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Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Boot camp update: Week 2
I have made it halfway through Austin Sports and Social Club’s boot camp — and all I have to say is, “I DIDN’T WALK!”
Probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life by the way.
I may not have been the fastest and I may not have been able to do the most push-ups, but I did not walk — no matter how bad I wanted to or how bad my chest was burning. And for that I am very proud of myself.
However, despite not being the fastest or strongest, I can already see a change in my performance. I have better form, I’m getting in that one last push-/pull-up, and I’m only sore as opposed to crippled like last week. And no matter how well I think I might be doing, trainers Monica and Marc have graciously shown time and time again that there is always room for improvement.
The most memorable day this week was Tuesday, when it felt like 20 degrees below zero. We did our morning run and then it was off to the volleyball courts — correction, SAND volleyball courts — where we had our rear-ends handed to us. Everything was done in the sand — sprinting, agility drills, these lunge-jump switcheroo things, some more sprinting — you get the idea. And to make it even more enjoyable, as the sun came up it only got colder. By the time I made it to the car that morning after it was over, I had to sit and let my hands thaw out for about five minutes before I could even grip the wheel.
Additionally as you may or may not remember, our dieting habits are also being monitored with our weekly food journals and the response back from trainer Marc wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought is was going be. Although, I wasn’t too thrilled when he suggested I forego my morning Sugar-Free Red Bull before boot camp because it was an excessive amount of caffeine when accompanied with my morning coffee at work. He also recommended that I needed to eat more (go figure) starting with three egg whites and a serving of fruit a day for breakfast.
My water consumption was also an issue, and he said I needed to up my water to 10 (8-ounce) glasses a day as opposed to eight, especially on days of boot camp. My bladder didn’t really like that one, but I gave it a good effort.
All in all, I am really glad that I’ve made it this far and am excited about the final two weeks. My husband says that he can already see a change in my body, but I think he’s just being nice.
Stay tuned next week to see if I’m still alive after week three. And, if you think putting your body through torture (like me) sounds like fun, remember there is another boot camp coming up soon. Go to here for all the details.
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Pedaling for a cure
Many people are familiar with distance running events used as fundraising tools for charity — marathons raced to garner donations to AIDS research, for instance, or to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer, are common seasonal talk around the water cooler.
But few may be as familiar with the notion of long-distance bicycle events completed for the same high purposes. This is a shame, as such events are quite prevalent in Texas, and indeed, are among the best of their class nationwide. The first of these, currently scheduled to take place in mid-April, is the BP MS 150, the BP-sponsored 150-mile bike ride to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
The two-day event kicks off April 12, when an anticipated mass of nearly 20,000 riders will strike out west from Houston. Over the course of two days, these bicyclists will log the approximately 150 miles back to Austin as they, through their pledges and entry fees, raise money to fight MS. And with over $10 million raised annually, the BP MS 150 is one of the most high-profile events around
As the first of three corporate-sponsored long-distance rides — the other two are the May Sam’s Club MS 150 from Frisco to Fort Worth and the October Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach from San Antonio to Corpus Christi — the BP MS 150 marks the start of the big Texas weekender bicycle season. What’s more, it’s actually the largest bike ride of its kind in the country, making it not only a great early-season goal for all the bicycle fanatics out there, but also a chance to take part in a one-of-a-kind event with a truly noble cause at its heart.
Race information and registration are already up. Of course, if you’re not in shape yet, you’ve got your work cut out for you.
Though shooting for 150 miles over two days may be too high a bar for utter neophytes, it’s not an unreachable goal for those who have done some bike work in the past. Assuming your lungs, legs, and — ahem — saddle have all been prepared for the task, what’s left is to prepare yourself for maintaining speeds at longer distances. And the best way to do that is by honing your chops at other, moderate-length bike events.
There are bicycle races in Texas just about every weekend between now and April 12, and many are listed at the Texas Bicycle Racing Association’s Web site. Quite a few are within two hours’ drive or less, with a number of upcoming races scheduled to be held in Katy, Waller, Round Top, Bastrop, Liberty Hill, La Grange, Kerrville and Prairie View. There’s even a ride here in Austin, the 14th Annual Rosedale Ride, scheduled to be held March 29.
Even if you’re not quite up to the task, volunteers are always welcome — last year, more than 3,000 pitched in, and more are always welcome. You can sign up to volunteer here, and more information about both the race and the disease is available at here.
