Day 2 of my personal FC Supra pre-tryout training camp went well! I broke in the new shoes, and I let the creative soccer/football juices flow. In other words, no drills yet.
Training — Day 1
Yesterday, Day 1, was great because I broke the ice in terms of truly getting into the mindset of dedicating myself to this endeavor. I honestly didn’t feel like practicing much (for the reason discussed in my Day 1 post). Still, I went through with it. I played on natural grass because the synthetic grass field I would normally train on was reserved. So, I just blasted the ball against the fence, albeit with targets in place. While my aim was relatively spot-on, doubts of whether I’d eventually be Supra/CPL-level-ready crept up. I mean, I was playing in cheap/slip-on running shoes (as opposed to standard cleats) while dodging countless bits of duck poop, after all.
Training — Day 2
Day 2 was another story. I had the new cleats. I was on the clean, recently renewed synthetic pitch. And, for the first time, I felt ready. I mean, yesterday was great, as mentioned, but it was a struggle to just bring myself to the field; I had other obligations, and I had made excuses to train throughout the day… but I got there. But today, I went in with a different outlook. I even looked different, with a pound or two (likely of water) shedded from the day prior. It might have been water depletion (you know, dehydration), but I did appear leaner as I got ready to leave the house. Oddly enough, though, I didn’t drink a single drop throughout today’s practice; yesterday, I drank the entire half-liter bottle. These are good signs, but maybe I’m moving ahead too quickly.
Over-Training
If I get burned out early on, it’s going to be tough recovering in time for the tryouts. I may not be practicing nearly as much as I will be if I make the team. But when you’re dedicating a good part of your day (virtually every day) to excelling in a sport (or anything for that matter), regardless of how much you enjoy it, it could become taxing when it’s not your bread & butter. Money has never, for any aspect of my life, been a motivating factor. But it’s something we all need beyond a certain point. So, I’m not driven by the potential income generated from being a pro soccer/football player — but it’s still necessary. With that said, sacrifices temporarily need to be made to accommodate the regular practices, the change in diet (consisting of healthier [i.e., more expensive] food), and the slightly erratic resting schedule.
I Forgot to Train
I forgot to train yesterday — with weights, that is. Working out is a big part of who I am. I’m a personal trainer (specialized in natural muscle-building) by trade, but unlike many fitness professionals, I practice what I preach… resistance training (for myself) regularly. Going back to sacrifices, this is one of them. There are going to be days when I can’t work out, and there will be even more where my workouts will need to be adapted for a soccer/football player’s lifestyle & regimen. But it’s okay. Balancing out your passions is nothing in comparison with giving up time spent with loved ones. That’s what’s hard. It’s the hardest part of this journey.
Being Excited
As I write this, I feel anxious, but in a good way. I’m excited to achieve what may well be my potential… or at least the best I’ve ever been in the sport. Even as far as weightlifting goes, I’ve never been big on personal records. I don’t like to measure my success despite wanting to be successful in all areas of my life. But, while the challenges of an aging athlete are quite obvious, I’d prefer not to fall into that category… I can’t afford to, in this case. It’s NOT an option. Am I proud of myself for doing this at 46 years of age? Yes, of course; it’s an accomplishment in & of itself. But, I can’t let that determine how I play nor how others perceive me… at the tryouts… and thereafter. Instead, I’m going to be having fun with this. I won’t let that go, because when a person’s confidence hits rock bottom (and it will, inevitably at various stages), it’s that child-like wonder that gets you through — that helps push boundaries, or remove them entirely.