Chariots of Fire

As I progress through camp, it just seems to get better and better. I love Adventure Boot Camp for so many reasons. I need the structure and accountability, and I need the expertise and discipline I receive from it. But more than anything, I need the inspiration it infuses in my spirit. Today was no different.

Though we worked on various balance & cardio exercises, the toughest of all the circuits and exercises at Camp for me, the highlight was definitely the chariot run. It forced us to go full speed and work mighty. It was the most intense aerobic activity to date that we've done indoors. It cranked up the heart rate and got our blood pumping. No time to be fat in this camp!

I worked full throttle as my partner "Sweet Buttercup" and I competed against the other teams. It reminded me of those "Rocky" movies when he goes into the elements to train amongst nature. Such an inspiring movie! The best part for us was that we we had like minded fellow campers trying to push themselves at full throttle, too. The energy was infectious. The inspiration was overflowing.

Being in the midst of this camaraderie, loyalty, friendly competition, and high spirits, it made me realize that inspiration can move mountains. Inspiration can change lives. So even when you think you can't take another step, inspiration will give you the power to keep stepping.

The camp was robust with the cheering and excitement of taking on this challenge. In a sense we were all chariots ablazed with fire.

In the movie, "Chariots of Fire", there were two protagonist runners who competed in the 1926 Olympics. One was running for the glory of God. The other one was running for the elimination of prejudice. They ran not so much for the sake of running but to prove something to the world.

We may all have our own reasons for "running", but surely one of those reasons is to prove something to ourselves. We are here to prove we can be whatever we choose to be, and accomplish whatever our burning desires drive within us.

We may run as a group, we may run in solitude. But there is much going on beneath the surface within us that incites the passion of the human spirit. This intangible continues to propel us even when our spirits meet the darkness and we think we are out of hope. We are not.

And so, with all of us working as mighty as we could running the chariot runs, we were surrounded by the infectious energy of our friends. The Star, Little Rocket, Amazing Grace, Sweet Buttercup, Mighty M, Sleek&Chic, Blazing B, and many others propelling each other to keep aspiring towards our goals of being the persons we want to be....the persons we deserve to be.

When I pull back the layers of an activity like our chariot runs and contemplate the significance of such an innocent act, the depth of its persuasion is monumental. We need only to let it fill our spirits. It is "Inspiration" moving us.

The chariot runs in Adventure Boot Camp set my heart on fire! I looked around, and if ever I thought I couldn't go another step, I was reminded of the truth running all around me. Just one more example of how powerful Adventure Boot Camp is, even outside of the realm of exercise. Every day there is a new lesson to be learned, or one that needs to be revisited.

If there is one thing I have learned from my trainer, coach, my fitness comrades and supporters at Adventure, it is that all of this is a mind/body experience. And Adventure Boot Camp is very much a minuscule of the World we live in.

Ohhh! Let us celebrate every day at Adventure BC, comrades, and realize the possibilities! It is truly ours for the taking! It is "Our Adventure, Our Body, our Life"!

This is the pinK tiger........

......for the love of Adventure Boot Camp.....for the love of life.....for the fire it inspires in all of us.

Where's the Beef?

I must say, Brian was wired for rare form when he constructed our workouts for the week. "Mind Blowing"! And always "Body Blowing"!Its just a matter of time before he transforms me from a cute pot of beefaroni into a heavenly cup of tenderoni! Sweet!

After our grueling workouts last week and "Brian's Designer Death Camp" yesterday, I just knew we had hit the hump and now we could settle in for some smooth sailing at least for the rest of the week. Although every single Adventure Camp class titillates and challenges our mindsets and physical stamina, I was looking forward to experiencing that sweet spot.....the "Ahhh" moment when I could delight in conquering the learning curve, and feel masterful over my exercise.

Not! No time to rest on our laurels! Its always the time to push on, and its later than you think.

Never underestimate The Brian coach when he decides to tweak the program for the phenomenal finale! And baby, our Brian did not disappoint!

This day consisted of Plyometrics. It was Double Duty Heavy Steel "Hard"! This was an all body workout using nothing but our own body weight for resistance. Sounds simple enough, unless you got some serious weight to heft.Its simple math folks. The more weight you got, the more resistance you gotta heft! And Brian's little trick bag full of contorted positions laid it out with utter royalty. This day had to be the "Queen Mary" of all camps!

One of my favorites was the tricep dip performed from the floor. It was a killer, as we all grunted and groaned in unison, including moi! I know Brian served that one up just for me as my Christmas present! ;) He's gonna make sure I get my Michelle Obama arms yet.

Other tasty morsels Brian served up for our upper body included a variety party bag of push-ups. (Yeah, its always a party at Adventure!)

One type required us lifting each leg in the air alternately while performing it. Oh my God! That's like rubbing my tummy and patting my head, navigating strength and balance simultaneously.

This little turkish delight has got to win the best multi-tasking exercise of the year! As I see it, I'm strengthening my chest muscles, firming my glutes, and playing Princess Balance all at the same time! What a little gem. I sure hope this will get better with time and practice, what do you think, comrades?! Oiy!

The other pushup involved rotating the hand positions. I do enjoy this exercise because I don't have time to think how brutal this could be if I was on my toes instead of my knees. Still, its working all the chest muscles and is so divinely perfect for enhancing an uplifted feminine torso. I'm game for that. ;)

Killer Mode really took hold when we worked our lower body. Gotta say, Brian pressed the button on the intensity as he incorporated butt-kicking moves like the one legged squats, one legged deadlifts, pulsing bridges, lunges, and my very favorite like the "King of Pop", the Deep Squat a la Brian! Whooh! What a repertoire for one day!

All of these are killer, but the deep squats got my vote. Listen to this: We performed 5 deep squats and then held for 5 seconds. Then.....Repeat! Repeat! Repeat! My thighs were screaming at me. They also had a few words for our fav trainer if you know what I mean. ;)

Yowzy! I was cryin' "Mama Mia" before it was all over! Another little death camp back to back. ;)

Brian rounded out our program today by using some exercise "toys". We got to do staggered push-ups on a step, side hurdles and ladder agilities, and then the very Best of Show were the exercise bands.

Oh, baby! We were working our legs and glutes real tough with those bands. Red bands, blue bands, black bands, they were putting a fire on our buns! That night I saw them flashing before my eyes, coming for the "fat attack"!

I can only imagine that with such glorious pain and torture, we all will earn those prized killer quads similar to the ones the Velvet Hammer sports! That will be the 1st prize! Go Velvet! ;)

And the 2nd prize will guarantee nearly full extermination of all saddle bags, droopy booties, and jiggly around the knees. Hey hey! Bring it on, Sir Brian!

Today was simply an incredible workout. It was so challenging, I had to whisper to our coach, "You are kickin' our ass today! Do you know that?"

"You think so?", Brian smiled with a twinkle in his eye and the innocence of an angel. Well with a face like that, I could have put wings on him. :) Even if my muscles are scorching mad at him, gotta love this angel. Hee-hee!

So did I really think his workout was all that? Oh yeah! I did, and so did my comrades around me. We all agreed this was one of our coach's finest surprises. Who would have ever thought that this camp of plyometrics was a workout for Ironman!

"This is hard", I heard one camper sigh under her breath. Indeed it was!

Yet, could we really expect anything less? This was just another average, creative, incredible day at Adventure Boot Camp conjured up by that mysterious mischievous angel!

With the way that angel has been hacking the machete at our storage sites, I will soon be looking at myself in the mirror and asking, "Where's the Beef?!" ;)

And baby, for that day, I can't wait!

The pinK tiger.......

....gettin' lean & mean!