Overcoming and embracing the challenge: Injury

I have truly missed blogging.
I have wanted to start writing again, but honestly, for the amount of things that I have to talk about, I didn't have a clue what to say. I mean, I knew I wanted to write about my injury and my return, but it has all happened so fast I really wasn't sure where to start!

I had been dealing with a chronic shoulder dislocation for some time. There was no explaining it, I was just sitting with a friend one day and it slipped out! Scared me, I had no idea what had just happened. I sat calm, looking at my friend, then my arm, for a few minutes until it eventually slipped back in. I thought it was odd, but just ignored it and got on with my day. It happened again a month later, then again, and then it started happening almost once a week consistently. It never happened in training, mostly when I was completely relaxed. Very strange, but I am very lucky. This was something that I could manage considering it never came out from a traumatic instant. Eventually I got an MRI that told me I had two tears in my Labrum (SLAP/Bankhart) and the tears had started to make its way up to my bicep tendon. We had decided then that we would manage the amount of strain I put on it while maintaining a full training schedule till after the World Cup where I would then have surgery.

Was this an easy choice? No.
Never, in the 9 years I have played on the National Team, missed a tour or had not been selected. I honestly didn't know how I was suppose to feel. I was told that if I didn't have a 3 year plan to try and make it to Rio 2016, I could get away with not having it done. But because this was something that was never going to heal on its own, and considering the bigger picture, the time was now more than ever to have the surgery. I was told recovery was going to be 5-6 months. My mental prep for the recovery time, and knowing I was going to miss a few tours had started that instant.

Did I have any idea what to expect? Yes and No.
I read things on the Internet. I had friends tell me about their experiences, and give me a heads up. They told me exactly how terrible it was going to be. I didn't for a second think that it was going to be any less painful then they had described, I was ready for the worst of it.
But let me tell you...not even that could have prepared me fully for the pain I felt and what I went through the first 6 days.

I had surgery on August 26th in Winnipeg. I was lucky that I was able to be home in Winnipeg, I was able to spend the first 2 weeks with my family where I don't think that I could have gotten through it or done as well as I did with out them. They honestly were a godsend. I was not in a good place. I cant even sugar coat it. The first 6 days were the worst of anything I had experienced. I didn't sleep well, my mom had to sleep on the couch next to me when I woke up to help me. I cried myself to sleep for the first little while (slept on my back for almost 2 1/2 months). I watched a ridiculous amount of Netflix, and I am pretty sure I got sick of being in my own company.

The worst was the pain. I just couldn't do anything, or be comfortable without being in a lot of pain. When I was told that as soon as the anesthetic wore off I had to get my arm out of the sling and do this pendulum swing, I was terrified! I was convinced my arm was going to fall out of its socket, no lie. In the end it didn't and I lived, but it was an event to get up and do that twice a day.
Once those terrible 6 days were over, everyday was noticeably better. I had ups and downs, but because everyday I overcame something, no matter how small, it was a victory and to me, I was winning.

The part that I had a love hate relationship with was that once it got easy it only got harder.
The first time that I had took the sling off and Adrienne said to me that we have to start moving it, I didn't know what I was in for. I cried, I was shaking, I swear I was in shock...the pain was excruciating. It literally put me out for the rest of the day. I would go home, wake up, feel fine, and then go in to do it all over again. Just when you thought it hurt less, you have to push a little further...and there it is, that ridiculous pain that open up the flood gates. I haven't ever cried that much! But they were good tears. Progress tears.

It got to the point where every week I could do something else, a little more, and I had the amazing encouragement of the team surrounding me. They made this easy. They made it easy to show up everyday with a smile on my face and realize that no matter what I was able to do, or not to do there were opportunities. Like being a better student of the game, being able to learn parts of the game that were not my strong points. I started to re evaluate the hard work it takes to play and perform at the level that we currently do, something you don't realize till it is taken from you. It was a great reminder for me, and gave me that push to go beyond limits that I hadn't yet reached or had to face. This wasn't an option for me, this was a mind set. It was about showing up everyday to be better than I was the last. I never made excuses and always did what was asked of me. Sure I had a lot of questions, and I had a lot of concerns. But I trusted the program and the amazing people that were working with me. We were always on track, or just ahead of the game, which for an athlete is exactly what you want to hear.

