Burn and Rave

I’m a distance runner.  Put me out on path by icy patches of Lake Michigan in the middle of winter, and I’ll go.  My white puffs of frozen breath keep a regular pace for at least eight miles.  But not even eight minutes into an indoor fitness class on it’s last day and I am defeated, marching in place and gasping for air while the girl next to me, who’s braved the last 10 classes, keeps jumping and hopping.

This was my second time in a fitness class.  When I use the gym, paid for by a mandatory university fee, I usually get on the elliptical or the stationary bike in the weight room, but a couple weeks ago, after years of posting up the schedule of free group fitness classes in my room, I decided to trade my old routine for an aerobics routine.  I attended an hour of step kickboxing which was intense, but manageable since I’ve taught dance aerobics before and dabbled in tae-bo.  Enter 45 minutes of the Super Circuit class, just a few days ago.  I don’t what it means, but sure sounds fun.

PUSH-UP POSITION! SQUAT! JUMP! TWENTY MORE TIMES!

After five, my pace slowed and my legs struggled.  After ten, lactic acid was spewing into my legs and I decided it would be better to march in place than to collapse.

PUSH-UP POSITION! LOWER IN FIVE!

Before the instructor counted an emphatic “ONE!” my body was already pressed to the floor having already advanced “five.”  Ahh, feels good to rest.

HEY!  IF SHE CAN DO IT, SO CAN YOU!

Oops.  My instructor peered at me between the columns that held up my foot-high step and caught sight of my cheating strategy.  And I realized that she was wrong.  The other girl can do it, but I can’t because I haven’t been training with these muscle groups and exercises all semester long.  I also realized that the last day of a fitness class was the wrong time to join because apparently the intensity accumulates and I was a weak link here.  That was a couple days ago and today I’m still leaking lactic acid in my legs, in my arms, and in my abs.  Maybe I should stick to running outdoors until the classes resume next semester.  Yes.  I’ll start running when I recover and am not crying “ouch” to every little turn of my body.