Winter Training
Growing up there was nothing I hated more than early March lacrosse practice.
I was reminded of it today when I took Josh to his first baseball practice of the season in the snow on the freezing cold Hudson River at Pier 40.
Thankfully for Josh and me, his practice today was indoors.
Not so for my high school lacrosse team. Our first month of practice would be in sub freezing weather in the Stoney Lonesome parking lots (because we couldn't practice on the fields until they defrosted and dried out).
That was hell. The combination of frostbite and ripped skin from falling on the blacktop gives me pains just thinking about it.
All spring sports start the pre-season in winter but in the northeast (and surely the midwest too), that takes on new meaning.
I call it winter training.
I take it you're an O'Neill grad, right Fred? I think West Point has its own microclimate which is colder and windier than anywhere else around. For me, the memories are of little league practice and the way those aluminum bats could send a sting through your hands that reached right down to your gut. No pair(s) of batting gloves could prevent it.
Posted by: Greg | March 05, 2007 at 08:12 PM
that reminds me of when we had to play rugby league in the freezing cold, when the blades of grass were like glass .... ouch
Posted by: simon | March 05, 2007 at 08:45 PM
I don't want to rub it in, but it was ~65 here (Vancouver, WA) today. Damn it was nice. Then again lacrosse does sound fun.
Posted by: Dustin | March 05, 2007 at 11:50 PM
Try track practice in March in Wisconsin.
Posted by: Rick | March 06, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Didn't know you also are a former lax player. next time I am in NYC i'll bring the ole' stick and we can throw around on union square...
God, those freezing preseason practices SUCKED. Still brings back bad memories.
Posted by: VCMike | March 06, 2007 at 03:09 PM
This definitely triggered memories! I played lax at Middlebury (VT), and we started our outdoors practices in a (plowed) gravel parking lot. The new turf field is easier, but they still have to deal with snow and the cold. Great sport, and glad to hear you played as well.
Posted by: Bob Sargent | March 07, 2007 at 06:46 PM
Great game of a Varsity Match of Oxford v Cambridge Universities in Lacrosse at Parkers Piece in Cambridge UK
http://philipbaddeley.com/2007/03/04/varsity-lacrosse-match-on-parkers-piece-cambridge/
Posted by: Philip | March 07, 2007 at 07:00 PM
hey suck it up. my team had to practice in a foot of snow. after my coach took his snowmobile and flat end it out he said "take you laps boys."
Posted by: hayden | July 16, 2007 at 07:46 PM
hey suck it up. my team had to practice in a foot of snow. after my coach took his snowmobile and flat end it out he said "take you laps boys."
Posted by: hayden | July 16, 2007 at 07:47 PM