Week 35
I started the day frustrated and stressed out because, like every good college student, I waited until the last minute to prepare for a presentation and quiz today. But apparently it was just the right amount of stress to get me through the day and do well on my assignments. I was so excited when I got home early today after finishing all of my work that all I wanted to do was train. My roommates (M & K) and I decided to explore the city a bit and then go to the late class at APK.
After dropping our stuff at the gym, we picked a direction and started jogging. Reaching the end of a bike rack we had decided to jump on, we found a trail of large blue paw prints going around the building. Naturally, we got on all fours and began to QM along the paw prints, only allowing ourselves to touch the blue. Arriving at a set of stairs, we played on the railings a bit (too tempting) then found a new way to challenge ourselves. I basically ski jumped the rest of the way down the path of paw prints while M and K found different ways to get across using only two feet.
Challenge complete. Next!
We jogged by an apartment complex and did some climbing work before moving on to new, unexplored areas. Somehow we wandered into a school with a really nice football field and fun things to play on. We started tumbling on the field and M suggested doing cartwheels down the entire length of it. Yeah, right K and I scoffed, already getting ready for the challenge. No joke, we actually cartwheeled down the entire football field. I tried to keep count but I got really dizzy. I think it was about 30 total. I don't know why we did that, but it was pretty awesome.
A little more exploring (once our heads stopped spinning) and then we started back towards the gym. On our way, I spotted a bike rack that was made up of small (but large enough to fit through) circles pretty low to the ground. The challenge was to get through without touching the hoops, and of course no knees or elbows on the ground. As the three of us were casually squeezing ourselves through these rings on the sidewalk, a couple of older guys walked by and laughed, Don't y'all have anything better to do? No sir, I do not.
Feeling fresh and warmed up from our exploring, we headed back for class. The first challenge was to walk across a row of kettlebells. Some were surprisingly wobbly (I've never done this challenge before) and I found myself fighting with them. I really wanted to do it so when one of them started wobbling underneath me, I started yelling no.. no! NO until the kettlebell won and I fell. I really thought that would work. Anyways, I only fell three times on my first try, which I felt pretty good about. More determined the next time, I focused on my breathing and tuned everything else out. Step, balance, focus. Nearing the end, I got nervous that I would psych myself out but I managed to maintain my rhythm and made it all the way through without falling! Woohoo!
But wait. Just as I was celebrating, P told us we had to carry two 20lb. weights next time through. Seriously? I was just feeling good about myself. I didn't make it through again, if you were wondering. I lost count of how many times I fell while holding the weights. But I'm holding on to my pride from the weight-less no-falls round.
We spent the rest of class doing various drop/landing challenges. High enough that it was scary for me, but also achievable. It was a good mental challenge. I knew I could do it but I still had to think about it and calm my breathing beforehand. Especially when P told us we had to land backwards dropping from one box to the next. Backwards? I laughed nervously. After several eternal seconds squatting and standing up and squatting again on top of the taller box, I finally jumped, did a 180, and landed backwards on the box, amazed with myself. Phew.
There were lots of great, and some silly, challenges tonight. I love starting my week like this. I love my gym, I love the people I train with who encourage me and challenge me, and I love having two awesome roommates to go out and explore with! Thank you, guys.
I started the day frustrated and stressed out because, like every good college student, I waited until the last minute to prepare for a presentation and quiz today. But apparently it was just the right amount of stress to get me through the day and do well on my assignments. I was so excited when I got home early today after finishing all of my work that all I wanted to do was train. My roommates (M & K) and I decided to explore the city a bit and then go to the late class at APK.
After dropping our stuff at the gym, we picked a direction and started jogging. Reaching the end of a bike rack we had decided to jump on, we found a trail of large blue paw prints going around the building. Naturally, we got on all fours and began to QM along the paw prints, only allowing ourselves to touch the blue. Arriving at a set of stairs, we played on the railings a bit (too tempting) then found a new way to challenge ourselves. I basically ski jumped the rest of the way down the path of paw prints while M and K found different ways to get across using only two feet.
Challenge complete. Next!
We jogged by an apartment complex and did some climbing work before moving on to new, unexplored areas. Somehow we wandered into a school with a really nice football field and fun things to play on. We started tumbling on the field and M suggested doing cartwheels down the entire length of it. Yeah, right K and I scoffed, already getting ready for the challenge. No joke, we actually cartwheeled down the entire football field. I tried to keep count but I got really dizzy. I think it was about 30 total. I don't know why we did that, but it was pretty awesome.
A little more exploring (once our heads stopped spinning) and then we started back towards the gym. On our way, I spotted a bike rack that was made up of small (but large enough to fit through) circles pretty low to the ground. The challenge was to get through without touching the hoops, and of course no knees or elbows on the ground. As the three of us were casually squeezing ourselves through these rings on the sidewalk, a couple of older guys walked by and laughed, Don't y'all have anything better to do? No sir, I do not.
Feeling fresh and warmed up from our exploring, we headed back for class. The first challenge was to walk across a row of kettlebells. Some were surprisingly wobbly (I've never done this challenge before) and I found myself fighting with them. I really wanted to do it so when one of them started wobbling underneath me, I started yelling no.. no! NO until the kettlebell won and I fell. I really thought that would work. Anyways, I only fell three times on my first try, which I felt pretty good about. More determined the next time, I focused on my breathing and tuned everything else out. Step, balance, focus. Nearing the end, I got nervous that I would psych myself out but I managed to maintain my rhythm and made it all the way through without falling! Woohoo!
But wait. Just as I was celebrating, P told us we had to carry two 20lb. weights next time through. Seriously? I was just feeling good about myself. I didn't make it through again, if you were wondering. I lost count of how many times I fell while holding the weights. But I'm holding on to my pride from the weight-less no-falls round.
We spent the rest of class doing various drop/landing challenges. High enough that it was scary for me, but also achievable. It was a good mental challenge. I knew I could do it but I still had to think about it and calm my breathing beforehand. Especially when P told us we had to land backwards dropping from one box to the next. Backwards? I laughed nervously. After several eternal seconds squatting and standing up and squatting again on top of the taller box, I finally jumped, did a 180, and landed backwards on the box, amazed with myself. Phew.
There were lots of great, and some silly, challenges tonight. I love starting my week like this. I love my gym, I love the people I train with who encourage me and challenge me, and I love having two awesome roommates to go out and explore with! Thank you, guys.
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