I suck at running.

So I just completed a 4-week Boot Camp with the fabulous ladies at Alavie Fitness. Let me just say they kicked my booty! They don't call it "Boot Camp" for nothing.

Four weeks ago, I signed myself up for a 6:30am class. When I arrived for my first day of class, it was dark. And cold. And dark. I thought to myself, "What the heck have I gotten myself into?" My butt got kicked. Seriously. Totally. Ubiquitously. I sweat, a lot. At the end of the workout my head was steaming, literally. But it was worth it. I felt energized. It's counter-intuitive...but go with it.

Basically, I'm just glad I survived all four weeks. We did a ton of drills, little hurdles, circuits, weights, and...RUNNING. I suck at running. I have and I'm pretty sure I always will. Ok, so I think I suck a little less now, but still. Running will never be something I do for fun. I'm so glad I didn't pass out while running! Because I totally felt like I was going to. Serious props to all you runners out there. I bow down to your talent in running. I blame it on my short legs. Long torso + short legs = not built for running. Alright, enough excuses. We did a fit test at the beginning and I had to run the mile, like in high school. After four weeks, I improved my time by 1:10! I was just wishing for like 10 seconds, so I was stoked with 1 minute and 10 seconds!

What's kind of sad is that today was my last day and the workout felt harder than all the other days! But I'm thinking that it was probably due to the fact that I've been having a gnarly allergy flair up due to the change in weather and early blooming season. Seriously, these sinus headaches and post-nasal drip action are super annoying.

However, I do feel like my endurance has improved. I can do REAL push ups now! I thought that I couldn't (well I think that's because I was just lazy), but when you are surrounded by other women - some at the same level as me, some older in age, some at an amazing fitness level - I feel like I'm pushed by the little voice in my head that keeps saying, "Don't let that old lady show you up!" Oh, did I mention that the little voice is super competitive? Again, I bow down to all the ladies in my class who kicked my butt consistently over the last four weeks, running in much better form than I. But I can do real push ups, improved the plank, and I realized that I can run.

Probably the most humbling experience during the past four weeks has been the realization that I CAN run. I don't love it. I'm not good at it. But I have the ability to do so. I'm thankful that I can run, I'm in good health, surrounded by family and friends, blessed to have a wonderful fiance, and the perspective to acknowledge those gifts. I'm forever grateful.

So to anyone who's wondering...YES, I definitely recommend doing a boot camp. YES, it's hard, but you'd be amazed at how much you can accomplish. YES, I am sore (still currently am). YES, I really woke up at 5am 3 days a week for a 6:30am workout. YES, I would do it again.

I probably will as the wedding approaches t-minus 3 months. That means April.

I bring a hair dryer to the gym.

I've become one of those people. Yes, those. The kind that bring all kinds of junk to the gym to get ready for the day. I'll admit it. I'm one of those gym snobs who thought that getting ready at the gym was silly. Why not go home? Why show the world how you roll? Sometimes, it's not that simple. Well, I'm officially one of those people. With good reason, I might add. I had to. Either that or look like a drowned rat all day.

Personally, I'll take the hair dryer.

I started Boot Camp today. I thought I was going to DIE. And I'm not even talking about the working out part yet. Waking up at 5:15am isn't glamourous. I don't know how Oprah or anyone else in their right mind does it on a daily basis. I love sleep. In fact, I might even dare to say, I cherish it. Let me have my sleep.

Well, it turns out that my will power won out. I decided to sign up for Boot Camp with AlaVie Fitness as a way to jumpstart my fitness program in these last handful of months leading up to the wedding. I've been pretty good about working out, I just needed to kick it up a notch. Shock my system, if you will.

Let me tell you, Internet, I was shocked. And then I about died again. No joke. As obscene as it was waking up when it was dark, having to work out when it's dark and cold is just as obscene. I didn't know how the ladies who started at 5:30am did it. They were finishing up and it was still dark. But I decided that I had plunked down the money, so I am going to do this.

The workout itself wasn't so bad, and it was nice to be in a small group. I sort of felt like the fat kid on the playground because I was last finishing up some sprints and drills. I didn't care. That's usually how I felt in high school when we had to run laps for the annual fitness test. That's usually how I feel anyway, nothing new. I must say, however, this was my first boot camp and all the other ladies had been before.

"It'll get better" they reassured me. "Good job for just making it out here!"

As dawn broke through the night sky to wake up those who were lucky enough to be sleeping, we continued our work out. I'm happy to report that I can jog without completely passing out, as I have been doing intervals outside and on the treadmill prior to this camp experience. Let's face the truth though, I was tired at the end. I was glad it was over. My head was steaming, literally. I guess I was really hot and the air was really cold. Oh Physics!

Then, in pure ghetto-fabulous style, I went across the street to 24Hour Fitness (I do have membership and frequent it) to freshen up. And I busted out my hairdryer. That's how I roll now.


Am I looking forward to tomorrow?

No.

And.

Yes.

I'm not digging the idea of another early morning, but I'm stoked that I'm doing this. I'm facing whatever hangups and fears and saying "Take that! I can do this!"

Tomorrow is the Fitness Test, a la high school fitness test...

Wish me luck!