January 2008
I can recall two times in the 5.5 years that Jeff and I have been together that he has went to yoga/gym class with me. Once last year he tried Bikram Yoga (surprisingly he actually went back a few more times) and then today. Both times, he has had to have male support. For yoga it was his friend Greg and today it was Marky V. It wasn't planned this way-Jeff and Marky V were just going to go to the gym to swim and do the stairmaster, then come back to our house and ride for a few hours. But somehow, Jeff was game to go to the "Athletic Core" class and he roped Marky V into as well.
Let me preface this by saying Marky V and Jeff are both high quality age group athletes. Jeff went 9.14 at Kona this year, and Marky V led the amateur race in Kona for 125 miles and posted the fast swim of the day (including the pros). They are TOUGH, DEDICATED, TALENTED, and STRONG athletes. But that does not matter in this class. This class does not care what you have done, how fast you have gone, or what you are training for. It will make you hurt in places you are not used to using.
At 7.55 we begin to gather the torturing devices, Bosu Ball, Fitball, weighted bar, dumbbells, sliding disks, and a mat. 8.02am we start class. 58 minutes of core work. The instructor, Wendy, was great. She had a great knowledge base of what athletes do and what muscles they use and don't use. She also made the class fun despite the hard movements.
8.05am. I start to hear grunts and groans from the "man corner". I try to dismiss it and focus on my own movements. 8.09am. More noises from the corner. Concentration at this point is hard. I look over and see Marky V and Jeff twisted in positions I have never seen before. I muffle a laugh and move on. 8.15am. I think I heard some curse words and some comments about running and swimming. At the end of each set, we have a rest period and there are a few "Jesus Christs" and I think a "Holy Shit" muttered. During one movement, were we had our upper body on the Bosu Ball and feet on the Fitball, I think hear Jeff fall to the floor. I look over and he IS on the floor--laughing. Way to use your core!
Then I notice all the other participate in the room-in particular the women. They are working hard. But you can't tell it from the talking or looks on their face. You can see in their body and in their eyes. They are stoic. They are focused internally on the action at hand. Not wasting any energy on noises or words. The men, on the other hand, grunt and groan, letting everyone know they are working hard. Why is that? It is not just in this class I have noticed this. There is a gentleman in a spin class that lets everyone know he is working hard by puffing and breathing heavy in the class. He also adds the occasional "Oh Boy" and "Oh No" when asked to go into Zone 3 or 4 on the bike.
9am. Class in over. We have survived and are better for it. And hopefully a bit stronger. We finish the day with a swim, stairmaster work, and a 2 hour ride. All in a days work. Jeff just mentioned to me that he might have to take some Advil before going to bed. Still groaning.
Rock on
JK2
Let me preface this by saying Marky V and Jeff are both high quality age group athletes. Jeff went 9.14 at Kona this year, and Marky V led the amateur race in Kona for 125 miles and posted the fast swim of the day (including the pros). They are TOUGH, DEDICATED, TALENTED, and STRONG athletes. But that does not matter in this class. This class does not care what you have done, how fast you have gone, or what you are training for. It will make you hurt in places you are not used to using.
At 7.55 we begin to gather the torturing devices, Bosu Ball, Fitball, weighted bar, dumbbells, sliding disks, and a mat. 8.02am we start class. 58 minutes of core work. The instructor, Wendy, was great. She had a great knowledge base of what athletes do and what muscles they use and don't use. She also made the class fun despite the hard movements.
8.05am. I start to hear grunts and groans from the "man corner". I try to dismiss it and focus on my own movements. 8.09am. More noises from the corner. Concentration at this point is hard. I look over and see Marky V and Jeff twisted in positions I have never seen before. I muffle a laugh and move on. 8.15am. I think I heard some curse words and some comments about running and swimming. At the end of each set, we have a rest period and there are a few "Jesus Christs" and I think a "Holy Shit" muttered. During one movement, were we had our upper body on the Bosu Ball and feet on the Fitball, I think hear Jeff fall to the floor. I look over and he IS on the floor--laughing. Way to use your core!
Then I notice all the other participate in the room-in particular the women. They are working hard. But you can't tell it from the talking or looks on their face. You can see in their body and in their eyes. They are stoic. They are focused internally on the action at hand. Not wasting any energy on noises or words. The men, on the other hand, grunt and groan, letting everyone know they are working hard. Why is that? It is not just in this class I have noticed this. There is a gentleman in a spin class that lets everyone know he is working hard by puffing and breathing heavy in the class. He also adds the occasional "Oh Boy" and "Oh No" when asked to go into Zone 3 or 4 on the bike.
9am. Class in over. We have survived and are better for it. And hopefully a bit stronger. We finish the day with a swim, stairmaster work, and a 2 hour ride. All in a days work. Jeff just mentioned to me that he might have to take some Advil before going to bed. Still groaning.
Rock on
JK2
