Injuries of any sort fail to be terribly enjoyable, but I would argue that they’re usually worse when you’re an athletic person, or, worse again, if the injury occurred while doing physical activity we love and appreciate. Rugby is an escape for me, much like any sport is an escape for any athlete who plays … More Recognizing the mental impact of a physical injury
Continuing our conversation regarding fear, allow me to fill you in on an experience I recently had that genuinely scared the absolute shit out of me. During our last game, I went to tackle a player on the opposing team, and something went rather wrong. I’m still not entirely certain as to what specifically happened … More The fickleness of fear (part two)
When I joined the Norfolk Harvesters Rugby Football Club three years ago, I can recall feeling a bit perplexed at the sight of a bizarre-looking camera at our first game. It was bright green and attached to the top of a rather long pole; I was entirely ignorant of the fact that it was a … More If you’re on a sports team, consider getting a Veo camera
I’ve been involved with sports for a solid chunk of my life, although I figure I should mention that I did take a ten-year hiatus during which I didn’t play any. When I was a child, interestingly enough, I dabbled in a lot of solo sports. I was obsessed with gymnastics and then got into … More The incredible unity that exists in team sports
Anytime I think of oatmeal, I can’t help but recall an episode of Brooklyn Nine Nine during which Captain Holt is tasked with officiating a wedding. He is struggling to come up with material for his speech, and in a desperate attempt to deliver a somewhat poetic line about marriage, he offers: “Love is like … More Protein oatmeal: yay or nay?
Despite being active and involved with sports for most of my life, the anxiety that attaches itself to performance and quality is something I have always struggled with. Not every athlete experiences sports anxiety, but based on my own observations, enough do; it is an incredibly frustrating experience, and it is also one that is … More Have you ever tried sports meditation?
Through means of tutoring, I’ve had the privilege of meeting all sorts of individuals I arguably would not have otherwise, as I’ve mentioned before here on my blog. One individual, in particular, has inspired me so much as of late that I decided to write a post about them while simultaneously honouring their privacy. I … More The beauty of taking risks
If you follow my blog to any extent, you’re arguably aware of the fact that I play rugby because I’m not exactly shy about it. I struggle to encapsulate in words what the game means to me and what it has done for me in my life, and anyone who also plays can attest to … More Thank you, Norfolk Harvesters
In case you’re unaware and don’t follow the game of rugby too closely, the Women’s Rugby World Cup is currently underway, and it has been exciting to say the least. The best of the best are participating in this tournament, playing the best game in sports, in my own humble opinion. This past Friday, the … More Let’s hear it for Canadian women’s rugby
I first noticed that both of my shoulders had lumps in them a little while ago and didn’t think much of it. My right shoulder, which I refer to as my hitting shoulder in rugby, is worse in terms of the size and number of these hard lumps, and after playing another season this year, … More Bumpy, lumpy shoulders? Read this
For anyone unaware, allow me to inform you that the Women’s Rugby World Cup is currently underway in England. It’s one of my dreams to watch a professional rugby game at some point or another in my life, and watching a World Cup game would be something not easily forgotten. There is no protective equipment … More Have you heard about these innovative mouthguards?
If it seems as though I’m talking quite a bit about rugby, your observation is entirely correct. If you follow my blog to any extent, you’re arguably already well aware of this. But, for anyone who might be new here, allow me to explain that I love and play the game of rugby, and I … More The incredible sportsmanship that exists within rugby
I broke my nose upon receiving a sucker punch directly to the face during a rugby game this past weekend. It isn’t exactly a recommended experience, and it happened quite quickly; the last thing I saw was a fist flying at my face, and the next thing I saw was a lot of blood. There … More Broken nose? Here’s what to do
If you play contact sports or know someone who does, there is a strong probability you have heard of KT Tape. I know plenty of people who use it, two of my closest friends included, who are also my rugby teammates, and I have observed that folks who use KT Tape tend to stay loyal … More Is KT Tape worth the hype?
