First one around the parking lot!

That was really nice of Roy to have all the fast runners stay home today. He kind of tricked us saying just go around the round-a-bout and back. I think he knows I'm use to do long distance riding and depending on the length will determine my pace, so I ran a bit faster than I normally do because I thought it was a shorter distance. But then he fooled us into a full parking lot run. Well with the girls taking a tapering day off for the mud run, Beca still not back at camp and Marta still overseas... guess who made the lap first! Actually once I was into a faster pace and after the success of a full hill jog yesterday, I just kept it up.

It's been a tough week, I'm a bit concerned about the new girls, but they seem to be keeping a good attitude and aren't giving up. I also know how much faster I could be and how much easier the hill would be (darn gravity) if I could get more weight off. At least we haven't done pull-ups or burpees yet.

And...... the Barb is back. Somehow, there are new campers that have been able to do the sarcastic comments for Roy. So although we missed her, she knows that her spirit will live on and we will make sure that Roy doesn't get away with too much.

I crushed the hill today!

I was inspired by last boot campmates, Kellen and Sabina. At the last hill day of the last camp session, Kellen and Sabina slowly ran to the top of the hill together without walking. At the top they had huge smiles and did a double high-five. If they can do it after one camp, then I thought I should be able to as well since I'm in my fourth session. I'm sure I could have walked it faster, but I just kept moving in a jog and made it all the way to the top without stopping or walking.

This morning there was a lot more cardio before our first attack on the hill. Roy had us doing relay style races around the small parking lot carrying a weight above our heads. I thought he wouldn't notice on the back side of the bushes, but he is like a teacher with eyes everywhere. I was just trying to reserve some energy for the "hill".

I was so surprised for a first week of camp that he had us do the hill again. For the 2nd run of the hill this morning, I just couldn't "crush it" again. But there is always next week.

Yes! We did miss boot camp...

Or maybe it was Roy? Or maybe it was the camaraderie of the group. It does feel good to be "at it" again. It's kind of weird because although we drive to camp in the dark, within minutes of arriving it is already light out.

This morning we had a handful of new girls. Kind of fun to see them a little nervous not sure what to expect. Roy however has a way of getting everyone comfortable yet still ensuring that everyone is challenged.

Today when we ran the parking lot, I tried to go a little bit faster. Usually I guard my pace because I want to ensure that I run the whole thing and not stop and walk. But then, I'm always the last one back and everyone seems to pass me. Today however I was only passed by about 4 girls and definitely made better time. (Jessy didn't have to tell me that many of the girls had to stop and walk. I guess my glory will be short lived as they find out they can probably run the whole thing too).

On Saturday's 18 mile ride with my husband, I did feel much stronger and the little rises seemed like nothing. I could keep my pace and easily accelerate after stops. If I can only break my sit bones back in, it would be no problem to go for a 50 miler (mostly flat).

Happy Birthday Cyndi!

Cyndi chose to spend her birthday morning getting up early and working out with us. Today we did the "hill" twice plus some partner medicine balls and runs around the small parking lot. I saw three bunnies surprising one in the bushes. Still no snakes, Barb. This week I have been really sweating. My husband says that is good because it means I am burning calories. Jessy is going to be able to join us in Aliso Veijo for camp this month. We are missing Barb, but her spirit remains.
I'm not losing tons of weight, but my pants definitely fit better and the scale slowly shows improvement week by week. Next week it's back to 5 days per week. We've so enjoyed some time off of the early morning.s

wow... a week off

Well this was our off week. It was great not to be waking up at 4:45 a.m. but it's hard to get motivated to work out. My work out buddies flaked on me this week. We were planning to try and get in at least two sessions in the gym or at least a hike. I guess they had good excuses because one was trying to get ready to leave the country and the other is nursing a bum leg. I guess I really didn't have an excuse. Last Saturday, my husband, daughter and I did a 15 mile road ride. I did a couple of 1 mile walks and yesterday my husband and I did a 25 mile bike ride. It felt great. I felt strong and except for needing to break in my sit bones a little more, I could have kept riding.

On Friday night, our boot camp group met to go bowling. It was a lot of fun and we had a lot of laughs and got to meet Roy's wife Victoria. Then my final hug to Barb until she comes back to the states for a visit. It is just not going to be the same next week. At least Kellen, Pat, Sabina and Diane will be at boot camp next week.

Here's the link to our bowling photo album: http://sports.webshots.com/album/572712497BtJCQo

I can't believe it's over...

..... and he made us do one final Indian run around full court. But then he did treat us to coffee. Today we tested out from the tests we did in the first week. Just about everyone improved, especially on keeping track of their counts. For sure everyone improved on the squat - overhead press with weights. During this session just about everyone went up in hand weight sizes. Now if he would only publish his exercise book so we can remember all the different core workouts and warm up stretches that we should be practicing. Cardio is an easy one to remember, but all the rest is just a blur....

