I was delighted that "the gold star" deliberately and decisively chose to run with me at each interval! You're the best, Girl! Let's get it on! :) What a difference it can make when a comrade is willing to take you under their wing and push you to their speed and endurance. She runs at a faster clip than me, but manageable. I wanted to run a new pace and for these short intervals I was successful. As I said in one of the last blogs, nothing is better for your success than to pair yourself with someone who can do a little more than you, run a little faster than you, or carries the mindset of a pit bull with lipstick! :) Ha! I knew you'd get a chuckle with that one!
The power of a working partner that elevates you to perform at your personal best is just tremendous. I hope all of you fitness warriors will find someone you can hook up with to periodically re-pace yourselves, and re-calibrate your new abilities. Just like "the Little Rocket", "Gold Star" has had a dramatic impact in my desire to run and use it as a predominant training tool. The additional benefit too, is that she is starting fresh with running like me, and so our beginning goals are more closely matched, and our spiral climb to the top somewhat comparable.
For today, one of the circuits Brian had us do involved a series of shoulder and bicep exercises at various stations with the exercise bands and dumbbells. This time, I thought I must be getting stronger, because it was the 1st time I used 8lb. weights for the military press. Giddy-up! :) However, hours later my shoulders ached and I was sore. That's a good thing! Thank you coach! :)
The exercise bands are creepers, I must say! Sometimes you don't realize how hard your muscles are working until later. Doing these succession of exercises in this interval format really can blow those muscles out of the water! :) I've always marveled at Brian's ability and expertise to position and time these exercises in the perfect order that gets the maximum burn. There is certainly deliberation in his sweet madness! :D Give it up for the Top DoG! Whoo-hoo! :)
We in the Dublin AM camp know Brian has a great sense of humor too, so he always likes to throw in a few killers, and for this day it was definitely the walk-outs. There was plenty of grunting, heaving and laughing! Our trainer had me muttering to myself again. Its murder, I tell you! Murder! :)
While I was muttering, the "gold star" laughed and laughed, making the best of this opportunity to feel the burn.
The other famous goodie that I knew Brian would eventually feed us were the tricep dips. Oh...my.....as always it was brutal! I have to laugh when Brian targets the chicken wings, because he doesn't ever monkey around. I always see this gleeful sparkle in his eye come to life, and an ornery smile spread across his face when he's ready to whammy us! Hee-hee, it makes me laugh! :) Gotta laugh cause I "ain't" gonna cry. Besides, this healthy pain can be managed with a little humor! My triceps are simply having a love/hate affair with Brian. LoL! He never lets them down! (hee-hee!)
I heard campers around me audibly dying with these tricep killers so I wasn't the only one. I have no doubt that his other fabulous trainers are gifting you in the other camps with the same sweet torture!:)
I really try to watch my form on these dips, because they are much more difficult to perform when you keep your entire body still and isolate your triceps to lift and lower your body weight. That's when they become another Brian Monster Special! LoL ;D
So.........are you going through the motions of a tricep dip or are you doing the Brian Monster Special?!! The pinK tiger is gonna be watchin' you all! :) And me? I am getting myself ready for when he ramps up the dip to a pulsing dip and it evolves into a true dedicated monstrosity! :)
In between the tricep dips we did a circuit of cardio that included power squats, steps ups, and running back and forth from the middle line. This again is a little surprise that Brian slipped in the set. It may be cardio, but dang......we sure are working those legs too, huh? Double the pleasure, double the pain, eh?! LOL!
I did fairly well with these shorter runs and was happy that I got a chance to run with the "Gold Star". It was great, because its wonderful to have a workout partner. She lights me up when we work our goals and aspirations together.
One of our last activities was something that brought back memories of a childhood game called "Tag". It was fun, playful, and yet it served the special purpose of practicing agility and sharpening our reflexes. Actually, it was great! More adults should learn to let go and just be playful. It was fun to watch many of us laugh and giggle like little girls again, and evoke that tender childlike spirit.
Playing together, working together creates bonds that can have a very healthy effect on our psyche. If there is anything I wish I could impress upon my fellow fitness warriors, it might be that I hope all of you will empower yourselves by giving of yourselves to another. It is a very fulfilling gesture. It can give you a fantastic "high", and you will get back more than you give.
Maybe every now and then, take the time to lift the person next to you. What an incredible opportunity to impact someone who might really be looking up to you. They may watch you and say to themselves, "I want to be just like her! I want to be as good as any other Big DoG that's really got their groove on! And the newer members who are working towards that goal but who have the mindset of a champion? You got even more to give! I know I got one givin' to me and she is unequivocally AWESOME! Her gift is every bit as significant as that of a Big DoG and she has been a precious jewel to me. Do you suppose YOU could be the jewel for someone in your camp? Come out of hiding and show yourself for the champion you really are. :)
Tomorrow is "the Day"! We have the mile run tomorrow, and its all I'm thinking about. I really want to do well, and I'm crossing my fingers. I want to improve and succeed for me, my trainer/coach, and for my supportive teammates. I have only run a few times in the last 2 weeks, and cardio conditioning doesn't maintain on its own. But I am not afraid to know where I stand, because the truth will be my teacher.
When camp let out, I was filled with motivation. I stayed over to practice my run and familiarize myself again with the sights, smells, and feel of the terrain that I would race. After that, I will do about 35-40 minutes cardio on the elliptical.
That's it for the PinK tiger! Let's go hit that mile run tomorrow and make our coach and our sexy selves proud! :)
the pinK tiger......
.....on the run!
No comments:
Post a Comment