Bring It On: Mixed Nats

Nationals are [October 10th]. Regionals are in, like, four weeks. I talked to her. She's cool with this.

Every time I say I'm going to Nationals, I get Bring It On quotes running through my head. I can't help it. It's probably good that I only say Nationals when I'm talking to non-frisbee people (as the complicated frisbee lingo of Mixed Nats can be a bit tricky if you're not used to it), so it doesn't really happen that often.

So anyway, Mixed Nats is in, like, less than a week. This will be my first time playing Nationals. The highest level basketball I ever played was NT Clubs, and although I was a volunteer at the 14 Boys Nationals in 2003, I've never been away to play a tournament until I went to Keith this year for frisbee. So this is pretty massive for me. I got my uniform last week (with my NAME! and number!), and my costume for the party Saturday night is sorted.

My shins are doing okay (which is to say: hurting like crazy some of the time, then not at other times) and my knees are feeling steadily stranger but not hurtier, which I think is good. I took some forced time off last week, TOTALLY AGAINST MY WILL, LIKE, I HAVE TO BE READY, which my prissy little body parts probably appreciated.

I do kind of agree with rest and recovery days - in theory. Not in practice where this is my first nationals, and I have to get fit (which, probably I don't, as we will have like a million players and minimal field time), and I am the worst player (don't be all nooooo because: yes. new player, wouldn't expect anything else), and yes it's a learning experience, but the more I already know the better things I can learn when I'm there.

Shut up! You don’t have it yet, you don’t have it! Give it up already!

However, the universe conspired against me to cancel all my usual sources of getting better due to sickness, Uni Games, lack of players, like, I'M PRETTY SURE YOU SHOULD ALL BE FOCUSED ON ME. No, as it turns out (shockingly!), my level of awesome is not central to everyone's plans, so myself and the team as a whole will just have to do the best we can, with interrupted (and FRUSTRATING!) preparation. I'm slightly more accepting of that this week than I was last week.

I am really looking forward to playing at a higher level, seeing other people who are actually awesome playing, hanging out, having a mini-break from Adelaide, and exploring Tasmania (where I've never been before). Not looking forward to: being the worst player, playing badly, realising there are things I didn't know I didn't know, and the cold Antarctic weather. Despite those, I'm pretty sure it will be totally awesome!