Outdoor Soccer 2010 begins!

Yesterday was the opening of the Lawrence Adult Soccer League outdoor season. I play on The Toadstools, a group of people just out to have a little fun playing in the recreation league. Last year was my first playing with this team, and the first I've played in seventeen years. I was surprisingly successful last season, playing eight games, scoring six goals with a handful of assists. So I am really looking forward to playing this year.

And for as excited and happy I am for the first game yesterday... today I am extremely sore. Not in pain, but overall sore. No other sport will scream at you, 'YOU ARE NOT IN SHAPE!' quite like soccer. Thirty minutes after the game and my lungs were still burning. But it wasn't until I awoke this morning that every muscle, every joint and every thought in my head hurt. Yes, I have a bruise on my forehead. Three beautiful scoring opportunities yesterday, the two headers hit crossbar and post (a third chip-shot kick hit crossbar as well). So yeah, my head hurts. It was a physical game as well. I was taken down twice by the goalie as he came charging and sliding out of the goal on break-aways during the game. Looks like I broke a blood vessel in my knee, but for as much contact, I figured to be in more pain.

So what does this tell me? As stated, I'm out of shape. My wife even said that she felt sorry for me, watching me try to run back and forth and play. She knows that I want to be at a competitive level, and if she realized that I was struggling, then I am struggling. So tonight, I jump back on the stationary bike, and ride. Have to work out the stiffness and soreness, so that maybe next Monday after game 2, I'm not as sore. And maybe, just maybe, I'll get a header or two to go in.

- Tom.