Sore but oh sooooo happy

Yesterday was boot camp. What an amazing day. I struggled like crazy during the fitness portions but I just decided this year that no matter what I would keep moving and not let my mind defeat me. I didn't have any set goals for the day except for one and I'll talk about that after. I went into this year( my second) with a much better understanding of what a great opportunity boot camp is. To be able to challenge yourself mentally and physically like that is so awesome to me. I feel like I have been reconditioned and overhauled and come out a better person for my experience. I am very sore today but not achey. It is a good sore that is feedback telling me I worked hard and pushed myself. I got to know alot of my fellow students better and made new friends with students from other classes that I don't see very often. But the best part was being around such amazing people. All through the day you was great being cheered, encouraged and motivated by everyone there. I went into the fitness test with only 1 general goal and 1 specific goal. My general goal was to push myself and do more reps or have better times in all the catagories. I have my sheet from last year and I wrote down this year beside last years numbers. I am happy to report I tied or beat all my numbers from last year. The one specific goal I had was to do the run in 13 minutes. My best time before saturday was 13:35 which I did running with the advanced kids class on wednesday. Thanks so very much to Mrs. Rice for being there and saying over and over again " you can do it, don't stop, lets sprint at the end, go go". She was so positive that I couldn't let her down and I just keep going, even when we went through that swarm of bugs and we both got our protien for the run( not so yummy btw). My time at the end was 12:13. I was stunned and thrilled. I even had to ask Sifu Prince twice just to make sure I didn't hear her wrong lol. Today I am in the afterglow. Sore and tired but content and happy with my effort. I was exposed to great classes and I even remember some technigues. I have cool bruises on my arms from the grappling(makes me look tough, not). I'll need another long hot soak tonight especially after taking doogie for a 10 km walk this afternoon and then mowing the lawns. No pain no gain right. Actually the walk was nice and I got to review yesterdays events and work on my walking meditation some more. If I had to do 10 squat thrusts to save my life it would be a close call but I would get them done somehow then fall over and die anyways, but I wouldn't quit. I am not as young as I once was, I know I need to get more physically fit. My shoulder issue frustrates me at times but I still try and push as hard as the young pups do. I almost had to produce my id to prove that I turn 47 next month. A number of people at bootcamp were "there is no way you are that old" or "you sure don't look that old". I'll take those as compliments, because there are days I sure feel that old. But I don't ever want to act that old. I'm a kid at heart and I love how kung fu is challenging me to become a better person in all aspects of my life. It's a heck of a roller coaster ride and the brakes are a little suspect, so all I can do is lean forward, put my hand in the air and enjoy the ride.

Finally coming out of the haze

Il like I'm slowly coming out of a haze. I am getting over the insane head cold that I had, and getting more energy and motivation again. The past 2 weeks have been a bit of a struggle for me mentally more then physically. I get my numbers in, I just don't feel like I am getting reps in, almost like I'm static. That was until this week. My wife challenged me to help walk our dog a little more. I ran with him morning and nite saturdays and sundays. But she was walking him monday to friday each morning and most of the nites to. I felt like I didn't have more time to give but realized that was just an excuse. So on monday and wednesday nites when I take Jordan to his kung fu class at 5:30, I bring Doogie( I know doogie why doogie, but that was the name he came with). While Jordan takes his class I that doogie for a walk back around the hospital on the trail. Then when I get to the school I do laps running with him til he gets worn out. His stamina needs some work just like mine. Monday was beautiful and very warm after the walk we got 4 laps in and doog was spent and needed water some I walked one lap after to cool down and gave him water and waited for class to end. Wednesday was much cooler out but still nice. That nite I got in 6 laps and by lap 4 where I usually start to struggle with my breathing, I just felt great. I relaxed and the next 2 laps were almost effortless. Thats the zone I used to reach when running in high school. It felt amazing. At least I know I'm slowly improving. I love having feedback, either positive or negative. I learn so much from both. That for me was my bodies feedback saying keep it up, things are getting better. I am so looking forward to boot camp this coming weekend. Last year was my first time attending and it opened my eyes to so many possibilities. I know I will still struggle with the fitness stuff but I look forward to the challenge now and like to give all I can. I have so much to learn and do in my journey as a martial artist. But I believe that if I can learn early on to push myself and exceed my mental limitations that I'll grow in ways I can't even imagine yet. Hope to see you all there as we finish the run, that feeling is truly incredible.

dang headcold

This past week was going great and then I went and got a silly headcold. By friday morning I was completely stuffed up and feeling lousy. I'm still feeling blah but I am getting slowly better. This cold seemed to hit me just when all the poplar pollin was at its height. I have never had allergies that I'm aware of, but a number of guys from my work site said they developed them after years of being in construction. That being said I going to try something like aleve or reactine when my headcold clears up as I have found myself sneezing more the last few weeks before it hit. If nothing changes then I may have to admitt I might be getting a little older then I thought. Oh well, it's spring, the sunny days have been awesome, the rainy ones too. All in all life is good.