Week Three

Today I am exhausted. It is from a couple of things, including the reason I didn't blog about Monday's class. However, as Sophia Petrillo would say, I digress. Let's get to Monday's class first.

Ryan led Monday's class. I knew right when we got there that we were in for a workout. We started by warming up, running around the field. Just like last time when we wound up at the hill so I was a little leery. We had to hop on one foot part of the way. I have some soreness surrounding my achilles tendon on one foot so that was a little uncomfortable and I had to go slowly on that. We stopped midway and did some burpees. I did better this time than the last time. I went a little quicker, tried to get up a little faster, so some progress. Then we ran some more and I thought, Oh no, the hill! But we didn't go to the hill. Yay! We did some running, some sprints and then some slow. Kind of like red light, green light. I liked this exercise because this was something I could do already pretty well. Then we ran back in for our circuit. We had to do push-ups on the weights and then lift out the weight. Yikes. That was a challenge. Another challenge to meet. We also did the wall sit, did a fast run around a cone, hopped around in the shape of a box, and did some lunges with the medicine ball.

We had a water break and I was ready for a second go at the circuit. But we didn't do the circuit again. We took our mats, made a circle and played a card game. Hearts were high knees running in place, clubs were partner push-ups (more push-ups, ouch), spades was doing some in and out squats, and V-situps. Someone would pick a card and whatever suit it was we had to do that. Someone said, "Pull a joker", which I thought was a joke. We had to do the high knee runs twice in a row, partner push-ups, and the squats. Somehow Sharon hurt her hamstring doing this. She had to take it easy the rest of the time, but she still did pretty much everything. Finally, someone really did pull a joker. But it wasn't a joke. It meant run the hill! So off to the hill we went.
I regretted those dang sprints now. I ran up most of the hill but did have to walk some here and there. Sharon jogged all the way up! What endurance, even with a sore hamstring. Again, on the way down, I ran hesitantly. Don't know what's going on there but some kind of psychological hurdle there to jump. Finally, got to the bottom. I was thinking I'm getting closer to meeting my challenge of running all the way up the hill and down. But not quite there yet. I waited at the bottom with the others, encouraging others to finish and thinking that at least this part was done. But then the bad news. We had to do the hill some more! This time we had to run up the hill to where cones were placed, do 10 pushups (still more push-ups!), and then run to the next cone. I was beat but when I got to the last cone and was doing my last set of push ups I thought, Wow. I did it. I made it to all the cones and did all the push-ups on my toes. Awesome. Then we ran back down and when we got to the field I still had enough in my legs to run back to the shelter. That felt really good. Of course, we still had core exercises to do which didn't feel really good but hey, got through it. This was made especially easier when I saw people arriving for the next class. Monday was a workout! But when I was done, what a great feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. At least it was for me. Poor Sharon kind of hobbled back to the car with her sore hamstring but it's feeling better now.

This blog is kind of long so I'll post about Wednesday's workout tomorrow.

Roger

Friday, June 25

Wow. Nice surprise on Wednesday. Very stormy in the morning and boot camp was cancelled. Just like a snow day! Sharon and I did go to the health club though and put together our own mini boot camp using exercises we already knew and some things from camp. We probably looked very silly but the club was pretty empty so who cares?

Back to fit camp today. Was really tough. Did some running on the hill but only within a selected area so not too bad. Still up the hill, down the hill, up the hill, down the hill...and then backwards. We warmed up by running around the wet field and having to do the plank ab exercise in the middle of it. As we got closer to the hill I said to someone "I think this is a trick" and it sure was. It just got us to the hill! After the hill, we went into our circuit. Lots of arms today and I felt it. I figured that I was getting what I deserved for making people in my body sculpt class do many of these same exercises. It's much different when you are teaching and the adrenaline carries you through. Here I kept telling myself mind over muscle, mind over muscle...but the muscle wasn't having any of that. We got to throw the medicine ball to each other and I kind of like the different hopping exercises. There was a rope ladder on the ground and we hop in and out of the rungs. We've done some others with rings the size of hula hoops that we hop through as well. That's fun. I know I'm going to be sore tomorrow though.

It's the end of our second week and we both find we are enjoying it. 4:30 comes really early but we can relax when we get home. It is very challenging but that is what I wanted. Gotta keep these 48 year old muscles working! Have to admit, though, that I like going to the 5:30 class because I know when I see the 6:15 people coming we are almost finished.

Saw Toy Story 3 yesterday. We all liked it. Was excellent, funny, suspenseful, and sad. Adults will enjoy it as much as kids. And, the tickets were only $5.00 which I enjoy as well. Have a good one.

Roger

Week Two

Started a new week of fit camp. Started with the cardio portion of our test which meant we had to run the hill. I ran the hill in 4:47 seconds. Not great but I know it is better than it was last week. My quads weren't sore like they were prior to our first day of camp last week. Unfortunately on my way up the hill I noticed my shoe string was untied. Didn't want to stop to tie it but really didn't want to fall either. I get really nervous on the way down too so I find myself stepping on the brakes a little bit. But I had a lot of energy at the end of the hill so was able to kick it a little there. Gives me something to work on. Sharon did well. She came in slower but she jogged all the way up and down the hill. She has good endurance. While we were waiting for people to finish we had to do push-ups. Good reason to finish a little slower.