It was a tearful goodbye as we knew that not everyone would be able to join us physically for the next camp session. However the spirit of campers before will always linger over us.

you have to crawl first

Well today we were crawling again on all fours, on asphalt, trying to keep our knees inches off the ground, coordinating arms and legs. I'm not sure why Roy enjoys it so much, but it all feels so uncoordinated. I can't believe that we have made it 5 days per week for two camp sessions. And there are only two days left. The last 3 weeks have gone by so fast. We are stronger but now Roy keeps us moving with only 30 seconds between sets of exercises. Lots of line stuff (including the crawling) plus 1-leg squats with weights. A least we didn't have to do the squat holding the pole. Here is our group photo. We miss our Katie and Sherrie though. Hopefully they are working out where ever they are, but it can't be much fun.

Sometimes you sweat,sometimes you don't

This morning's workout was definitely "sweaty". Roy keeps us moving with two sets of Indian Runs, lots of jump roping and jogging while we were waiting for the TRX bands. It's hard to not think about dinosaurs whenever he mentions the TRX bands. "Oooooh, Barbara really likes those bands."

I was in Minnesota again this week and missed two boot camp days. I did pack my workout clothes and my resistance tube. The workout room of the hotel I stayed at even had hand weights so I could do my reps. I walked outside around a great little local lake on Thursday morning, but it was very cold and very windy and I only had on a very thin sweat jacket. I wondered why no Minnesotans were outside working out.

Traveling does allow a little bit of reading time and I always try to catch up on my magazines that start piling up. I was really encouraged by Fitness magazine's editor Betty Wong's message that talked about us never having an issue with giving up when we are on a deadline, or in an argument or trying to get the last item at a sale. However when it comes to our work outs it is so easy for us to give in. I suppose some of our justification is that at least we are being physically active. But why can't we apply the same stick-to-it-tiveness to working through the tough distance or amount of reps. We are only cheating ourselves.

I really try to push myself to complete all of ,the exercises and so appreciate the fact that Roy keeps it varied. Lately however, I feel that being off for a couple of days and having a bit of tenderness on the arch of my foot, I have lost any type of speed I had. And those impossible seeming burpees. I need to remember to ask Roy why in real life would we need to be able to do a burpee? These are times I really miss my youth. When I was 8, I'm sure burpees were a piece of cake. Roy says by the end of the year, we will easily be able to do 1000's of burpees at a time.

Here is a cool video demo of a burpee:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MGljX4bbps

bunnies, rattlers and ants

That is what this morning's work out was all about. We got to do the hill three times! I saw a bunny hopping across the trail on my first trip up. On the second trip, Barb noticed the "caution rattlesnakes" sign for the first time. She thought maybe she was getting delirious but we assured her that the snakes only hung out in the bushes and it wasn't quite snake season yet.

Today was one cardio move after another including jump roping and burpees again. We were definitely sweating. But still the one hour went by very fast and before we knew it we were back in our cars on our way back to our normal lives. My mat was laid down on top of ants, so I was brushing ants off my extremities in the car on the way to my shower.

I wonder what kind of torture Roy has in store for us tomorrow. Perhaps we will be meeting at the skate park.

It's getting tough out there

But Roy knows we can handle it. We are into our 2nd week of our 3 4-week session. Today I was able to jog the whole parking lot hill. We are able to push through each exercise even when we are talking which helps to distract from the toughness of our moves. During the first session, first week, I thought it would be impossible for me to hold a plank for a full minute and the dead bug seem to really kill. We so appreciate that Roy always warms us up and provides a cool down.

We are getting stronger, stronger, stronger. Everyone is easily able to do the heavier weights they have moved up to. Now, if we can just accomplish the full push-ups and pull-ups. I think it's a girl thing not having those strong biceps.

A few blogs back, I did a list of things I loved about boot camp, so I thought it only fair to provide equal time to:
Things I don't like about boot camp besides getting up early.
1. The long drive to get there. (no speeding ticket yet).
2. Having to figure out something to eat before I work out. Love those 100 calorie pack almonds, trying to get some protein.
3. Worrying that I may have forgotten to pack some essential item for my getting ready session at 24-hour fitness.
4. Leaving my sweet husband in bed.
5. Not being in the same camp as my daughter.
6 . Not working out with my husband.
7. Disappointing Ray.
8. That it is over too soon... Can't believe I would ever want more than 1 hour.
9. Being slower than the other campers (I'm going to say it's an age thing.)
10. That muscle weighs more than fat.