I said to myself half way through that the rehab was the easy part, it was going to be returning to play that would be hard. I had a fear of stepping on the field and forgetting everything. I was scared that I wasn't going to be the same player, and may never get selected to play again. I thought that I was going to let the team down if I didn't perform right away, and I had moments where I thought that if I hit someone or someone hit me, I wasn't going to get back up...
My experience so far has been that yes, the return to field play is hard. There is no fitness like game fitness, nothing can prep you better than a game. Sure my skills are rusty, but they are definitely improving. Stepping on the field I was hesitant in what I saw and called, but no, I haven't forgotten anything. In contact, my arm is still in tact and I have gotten up many of times after a number of grueling hits playing the Shawnigan Lake boys and it doesn't get much tougher than that. So over all I would say that I built up a lot of stories in my head and what it came down to was a small reminder from a really close friend of mine, teammate Jen Kish, I just need to have self belief. Not just self belief but trusting in the work that I have done to get to this point. This isn't my first Rodeo, I have experience, and like muscle memory that wont let me down, which I have been told by a lot of people who have given me a lot of very helpful encouraging words over the past months.

If you are ever in a situation like this where you second guess yourself, go back and look at the evidence. Re watch old games or highlight reels. Reminds you that you have the ability, so don't forget it.

(Taken by Calver Photography)

My return to play date had been pushed back a few times which for me was emotional and defeating. I had mentally prepared myself for what I had thought was a pretty realistic attainable return to play. It was, but we weren't going to rush this. I hadn't went through all of this to set myself back just because I was impatient and wanted to play. So I mentally prepared to not only be fit to play, but be performance fit to play. New goal, new mind set. Little did I know a week later I would be put through the paces, and do my return to contact skills and get asked to go to Las Vegas 7s. Naturally I was nervous, and a little frightened, but I was not passing up that opportunity! I got to gain some confidence and get some conditioning in. A few days later I was on the roster that was asked to go to Atlanta 7s. I guess a little patience and trust in the process goes a long way. In the end I did return when I had originally hoped. I have missed the girls, and being back and able to be apart of this team is all I have thought of for 5 months. It is what I have worked for, and put in the extra time for. I know this might sound weird, but I am proud of myself. Sure I had some really low points, broke a few times, but over all this has been a great challenge to say that I have over come. I am stronger for it.

I was in a situation that I had no control over, and it was the people surrounding me that made me feel grateful for what I have. I want to thank you all. I cant even express my thanks enough, the message wouldn't do my thanks justice. Just so you know, I truly appreciate everything!

And then?!

Are you at all wondering what is next?!

After a couple long years, definitely a solid 6 months of training, and a World Cup, what happens after!?

Let me tell you what happened during that time.
The past 6 months has been occupied with the process. Something we take very seriously and like to think we live by. It is what we used working up until the Russia World Cup.
I think it was quite successful. It gave us something to focus on. If you found yourself stepping off the path or taking a different route, it got you back onto the track that we as a whole were working towards. It gave us consistency, and a sense of connected. Sticking to the process is what we were going to use to win the World Cup. Win it we didn't, but coming second to a very talented and skilled NZ side is something we are very proud of, and a moment in time that we will never forget. We made history that day, and I can honestly say that feeling is like nothing else you've experienced.

                                                       (harmless game of up down look)
No we don't accept losing, and we are not settling for second because it is something historical we as a team have achieved. Yes we are proud, so extremely proud! Beyond words even. But now moving forward, we have 3 years to start where we finished, and build on that process we so strongly believe in. Because I believe we can win. I know that as a team, as a program we have more. So much more.

We have a team motto, it is Team first. We also like to consider our group as #Connected, and we all have #Onegoal. As a team this brings us together. They are just words, but to us they are very powerful words.

After such a long 6 months and a World Cup to top it off, what next you ask!?

