Wednesday, November 07, 2012

What are we? We are AWESOME!

Me on the right rocking my blue Hyannis
Marathon fleece at Monday's workout
Today marks one full cycle of workouts with November Project.  Friday I got one hill in, Monday was a Destination Deck and today was 6 flights at Harvard Stadium in the early morning darkness.

But yesterday I found myself trying to describe the group (yet again) to  someone.  We're not a running club, I belong to one of those and this is certainly not that.  We're not a boot camp, even though we do a boot camp style workout once a week.  The word I kept using over and over again to describe the group was "awesome."

Where else can you get the love and support and encouragement people like me get from hardcore folks like the core of the group?  I keep thinking back to that chippie in the locker room at the gym years ago who thought I should be embarrassed to be seen in a gym because I was too old and fat.

Those words ring in my ears when I least expect it.  I went to my first Harvard Stadium workout with trepidation and fear.  I knew I couldn't keep up with guys who could handily win the Big Man race (run a mile to a bar, chug a beer and eat a hot dog, repeat three more times) and were active rowers.  But they welcomed me, and others like me.  I can't run the Frogman 1 workout, I'm physically unable to do so but instead of chiding me for it, Brogan challenges me to do more than I think.

With that in mind, this morning I looked at that 6th flight knowing my asthma has been acting up (an unfortunate side effect of ibuprofen to control the inflammation in my heel) and made myself start up the stairs.  Yes I had to sit down at one point on the way down to use my inhaler.  Yes I finished it and yes I got myself together to head out to school on time.  But I know part of why I did it was because I know there are folks there that encourage and help me believe in myself.

So yes, the perfect word to describe this crazy group of fun I attend: awesome... because they are and they help me find the awesome in me.

Monday, November 05, 2012

Reunited (and it feels so good)

This morning was my first real workout with November Project.  Friday was a trial hill and it was good.  I was a bit stiff and my heel barked a couple of times, but it was good.  Today is a destination deck.  Since I'm back on my regular schedule where I'm only in Wednesday - Friday, it meant a day I could actually work out with the tribe.

I was welcomed back with a huge hug from Brogan and a chorus of Happy Birthday. :)

Today was the boot camp style workout starting with 5 sets of sprints.  I had to bag out of at least one set because my heel made it clear that it's good but it's not great.  Then it was onto 5 rounds of 5 stations: push ups; sit ups; air squats; plank and superman.  We moved in groups around the park behind Wentworth and Mass Art cheering each other on.

Our group got pretty silly.  During the air squats, we did a group circle counting off 1-2 around the circle or adding a loud grunt between counting.  We high fived each other during push ups, told jokes during supermans and even tried to do a round of "Row your boat" in a round (that failed miserably, but was still funny).

Yes, I have missed this heartily.

Wednesday I will hit Harvard Stadium early, before most of the rest of the tribe arrives.  The three goals I set for myself on Wednesday: 5 minimum, 7-8 is good but 10 or more would be freaking awesome.

In the end, it's good to be back and it won't be long before I'm back on track fully.

Friday, November 02, 2012

Everything's coming up Milhouse

This morning was my psychological return to running. I managed to get up, get my ass out the door and get one hill in this morning to the sounds of the Oyster Band and Ramshackle Army.

This was the view this morning, a full morning moon hanging in the tree with a nip in the air. I admit the minute or so that I ran before the heel said "no" was truly joyous and liberating.

One hill in, one day I know I may be broken but I'm not beaten. I'm back in the classroom today helping kids learn how to write... everything's coming up Milhouse.

Let my birthday weekend commence!