It is time for me to focus and prepare myself for my first pro event. I'm so excited and I am looking forward to playing my first pro match. Friday at 2:30... According to the draw I get to play #10 seed Doreen, she beat Laura in Fayettville, I beat Laura at Nationals by a greater margin when I was still just getting back into the game. Should be a good first match for me. I'm feeling confident. A win would pit me agains Jo in the round of 16. I don;t know waha my Open draw looks like but the whole purpose of this tourney is to get some expereince under my belt. Time to focus; one match, one game, one point at a time!!!
Wow, did I have fun playing tonight, I have been working very hard and tonight was a blast. I had the opportunity to play with a wide variety of players of all skill levels. Everyone is very supportive of me and they are as excited if not more so than I... It's like we all can't wait!!! Tonight was just one of those nights at the gym where I got to play with so many different people and just a great time on the court!!! You really should have been there...
Yes, I was sick, and it had serious effects on my running and getting to the ball in time to set my feet... I also got winded on long rallies quickly so I tried to end points as quickly as I could. The tournament was completed in one day.. Saturday, I played men's open, men's A's and Men's open doubles with my mixed partner! it was going to be a tough day. My first match was 9am in the Open... I didn't do well, could not get started and I lost 6 and 9 so I dropped down into the Elite bracket... Apparently this is what I needed to get my day going. I had a little break and then started play in the A division... Went to a tie breaker but I played well and pulled it out 11 -2, had another break and played my second round of A's I won easily 5 and 7... Semi's of A's I won 4 and 6, then Doubles lost 9 and 12, great match, first round of Elite, I won in a breaker 11- 1, second round of elite's I won 8 and 10, so now I'm in the finals of elite's and A's its getting late, me and my partner concede doubles so I can keep playing singles it's like 7 oclock by this time. Elite finals I win in a breaker 11 - 7 and then I get killed in the A finals 5 and 7. I was dead, had nothing left, I didn;t eat properly the entire day and I was feeling like crap. I'm not making excuses, I was done before the match even started, so in the end 1st in men's elite and 2nd in a's. I played well considering i couldnt run, I was hitting my shots and playing a smarter game. I didn't have my athleticism to help me which is one of my strengths. I was so happy to play as well as I did with out one of my strengths... I'm ready for Maryland, I have some good training in the next week, I few matches lined up that will really help me prepare and I get to work with my coach again before my frist pro event in less than two weeks... I am feeling better not 100% yet but getting there...
Blah. I called in sick to work today... I left yesterday afder lunch because I wasn't feeling well, came home from work fell asleep for a while, relaxed and went to bed early. When I woke up this morning, I was still under the weather and I decided to not go in today. So now I am bored. I didn't want to get my colleges sick, "ya know it's going around" this is what they all say. Besides with a tournament on the horizon, like tomorrow, I figured a day of R&R wouldn't hurt all that much. There is nothing worst than playing when you do not feel well... I have something of an upper respiratory illness, so my breathing is comprimised, going to make it tough to run and generate power. Is that what you need oxygen for??? Any who, both cats are here with me, my sister is out on the couch, I'll send her for some OJ and soup when she gets up.... I would love to hit the gym for a little and hit, but probably not a good idea, might just run myself down, I think I'll post on the forum "Do you play when your ill" and see what other people have to say about it. I am glad I am sick now, I'll be able to get over it before Maryland... 2 weeks... Yipee, I can'[t wait... Thanks for listening..... Kimi
Life does happen, go figure... I get off from work at about 3pm and I am at the gym by 4:30 at the latest. Some nights I close the place and they have to kick me off the courts... hehehe I go out and have fun with my fiancee on the weekends. I am not one to turn down a shot of Patron, trust me, save if it the night before a tourney... it slows me down the next day...
As far as the toll on my body, there is none. A little backgroung infor for ya... I am a three time ironman triathlete, 11 marathons (2:58 pr), former pro triathlete and bicycle racer. I am a fitness instructor and a personal trainer so I know how to train. I have been an athlete my whole life and I am used to training 40 - 50 hours a week, so now it's like I'm on vacation. The one thing that I am doing differently right now is focusing on racquetball. I usually play many different sports, volleyball is my favorite. Basketball, softball, tennis, golf... etc... Instead of putting my energy into many different sports, now ALL my energy is on racquetball. I would have went Pro, 7 years ago, but It wasn't the right time in my life and A coach at college steered me to running, cycling and inevitably triathlon, and I'm glad she did. Now I am glad I am able to play at the level that I once did, but now, I'm even better!!! Now I just need some experience... I should put this on my blog