Day 11
The wait for a chilled Saturday was finally over, with a long lie in planned, blankets on the sofa waiting and movies ready to go. I don't know who's weekend plans they were, but I hope they enjoyed it...
I was up at 8 for my first hockey game back in what seems like months. We were playing away to the top of the table, with expectations from our captain high. We took an early lead from a short corner, and with the remainder of the game being battled from end to end, they were unable to get a goal back. Maximum effort put in from every player on the pitch and a well deserved win.
Without even time for teas (the main reason I joined hockey in the first place, who can turn down a sport with free dinner after you play?!), I sped off back to Stevenage - yes mum, ensuring I stuck to every speed limit - to get showered and pick up Sam, before heading to the football club.
As part of the 'Get Set to Go' project, there has been close work between Mind in Mid Herts and Stevenage FC to run free football sessions, encouraging people to get active. As part of this, the club gave us a fundraising opportunity on match day, and some free tickets for the game. I also managed to snap a couple of pictures with Boro Bear!
End of day step total: 21,753
Day 12
Sunday's mean only one thing in my family, football. It's game day, and after a frustrating loss last week, the girls were eager to get back on the pitch. With the go ahead given, we trudged out in to the mud-pit, and kicked off with some comfortable game play. The first half saw me save the ball with my face (not my best show of technique), the most ridiculous slow motion running out of the area in to what I can only explain as quicksand, and an unfortunate own goal which had spun off unkindly from a corner, taking an awkward deflection in to the top of the net. Not letting the score effect our attitudes, the team went back out for the second half, thankfully on the nicer half of the pitch. An early break from the away team saw their top goal scorer neatly slot the ball across in to the far corner, giving them a 2-0 lead.
With a sudden change in gear, we stepped it up, for the last 25, taking full control of the game. A shot was hit from just off the half way line, swerving beautifully in to the top corner, bringing us to 2-1. With us consistently on the attack, tensions started building amongst our competitors, eventually leading to their goal scorer seeing a red card, a bored eye-roll from the ref and laugh from our team as she stormed off and kicked a bin, nearly tripping over it in the process.
The game ended in another loss, but in honour of Sam's birthday we did get post game cake!
End of day step total: 13,476