Different but Same.
On a leap of faith, I went back into the gym... a place I haven't been since 2018.
As an extroverted introvert, the fact I joined a functional fitness gym in 2014 was a huge leap. This type of gym ran classes, focused around weight lifting, kettlebell work, CrossFit style workouts and HIIT. I immediately fell in love, especially since it was a time when I was struggling to stay injury free in my running journey. Two to three hard classes a week spoke to my ability to put on muscle and I enjoyed the social environment too. I spent four years here and in that time, I finished several rounds of ultra training and finished the Vermont 100 in 2017.
In early 2018, my father had a heart and attack and was diagnosed with cancer. I put my needs on my back burner for a bit and with no extra money to spare in helping him financially, I quit the gym. I had every intention of going back, but with his passing in May of that year and our house fire seven weeks later, that never happened. That summer, I continued to work out but instead used my barn hallway as my space. During our house rehabilitation, we carved out a space for a small home gym for me and that is where I have trained ever since. I have a fair spread of equipment and a spin bike, which allowed me to maintain a reasonable level of fitness. Mostly, I didn't miss having to drive to workout. Also my professional career had changed paths and I was no longer running long distance due to health issues, so the need for challenging classes just didn’t fit.
Fast forward to January 2024 and the debilitating back pain that followed me for almost a year and half. You can catch up here on that journey. In April of this year, an acquaintance who owns a local cross fit gym posted a small group coaching course called “Superior Posterior.” I reached out, inquired if I could join as a non- member and secured a spot. This course focuses exclusively on my problem areas. It was a leap of faith to sign up and I was desperately hoping my body would adapt to the training modality. As it was, being pain free was a new phenomenon.
Three weeks in, I am blown away at my ability to participate and the muscle I am packing back on. The first day I walked in, I was greeted by the loud music and the class in session, the familiar smell of rubber matting, weights and sweaty workouts and the vibe. Looking around, the extroverted introvert wasn’t intimidated as the participants clearly represented every walk of life from 20 somethings to 60 somethings, all banging out the same workout. My nerves stifled, I hopped on the airdyne bike to warm up (remembering how much I used to love this thing… for real!). My first class was a welcome home to what it was like to work my body hard. I was brutally sore for the first two weeks, but now in week three I am settling into a rhythm. Three sessions a week seems to be the sweet spot. My back is responding beautifully and I am feeling little twinges of my old self - the one I lost in 2018.
When this class wraps in early July, I will have a decision to make. Something tells me I may continue to hang out here for awhile and see where this new (old) path takes me…
Well written and always a pleasure to read !!!! Keep pumping the weights !