We had two weeks off...
Two weeks! I can not remember the last time we have had two weeks off! Try telling an athlete to take time off! So I mean active rest, lets be honest, but it has been fantastic!
A lot of the girls have went home to spend the summer with their families and loved ones before we reunite in September. But there are still some of us here in Vic who have been taking advantage, living it up, taking in the scenes, enjoying the beautiful summer!
The first week included some bike rides, afternoon patios with friends for food and drinks, some beach time, and getting errands done. I did a lot of driving around and getting lost, which can be really fun because you discover some really amazing and beautiful things on the Island that you wouldn't normally get the chance to see. Getting lost is not actually all that bad!

We then got presented with opportunities like going to Langara Island to the Fishing lodge in the Queen Charlottes for 4 days is a once in a life time unique experience that Ghislaine and I decided to take advantage of! We learned how to bait in 5 minutes, got our gear and out on the water as soon as we could. Just as quick as we were out there we were both getting sick over the side of the boat and curled up hoping for a miracle to make such a terrible feeling go away! Lets just say the next day we didn't forget to take Gravol for the motion sickness. In the end we had a great time, and came back with a couple boxes of fish that will happily feed us for a while! This experience would not have happened for us if it wasn't for Rick Bourne, so thank you, a hundred times thank you! You have an amazing place that you wanted to share with us. It is filled with amazing people that you must be so proud of. We truly appreciate it!

                                                              (that was just day 1)

Brittany Waters and I attended the Players Championship Golf Tournament here in Victoria last week and got to meet and spend time with a lot of people who really care about our program and want to help support us. It was a very humbling and honoring experience to receive a standing ovation for our result in the Moscow World Cup the week earlier. It just felt really amazing to see the proud on all the supporters faces as they applaud our efforts. We were coupled with Mike Chu and Bob...the Bob who never did show up! But we couldn't have done as well (term used loosely) as we did with out a Bob. Bob was the term we used when one of us couldn't get a shot to save our lives. Which proved to be more often then not, so thanks Bob!

The next day I was off to Vancouver to spend some time with the amazing friends I have and never get to see! We went on a couple hikes, which are can be quite difficult being such a different training system than I am use to, as well as kayaking. Both took a lot out of me! I loved it, I love the challenge. Sometimes I tell myself after that I wont put myself through that feeling again. I then find myself, not long after, making plans to do it all over again! It is a vicious cycle, but one that I love to hate.

It's not all fun and games, you see, we will resume regular training this coming week. Love the break, but I really have the urge to get back to the daily grind. We have work to do and when you want something you need to go out and get it. It wont come to you!
Actually funny story, well a short one anyways, but got an email from our coach saying touch is being held at this place this time, vacation is over! Love those messages, really shoots you back into reality, quick!

Side note:
After an intense training period, building up to a big event, you can almost count on the post tour blues. After the 2009 Dubai World Cup I found myself not wanting to leave the house for almost 2 weeks. I felt really low and sort of depressed. We are told those feelings are completely normal! You go from 100% all the time to nothing. It is a little confusing for the body. I have found keeping myself busy and enjoying the people around me very helpful during this time, as I knew what to expect after the 2009 experience.

It's not all about us:
Also during this time our U20 Women's team in competing in England at their Nations Cup and are doing things that our women's team has only ever done once before. They won their first game against the USA and have beat England. Beating England is something that only one other U20 team has done, and not even our senior side has ever done. We are all so very proud of them and are wishing them the best in their last game against South Africa, that when they win, they will have won the whole tournament! There is a stunning group of young women coming up through the system that I am very excited to see them carry this program in the future. At U20 they are exciting, give them a few years, I cant wait! Well done ladies, you should be so proud.                                                              (the future)

To finish this off I want to tell my parents I love them! They came out to Russia to support us, and had a great time travelling around and being apart of the scene. I cant thank them enough for everything they do. I love you guys!                  (love these guys, my two most fave people in the world)

Picture Blog: Lake Wood School Visit

The National Senior Women's 7s Team held some fun rugby skill sessions with the Kids of Lake Wood School in Bear Mountain today. We got there with a bag of balls, some cones, a few pinnies and just started to rattle off some ideas to do with the groups. The girls came up with 4 stations that we would end up running the different grades throughout the day. What was pleasing is that no matter the grade be it 1 or 6 they all had fun doing the same drills!

