Radical Raquetball

Yesterday, I remembered one of my original cardio loves: RACQUETBALL!

Here we are, ready to play!

Back in 2007, before I began my healthy living journey, my school opened a brand spanking new gym, complete with racquetball courts. I had never played before, but a couple of co-workers and I quickly became addicted. We played several days a week for months and months during our lunch hours.  Eventually we cut back on the racquetball, because we felt like we could get better workouts in other ways, but not before many, many good times were had on that court (the second court from the left, always). Then we stopped playing completely because one of our trio was pregnant and having a baby. Her little guy is 1 now, so it's been at least a year and a half since we've played.

Some things you should know about me and racquetball:
1) I am always the scorekeeper.
2) We always play on the second court from the left.
3) You can get some good bruises playing racquetball (more than one person who's played with us has vowed never to play again.)
4) It is possible to play with three people. The game is called "Cut-throat" and every woman is out for herself.
5) We were taught to play by the campus Chief of Police, himself a skilled racquetball player.
6) They should really install stop motion cameras in the racquetball courts, because there would some hilarious sequences.
7) Intentional grunting always makes a game more fun.
8) I am an enthusiastic, but mediocre player.
9) The only way I think racquetball could be more fun is if they had a DJ who could play a clip from a song after each hit. Until that is instituted as a USA Racquetball official rule, however, I will be happy to the sing appropriate selections for myself and my competitors.

Back to the story:
Yesterday when one of the girls suggested we play again, I was all for it.  I'd been hitting it hard this week, exercising every day and sticking to my eating plan.  A little racquetball sounded like a great reward.

And I was right. It was so much fun to be playing again. And guess what?  It was also a great workout. I guess when you haven't done something in 18 months, you can challenge your body in new ways when you pick it back up again.

PS. My co-workers and I were so into racquetball two and a half years ago that I organized a departmental tournament.  I designated myself commissioner, recruited additional competitors, drew up brackets and crafted the trophy (which was shaped like a golden racquetball) by hand. Here are a few pics.  Hey UR folks- don't you think it's about time we had another tourney?? Who's in?

As commissioner, it was my duty to congratulate Matt, our winner.  Judy took 2nd place.

The trophy presentation.

Matt relishes his success.