The Downside of Roller Derby

I play roller derby, and I absolutely love it. This has become painfully clear now that I (temporarily) can't play derby.

A couple of weeks ago, I tore my medial collateral ligament (MCL) during a derby practice. Some alarming amount of medical bills later (sports medicine doctor, MRI, orthopedic surgeon, physical therapist) I was told that that I would be out for 6-8 weeks. In addition I get to wear an enormous knee brace that I cannot fit pants over.

The timing is terrible, since I'll now miss tryouts and at least a couple scrimmages. Meanwhile, I'm watching people new to the league and practicing regularly who will likely surpass me during the time I'm out. There's a decent likelihood that I won't be rostered this season as a result.

It's depressing.

Ironically, I've recently become co-chair of the Recruitment and Retention Committee for the league. I now have a keen understanding of what injured skaters (who we're working to retain) go through emotionally.

I've been encouraged to attend practice anyway to watch and keep up, but it's really frustrating to watch everyone skating while I can't. Heck, my husband is out there skating as a ref, and I'm left on the sidelines.

And, yes, I know this isn't the end of the world. I'll get through it. It could be far worse. I don't need surgery, and the majority of my medical bills will be covered by insurance. But still, I'm finding it hard to pull myself out of this emotional slump.

The Swimming of the Fishes

I'm currently enrolled in a "Biology of Fishes" course at Indiana University. Recently, we've been covering the different swimming types of fish.. See the different swimming types listed and then the associated video that I located on YouTube. It's some amazing stuff!

Axial Locomotion

Anguilliform.


Carangiform.


Thunniform.


Ostraciform



Appendicular Locomotion

Pectoral:

Labriform.


Rajiform.


Diodontiform


Dorsal:

Amiiform. Notice the rippling of the fish's dorsal fin.


Gymnotiform.


Anal and Dorsal:

Balistiform.


Tetraodontiform.