Guts, Guns & Glory

This morning was the free preview workout for folks who just want to try it before they commit to an entire camp. There were four brave souls who joined myself, Doug, Stephanie, Jojo and Brock for Guts & Guns. We had done that workout during my first bootcamp but this time we tried some new things and took a different route (which felt longer and may just be due to the instructors becoming more familiar with the park).

I worked hard today, and felt it by the end, but I'm recovering so much faster. As I witnessed the new folks struggle somewhat, especially with the running, it was very very odd to not be struggling so much with them. I did still lag behind during some of the longer legs of running but I was closer to the front during most of it, so much so that I had to do some runbacks and extra laps up a hill while we were waiting for the new folks to catch up.

I feel strong. And free. Like I've been freed from some invisible weights that I've been carrying around my whole life. I love that feeling of starting running, and I can enjoy that feeling for so much longer now before I begin to feel winded. Those first strides I feel like nothing can stop me and the road or path or field ahead of me is so full of promise.

On Sunday Clint and I helped to cart stuff from the booth up to Tim's Car at the end of the day. Chase was following along and as we headed back down to the field he was lagging and distracted but we needed to get a move on. So I challenged him to a race, its an old parenting trick . . . need to get him into the house? into the car? up the stairs to his room? Make it a race, works like a charm every time. Except that I don't usually win. We raced all the way across the field and I totally smoked him. 2/3 of the way across I stopped and let him catch up and gave him a head start and STILL caught up with him. And it was almost effortless and FUN. My friend Shane gave me a long hard look and said, "do you realize you were smiling and running at the same time?"

Last year I vowed to use the stairs instead of the elevator at work. I work on the third floor. I gave it up within the first week because it was too taxing. I am descended from a long line of geeky bookworms, I was raised on fairy tales and science fiction. I have moments where I wonder why I can't remember when I drank the magic potion or when the aliens invaded my body because this seriously can't be JUST ME.

But it is me, tapping into something that was lying dormant for so long. Something intoxicating and addicting. Something like life. Something like health. Something like freedom.