Views from the Rail

As I said in the intro of my blog, I just joined a rugby team. This decision was precipitated by a couple of events. I went to the doctor and found out that I was 194 pounds. Now I’m about 5’8’’ on a good day. And although my “ideal weight” is a bit higher than normal (probably around 175 or so), 194 is significantly too heavy for me.

Now this was kind of a revelatory moment for me. Pretty much right away I started eating healthier, and I joined a gym. I started running and got up to about 5 miles today with a significant “fitness” portion built into that length. Basically I would start at a 6.5 on the treadmill, increasing the speed by 2 than decreasing it by 1. Basically 2 steps up and 1 step back until I run a lap at 10.5 (or 10 with a .5 incline if the machine doesn’t go that high)

After a couple weeks of doing this, along with a healthier diet, I really felt awesome, but the routine was getting boring for me. Doing the same cardio workout a few times a week along with some light weightlifting made me want to play sports again.

When I was in college I was the president of the Denison University Rugby team. I always enjoyed the sport and the camaraderie that went with it. Since I was both ready for a new challenge and in need of a social outlet, I decided to join the Pittsburgh Rugby Football Club.

So far it’s been a great experience. We’ve been practicing indoors along with the University of Pittsburgh’s team. I have to say, the guys are on a whole different level from what I experienced in college. I guess it’s not surprising since my college team wasn’t very good and Pitt City is playing a regional playoff game (two steps from nationals) in the spring.

It’s kind of like the jump between high school and college soccer. In high school I was always one of the best 2 or 3 guys on the field, where in college I was just an average to mediocre player. I think I have a bit more potential on this team, but I won’t know much until we get to play some scrimmages outside. Until then, I’m really enjoying the competition of practice.