The circuit was tough. Worked all areas of the body. That reminds me, my 17 burpees must have been over 3 minutes, not over 1:30. We had to do them again today, not a test though, and I was thinking no way was I able to do 17 of these! I was a sweaty mess by the end of the workout but it felt really good. The saddest part was when we got back to the car and I realized I left my mat behind and had to go get it! I think Sharon should have gotten it for me because she has such great endurance but no go. Oh well. No fit camp tomorrow so Wednesday we'll go at it again.

Oh, yeah, lost 2 pounds last week. Unfortunately bad weekend of eating but how could I pass up all that great food in Michigan? At least the meat was all grilled. And I had to keep dragging Erica around in the pool and lifting her up so maybe that counts for a little exercise.

Roger

Fitness Camp Day 2

Fitness camp was pretty good today but tough. I wasn't as sore as I thought I would still be (but I was pretty sore yesterday). We had to do some fitness tests and I didn't do so well :(. I won't tell you what I weighed in at but it's not good! I could only do 26 push-ups, wall sit for a minute and a 1/2, and do 17 burpees in a minute and a 1/2 so I guess I have lots of room for improvement. Sharon was one of the best wall sitters. She sat 3 minutes and 1o seconds. Unfortunately it took a couple of us to help straighten her back up into position after. We didn't do the cardio test because the hill was too wet but we have to do it Monday.

After the tests we had to do our workout. We did the chariot run which meant our partner put two tubings around us and pulled back while we ran across the tennis court. It was hard to move. My partner was nice and very encouraging. The participants next to us gave me some pointers to use my arms to help my momentum and it really made a difference. After we went across and pack we switched positions but then we had to switch back and do it again. The second time was really difficult. I got to watch Sharon with her partner and her partner was really strong. I tried not to laugh as I saw her racing across the court and Sharon holding of for dear life! I got to glance when Sharon was running to and she did pretty well. Only later I found out that they only used one of the tubes instead of 2!

When we weren't doing the chariot run we had to do squats into overhead presses, 15 push-ups, side lunges, back lunges with bicep curls and then we had to do them again. This all reminded me of junior high school. I remember when spring would arrive and we would have to go outside to start training for our mile run. The first couple of times I would be terribly nauseous after but then I'd get used to it and would start to get better. That's how I'm feeling after the 2nd day of camp. I wasn't nearly as nauseous as I was Monday so I'm hoping to start getting better. Unfortunately we're going to camp tomorrow instead of Friday which means no day of rest. Luckily it's because I'm going for alone time to visit my family in Michigan and very much looking forward to it.

Roger

Boot Camp Day 1

Okay. Went to my first real fitness fun boot camp today. Definitely a fitness boot camp, but I don't know about the fun. That workout kicked my butt! We almost didn't make it through the warm up in the parking lot.

This is what I looked like when I got home!

Been walking very slowly the rest of the day. Sharon did really well. This camp showed me I really need to get in shape.

We did what was called the playground workout. We really worked our core while also working legs, arms, chest, butt, and we had to run that sledding hill at Elver Park again. Even though I was thinking "I got up at 4:30 am for this!" I also realized that this was really presenting me a challenge that I am determined to meet. And Sharon will be there meeting it with me so that is good. Sharon says "Ouch" which we have both been saying all day! Don't know whether I'll get my Tuesday workout in at the club. We're being tested on Wednesday which I'm guessing is to establish a baseline. Then we'll be able to chart our progress better. I hope they don't time me on that dang hill! Maybe I'll just roll down to increase my speed! Wish me luck on this.

Watching Dance Your A** Off. I love this show. Very inspiring to see. And for the most part these people can move!

Oh, well, I survived to get fit another day. Have a good one.

Roger

Sunday, June 13

Tomorrow is the beginning of Fun Fitness Boot Camp. Sharon and I will be taking the 5:30 am class. Yikes. Hopefully I can get myself up for that. I'm a little worried because I'm already sore from teaching Body Sculpt this morning. Boot Camp should be quite the challenge but need some kind of jump start to get me working out again. It will be good to have someone else planning out my workout for a while. Then I just have to worry about my eating!

Got to actually go out to dinner with Sharon last night. We went to Granite City. It's nice atmosphere there but kind of expensive. We went to a couple of bookstores after. I saw a couple books I wanted but didn't buy them. One was the true story of that boat that went down with 3 football players and a personal trainer. Only the personal trainer survived. I read part of it in the store but it was so sad wasn't sure I could read the whole book right now. I just took 3 books out of the library so I should really read those first anyways.

Well, that's all for now. I'm going to blog my journey through boot camp this summer. I hope somebody will check out this blog and see how I'm doing.