LOCO Roller Derby http://locorollerderby.com/ is launched and open. We are getting 1 or 2 emails a day from new and former skaters that want to come out and try it and that want to join.

So far it's about half and half, new skaters that need to learn how to skate, and former skaters and derby skaters that want to get back in skating shape and learn to play roller derby.

Well, I was never a superstar skater, but I always knew the rules of roller derby and how to play it. I am technically able to perform most skating drills and movements that relate to roller derby for demo (other than bg air jumps), and I know how to teach and offer up modifications and different ways to perform those actions for body types that are not typical. I have faith that I can teach new people how to skate, and help organize the skaters and new skaters into drills. Besides that, we'll have an open policy where the skaters themselves can run practices as soon as they feel ready, without me. And I have 2 of the most encouraging, supportive, and all-inclusive skaters I know with me founding LOCO Roller Derby, that may not be All-Star roller derby players either, but who will be the most positive influence I can imagine on a group of women of mixed skill levels. Vansterdamn and Switch Hit her are just two awesome rollergirls that have not had that happy rollergirl moment and photo op - that I finally got last year with FCDG - and I want to help them get it!

While preparing for the new LOCO Roller Derby operations challenge, and trying to get my nutrition, skating and workout schedule to flow with the skate practice days lining up a little differently than before, I am dreaming up recycling and upcycling ways to present token awards for skill level testing, so I'm taking up a collection.

Do you want to help support Recreational Roller Derby, and LOCO Roller Derby to be more exact? I don't want to post up a PayPal link and ask for money, I don't even want you to travel and couch surf at my house to help me train people (though you can if you want to - and I'd love it - let' s talk) LOL. All I want to ask for is the lightest weight item off your skates - other than the laces. Old bearings. Do you have old bearings that sound like you are killing mice, rusted, no more good, that are slow, that you don't skate on anymore?

If so, gather them up and contact me for a shipping address and mail them to me. Your donation will give a new inductee into the world of roller derby (even though maybe a new skater, and in no hit rule set) a token of support and achievement award via upcycling.

In other news, we're looking at ways to promote LOCO Roller Derby. Any suggestions? We've got website, facebook group, twitter, it's been Dugg on Digg and we've invited all of our friends. What do you think of MySpace? Yahoo Groups? Sparkteams on Sparkpeople?

Should we spend money on ads in local papers/magazines, or local newsletters, do flyers and posters even work anymore? That's what I am thinking about today. Even though LOCO Roller Derby is non-profit and getting lots of members won't mean any money going into my or the board members' pockets, we do want to have a good number of skaters, so that we can scrimmage in the summer and pay for the spaces we rent, and all that jazz.

And let me give a kudos to the YMCA- Centre Branch here in London, ON. We are meeting with them next week, and trying the floor and booking our time, but the responses to all of our questions has been very positive!

So I just read this article in five on five, written by a cardiologist that is involved with the Rose City Rollers of Portland, OR. http://fiveonfivemag.com/issues/6#vitamin-d

My family had recently gotten interested in Vitamin D (and I'll tell you what else in a second) because doses of Vitamin D can also help patients with MS symptoms, and we have discussed how Canadians have longer life expectancies and a better healthcare system than the US, when it comes to affordability of urgent care, but how in the US, you can get a new doctor when you move to a new city, easier. You can get referred to specialists faster, and you can get faster treatment in the US, because you're paying through the nose for it and the doctors are out for profit.

But anyway, what it boils down to, is that after reading this article - which I had heard about Vitamin D before, and I know what it does - it finally dawned on me that I may need to start taking Vitamin D. Why? I grew up in the South where the sun shined A LOT and we never wore coats. I may have an increased risk of skin cancer because of the sun exposure, but I am sure I got enough Vitamin D. I have strong bones and never had a cavity in any of my teeth save one baby tooth, growing up.

I moved to Canada almost 13 years ago (Jan 21 anniversary) and since then, I've had a new cavity almost every year in the past 7 (small ones), I've had lots of injuries to my lower extremities - even prior to roller derby - and I have had recurring pain. I workout alot, and remain plus sized, and even dieting has failed.

Could a decent multi-vitamin, some winter Vit D tablets help my body chemistry improve?

And what about garlic?

And how about Insulin resistance, PCOS, diabetes? So many health issues today that didn't exist in such high numbers 50 years ago even. Can we reverse it? Where is a good Canadian Endocrinologist with I need one?

