Skating again

Today is the first time I've skated in over two weeks. There was nothing very exciting about skating today. I went to the Venice Boardwalk and skated early this morning. It just felt really good to get on my board again. It took me just a few minutes to get back into the swing of things and I'm realizing more than ever that skating is a great stress reliever for me. All the stress of this past week really melted away as I hopped on my board and dodged runners (uh, oh, marathon training has started on Saturdays...). I'll be back again tomorrow.

Huh

Okay, I still haven't skateboarded again yet, but I had to share this. I'm off on a road trip for a few days, up the Central Coast. My first stop today was at Pismo Beach. I spent several hours there today, and then headed to San Luis Obispo. From Pismo, I got on the freeway on-ramp to head the rest of the way to SLO. On the on-ramp to the 101, there was, if you can believe it, a boy skateboarding on the side of the ramp. And not doing it very well. I'm guessing he's not at the level yet where he can go practice at a skate park, even though I've heard there is quite a good one not far from here. (I'm planning on checking it out tomorrow.)

I was silently cursing this kid in my head as he skated near where I was driving. Then I remembered all the signs I had seen along the beach that said "No Skateboarding" along with the municipal code listed below. I wonder if the skateboarding ban is as strict in the rest of the city. I also wonder if that *might* have something to do with this kid risking his life on a freeway on-ramp. Okay, it's not a good idea no matter what, but still...

sigh

It's been about a week since I've skated and I'm starting to feel really sad about not getting on my board. It hasn't been a week since I've gotten on the board. I keep putting it out on the back porch and going out and standing on it and rocking back and forth. That's just not the same thing however.

The tendon on the back of my foot isn't doing that great, and now I have a few new complications that I hope will go away quickly. I really need to work on some spots to skate around here, though, because once school starts I really don't know where I'm going to skate. I don't want to lose all of the progress that I've made.

Ouch!

Yesterday, I was rather proud of myself that I skated further than I ever had in the past. Well, today I paid for it. As soon as I started skating, I felt like something was wrong. I wasn't getting any distance. And then my kicking foot started to really hurt. Apparently, I have skater's foot. (I don't know--is that a thing?) Looks like I'm going to need to take a few days off skating. I just hope I don't lose my skating fans...

Skater chicks rule

Nothing much to report today. I think everyday I skate I'm skating further, which is good. It seems I'm skating further and it less time, so at least that must mean I'm getting a bit faster. I haven't worked on kick turns in a while, and I know that's what I need to spend some time on next. It's just been so long since I've fallen--I'd like to avoid it...

Apparently, I have some homeless fans on the boardwalk. As I skated by today, I heard, Skater chicks rule. Which, hey, I've got to agree with. They watched my progress for the rest of the time I was out, and would make little comments as I came by.

It's nice to have a fan base. I could use one these days.

Out of my rut

I got up this morning a bit later than normal this morning, but still determined to get out to skate this morning. Then, I went to where I normally park, and that area was all full. I was beginning to think I wasn't meant to skate today, but I parked down by Washington, meaning I had to walk my board. Then I realized there was a fair (of sorts) being set up as well. I was feeling discouraged, but decided to skate, even though I had to be back to feed my meter in 45 minutes.

So, I went skating, having to maneuver around the people crowding the boardwalk. I decided that today I would try to skate much further down. I think I managed to skate further than I ever have today, back and forth around the full distance of the boardwalk. I know that's not a major feat, but probably is for me. I skated to the place that the boardwalk really ends, and the pedestrian path starts to get all curvy. I actually want to try that soon, helping me to work on my turns. I still need to keep practicing going faster, but it's time to seriously work on some turns now, I think.

A little faster

I think I got the hang of going a little faster when I skated yesterday. I skated for a long time, further than I've ever gone, again, on the Venice Boardwalk.

Now, I need to try and find a place closer to home, otherwise, once school starts, I don't know where I'm going to skate.