Ok. So I don’t usually post an entry on here to complain about trivial matters, but something happened today on my commute to work that just seemed to strike a nerve. I thought maybe if I write a post about it, then it would stop bugging me. Every morning, when leaving to go to work, I have to go through an intersection that is right next to an elementary school. Now, there are two things worth mentioning about this intersection:

• First, I have to take a left turn through it, and this means going left on a green light that has a delayed green. Essentially, on my side of the street, the northbound direction, the light turns green and lets about four or five cars through to make a left. Then, while the northbound light is still green, the southbound gets a green light. This typically results in a car being stuck in the intersection, yielding for the southbound traffic while waiting to make a left turn and then going through after the light turns yellow or red.
• Second, this intersection is right next to an elementary school, so there is a crossing guard woman who typically patrols the area, making sure the cross walk signals go on for every light cycle to get the kids through the intersection.

So today, as it turns out, I’m waiting at the light going northbound, several cars back, and then the signal turns green. The cars in front of me begin to go through the intersection turning left, except as soon as I pull out into the intersection, the southbound side clearly gets a green and they begin to move. So I follow the traffic laws and yield, and yield, and yield. We’ve all been there before, waiting to make a left turn on green after you didn’t make it through the delayed green. Unfortunately for me this time, though, the light turned yellow, and then red while I was still in the intersection. Additionally, the southbound cars were all making a right turn, and then traffic backed up all the way into the intersection in the direction that I was waiting to turn into. As soon as the light turned red, I was stuck in the intersection, unable to move, and the cross walk signals immediately came on to let the kids go through.

Now, it’s not like I’ve never seen a gridlock like this happen before at this intersection. Typically the cars clear out after about 5 - 10 seconds once the traffic that had backed up flows through. So I waited patiently as the kids are crossing the intersection around my car and the traffic finally began to move. Then right when I’m about to clear out of the intersection, someone bangs on my window yelling at me. I look over and it’s the cross guard woman screaming “YOU NEEEED TO STOP DOING THIS! YOU NEEEED TO STOP DOING THIS OR I’M GONNA TAKE DOWN YOUW NUMBA!” Huh? She says this as if I get momentarily gridlocked like this every day, and as if I’m the only person who’s ever been stuck in this intersection like this! I gave her a funny look and then continued on my commute as she walked away.

Now, I’m not entirely sure what the technical Massachusetts traffic laws are for this type of a situation. I entered the intersection well before the light even turned yellow and followed the general practice that is always followed every day at that intersection (and at any other like it), waiting after not making it through the delayed green. I suspect that there may be some provision that could technically make this a citable offense (can’t enter an intersection unless you’re 100% sure you can get through perhaps?). But please, there wasn’t much else I could do. When you have a delayed green like that, if you’re already in the intersection when the other direction gets a green, then you’re stuck and need to wait.

Ugh. Ok I’m over it now. I’ve included a picture of a real gridlock for your amusement.

Monday November 17, 2008
12PM Pick-up game
Mitre Fields, Burlington, MA
Weather: 44 F, Partly Sunny
Field: dry
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

It looks like the cold weather is finally here to stay this week. My heel is still bothering me but I think the couple of weeks that I took off have put it into a manageable situation.

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 124
Total Hours Played: 148

Wednesday November 12, 2008
12PM Pick-up game
Mitre Fields, Burlington, MA
Weather: 55 F, Partly Sunny
Field: dry
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

Updating my ultimate games.

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 123
Total Hours Played: 147

Monday November 10, 2008
12PM Pick-up game
Mitre Fields, Burlington, MA
Weather: 48 F, Windy
Field: dry
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

Yesterday I returned to action after taking a two week break from ultimate to rest my injured foot. Things felt alright during the game, but my heel still felt pretty tender after cooling down and tightening up a bit. For now my plan is to stay the course and hope my body responds positively to the increased stress after giving it a chance to start the healing process.

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 122
Total Hours Played: 146

Sunday October 26, 2008
9AM BUDA Fall Hat League Tournament
Mitre Fields, Burlington, MA
Weather: 65 F, Partly Sunny
Field: damp
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

Sunday’s end of the season fall hat league tournament was a long, great day of ultimate as usual. After being beaten in our first two games, we finally rallied to win our last two! It was a tough season this fall with multiple rain outs which made it difficult for our team to get well organized. We really came together in the tournament though and it showed as we were playing clamp-down zone defense and smart, effective offense in those last two games.

Unfortunately, though, my plantar fasciitis has not gone quietly. I’ve started wearing superfeet inserts in my cleats and normal every day shoes, but it’s going to take time before the problem repairs itself. I was able to play at a high level at the tournament, but not without considerable pain and stiffness in my heel. I’m forcing myself (with significant restraint required) to stay off the field for at least this week and possibly next week. In the meantime, I’m going to try and mix in some low impact cross-training as well as stretching and strengthening exercises for my feet and calves.

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 121
Total Hours Played: 145

Wednesday October 22, 2008
12PM Pick-up game
Mitre Fields, Burlington, MA
Weather: 43 F, Windy, Drizzle
Field: damp
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

It was cold and raw for Wednesday’s game but that’s not what bothered me. I’m still battling my heel injury and am hoping I can make it through tomorrow’s all day BUDA fall hat tournament.

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 117
Total Hours Played: 137

Sunday October 19, 2008
10AM BUDA Fall Hat League Game
Fernald School, Waltham, MA
Weather: 41 F, Partly Sunny
Field: dry
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

It was a chilly morning for our last regular season BUDA game on Sunday. Our team had a tough go of it this fall. Last fall I played on a fall hat team that went 7-0 during the regular season schedule. This year? 0-6. If anything positive came out of our game yesterday, though, it’s that we played the number one undefeated team in the league and only lost by a few points. I still think we have the talent to put together a decent run in the all day tournament coming up this Sunday. I’m just hoping that my heel problems won’t be too big of an issue!

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 116
Total Hours Played: 136

Friday October 17, 2008
12PM Pick-up game
Mitre Fields, Burlington, MA
Weather: 55 F, Partly Sunny
Field: dry
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

My heel problems continued during Friday’s game. The symptoms are identical to the plantar fasciitis I experienced over a year ago. The solution last time? Limited playing time, over-the-counter orthotics, and the standard stretching, strengthening and icing. Unfortunately it took months for the problem to completely go away. Booo!

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 115
Total Hours Played: 134

Wednesday October 15, 2008
12PM Pick-up game
Mitre Fields, Burlington, MA
Weather: 72 F, Partly Sunny
Field: dry
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

Likely the last of the warm weather on Wednesday.

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 114
Total Hours Played: 133

Monday October 13, 2008
12PM Pick-up game
Mitre Fields, Burlington, MA
Weather: 70 F, Partly Sunny
Field: dry
Perfect conditions for Ultimate.

It was a decent game on Monday, but unfortunately, it appears I’m starting to develop some heel pain. About a year or two ago, I had a case of plantar fasciitis plague me for a couple of months and the symptoms are similar to what they were then. Hopefully, I can fight it off a little quicker this time!

Ultimate Statistics (since January 2008):
Total Games Played: 113
Total Hours Played: 132