Finding a muscle to work - Jane

Our bodies really are amazing machines. God's incredible engineering design, and how all the parts work together to support the whole never ceases to amaze me. This week, as my muscles settle in to the fact that what is being imposed on them is not going away (at least soon), they are beginning to get into a rhythm. Not that I am no longer sore - far from it - but they are as Sheila says 'getting on board with the program" :). Prior to TrainStrong, any slight strain of a muscle would be magnified by the fact that the others didn't hurt at all (because I wasn't exercising!), whereas now, any slight soreness is just part of a larger orchestra at play!

Abdomination was incredible - I learned that just having a flat stomach doesn't mean it is strong. Oh, far from it! At one point we were supposed to be doing row-boats (in the midst of the primavera of abdominal workouts, a veritable medley - this was one of about 10 that we were doing) when the instructor looked at me and said "Oh, sweetheart, you're having trouble! Let me come help you!" My rowboat looked more like someone had sprayed me with a large can of silly string, and I was trying to get out, arms and legs flailing, no rhythm whatsoever, not even my legs moving together! Sigh. One thing you must leave at home when you start TrainStrong is your pride.

Thursday was another big quad day, burpees showed up again (jump up high with arms oustretched above you, come down into an all-four squat, jump legs out behind you as though prep'ing for a push-up, then jump them back underneath you). More fun with sprinting, too, and leg lifts - leg lifts? Yes - and the instructors walk around providing resistance to you (they are very generous). And Friday? On Thursday after the workout, Stacy said 'Friday will be FUN!'. (By the way, we hear from Stacy just about every day - always providing great tips on form, taking care of your shoes, tips for those who suffer from allergies, etc. It's great stuff!)

So what Stacy meant by 'Fun' was field day! We ran, then warmed up, then she split us into four teams of six, each with an instructor, and we did relay races - sprint suicides, crab walk, bear walk, etc. - and part of the rules were that we had to cheer each other on. What I lack in form/endurance I make up for in lung capacity (at least for the two minutes I wasn't recovering from having done it myself!). If you did well in field day when you were young, then this was probably a pleasant experience. It's amazing how quickly you can regress when you don't hold yourself back - flashbacks of three-legged races, 50-yard dash, etc., race through my head, and I push through, pumping my arms like a two year old who has just learned how to run.

Saturday I managed to get in a bike ride (woohoo! my fav!) and Sunday - REST...next week is crazy, I probably will not update until Saturday (we have Vacation Bible School every night from 6 - 9pm). I should be getting a couple of 'before' pics up tonight. No laughing. Oh, and the shot of Mitzi and I at the top is post-workout this week! Til next time....