Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Feb. Fitness Challenge: Day 1

I did it. I managed to tear myself away from the joy that is the internet and go to the joy that is Tuff-E-Nuff.

Mark was a little off his game after a trip to Hawaii — perhaps it was a mai tai soaked trip — but that did not prevent him from being tough on us. Not in the least!

Here was the format: Warm up with jogging, shuffling, backward running, etc.

Do some aerobic moves in a line — punch the air, side lunges, pushing in front, jacks, etc.

Then the mondo cardio circuit: Half the group ran windsprints on the gym, the other jogged the track upstairs for four minutes. Then we reconvened, did some squats against the wall while lifting weights (ow, and I can't do a military press while sitting against a wall to save my life, I was fortunately not the only one) then did some more standing around weight lifting then lunges — about a jillion kinds — while carrying weights. Then we swapped out groups. After that it was more weight lifting and then an orgy of crunches, pushups and even some situps.

Denise announced the prizes: people who qualify for the grand prize (ie do the challenge) could win a free month at the Y, which is 45 bucks! People who attend the Tues. and Thurs classes get something else, I don't think she said what. Chris, who is megafit and always at the class, is designing the T-shirts, which have a burning heart (reminds me a little bit of Casey's tatoo) and say "Hearts on Fire" at the bottom, and it's all a little Christian, but that's okay because even though I have those Philadelphia Quaker hangups I figure it'd be pretty subversive for me to wear one. I told her it should say "feel the burn" on it somewhere and she's going to put it on.

I think all the Y classes with cult-like following (Yoga, Kickboxing and Tuff-E-Nuff certainly qualify; I think the 5:45 a.m.ers are a dedicated enough group although I have never been for obvious reasons) should get their own tees.

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