Semi-??????

What do you call it when you aren't really retired but you aren't really in the game. I think that semi-retirement would be the term that most people use but I don't think that applies to me and my Ultimate status. I'm more in a state of having better things to while still wanting to play ultimate. Better things you say... what could possibly be better? See for yourself at madeline2009.blogspot.com.

I voluntarily skipped my first tournament with Mephisto in a long, long time; probably my first one ever. Mephisto went to the Cazenovia Ultimate Tournament the first weekend of June and I stayed home. They did quite well, finishing tied for 3rd, after losing the semi-final to Goat 15-13. After taking a month off I finally started attending Mephisto practices again but I'm way behind everyone else. I haven't gone to the gym or done anything to improve my fitness in that month and I feel no guilt about that choice. Now I'm faced with another choice; do I just cruise through the summer half assed or do I try to get in shape to be able to play like I know I can. I know that I can still play at the highest level of the sport but only if I put in the effort to be in shape. If I'm not going to put in the effort I don't really want to play. I love ultimate but not enough to waste my time playing it just for fun. It's the competitive aspect of the game that really draws me. I'd rather find another sport than toil through league in Montreal.

That's where I stand right now; wanting to play at the top level but not ready and not sure I want to put in the effort to get back there. Boston is in two weeks. I have the green light to get away for the weekend so now the choice is mine. What I think will end up happening is that I will play at Boston and if I'm not too far off the pace of the game I might keep going for the year but if I go only to realize that I've been left behind... well then it will probably be time to hang them up.

I could always just play Masters with other out of shape people like myself... nah. I've always wanted to try white-water kayaking...

DF