10-08-17 (Sunday) HY: Tennis + Lawn Work + Foam Rolling.

10-08-17 (Sunday) HY: Tennis + Lawn Work + Foam Rolling.

Another big tennis day.  Straight tennis for 3.5 hours.  It could have been super awesome except for the fact that it was in the low 90's and the sun was bearing down like crazy.  But despite that, I still had a great time.  Good news first.  The past few times with my new tennis club was great just to get out on the court and swing free, but I didn't feel comfortable with my swing and my stroke in general.  I just felt like everything was just off. I couldn't put my finger on anything specifically wrong, but something was just not right.  Well, today, for the first time in a long time, I felt my stroke coming back.  I felt hints of being comfortable, I was swinging and striking the ball solidly.  Albeit ever so fleeting, I felt I took a step in the right direction today.  And my serve, when we started the serving drills, I wasn't getting anything in.  I was just netting the ball or it was flying long or wide.  Just wasn't striking the ball well.  On top of that, my shoulder was hurting, like I was doing something to throw it out of joint.  But about half-way through the drills, something clicked on the deuce side, and I starting really feeling the ball.  I started hitting my spots and powering my first server IN!  The AD side was still a problem, but at least I started to feel it.  Another step in the right direction.  In the last hour, we started to partner up to play matches.  Unfortunately, this is where the weakest part of my game came into play; the mental game.  Although I was starting to feel it during the practice sessions, come game time, I couldn't get it going.  Sure, I hit a few good shots and played a few good points, but overall, I was still netting the ball way too often.  I didn't win any of my service games, but at least I didn't double fault whole games away like I did last week.  My serve was okay, I hit a few aces every game, but then I hit a few double faults as well.  I need a stronger mental game and I need consistency.  That is what I hope to improve over the next few months.  Then, come January, I plan to play in a singles tournament where I hope to put my experience into practice.  One thing I learned as well, my present water bottle is not big enough for 3.5 hours of tennis on a hot day.  I could have drunk twice as much, but I was being conservative with my water consumption since I only had one bottle.  I made it last to the end of the session, but I bought a 500ml bottle of water for the drive home.

When I got home, it was clear that the soreness and fatigue were starting to set in.  It was also clear that our lawn had turned into a jungle and if I didn't do something about it today, I wouldn't be able to get to it for another two weeks or more, so it had to be today.  So, without taking a break, I went straight in and got it done.  Weed wacked, raked, and disposed of the cuttings.  But I drank lots of water.  Still hot, but got it done.  The bad thing is that my right forearm was starting to cramp.  All then tennis, then a static grip on the weed wacker... OUCH!  I tried switching hands, but the control was terrible so I switched back.  After the first clearing of the cuttings, I usually go back and cut again, but by this time, my neck was burning, and it looked "good enough" so I left it at that.  I'll do a more complete job the next time around.

By this time, it was almost 3pm and that was enough.  I took a shower and had lunch.  One of my favorite dishes prepared by my wife.  I was tempted to take a nap, but I have to sleep early tonight so I fought the urge.  My hip flexors and lower back were really aching by this time, so much so that walking was a bit difficult.  Pain with every step.  So, later in the evening, I rolled out my back and stretched out my hip flexors.  I wasn't able to get them as loose as I was hoping for, but it feels a little better. 

In the end, I torched a whopping 3012kcals.  I don't even remember if I have ever burned that many calories at once before.  Good start to a new week.  But wait till next week, it's going to be epic.  Oh, today was supposed to be the start of Week 2 of my Pull-Up Challenge, but because my right hand/forearm was too racked, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep hold of the bar, so, I'm going to start tomorrow.  Week 2 is a series of negative Pull-Ups.  Oh GLORY!!!