The kids were fantastic. We ended up having station one being a relay station, where the kids would work on their evasive skills. Not running just in a straight line, but cutting off the cone, what we like to refer to as a power step. Each kid had to go through about 5 cones then return to the same way they came before their other teammate could leave the mark. It was wet out, so there was a lot of slip and slide, which also made it hard to cut, but the kids were laughing, and lets be serious, falling and sliding is the best part!
Station 2 was run as basic catch and pass. You had 4 cones squared up, and the kids would run across and pop up the ball to their opposite, two lines going at once. Then they would have to meet in the middle and try to put the ball up for their opposite to run onto. The third part to that drill was them catching and passing, following your pass to the right and then to the left. Bringing the drill to the end, the grid opened up and all the balls got placed in the middle. The kids all still on 4 corners they had to run into the middle of the grid one kid at a time, relay style, and bring one ball back at a time. Once all the balls were gone from the middle, they were allowed to go and take balls from the other 4 corners.
Station 3 was British Bull Dog. You know! A classic. 3 people start in the middle, call the group of people over who are waiting to run on the line, and they try and tag as many to join in their chain to help them out in the middle the next time.
Station 4 was End ball. It's just like Handball but a very beginner level version and we play it with a Rugby ball! Once you get the hang of it, you can start to add skills, rules etc.

The Kids loved it. They laughed, cheered, and over all they seemed to have had a great time! I know that we all enjoyed spending the day with them. We were very thankful to have had the opportunity to work with the school today. Those experiences go a long way. We hope the kids got as much out of it as we did!

This is something we do on a regular, and I thought it was really neat to bring into this day! It's our motto team first, and so we bring everyone in for a team on 2...1...2...Team! Loved it.

Thanks Lake Wood School for asking us to come in and work with all the wonderful kids!

Mind of a stubborn athlete

I'm just going to go off on one here.
More of a conversation that I am having with myself. I would love for you to be involved though!
As an athlete, being the way we are, the hard work we put into everything we do.
It becomes your business. You are apart of a company. Something big.
Suddenly when there are set backs in that something huge you are apart of, you feel like your world comes crashing down.
I see it everyday in the people around me. I see it in the athletes I train with, my teammates, or you see other athletes training in the gym or on the track putting in the same commitment and efforts you are. Now when someone tells you that you can't do something, it makes you want it more then you ever wanted it before. Its almost like your purpose or reason for being is taken away from you.
Well, at least that's how it feels as an elite athlete who has given their life to their sport.

For example an injury. It doesn't matter what kind of injury it is, they all have similar effects on each individual. You have the serious injury that is going to take months and months to heal, and you know that what you need to do is rest. Little activity as possible, and rehab. Lots and lots of rehab. Now even though you know that this is going to take months and months, and you can't do anything to speed it up, you are going to be the most difficult, most stubborn, most impatient person you could imagine being until you're back in the game. Totally normal.
As much as we like to think the sport we play doesn't define us, something like an injury just makes that "being defined" more concrete. It does, because during that time you feel lost, confused, emotional, like your life is in shambles and its coming to an end. There couldn't possibly be anything worse! Even though going through all of this you have your friends and family who support you, you still feel a little bit on your own. That is where a life balance comes in, but that's a whole other topic!

No matter how serious the set back, you go through the same emotions!
All you want to do is be healthy, fit, back in the game, put me in coach I am ready!
Little do we know as an athlete time off / body management is just as important as the training you do on the pitch!

I was talking to my physio today and was telling him how much extra soft tissue I had done, and how I went to town on my neck and back, thinking that I had done the right thing! He then says, that's great that you went to town, but you know that less is probably more in most situations when it comes to niggles or injuries. He said "you prob just went and pissed it off." When actually just taking a couple days and letting things settle down is probably my best bet.
Go figure! But me being the stubborn athlete I am, thinking I'm doing what's best, I was actually probably not doing myself any favors!

