Is Pilates just a little too tame for you? Do your typical fitness classes leave you craving a little competition? Why not go retro with fitness and try roller derby?

Roller derby has been around since the 1920s, and it's popularity has ebbed and flowed. But flat track roller derby is making a comeback and it puts an edge, a competitiveness, and some fun on fitness like almost nothing else can. Roller derby certainly isn't a sport for wallflowers. But if you've got the need for speed and you're ready to get a little rough, joining an amateur league might just be the extreme fitness outlet you're looking for.

For Melissa "Melicious" Joulwan, author of "Rollergirl: Totally True Tales from the Track," roller derby was love at first sight. "I got started because I was kind of at a crossroads in my life and was looking for a way to meet people. The first time I saw a derby I thought 'I just have to do that.' I was a regular exerciser and was always a skate rat when I was young."

According to the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, since the sport is performed on a flat track, almost anyone can learn. The flat track also makes the sport more accessible; leagues don't have to invest in a specific locale -- they can rent time at a standard roller rink or even convert non-traditional spaces (such as an airport hanger) into a track. What's more, the flat track doesn't help you build up speed; players have to use their own power to build momentum and that's part of what makes roller derby such an excellent physical challenge.

Want to get started with roller derby? Try these tips to get started:

• Get skating. If it's been a while since you've been in skates, visit a local rink and get rolling. You need to build up your muscles and feel confident on skates. "The number one thing is being comfortable on roller skates," said Joulwan. She also says that leagues aren't necessarily looking for girls who are the fastest or strongest -- they're looking for potential, and comfort on skates is necessary for roller derby potential.
• Cardio crazy. Roller derby games are an hour long and each jam is two minutes of intense, fast-paced movement. Joulwan recommends doing two-minute intervals of any intense cardio as it will mimic the energy you'll expend in roller derby.
• Strength train. Roller derby is an incredibly challenging sport. Joulwan recommends building up your quads and hamstrings with squats and lunges as strength in these muscles will help protect your knees. She also recommends planks and other moves to improve your core strength.
  
• Look for a local league. It's not as uncommon as you might think. Amateur roller derby leagues are popping up all across the country. Don't worry if it feels uncomfortable at first. Joulwan remembers her first time on the track and says that it's uncomfortable skating so close to people at first. With practice and time, you'll be skating with the best.
  

So what do you think? Would you try roller derby? Or is it a bit to extreme for your taste?