It is no secret to any reader who follows my blog to some degree that I play and love the game of rugby. I started in grade nine in high school, played a couple of seasons after I graduated, and stopped entirely, only to return to it again ten years later. To be entirely honest, … More Losing isn’t always a loss
I had a pair of Crocs for quite a few years when I was younger. I wore them religiously, and while I’m not entirely sure what happened to them, I think perhaps they were worn out or a dog got a piece of them. I never got another pair after these ones were destroyed, but … More Need some shoes? Get yourself a pair of Crocs
In the game of rugby, it’s more common than not to see most of the players on the pitch using either tape or braces for specific joints and body parts. Most of my teammates use one or the either, and the same goes for the majority of the other teams we play throughout the season. … More Sports taping versus bracing: which is more secure?
As strongly as I detest the scent of BioFreeze, I really am rather grateful for the product. It has been my saving grace on more than one occasion, and, during the rugby season, it’s on my body more often than not. In case you’re unfamiliar with it, BioFreeze is effective in terms of calming down … More BioFreeze patches: yay or nay?
I’ve lost count of the number of times people have asked me what it is like living with Lyme disease, and, furthermore, the ways in which the illness impacts my daily life. As much as I appreciate the interest and the willingness of others to learn more about Lyme disease, I always explain to individuals … More Chronic illness: a different experience for everyone
I haven’t exactly kept my return to rugby after a ten-year hiatus a secret here on my blog, but allow me to remind you in the unlikely event you have forgotten. I played for roughly six years, starting in high school and playing for a couple of years after that, stopped for about ten years, … More Looking for some sports gear? Look no further than Iroqit
I would confidently wager that most of us can relate to, and furthermore, agree, with the notion that the mind is a powerful thing. I believe mental strength is just as pivotal as physical strength in certain situations, and, unfortunately, sometimes our minds like to manipulate us into believing we cannot do something. I’ve been … More Mind over matter
If you’re unaware of what sciatica pain is, I consider you lucky, because that likely means you have never had any issues with your own sciatica nerve. If you are savvy with the condition, however, I empathize with you, and I entirely acknowledge how miserable the pain can be. I’m a little reluctant to admit … More Sciatica pain? Read this
I managed to fracture the tip of my left pinky and tear the tendon clean off the bone of my finger back in December. I jammed my pinky off of a rugby ball, and while it hurt like a bitch at the moment, I really did not think this injury would be worthy of much … More Mallet finger? Here’s what to expect
While I would wager most of us are familiar with the term imposter, I’m not exactly sure how many of us can say we have heard of, or, furthermore, know a thing or two about Imposter Syndrome. Like the name of the condition itself suggests, Imposter Syndrome involves being under the impression that any success … More Are you familiar with Imposter Syndrome?
It deeply saddens me to acknowledge that there is a serious lack of media productions in existence that cover rugby content. You can imagine my excitement when Netflix added a documentary about the legendary Six Nations tournament last year; while I am waiting as patiently as I can for the second installment to be added … More Have you seen ‘No Woman No Try’?
So often in life, we deem goals and accomplishments, dreams and aspirations, even, unattainable, especially when we are being considerate of age. The majority of us arguably associate success with youth, and while this isn’t the healthiest mindset, it is a logical one; statistically speaking, it is more probable to achieve goals when we are … More It really isn’t too late
Back when I was in high school, I was what I think can be considered an avid runner. I threw myself into running in hopes of improving my cardio on the rugby pitch, and it definitely helped; at one point I contemplated getting into long-distance competitions, or marathons, perhaps. But, sadly, my relationship with running … More Cycling versus running: does one reign supreme?
I originally planned to title this post “What are your go-to running songs?” but I changed my mind because the latter option is a wee bit exclusive. Exercise can be performed in all sorts of different ways, not solely via running, so I wanted to ensure this post is as widespread and accommodating as possible. … More What are your go-to exercise songs?
Without sounding like a complete and utter Debby Downer, I have not had the best of luck in regard to my health as of late. I was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2021, and while it is not a walk in the park, I have my suspicions that my illness is contributing to other injuries … More Feeling overwhelmed? You might benefit from this philosophy
In the likely case you have not heard of mallet finger before, don’t stress. I certainly was not savvy with the term up until about a week ago after demolishing my pinky finger, so I would imagine most people haven’t heard of it before unless they, too, have experienced it. I play in a touch … More Are you familiar with mallet finger?
ontheedgeofeverything 