Almost 11 years ago today, I climbed Colorado 14er (mountain over 14,000 feet) La Plata Peak. It happens to be the fifth highest mountain in Colorado too. It was grueling and it took 9 hours from trailhead to the top and back to the trailhead, but it remains one of the most amazing things I’ve done in my life. It was terrifying, physically difficult and the boulder fields play games. It looked like the peak was just at the top of each boulder field so just when it looked like the end was near, there was a whole nother field to climb.
I’m climbing a figurative 14er right now in trying to find myself. It’s a whole lot like climbing the real thing.
It is hard mentally. It is hard physically.
My figurative 14er includes a weight loss program, A LOT of introspection, regular pedicures and quiet ME time. My oldest son turns 18 on Saturday so it is fair and accurate to say that I haven’t had me time in 17 years, 364 days. (It helps that two of my boys are in Arizona visiting my sister right now.)
It’s no wonder that I’m a little nutty. Their are boulder fields everywhere I turn. Just when I think I’m at close to the top there is another long climb.
A few weeks ago a friend of mine e-mailed me a 10-week body transformation / kickboxing deal and I willingly signed up for this shit all excited about it.
I did my first body transformation class tonight, but it was more like you’re-going-to-get-on-the-floor-and-I’m-going-to-kick-your-ass-for-an-hour class. (In a good way. Sort of.)
People, I lasted 15 minutes. 1-5 minutes. I got dizzy, I got nauseous, I had sweat dripping down my face and I thought I was going to die. FIFTEEN MINUTES.
So I walked back and forth trying to bring my brain down from the clouds and my stomach out of my throat. And then I sat down. I thought I would just jump back in when my body reattached itself to my brain. And I waited for a good rejoining point.
But it never happened.
I sat there and watched the rest of the class. I prayed that time would just go by faster so that I could escape the feeling of humiliation at sitting on the sidelines. I faced that humiliatioon and I watched the rest of the class so that I would know what I’m in for next time.
Because there will be a next time. And I might only make it 16 minutes, but the time after that I am going to make it 20 minutes and by golly I am going to make it through an entire class before you know it.
Are you asking yourself why I’m writing about this in a public forum if it was so humiliating to sit there on the sideline in absolute defeat? Because I am starting from ZERO. And I want you to see that it doesn’t matter where you start from as long as you START!
My introduction to this whole body transformation was personally humiliating. Granted we were crawling across the gym floor on our forearms like army guys. We I attempted push ups. We scooted across the floor on our backs in a crunch position using abs to scoot. Abs! On our backs! We elephant walked. We elephant walked with a push-up in between. We did squats. We jogged. We skipped. And this was just in the 15 minutes that I managed to stay on the floor.
So, yes, I failed to make it through 1/2 of a class BUT I went. Tthis experience has made me even more determined to push harder. Humiliation aside, I kicked butt today.
No pain, no gain. (Sure hope I’m climbing the last boulder field right now.)
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
You my dear friend are awesome. In so many ways! You did such an incredible job signing up for the class, going, and making the best of it!
I know that next time will be better and the time after that will be a breeze!
Thank YOU for your unwavering support! We’ll see how it goes, tonight is kickboxing. Sure hope it’s easier because I am so sore!:)
Proud of you girl, seriously that kickboxing class sounds intense but you WILL go back and you WILL attempt it again. Each time, you’ll get stronger. You will conquer it!
Just keep in mind that your calories are down right now, so that can make you dizzy (especially doing such strenuous exercise). Glad you listened to your body. Maybe before class next time, have a few ounces of lean protein. That always helps me before long runs.