Labels: nutrition

Frozen peas for bruised knees, also called by me sometimes, Green Peas for Bruised Knees. It's complete!

Here's what I edited from the pattern in the book:

Yarn color. I went for a fresh pea color (but it's called guacamole) instead of darker frozen peas color. And the length of the holding strap. I am a big girl and know a lot of big girls, so instead of stopping at 17 1/2 inches, I knitted until I thought it was longer, and I think it's about 25" to give ample room for larger legs and for tying, instead of clipping.

What I thought about it:

True, it's a rookie project. Garter Stitch mixed with knitting and purling. Very simple to do. But my first time making any kind of special stitches (the peas) and making parts and sewing them together to make something other than a square or scarf. It was fun to do, and I love it now that it's done.

What happened while I knitted it: ALOT!

I had suspended my membership with FCDG, while I worked on my knee more, and while I thought about my current state of the union/roller derby, and I wanted to get a car. Practices were hard to get to, cold, I was tired of being hurt (6th time in 4 years I was bruised, limping, or on crutches. Twice in 2009 since coming to London), and I was a little dejected about it. What to do? I'm only 35, I am not ready to quit, but face it, I've never been an all-star and am unlikely to ever be able to compete with pro speed skaters, like Atomatrix of Oly, or naturals like Iron Wrench of Montreal, any of the Hamilton Harlots, or even the lowest ranked rookie of the TXRD. But a roller girl still, I digress, I was not able to latch onto any other thing that I loved enough, that would be mine, not for family, not for career, not work, not ever boring, not easy and most personally fulfilling. Roller Derby is it.

I met with a friend, Vansterdamn, who was on pregnancy leave from FCDG and we were chatting. I told her I was on suspension, and that I really wanted to do derby, but didn't want to continue pushing my body past its' limits. I told her my husband had advised me to go start doing casual pick-up games with rollergirls in the area, and just relax about roller derby. But I was conflicted. There would be inherent issues with pick up roller derby, and I didn't think anoyone would be interested.

She told me about an article she had just read about Derby Lite (http://www.derbylite.org) We thought the concept was just a great one. All the fun of roller derby, and what roller derby had been to us and meant to us since we both started in 2006, and what it started it out like in 2006-2007 when I was in Montreal, but without the push to be full-time athletes. With no pressure to become WFTDA or even to play competitively. Modify the blocking rules and take out the hitting, and play strategic instead. Recreation it, and reduce injuries. Allow all those women we tried to recruit that were just too afraid to get hit, or injured, and all those retired skaters that were moms now, or had been injured too much, and those women that can't afford to risk losing mobility from injury for their livelihood, to learn to roller skate, learn to love and play roller derby, and play in a fun and safe environment. And for those that then become full contact roller girls the never set out to be, we can direct them to the local WFTDA or WFTDA-style league and off they go!

How your competitive full-contact derby league can benefit from the presence of a low-contact derby league on your turf:

1. Increased pool of volunteers to help promote and run bout

2. A built-in group of fans at every game

3. Increased visibility and participation of derby girls in your community

4. More word of mouth

5. Developing the love of derby in more women

6. A pool of newbies, or a “farm team,” where those interested in trying derby can start out before moving on to a full-contact league

7.  Less burden of low-skill skaters that may hold back advanced skaters in practice

8. A larger group of derby lovers to socialize with and hold co-fundraisers

9. Extra skate time for ladies in your league outside of regular practices

10. A place for retired skaters to stay in touch with the sport, and with all the friends they made during their full-contact days

So tell me, what do you think? I'll tell you more about LOCO as we go forward, I'll write the next post right now and let you know where we stand. You can see more at http://www.locorollerderby.com And if you are a board member of a contact derby league, let me know if you are interested in starting a low contact league in your area to complement your existing league. There's no charge, I may sponsor your website, and I can help you work it out!

Hey Derbyluvvers!

So check it./RDworkoutChallenge.ods

I made myself a tracking sheet for the 8 week Roller Derby Workout Challenge. I'm sharing with all the other participants and challengers so we can all track it. Hope it helps everyone reach their goals. Enter your own version of info, your own fit test exercises - maybe some skate tests like #laps in 5 min, #laps in 20 mins, skills test type things to see if it helps in your skating too. I made this in Open Office scalc, which is free to use. You can also get a copy in Excel format, jsut message me for it!

