G.I. Jane

A million years and at least 100 pounds ago, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone. I signed up for a boot camp.

I was terrible.

I guess you could argue that the very fact that I got up for this 5:30 a.m. boot camp made me not so terrible. At least I tried. For a little while, anyway.

I had such high expectations for that boot camp. I thought it would change my life. I pictured losing 50 pounds in a month. Becoming strong and invincible. Of course, none of that happened. My first day, I remember the instructor just yelling "Run!" I honest-to-God thought there might be danger of some sort. I mean, where was the easing into the program? Just run? No, thank you. I ambled up the hill, out of breath and miserable. By the time everyone finished, I was dead last.

There were a few of us who were in the back of the pack. Little by little each one dropped out. I was the last hold out, and eventually I quit, too. Hundreds of dollars and several early mornings down the drain.

 Fast forward from 2004 to 2012. This past weekend, I got an email from Groupon offering a month of fitness boot camp for $39. I don't know what came over me, but I bought it. Yay spontaneity.

I signed up for the 5:30 a.m. class and was thrilled when my best friend's fiancé decided to sign up, too. It's always best to go to these things with a buddy. Today was our first day.

When my alarm went off at 5 a.m., I seriously questioned what I had gotten myself into. I'm so not a morning person, and in my nervousness about today, I hadn't slept super well. Thanks to tips from my friend, Laura I laid out my clothes the night before, so getting ready, at least, was a breeze.

We meet at a local high school's football field. I walked tentatively from my car to the crowd gathered on the track, terrified that I would be least in shape person there, like I was last time.

After a brief orientation, we began our pre-assessment test. This consisted of push-ups, sit-ups, tricep dips, planks, and the scariest of all--running a mile.

Full disclosure--though I started running not long ago, I've kind of gotten off track (surprise, surprise). I got sick, went out of town and just kind of slacked off on my couch to 5K program. So I was freaking out about the run. The last time I ran a mile around a high school track, I WAS in high school. And that was a long time ago.

I set a goal for myself. A mile was four laps around the track. I committed to running at least one full lap. And for my personal satisfaction, I just wanted to not be last. Even if I were second to last, I'd be OK. Just not last. 

I'm happy to say I did much better than I thought I would. I did run an entire lap. After that, I'd walk half a lap and run half. I finished my mile in 12:54. By far the fastest mile I've ever completed. Here were my other stats:

In a minute: 

Assisted push-ups (on my knees. I didn't even try for the regular ones): 33

Tricep dips: 15 regular (legs straight out) and 20 assisted (legs bent)

Sit-ups: 22 (eh)

Bows and toes (holding a plank position): 47 seconds

Not too terribly bad. At the end of the four weeks, they'll test us again to see how we've improved. And unlike the last boot camp I tried? I plan to actually be there.