powerlifting and overload...

And still we're lovin' it.

So, today's workout challenged us to add 20% more weight and really utilize our spotters... but what happens if your spotter can't reach over the back of the decline bench (because it's sized for a freakin' ogre)? And should you worry when you hear "you're gonna have to go get your own weight because i can't lift it"?? Or how the hell do you spot on the lat pull down? This has been a week of trial and error (and thankfully no injuries!!) We tried to focus really hard today but still there were giggles and laughing fits because we felt soooo awkward as we tried to figure out how best to help one another. Hopefully we can get some answers when we see the team again on Saturday...

Still - we worked sooo hard and then worked some more. It is amazing to catch a glimpse of a really strong woman in the mirror and then realize, with much relish, that hey, that's you! Or to go over the 100lb or 150lb mark on lifts that just a few weeks ago you could barely do half that... :)

We were on such a high after our weight routine that we went a little crazy. So we did a self-test 500m sprint on the erg before our mandatory cardio (two words: Goals. Met.). And finished with 3 sets of 10 inverted row thingies and a good, long, relaxing (haha) wall sit. Life is brill.

When sickness hits...

...you get creative. Poor G is down for the count :(  It'll be a day of fun in my basement "gym" for me... and we'll just figure out a way to make the weight workout somewhere else. Or maybe we'll switch Sunday for today - hopefully she'll be back on her feet in time (and for tomorrow's team workout - yipes!). It's sooooo frustrating when life socks you one in the eye and you can't do a thing about it. Blargh! Feel better soon G!

Week 12

Transitioning into power lifting. It's going to take us a little time to figure out exactly what weights to work with, and despite a few (very) humorous episodes and one extremely long fit of giggles, we got through today's workout feeling like we accomplished something quite substantial. We tried a different gym location that we ended up not being so crazy about (despite the sauna and hot tub) - so we're heading back to familiar ground (and faces) on Wednesday. We'll come back just for the sauna and soak on our day of rest :)

Last workout of 2010...

New Year's Eve and we're heading to the gym with focus, determination and renewed zeal. Yesterday we made a mid-week trek to the north to get some training tips on the Concept 2 and then submitted to a brutal but oh-so-fabulous circuit that left us half-dead. It was one of those experiences where you look back and think, wow, that was SO worth the trip! And what a way to end the year - never did we think we'd be this far along in our dragon boat goals so soon...and sometimes we truly have to pinch ourselves. Happy New Year - may it bring  all much peace, prosperity, health and happiness.

Week 11 on tap

First day back at the gym yesterday and it felt like we'd been gone forever! (The way my body feels this morning just cements that notion even further.) We, completely coincidentally, wore matching shirts and black bottoms... which prompted several curious glances and comments. "Are you two on a weightlifting team?" was my favorite. Hee. So we took a moment (within our 90" of rest of course) to talk about this dragon boat adventure we're on :) Dorky as it may seem, we might plan matching outfits again sometime :)

There is a downside to all this exercise...

... just one teensy little one. My arms no longer fit into any of my shirts!! If I liked shopping that wouldn't be such a problem, but I don't. And then there's the issue of this gorgeous leather jacket i treated myself to last year... I can get it on but I sure as heck can't move in the thing. Sigh.

Skip a week and jump to 8

Not sure what happened.. but time flew by and we are now midway thru week 8! Or maybe we were just numb from the pain and it took all our energy just to function semi-normally! Which might explain why our first set at the gym today seemed crazy long. I would say it was on my 8th rep of the lat pull down that i realized I had managed to combine two different programs into one monster one. Oops! But hey, what's a little extra pain when you're going for a gold medal on a world stage? Pish!