Author: Hell Cat

What I Do The Night Before A Bout

Strip down skates, clean bearings, check all bolts / toe stops / laces.

Hang out freshly laundered pads to dry and air.

Hydrate; get at least two litres of water down me during day.

Eat a balanced, carb-rich meal.

Mentally focus, practice positive projection, meditate.

Carefully read through my team's default strategy. Twice.

Watch inspirational derby footage.

Lay out freshly pressed team kit on a chair by my bed.

Get an early one.

...

What I Actually Do The Night Before A Bout

Open kit bag. Reel from stench. Realise no time to wash and dry pads. Eye up Fabreeze.

Sit down to clean bearings. Rage over lost skate tool.

Locate skate tool. Sit down to pull bearings. Knock glass of hydrating water all over carpet.

Remember promise to contribute to cake stall. Abandon bearings. Despair over lack of vegan margarine. 

Open laptop to read through default strategy; overwhelmed by pre-bout Facebook notifications. Close laptop.

Back to bearings. Team mate calls to discuss pick up times. And who's going to the after party. And that funny thing that happened at scrim yesterday. 

Fire alarm goes off. Cakes are ready.

Dig out team kit. Search frantically for lucky sports bra. Peel off inside of washing machine drum. Hope dry by morning.

Remember untouched giant water bottle. Chug. Hydration for the win.

Up all night peeing.

Author: Hell Cat

Last weekend, Bath Roller Derby ran their first ever public bout! Presenting a double header, offering a mixed opener and headline West Country showdown, we had a blast (and did a win!) Now that the dust is settled and the bruises have developed, here are the top ten lessons I learnt from running our first public derby event...