How to survive a fitness test

New season, new attitude. Tomorrow we are going into the first fit test of our new season confident, calm and ready. We are not stressing about any of the numbers (scale, bench weight, chinups, erg time, etc). We're  just gonna go in, do our job, and get out. It's about winning the mental game now.

(We'll see how that works out. Stay tuned!)

Also we found the light switch for the sauna. No more scaring little children with our nudity!

While some trained, others ate

We skipped our Montreal weekly session tonight, and feasted instead. Sometimes family, friends and laughs are exactly what a body needs...especially right before the first fit test of the season. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Training hard without breaking

The regulars at the gym have been taking notice of our workouts of late. 

"Wow, you girls are really hitting it hard lately!"

"I love to see you two in here lifting every day."

"So I hear you had a really great summer. What's next?"

Ahhh...  I could fall asleep in here
(not recommended!)

What's next indeed? Hopefully representing the USA in Hungary come summer that's what. And making sure we hold onto our spots with our Montreal team - because nothing is a given. Five new girls are trying out - and coach is going to be making some cuts in the next few weeks already. Why? There's no way to keep 28-30 of us on the roster: we don't all fit in the paddling tank and we have to switch out constantly - which makes it tough when coach is trying to put us through an endurance, multiple-set workout. Don't get me wrong - we manage, but it's not ideal. For us or for our coach. Neither do we fit into our circuit room. Especially when we're benching with regulation-size bars. One of those in the thigh or head is not pleasant! And when you're doubled over in pain trying to suck in all the air you can - but it's all sweaty, hot, polluted air.. well, you tend to keel over ;-)

So anyway, back to the story. We've upped our game already, this early in winter training - simply because we have to. We have to hold onto our seats. We have our first fit test Thanksgiving weekend. We are going to be competing against women from across the country for the US national team next spring. And after a really welcome almost 2-month break (from paddling, not training!) - we're re-energized and ready to go.

We have a new, 2nd assistant coach who is already not hesitating to kick our butts. He did that this morning, and then coach P alleviated all the pain Coach Y inflicted upon us with stretches that made us scream and squeal ... After a hot shower all I wanted was a looong nap. Til at least Tuesday. But I can't, because tomorrow G and I have a date to go get some wet heat therapy... splishy fun in the hot tub followed by languid stretching in the sauna. Heaven! And not just fun - but important. So we can keep coming back and working hard... [and getting noticed.. yeah, we sorta dig that :) ]

We're Back and We're Naked

Big workout today. MONSTER. So big in fact that a gentleman who'd been valiantly working away on an elliptical machine for an interminable time before he decided to go hit something heavyish came up to us as we were axe-chopping our way through a stack of weights on the cable machine.

"Man, I can't wait to do shoulder exercises like you."
Hmm...okay....
"I saw you hitting it hard over there.."
"Yeah," I laughed, "today's a big shoulder day!"
 "I had rotator cuff surgery six weeks ago, and one pound hurts like mad."
Aaaah.... the post injury workout attempt. I understand that one. It sucks.

Interesting mix of folks in there with us today. An especially memorable pair were two 20-something  hot tamales, in full make-up and pricey-looking outfits. I think they worked out their mouths and eyes more than any other parts of their bodies - though I did see them do two gym-lengths of walking squats with a 5lb dumbell in each hand. Afterward they plopped on the mat and "stretched." Chuckling, we left them there to their social event. They reminded me of me, twenty years ago, when all I had at home were 2lb, 5lb and 8lb pretty pink dumbbells and I thought my Billy Blanks Tae Bo VHS set was badass. Is it wrong to channel an old Virginia Slims ad? Ah to hell with it - WE'VE COME A LOOOOOOONG WAY BABY!

Anyway...spent, we hit the sauna. Naked of course. We laid towels down to protect our cheeks and plopped our bums down on the top bench. G looked right, I looked left, our eyes connected and.... we dissolved into fits of giggles.

"Here we go again.. we're back! Winter training has begun."
"Did you even SEE the summer? It was like zoom zoom zoom HONG KONG zoom zoom zoom END OF SEASON."
"Yeah, I have no idea where it went. It just whizzed right on by."
"Yup we're back. And we're naked."
"Hey G.. could you build a sauna please? So we can enjoy this with our men?"
She squinted at me. "So you can hang it out with my husband?"

More giggles.

"Oh right, yeah, probably not," I said when I could breathe again.
"Actually, he wouldn't care. He'd be down with it." Hmmm.. would A? I'll have to ask him later.

The sauna door is glass, and looks out onto a hallway that leads to the sinks, toilet stalls, lockers and the pool. It's a heavy traffic area. Right on the inside of the door is a lamp. It has a very bright bulb in it. So bright, that if you are sitting on the top bench inside, which we do, you are illuminated brilliantly and, your nakedness is, shall we say, not hideable. Not that we give an iota. We stopped caring a loooong time ago. So we're hanging out, chatting, laughing, glistening all over as the heat melts away all our aches and tension... and suddenly we see the pretty girls approach the door. And turn abruptly away right before reaching it.

Yet more giggles.

But within 2 minutes they were back, tightly toweled and hiding behind their still-fresh-from-the-laundry sport bras. We did the only thing we could do. Clamped our knees and draped the corners of our towels over the tops of our thighs. Courage summoned, but keeping their eyes averted, pretty girls came in, slunk over to the corner, and carried on the same conversation they'd been having in the weight room. We eavesdropped for a while, trying desperately not to laugh too obviously.

G turned to me, eyes wet with contained tears. "So, L, that pumpkin K carved..."
"What? Is it rotting now?"
"Well yeah, but it was soo funny..." and she collapsed into a fit of giggles. Which was contagious and seeing as i was ready to bust at the seams anyway I joined in. The pumpkin actually wasn't the real joke - because if you've seen it you will see it is the ultimate in coolness.
"I just needed to say something so I could laugh," G mouthed at me. "Yeah pumpkin!" she said louder, and we dissolved into laughter again.

I think they spent about 10 minutes with us in there, consoling themselves about a multitude of inane things, and departed to study and eat. Ha.

We flung off our towels, relaxed our knees, let our shoulders drop a little bit more, and laughed and snorted until we could snort no more.

Yeah. We're back. And we're staying naked!!