Over 1/2 done with our session...

Wow...I think we should call this a conditioning camp session. Roy seems to keep us really moving, running, jump roping, running some more, overhead presses with weights, also with TRX bands. Always something new. He also seems concerned that we are using our core and strengthening our core. I seem to end up sweating every day. Although it's still hard to get out of bed in the morning so early. I never regret that I was there once the work out is over. In fact sometimes the hour goes by so fast we feel like we still want more. Got to say though...working out with music is much better than listening to everyone's joints cracking and Roy's joke cracking.

Jessy started a training for her first 5K blog. She has included some info on how to tie your running shoes. I always thought it was weird that since I tied them in the dark, once my feet/ankles warmed up, it always seemed like I needed to tighten my laces. Of course I never wanted to stop at the beginning of my run nor at the base of the hill to tighten them, but the whole time I'm jogging I wished I had. Check out her Random Facts blog for the details: http://jessysrandomfacts.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-to-tie-your-running-shoes.html

You're killing us Roy....

Ok, you know we can handle it. But on a Monday morning -- two sets of Indian runs as well as the full parking lot and those burpee things and the half-knee squat with weights! Don't forget some jump roping in the middle of it all. I guess we are working on extra conditioning and I definitely need to work on my speed.

We are also all concerned with summer vacations coming up, how not to lose any conditioning or fitness when we can't be at boot camp every single morning.

It is so much fun having Jessy with us every morning. I can't wait until she can run again (although, then she will be passing me).

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