Days 4 & 5 - Wow!

I think WOW is quickly becoming my new and favorite word. After day 3's "Club Power" class I was left with burning thighs, aching arms and a new found respect for the ice and tylenol bottle. I told myself that I would take Friday off and let my poor fat thighs rest. Well I kinda forgot that I told my co-worker that we would do the "big walk" today. Oh hell. The big walk - I'll have to post pictures soon. It involves walking from our business park, up a dirty overpass, into a beautiful church park and down 77 concrete very steep, designed by satan himself down into the downtown part of Santa Cruz. From there we walk a few feet into one of the most wonderful mexican restaurants around. We order "super tacos" which don't shoot me just yet - 2 fresh corn tortillas topped with a ton of lettuce, tomato, shredded chicken and avacado. NOTHING like you were thinking right? Its very good. And damn cheap $5 for a very rewarding lunch. So today, we have a few extra people and I have yet to figure out just WHO said it but after lunch, as we headed back UP those satanic 77 stairs, it was taunted "last one up sucks". Oh hell no. I am the youngest of this group, albeit the most out of shape and I wasn't going down in a ball of flames like that. We pounded those stairs like there was no tomorrow. Wow -- I RAN up 77 stairs to save face. Well hell...whatever gets you there right?
The rest of the walk back to the office was filled with laughter, jokes and good times. I am blessed that I have found such a good core group of people that I know I can rely on come sun or rain that will help me along this journey. Interesting thought I had -- I don't earn a lot of points for these walks but its the point that I'm making time for myself each and everyday by taking a walk, to get out of the office, to put down that file for 45 minutes and take some personal time. What a concept huh. For that, I am probably the most thankful.
So Today - day 5. Saturday. I'm having trouble with my Zumba classes. At the gym, they offer them pretty much every day with about 4 different instructors and if there is one thing I've learned through my journey, its that I crave familiarity, tradition and continuity. Never thought much about it but I really like doing the same thing over and over. It sets a benchmark in my mind that I can measure against. So today, new zumba instructor and I did it -- I broke my cardinal rule of leaving a class before it was over. I stuck it out for 45 minutes and then I quickly and quietly slipped out the back door. I just couldn't get into it. This new teacher incorporated a lot more belly dancing and east indian moves and well....my belly was moving a lot more than it was supposed to. Good lord, it was like watching Santa trying to do a pole dance. Not a good scene and for Gods' sake there were children present! And in my mind, I couldn't be done with only 45 minutes under my belt. I grabbed my ipod from the lockerroom and headed upstairs. Hadn't decided what to do but my thighs were still burning - not quite sure what I was thinking here, but probably was thinking about MichaelAnn's post on FB about using the bike as her workout. I commented on being so impressed about a 15 mile jaunt and she commented back tht it was so much easier on a bike. Well this I just HAD to see for myself. I remembered how to adjust the seat for my short little legs and climbed on. Entered my info and selected a "random hills" setting for 45 minutes. HO-LY crap! Oh and I set the resistance for a 10. I hit that first hill and just about died! Resistance quickly got re-set to 7. There...thats more like it. I set out to pedal my little heart out. I had a magazine and my ipod going and before I knew it -- I had biked 5 miles! WTF?? I was shocked as well....lots. Put my ipod on and pedaled some more. By the time that my butt was numb, I decided it was time to quit. Looked again at the screen and I was floored. I had been riding for 36 minutes and pedaled my way just past 10 miles! Could that be right? No way, no how.
Then I climed off the bike.
Oh yeah...it could be true.
Where on earth did I lose that disconnect between hurting thighs and pedaling would be a good thing? LOL. I somehow made it down the stairs to the locker room where I met a wonderful lady. We talked a little bit about Zumba and finding that perfect balance for yourself. As I walked way to the shower, she called after me "you know sweetie - You're already a winner. You came here today". I instantly felt better about myself, smiled and I thought about her as I showered and thought "wow...amazing how a perfect stranger can offer some simple words and touch someone like that". I want to do that too. As I was leaving, I saw this lady again and I offered up "have a good day". She replied "I will and you are going to have a great day - you're making changes".
Wow.