That Old Familiar Feeling

Boy this day has already flown by. This is a very good thing I guess. You know, one day closer to the weekends that I live for. Although I don’t actually have any plans for the weekend, but that won’t stop me from looking forward to it. Sometimes no plans are the best plans. Other than I must get in a decent long run on one of the two completely calendar free days. Of course I am guessing my legs are going to hurt after tonight so it will make this more difficult, but it will happen nonetheless.

Let me explain.  One must be flexible in their life and in planning of time.  I have to roll with the punches and embrace when opportunity knocks. Can I think of any more puns or cliques to throw out there? Anyway, my plans for the evening changed and since they were better plans than what I had planned I just went with it.  Tonight I am going to the new gym and meeting Amanda to take a spin class at 5:30. This will be my first ever spin class. It seems weird that in the course of going to gyms and being physically active for 2 plus years that I have yet to ever try a spin class.  But it just happened. Tonight is it. I am a little scared since I don’t particularly love bicycles of any sort.  Mainly I don’t like how they hurt my insides, make me sore in the inner thigh, crotch. There I said it. My vagina hurts after cycling.  Blunt enough for you?  I am sure the more I did it the less this would be an issue, but given I never do it, I am fearing the pain.  BUT, never run away from an opportunity.

Amanda texted me this morning and said that after the 45 minute cycling class that we should do a leg day.  Now, do I really need another leg day? Nope. Not in the agenda considering I had one Tuesday night and am still sore. BUT, don’t pass up opportunity when it knocks. I told her I was tender from Tuesday and she said this was lighter weight/heavier rep night and I said okay. I can live with that. I told her I would of course make it work. Because that’s what I do.  So out the window goes my “intentions” for the evening, and in comes better plans.  45 minutes of spin class (cardio) and a leg day with the boss woman, Amanda. I try to not pass up Amanda workouts because they are always so good and I promise you this I have never EVER in 2 years regretted a single Amanda workout. I never walked away and went boy I wish I wouldn’t have done that. So it’s happening even if I have to pre workout and/or drug myself up to endure it.  And by drug I just mean take some Advil to push myself thru. 

I’m gluten for punishment. BUT, I forget how much I love that girl and what she brings into my life, not just in a physical personal trainer sense but in a personal friendship happy to be around you sense. Sometimes in life there are just people you bond with/connect with more than others.  Our crazy trains meet up and mesh nicely.

Last night was the return of my beloved Iron Power and let me tell you, it was everything I had hoped and dreamed for and more. I said jokingly but there is a hint of truth to the sentiment that it’s like the stars and moons aligned and suddenly everything made sense once again and all was right in my world. Yes, it’s a bit extreme but slightly true.  For a few moments during the workout (the same routines I was used to) I actually was in bliss because it was like nothing had changed; all the happy feelings came flooding back and it was so familiar and comfortable.  One probably should not allow themselves to get so jacked up about exercise that it makes them feel so contented.  I have some weird issues where I have mixed up feelings of living and happiness about life with the gym and working out.  This period of time in my life, the past 2 years, have been the best of my life, the period of time where I have found myself for the first time ever and it’s hard to not have some of those feelings transpose onto the gym.  This is why I’ve had such a stupidly hard time with everything that has happened at my gym.  I am trying to let go of the feelings of good I’ve had an accept the reality of what it is now. 

Of course last night was the very first important step into acceptance of the reality of the current situation.  I was at a different gym and yet there were these moments where I felt that peace and contentment that I had at my previous gym.  And the thought occurred to me that perhaps it’s about more than the confines of 4 walls and instead a “feeling” of family and community that is created by people.  Again with the clique sentiments.  I was thinking that perhaps the things that I loved most about my gym and how it shaped the person I am, this happy girl, had more to do with me and those I surrounded myself with than the stupid building. As for a few brief moments I had that same classic feeling of happiness last night, at a completely new location.

Part of the recreation of these feelings came in the form of not only was Amanda teaching the same exact class that I have taken hundreds of times but that I was there, and another girl, a friend of ours, and then Amanda’s mom came (also friends with her) and then another girl from the gym. So all in all I had 4 completely familiar faces in the class with me and that was happiness.  Sure there were lots of new strange faces but there always are and I can deal with that. And these faces were happy and nice and that made me feel good. Gone were all the self-indulgent body builders with nasty perma-scowls on their faces.  Instead I had this feeling of community and belonging and of normalcy.  Something that my gym used to be.  And not shocking given this “gym” isn’t really a gym at all but a true community center.  It’s just a whole different group of people.  I’m optimistic about the future.  

I literally could not stop smiling last night during Iron Power.  It’s not that the class is entirely so life changing but it’s more a representation of everything that I hold so dear. The friendships I have created, the lifestyle I value and the memories that I hold dear.  I had perma-smile and I was so okay with that. Really good night. And a good workout too.  I should note that I did warm up with a 9:10 minute mile.  I pushed myself because I wanted to get into the class and get a spot.  So I ran my little ass off, and did 1 mile 9:10.  Getting faster. It was hard.  Still not my fastest mile ever but I’m working on it.  And post Iron Power because I felt like I needed to I ran 1 more mile.  This time slower because I was tired, so a 10:10 minute mile.  I was fine with that.

Amanda needs to go and actually take the classes at the gym to experience them before she takes over as manager.  She will be the instructor’s bosses but no one knows that yet. The paperwork is still going thru even though she’s been hired already. So it’s kind of an opportunity for her to observe without them knowing who she is.  Should be interesting. Like I said my legs already hurt a little bit, but I am going to push thru.  Spin and legs tonight.  No run for me.  I don’t even think a warm up run is happening because spin is all cardio anyway.  I think its fine.  I’ve logged a decent amount of miles this week already.  (2 on Sat, 7 Sun, 4 Mon, 3 Tue, 2 Wed) So yup, 18 miles this week already.  It’s cool to take tonight and tomorrow night off from running. 

Get thru this killer session today and then tomorrow is my rest day, sort of.  I am totally taking that Barre class. Just some nice active recovery, Pilates and yoga and stretching style.  Life is so good right now I can’t complain.  I have peace and calmness in my heart and I am rolling with that for as long as humanly possible because God knows it doesn’t last that long. Something else is always around the corner.

And just because this was yesterday’s most adorable workout outfit. I mean, Victoria Secret is truly my addiction.  Well, one of many I guess.  I’m an addict.