I have now played competitive ultimate frisbee for 20 years. I went to UPA Club Nationals with HOSS (Wilmington, NC-based masters) in 2004 but we couldn't make it back in 05 and 06 so the team kind of disbanded for 07.
So I went to try-outs (52 candidates) and made the Boneyard 2007 Raleigh/Durham masters roster of 31. Boneyard beat Hoss in the 2/3 game to go in Pittsburgh last year and finished dead last at UCC 2006. This year the team was more serious with practices twice a week. I made a fair amount of these (the drive from Winston to Durham was never more than 90 minutes each way but still a pain).
My goals all year were to a) get to nationals, and b) perform my best mentally and physically while there. In years past I have often peaked too early in the season and have gone into regionals beat up from various injuries. This year I paced myself but doing light workouts between practices and not playing any other ultimate such as fall league and what not.
Boneyard went 4-3 at the UCC losing to the top 3 finishing teams and beating the top 4 finisher. Officially we took 9th place but we could probably argue an honorary 6/7 spot since our pool was so stacked.
I played 43 total points with 3.5 miscues (drops, throw-aways, or decision errors) and 4 fantasy points. Since I am a primary handler I don't get to throw many assists or catch many goals but if touches were measured I would be in above 150 range I would guess.
Boneyard was a fun team to play with and I learned a lot still. I am supposed to retire this year but if I move to RDU (or to a city with a good masters team) I could play again next year. I always like having something tangible to train for other than every day baseline fitness.
I'd like to do a few 5K runs this spring and perhaps a half marathon in the summer. Ah running. Hate it.
Labels: fitness, sports, ultimate