Something funny happened to me today. You might have had to be there to fully understand the humor in it, but we were on the pitch starting up some contact drills. Well I was told not to participate, so I was standing on the side line, getting impatient. So I started to try and mimic what they were doing against the move able goal posts. What I thought was being discrete, was actually on show for everyone to see, and pretty much got told to just sit still!
I find it very hard to just sit still, when all I want to be doing is the same thing as everyone else!
Even though I am fully capable of doing the drills and the contact, that doesn't mean its going to help me any in the bigger picture. So just taking a bit of time to let things settle is best. Maybe then I wont be burdened with chronic pain?

Body management is so important, even at my age I have gotten much better, but still, I find myself trying to fight the inevitable. These things happen! Coach says there isn't an award for who is the most brave, nip it in the bud early, be smart about these things! It could be the difference in you being average for a minute and then progress from your injury to being your outstanding self or you being consistently average all year!
Set backs stink, and as an athlete you will either be lucky enough to never have to deal with any injuries, you may only have had to deal with a few, or your entire career has been littered with injuries that even your physio cant explain. You just have hard luck.

The most extraordinary thing about elite athletes is no matter how hard their luck may have been they don't give up. They do everything in their power to get back to 100% and do it all over again. And a lot of them say that they wouldn't have had it any other way. It has made them stronger. Frustrating, and mentally defeating, but they over come that. Those hurdles and challenges they have embraced during their roller coaster ride has made them who they are.

I was talking to a friend who is a Strength and Conditioning coach and he said that "we like to hire athletes because they don't call in sick when they have anything less then the squirts. They take the same pride in their working as they did in playing." I'd say that pretty much describes it!

There are some really impressive people out there.  A few of those people are on my team, and you know who you are, but every day you inspire me and the people around you for being there, doing what you can do, and still striving for that greatness. No matter the challenges your being faced with you come with a smile on your face, and encourage those around you. That takes a lot and I thank you, for being an outstanding teammate, and believing in us, because we all believe in you.

Thanks for sticking around for my little rant.
This is something you see people go through on a daily basis and I am always impressed with how these things get dealt with. Very strong determined people. Most people would crumble, but these ones don't!

Intro to, and Blog by Captain Jen Kish

I wanted to open up my blogs again, moving into a very exciting 2013 with an introduction to a very good friend and teammate of mine, Jen Kish. I've been playing with Kish since a Scotland tour in 2007. First time I ever met her I got the impression she was a very confident, self aware youngster who knew her futures potential. Kish never hesitates to show her ability, and you would understand that if you have ever seen her play. This girl is a gamer and someone I recommend you keep an eye out for on our National Senior Women's road to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Here are a few things Kish had to say.

Kish, where did you grow up?
"I moved all around Canada but ended up staying in Edmonton, AB for the last 16 years."

Who do you play for in Edmonton?
"Currently I play with the Edmonton Rockers."

Who has been some of your great support along this journey?
"My dad. Without him I wouldn't be where I am today."

Before rugby what sports did you do growing up?
"Tea Kwon Do, Basketball, Football, Badminton."

When did you discover rugby as your passion and something you wanted to pursue?
"I knew I wanted to pursue Rugby when I started to really excel in it, and when the excitement I felt going to practice and playing in games grew stronger."

What are your goals personally and for the team working up to the Olympics?
"Personally: Ive got so many. MVP Canada, MVP IRB, Captain the world cup & Olympic squad & eventually squat more than I can bench ;)' And for the Team: To win the world cup & Olympics & have everyone run a 6 min mile."

Is there anything you fear?
"Injuries!"

What has been your greatest challenge so far?
"Centralizing in Victoria."

How do you vision 2013 working out for the Canadian women's team?
"I think we'll have a great year since we'll all be centralized again."

Out of all your watches which one is your favorite??
"So many to pick from but my white diesel watch. I just recently got it for Xmas!"

