Pike Practice

After getting the boot from the Princeton Fields, we headed over to Quakerbridge Road for practice. The fields were actually quite nice today albeit slightly hard (a terrifying thought since it rained all week long!) and even though Poultry Days and a PADA wedding depleted our numbers, we still ended up with a solid turnout. It's great to see folks are hungry to play! Practice itself was challenging and fun, and we even got some work playing in a downpour. I'm really starting to get fired for Boston and to see what Pike 09 can do.

MCUDL A League

Big Stick vs. Rutgers

I felt pretty much like crap tonight; not sure why. (Meow!) Still, we overcame my lackluster performance since our young studs played some sick D and worked hard all night to earn us a pretty comfortable win.

NB - The new cleats are awesome. For such hideous monstrosities, I can't believe how comfortable they are.

Upper & Core Work

Warm-up:

8:00 Elliptical Machine
Active Stretching

21-15-9:

Dumbbell Bench Press w/ 40lb DBs
Pull-ups

21-15-9:

K2Es
Back Extensions

Tabata Chuck Kellers:
13, 12, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 13

Barton Creek Hike

Carefully skirting the "Private Property" signs, my brother lead Mel, myself, Gregg, Matt and Anya through the Texas underbrush and live oaks to Barton Creek where we hiked along enjoying the impressive limestone carvings, pausing now and then to skip stones and point out good fishing holes. After working up a decent sweat in the Texas heat we hopped in the pool (unfortunately the creek was overgrown with algae) and soon chased everyone else away from poolside with an uproarious game of 2 v 2 kill the carrier.

Golden Dactyls

I headed over to Dripping Springs High School to throw around and play some hot box with my nephews' ultimate team. Man, it is hot as hell in Texas! We got a couple of hours of throwing in against a stiff breeze and a few rounds of hot box.

Tabata Ladder

I've been trying to get in some activity and avoid over-eating while down in Austin celebrating my eldest nephew's high school graduation. Last night I went for a 45 minute hike with my brother followed by a quick dip in the pool. This morning, I went for a walk with Mary Ellen and then followed it up with the following Tabata Ladder in the 'dry' Texas heat.

10 x Tabata Sprints (run :20, rest :10)

4:00 rest

8 x Tabata Sprints

3:oo rest

6 x Tabata Sprints

2:00 rest

4 x Tabata Sprints

1:00 rest

2 x Tabata Sprints

Nice Kicks!

I opted to eschew the gym today and instead went in search of some new footwear. About a mile uptown, practically in the East River is a great little mom n' pop soccer shop called Doss Soccer Supply that I like to patronize. The folks are nice and helpful and, while they don't have a huge selection, they always carry a variety of nice higher end cleats that you'll never see in a Dicks or Modells.

After much deliberation, I rolled the dice and bought my first-ever Nike cleats in lieu of ye olde Puma Kings. They're garish to the point of ridiculousness, but extremely comfortable and light _and_ they seem to have the added feature of not aggravating my plantar fasciitis. Plus, I like the cleat configuration. That said, I'm not sure I'm good enough to wear these cleats:

MCUDL A League

Big Stick v Illuminati

We started things off right tonight with an intersquad Atlas match-up (me, Tous & Ricky vs. Dusty, Jake, & Frenchy). Upon finishing I believe Dusty remarked, "Holy Shit! I might actually be warmed up... for a summer league game!!"

The ultimate game itself was a lot of fun. Though neither team was at full strength, each could field a very solid line of club players and Pike was well represented on both sides (Stick representing the ghosts of Pike past, of course). We traded thoughout most of the game, but Stick was more consistant in the end and we were able to capitalize on some unforced errors in the second half and take the W.

Central Park Run

I decided to pay homage to Jackie O and soothe my sore muscles with a light jog around the Central Park reservoir. The weather was perfect and the scenery was great. I started out on the upper jogging path and put in a circuit (precisely 1.5 miles) in 11:32, then moved onto the bridle path for a while before heading back to work. I ran at a moderate pace and kept it relatively short since this was predominantly a recovery workout.