Holy humidity, heat and rain, Batman! This week we had our first rainy boot camp session. The rain could have definitely been much worse and really it just drizzled during our actual workout time but it was just enough to make us feel like regular G.I Jane’s. Other than the rain, Florida spring, I mean summer, has fully arrived and it is hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk…or at least fry your hands on the cement as you brace yourself for another round of inclined push-ups.
Because we have passed the halfway mark, we are now revisiting past workouts, but with a few twists. Since we have all reached a new level of rough and tumble, some of the drills now have lovely modifications to them to make them just that much tougher. But this week what we did for Week 8 is by far my favorite. I love this workout because it’s the perfect combo of cardio and strength. I love it because the drills alternate between upper and lower body. And I love it because we get to jump up on benches. Why do I love the jump-ups? Firstly, apparently I really just love jumping up on things. It reminds me of being a kid and discovering what you can and can’t jump up on. Jumping is fun. Also, I really really really love watching my fellow boot campers conquer their fears.
I’ll be honest, my first attempt at a jump-up in Week 3 was more than a little intimidating. We’re not talking a rinky-dink hop. I mean a full leap straight up into the air onto a park bench that, if you are petite like me, is most likely at your knee height. The jump-up is not a mentally easy feat. You have to trust that your legs, still quaking from the set of inclined push-ups you just finished, are strong enough to propel you high enough. You have to trust that the bench is sturdy enough to hold you, and possibly the girl next to you. You have to trust that you won’t over shoot it and go way over the top of the bench (this is never my problem). And you have to trust you won’t undershoot it and catch the edge of the bench with your shin. It is a moment of truth for every woman who stands before that bench and I absolutely love watching the success stories unfold. No matter your level of confidence when you start, the first time you jump up onto that bench and land safely at the top, you just can’t help but smile. This week we had a couple of girls who hadn’t been with us in Week 3 and we got to relive the successes all over again. We got to hear the epic, “I did it!” when each girl found herself standing right side up on the bench. And even better, this time around, the old-timers got to be the cheerleaders. Advice was puffed out in between jumps and cheers were heard around the fountain each time a new victory was won.
The jump-ups just reinforce what we’ve already learned in boot camp so far: The key to winning the workout game is all mental. If you believe you can make it up the bench, you will find yourself standing up there with pride. If you think you might bang up your shins or catch your chin on the back of the bench, you will most likely do just that. If you think you can do anything for 20 seconds, you can conquer any drill set before you. Week 8 reminds us all of this little magic key and we still have 4 more weeks ahead of us to find out just how much more we can do.