I understand you have owned Motor Bikes in the past, what's your favorite memory you have with them?!
"I brought my bike to Victoria in October with a moving truck. I parked it in the underground parking of the apartment where I was staying and left it there until I came back in Jan. When I arrived in Victoria in Jan I went to go see if my bike was still there after sitting for 2 months. I am happy to say it was there but when I went to start it, cause I needed to get groceries, it was dead. So i remember trying to push start the bike. Here I am running up and down in the underground parking lot with this heavy bike trying to jump start it. 45 min later I finally got it to start. I was so tired in the end that I never ended up going to get groceries. I went back upstairs and took a nap."

Blog by Captain Jen Kish, Post Dubai

It’s only been a few weeks now that I’ve been back on Canadian soil since the first ever IRB Women’s Sevens World Series took place in Dubai. I am completely gutted with my own performance and the result our team got after how hard we all trained leading up. However, our Maple Leafs team ended up showing well and placed first on the invitational side. Prior to the tournament kicking off, we spent 2 weeks in Victoria trying to refine our skills and get that team cohesion again after being apart for 6 months. Unfortunately 2 weeks just wasn’t enough and it showed in all our games. Our first match was against Russia and what a mess that was. We were out skilled and lacked a lot of discipline. I was in utter shock after the game because I just couldn’t believe what just happened. We all were. I just want to say, kudos to Russia for improving, as much as they have since we’ve last seen them. China was our next match and I am relieved to say that the result was in our favor this time. It’s too bad that the weather was so miserable that day because it makes a seven’s game a sloppy one. With knowing we were 1-1 we knew we had to step up our level when we met New Zealand in our last match of the day. What a battle that was. They are good athletes and solid tacklers. During that whole match it seemed as though we lost sight of our game plan. It was like a repeat of our match against Russia. Countless mistakes and handling errors on our part cost us the game and New Zealand came out victorious. The bus ride back to the hotel that night was a quiet one. I replayed every game in my head and the only thing I remember was, “What happened today?”

Waking up the next morning our team went for a walk. During that walk our coach, John Tait picked up a small pebble and put it in the palm of his hand. He asked one of us to try to pick up the pebble out of his hand but by only using 1 finger. It was impossible. His point was, you need the rest of your fingers to help you achieve the task. One individual cannot win a game when the game includes others. It was a very inspirational moment and from then on there was a sense of positive energy coming from everyone. To me, it was if everyone was saying in their minds, “OK, today is our day. Today is the day we turn it around and do what we came here to do.” I remember telling the girls before we played Australia, that no matter what happens today, we are a very talented team with endless potential. We were fired up and ready to play the way we wanted to play from the very beginning. I think out of all the games that weekend, it was our best performance even though we lost. It was that game where we finally started to play like a team. Later that day we faced England then Russia in the Plate Final. It was our time for redemption against Russia. We ended up playing a lot better than our previous meeting but there just wasn’t enough time on the clock seal a win.

We gather again in January to start our second year of centralization where we will continue to build and hone our skills. I am looking forward to training with all the girls and the new ones that are up and coming. We have a bunch of new talent on the scene and I am excited to see these players develop.

For all you people who enjoy a bit of social media, check out Twitter and you can follow Jen Kish @jen_kish.

Also check out this Youtube link about how Own The Podium has influenced out year!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPXXeCYBQEo&feature=youtu.be

Thanks for checking out my blog!
Mandy Marchak @MandyMarchak

Player Profile: Barbara Mervin

I would like to introduce to you the very lovely and talented Barbara Mervin. She has been apart of the NSWT since 2004, and has been a huge impact in this team ever since the day she started. If you know her as a friend, met her in passing or played with her, you would know her presence does not go un noticed. Barbara can be seen organizing  most of our fundraising projects, helping out at summer camps, coaching the Uvic Women's rugby team, being a brilliant fashion designer, transitioning between Rugby's 7s and 15s, and training up to 5 hrs a day. She does all of this, believe it or not, while maintaining a healthy well balanced lifestyle. Go Barbara!

Lets hear a little bit about the above from the "Swervin Mervin" herself.

