The New Gym Structure

First of all, before I get into what happened at the gym, I want to get into Wednesday night's training. It was dark and cold, and gloves had to be worn most of the time, which obstructed some movement, but it was overall pretty good. It wasn't the best, but it was some degree of activity that is always good to have when you feel a little bit too sedentary.

As for the gym, we held the newly restructured gym session last night. We arrived a little late, and Dan was already leading the warm-up, but what we went through was still very tough, even coming in halfway through. My quadriceps were giving out halfway through! The sheer amount of endurance to keep up with what Dan sought will take a LOT of training for me to work up to. I hesitate to think how much I would have shut down if I were there from the beginning. I had to step out of the activities once or twice. Partly, this is due to the unexpected nausea from exercise as my body adjusts to this new medication that I am on, but when my body does readjust itself, I hope I'll be able to work my way through to a higher level of fitness and endurance that I was at before, or am at now. I managed to increase my sheer power and musculature, so hopefully, the endurance will not be so much of an issue.

Overall, the new structure went over really well, and I think everyone had a good amount of fun. There was a lot of training going on, everyone training different and useful capacities during the open hour. I had Dan instruct me on learning to take-off split-foot, as opposed to the powerful two-foot punch that I am accustomed to. This is very difficult, unnatural, and awkward for me, but toward the end, I began to get more of a feel for it. I feel like to punch off while keeping my natural stride requires the full use of my arms as well as an engagement with the hamstrings and glutes. It was a very difficult kind of take-off when I was successfully getting it off. When the two-foot, I feel powerful, and my exit distance is muscled out. I haven't been able to get much exit with the split-foot yet, though I understand that I should be getting more once it becomes more natural, but I do feel like I am "floating" over the obstacle. It almost feels like graceful flight, rather than powerful punch. This was unsettling to the point where the first time it happened, I had no clue why or how I was in the air. But I will continue to practice this, in the pursuit of learning my body and moving better.

The snow has recently fallen, so the games I have planned for the Hamilton scene will be taking place soon, if I can get everyone together for it.