And as you may know, I am an active member of the popular healthy-living website, SparkPeople.com. In an effort to help SparkPeople live out their mission of helping millions of people reach their goals and live healthier lives, I have joined a contest they're holding called "The Spark Free Chapter Challenge." If you have one minute to spare, I could use your help, because I REALLY want to win!

So here's the deal with the challenge…

Chris Downie, SparkPeople's CEO and founder, recently published a book called "The Spark" that offers a proven new approach to improving your health, transforming your life and reaching your goals (for example, real people have lost over 10 million pounds using their free online program)!

People like me who are helping them "Spread The Spark" through The Spark Free Chapter Challenge are encouraging our friends and family to download a FREE chapter of "The Spark" book. And for every person I can encourage to download the chapter, I will get an additional chance to win a $500 weekend getaway and other prizes, as well as something they offer called "SparkPoints," which also help motivate me to reach my goals.

All you have to do to help is download a free chapter from The Spark book. Nothing else. To do so, simply go to http://book.sparkpeople.com/book.asp?u=niacapps  and click the button to download your free chapter.

If you would be willing to help me with this, I would truly appreciate it, and I also think you will enjoy reading this free chapter from "The Spark". I know I did! And if you join Sparkpeople.com, be sure to search the Spark Teams for roller derby, I am the Admin on 2 teams, Roller Derby Rockers and Roller Derby Queens. Good luck!

And there are things a-brewing in my world - more later. And Green Peas for Bruised Knees knit project #1 from Knockdown Knits book is in it's 3rd stage (knitting strap) so I will put it together, share and document what all happened when I was knitting it when it's done! I'll Julie/Julia knit all 30 projects and blog my way through it! ;)

Labels: roller derby workout, training

Well, I didn't get my Christmas stocking stuffer Roller Derby Workout DVD, so I just went and splurged on myself and ordered it. The new workout area I set up in my basement with P90X workouts printed up, a couple chairs to hold my towel and water, my new mat for floorwork and strap to use for body weight exercises for the upper body is awesome and I have a laptop and portable DVD I can use to hook up video in the basement, so off I go.

And if you are a derby girl or rollergirl in training, or fan that wants to win a trip to Los Angeles to train with Estro Jen and Go-Go Gidget (US and International, max airfare $800 USD covered) you should consider joining the Roller Derby Workout Challenge. All you need is Facebook and a willingness to get fit for roller derby - they aren't asking you to lose weight and be skinny (but it might work for that too) but to eat right and workout right to improve your roller derby game.

Check it out here. I joined, and my Roller Derby Workout DVD is on the way. Let's see what happens boys and girls. The first homework assignment is to post a fbook note and answer some questions. Here's mine:

Kick off is January 15. Until then it's gym, home gym, finish up that knitting, and keep doing what I am doing.

Labels: roller derby workout, training

So here we are Derby luvvers! It's Two Thousand and Ten, a new decade of roller derby commences this year, and a new year means that right now, teams across Canada and the US that play mainly in spring - fall time lines (hockey towns everywhere) are finalizing season dates and season event schedules, trying to confirm who in the rookie pool might be ready to join a team, and trying to prevent injuries while they step up the practices a notch from last year. 

I am currently not skating. It's not because of any reason other than a reset of my roller derby schedule and career, and a real life vs derby life fight. Once it's back to normal, I'll be back again. I'm not giving up on roller derby any time soon. I may not be a Beyonslay, a Atomatrix, or a Val Capone, or Estro Jen, or Rollergirl, but I'm Nia Capps, and I am like a bad penny and just keep turning up. 

But hey, I'm still staying in the derby vibe. I read DNN, like all of you do, joined the facebook Roller Derby Workout Challenge, and support anything roller derby-related. I still look at my skates everyday and am exercising and am cleaning up my basement so I can skate in it. (concrete floor full unfinished basement)

If you didn't see it in the last round up on DNN, I like this newest addition to the rock video featuring roller derby. This is Halestorm and the video features the Jersey Shore Rollergirls, and a guitar solo that screams. It's Not You. 

I'm off work sick today with a stomach virus, but I am dragging myself out to go look at an apartment for my mother-in-law, and on the weekend I am shopping, relaxing, getting better and hanging out. I am finishing my Green Peas for Bruised Knees knitted ice pack project! I'll share when it's done! 

L8r sk8rs. Derby Luv to ya~! 

Labels: Derby Luv, Knockdown Knits, roller derby crafts