Barbara, please tell us about your hometown, club, and you making the move to Victoria, BC.
Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Raised in Peterborough, Ontario.
Peterborough Pagans is my hometown club. The Pagans are an amazing club, I haven’t played for them in 6 years since I moved to Victoria, BC but they have continued to support me and I’m tremendously grateful for that. Velox Rugby Club is my home now. The rugby scene in Victoria is much different then Peterborough; national team players are a dime a dozen which makes finding training partners and world-class facilities much more accessible. I love both clubs and cities for different reasons. 

Why do you play rugby?

Rugby brings so much happiness to my life. I know this because I’ve been injured a lot lately and I’ve been just miserable to be around. However, I’m back on the mend and feeling grrrrrrrrrrrrrreat! Rugby empowers me and gives me a sense of belonging and achievement. I also absolutely love the girls I play with, in fact so much so that I just realized I don’t have a lot of other friends. Last week the NSWT played an inter squad 15s game in Victoria and we didn’t have a lot of fans. The girls were asking me were my friends were, and I realized at that moment they were all on the pitch...but you know what? I believe friends are like high heal shoes. You don’t need a lot of them, just a few great quality ones. They will be worth a lot, they will bring you endless joy, they’ll make you look good, give you confidence and if you treat them right, you’ll have them forever. If you have poor quality ones, it won’t matter how great they initially make you feel or how many you have, you’ll be left hurting and eventually you will dispose of them.

What do you do in your free time?

In my down time I enjoy playing with my dogs and feeding the ladies, aka the chickens: Feather Lockler, Pecahauntus, Robert Redfeather, Yoke-o-ono, Cluck Norris and Egger Allen Poe. There were 7 but unfortunately 2Peck strutted a little too close to my snoop doggies…RIP.

What do you do for work?

I started a business called APTOELLA / RUGBY. Our goal is through innovation and creation of performance apparel, we inspire, celebrate, and empower female rugby players around the world.

Basically, I started a women’s rugby clothing line to make women and girls look good and feel great playing the sport they love. The business encompasses all of my passions and I have big dreams for the company’s future!


Tell us about the National Senior Canadian Women’s Team Calendar.

 

I organized that controversial NSWT nude calendar ☺
Why?

1. To raise the profile and awareness of our successful team
2. To raise needed funds for our team to become more successful
3. To have my amazing teammates see the beauty of the countless hours they endured in the gym and on the pitch
4. To make muscles beautiful to the public and to young girls who think they need to be skinny to be attractive
5. To learn and grow as a entrepreneur

Will I do it again?
Not if my partner has anything to say about it!
I am definitely glad I did it, but it was a huge project with many challenges. Challenges that lead to great learning opportunities but also took up a lot of time. If the calendar reaches the goals that the team set out (and we are well on our way!), I think it’ll be time to pass the buck and let someone else have a vision and bring it to life. I would definitely still help out and support the production of future calendars, but right now I don’t intend to lead the project again.

Thank you Barbara for doing this blog, and everything you do for the program. Your efforts don't go un noticed, and they go above and beyond anything anyone would expect. Your an outstanding person and athlete. Keep up the hard work, big year ahead working towards the 2013 Russia World Cup.

You can follow Barbara @APTOELLA or contact her for any information about her business and how you can obtain some of her apparel!

A little bit of the last 3 months

It's been a really long time I have to be honest!
I never meant to wait this long to blog again. I think as soon as centralization was finished, sorting out moving back to London, a new Sport Visa so they would eventually let me back into their country, coming back to Canada for a week to go to the Canada East/West Camp, then visit my parents in Winnipeg for 3 weeks has really kept me occupied!
I have had so many ideas for blogging. I was going to do some survey blogs. A blog on one of the most challenging experiences I have ever had Climbing 4 of the Highest peaks in the UK in 48 hours. Multiple Player profiles (which one I am working on as we speak). All of which I will be doing eventually. I think I will probably jumble a lot of the last 3 months into this one blog. I have to keep you interested right!? Just try and keep up, I speak fast, and don't always make alot of sense. Haha. Seriously...

