I ran. On purpose.

So....

Boot camp started Saturday morning.  I found out during my personal training session on Friday night that the class was outside on the local high school's football field.  This increased my nervousness about the whole enterprise.  Not only was I going to be making a generalized fool of myself in front of my fellow boot camp classmates, but now I was also going to be doing it in front of any number of strangers who happened to be out there with us.

Saturday morning dawned mild and sunny.  I showed up feeling very conspicuous, wondering where exactly we were meeting.  Luckily, some other girls in the class were there already and I joined them while we waited for our trainer to arrive.  It was a friendly group, with 5 other girls in the class. 

It was hard.  I won't lie.  But my trainer was right:  the group setting was actually helpful.  It motivated me to push harder so I wouldn't fall behind.  It motivated me to try harder.  Some things I was weaker at than other classmates, some things I was better at, and some things I fell solidly in the middle.  I was really happy to find that I fell in the middle with the running portion of things. 

We didn't run a ton, but it was the first time I'd run on purpose in years and years.  First we ran from the goal line of the field to the 30 yard line and back, twice.  Later on we ran the length of the football field and back.  Finally, we ran to the end of the field and walked back as our cool down.  Throughout the class we also ran backwards to the 30 or 40 yard line a couple of times and back, and did a side shuffle with a run back to the same point. 

I wasn't last.  I wasn't second to last.  I did okay.  :-)  It was hard, but it felt good.  I also really liked the group setting, and in particular a couple of the girls in the class.  We commiserated, we laughed, we exchanged pained looks during particularly difficult exercises.  But we all finished the class, and we all lived, and we all were probably better for it on that lovely saturday.  :-)

Sunday I worked my butt off.  I got up and went to the gym and did a 75 minute workout.  I exceeded my desired calorie burning goal while watching the first half of the 'Skins game.  Back at home I spent the second half of the game working out at home.  I did crunches.  Planks.  Jogged around my apartment. Leg Raises.  And so forth.  I got a lot done while I watched that game! After that game wrapped up, I went for a walk around my neighborhood.  It's not a huge distance, just shy of 1 3/4 mile, but on top of what I'd already done, it wasn't bad.  It was spectacularly gorgeous outside, so that was just a bonus! 

Yesterday was one of those days where I had so much energy to burn, and I made an effort to capitalize on it.  I love those days.  :-)  Some days are just easier than others I suppose!

I feel good about this weekend.  I got great workouts in Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and I couldn't really ask for more than that.  Wednesday marks the beginning of my third week of this, and that's pretty awesome.  Yes, I'm sore.  Yes, it's wearing me out.  But I'm sleeping well, my heart rate is not so ridiculously high when I work out on the machines at the gym, and I'm continually challenging myself.  I went to the grocery store again the other day for a few things and was again marveling at my purchases while they were on the belt....who is this girl buying fruits, veggies, granola bars and lean meats and healthy cereals?  ;-)

I know, boring health and fitness post.  I think I have another non-fitness post in me for later today, but we'll see!