Challenging DNPs (continued)

Although Tim Duncan sat because he's old, this injury to Amare Stoudamire is potentially more troubling. According to longtime Knicks announcer Al Trautwig, Stoudamire is suffering from an embarrassing bulge.

DNP, Old

The official box score, with rationale, for Tim Duncan's missed game (DNP = Did Not Play) recently. Perhaps Coach Popovich has a sense of humor.

Cogitating

At the (almost) end of the first quarter of the year, I have re-examined the goals that I set for the year. And as a result of that self reflection, I can now rationalize a slight change in the way I measure one of the goals.

I'm confident that I will achieve my "basketball games played" goal of 200. I've played 48 despite missing almost a month of playing time due to injury, illness, and travel. And I play more in the summer (outdoor) months. Also good news, I'm 28-20 in those 48 games. The won-loss record is not the be all and end all but I am playing better than I did last year.

I have lost 4 pounds (annual goal 10) and I will lose more in the spring, summer, and fall. I generally fatten up a bit in the winter.

I am slightly ahead of goal--24 versus a pro rata 23--on my "no booze" day target. The Monday and Thursday booze-free days have become a habit.

Finally, my "workout days" goal, a 250 day per year goal that I am currently behind (53 days versus a pro rata 58) requires a bit of reworking. The goal is fine, actually, but a "workout" that previously didn't qualify as a workout--a brisk walk, 5K minimum--now makes sense to me. Specifically, on the day after playing basketball, a recovery workout makes sense, and walking for an hour+ works really well. It's a low level calorie burn that re-engages the legs without wearing them out. So I'm calling it a workout. Effective immediately.

Beyond the twice weekly basketball games and once weekly basketball skill workouts, and the walking, I need to work the core (planks), and build some strength (push-ups and pull-ups), I need to develop some high end fitness. Every now and then I don't do what I should do on the basketball court because I am too fatigued to do the right thing. I'm going to try the tabata protocol, using my rowing machine, to increase my top end fitness. I did this a couple years ago and it's nasty. Twice per week should be plenty.