So I actually got off the plane the day after centralization in London, got in a car, and shot off to a 7s tournament some may know as Bournemouth 7s. I was involved in it last year with the Moody Cows, and was involved again this year with the Moody Cows. We only went and won it...again!!! Both years the final had been a thrilling experience. The Cows, you see, they play with alot of passion, heart. They play for a cause. They play hard and party hard. Perfect combination I think. We have won Bournemouth 7s 2 yrs in a row now. The money we've won goes towards the charity we play for, the McMillan Cancer Foundation. Great cause, if you ever see the girls, ask them to tell you the story about the team. Its wonderful.

Shortly after this I was asked to participate in the 4 Peaks Challenge on a team with Maggie Alphonsi MBE and Phil Vickery. Both England Rugby Legends in the game. Lucky me! What an experience. We had no idea what to expect. Only from the word of some of the other teams around us who have participated in the past years. We were doing this for the Wooden Spoon Charity of Rugby for Children. Doing this we decided ok, we are just going to cruise through this, no rush, our goal was just to finish. The way it worked was there are teams of 4, 3 who climb and the one driver. We flew into Scotland to start with Ben Nevis, then drove through the night to England where we hiked Hellvelyn. The challenge here was that we hiked two Mountains in one day, from Hellvelyn we drove through the day to Wales to climb Mt Snowdon. From there we drove through the night to catch the ferry over to Ireland to climb our final climb Carantouhill. My favorite was Mt Snowdon. We owned that mountain! Honest to god, we had a few near death experiences, some even went back another way because the winds at the top were 40mph plus. It was incredible. Each mountain had its own challenge. But we concurred them all, and did it in the 48 hours we were suppose to! The challenge was to do all this while being sleep deprived and malnourished! An experience to remember. Would I do it again!? Maybe, I'm not sure. I like not knowing whats ahead. They have 4 challenges alike through the year, so I would like to challenge myself to try one of those next time the opportunity arises. The Wooden Spoon charity raised 109, 000 pounds from that challenge to go towards giving young children the opportunity to experience sport, and the life lessons we learn from sport everyday.

 This was our finish, after 48 hrs!!!

This was me moon walking the start of Mt Snowdon...obviously!

After that I decided to take the summer to focus on training and getting my body back into game shape. I was pretty beat up after the season, and it really seemed like the smart thing to do. With the help and push of others, we are athletes, we cant always make those decisions on our own!
The summer was great. I really enjoyed the time focusing on training, hanging out, doing a little bit of work for friends. I have become a painter! Who knew. People trust you with their places here, and that actually gives the confidence to believe, hey, I've never really painted before, but heck ya, I can paint your room, rip out your floors and completely renovate your bathroom...thanks youtube!

Got back into the swing of it all with an East/West camp. What a great camp, 45 girls, alot of new faces with the biggest potential. Our program is growing and our future is exciting. Playing with these girls made me realize why I love the sport I play again.  They have the drive, the will to learn and that passion to play for their country. What I find as a Vet on this team is I am constantly learning from everyone around me. Someone used me as an example today and said I didn't make it as far as I have on my own, I have come this far because of the people around me. Yes I put in all the work, Ill give myself some credit, but I wake up thinking of the people I work for, train for, play for. The team that backs me, and who I back in return. The Staff who trust me to go to London and play because I love it, but to come back with the same focus and not have fallen off my game because I've still put in all the work. All of these new faces have given me that extra push to not become complacent. I'm not nervous because I trust my training and my ability, but I wont stop working, not with the young talent nipping at my heals!

To finish off this 3 months, I got to spend 3 amazing weeks with my family. My biggest fans, and the most important people in my world. I only ever really get to see them once a year, but depending on what events the decided they can come to, I would be lucky enough to see them on the circuit. Which for me is always a treat! I'm from Winnipeg, and 3 weeks there seems like a loooong time. This time around it wasn't long enough. I was able to see alot of family, and I don't get to do that often. Timing worked out well this year and we were all in the same place same time. Was the perfect August I would have to say.

Thanks you guys for reading in on my blog, I have a great player profile from Barbara Mervin coming up next. She is on the rise with her Business Aptoella. She will tell you more about it, but look out for her, she is going to be big!

You can follow me @mandymarchak on twitter, I usually have something to say.

Take care everyone!