Birthday Burpees

For my birthday, I strongly hinted to my wife that should she be having any difficulty trying to decide what to get for me – aside from the night-vision goggles and/or a 20-something college girl working her way through school as an exotic dancer – that a Groupon for five EVO Camp or Spartan X Program Classes could be the answer. The EVO Camp class is meant to “blend cardio, strength training, and core work”. Essentially it’s a boot camp and is something I’ve been wanting to try for quite awhile now.

Well Happy Birthday to me!

This past Saturday was Class #1 (and no: I didn’t get the goggles or a 20-something stripper) and was pretty much what I expected: jumping jacks, burpees, push-ups, prison squats, planking, and a whole heck of a lot more. It was even sort of refreshing (if that’s the right word) when the instructor noticed it had started to rain and immediately sent us outside to run three-laps around the parking lot.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Dq_NCzj8M&w=225&h=169] Burpees

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4ftRgOGriU&w=225&h=169] Prison Squats

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It was tough, it pushed me, and was very much in-line with what I had been hoping for. Unfortunately I have the mind of a 25 year old and the body of someone who could probably benefit from using a Hoveround Power Chair.

How’s the old saying go? “Pain is just weakness leaving the body”? Well. Combined with old(er) age and a bum shoulder, I think it’s safe to say I’m a very weak man. It’s a little over 3-days later and I’m still sore. (Although I think I’m walking straighter today and can actually raise my arm past 90 degrees.)

And that’s not to scare off anyone who’s been wanting to try a boot-camp type fitness class. It’s not meant to insinuate that the teacher was some hard-ass drill instructor who gets off on the suffering of others. Far from it. The guy was talkative, supportive and very understanding of our, err, my limitations. It truly was a do-what-you-can-and-work-at-your-own-pace kind of class. Mentally, for me anyway, that means balls out. Physically? Not so much.

Whereas others in the class might’ve done, say, 100+ jumping jacks in x-minutes – I did 75 (I actually counted). While I’m sure others hit 40+ push-ups in 2-minutes, I did around 30. Towards the end of the class when we were to hold ourselves in a planking position for 5-minutes, I was lucky if I did it for two.

Some of you who read my drivel regularly know that I hit the gym 2-3 times a week. I lift weights, ride the bike, sometimes run, etc. This past Summer I also participated in a pair of Warrior Dash runs. So what I’m saying is that I’m not completely an invalid when it comes to working out.

Though after the ass-kicking I got on Saturday, apparently I am.

So now I need to ask myself: Was it worth it? Since I’m actually feeling better today, it’s easy to say YES. It was worth it. Yet the fact I’m even asking myself means I’ve got a bit of self-doubt.

I’ve got four more of these classes to go and my mind is telling me to go, go, go! My body, however, wants to tell my mind to go F’ itself. Thankfully my mind is stronger than my body, so I’ll go back. While I’m told it’ll get easier – and I hope to God/Allah/Buddha/Elvis it does – being (or getting) fit is never easy.

I think that’s just part of the dichotomy of getting old, I guess. Happy Birthday to me!