So it's true- I went to the gym and learned that despite my healthy self-image of toughness, I am in fact a total wimp.
I've never actually gone to a gym before. I never quite got the appeal of stale indoors air, stationary activity, or free weights. I like the dirt and chalky grit of outdoor climbing, the mud, rain and occasional stick through your face you get biking through the woods, or the lung-busting cold air and little frozen upper liphairs you get while snow-shoeing or skiing in minus 25 temperatures.
Now is a new world of pain and public display. I really was a gym twerp, standing there with my little water-bottle, my hairy legs and bright white gym shoes... I had to do all these stretches, which basically winded me right off the bat. I never counted crunches as a stretch before, but hey- I said I wanted core strength stuff, and I guess this is it. We did 15 minutes at least of stretching and ... holding positions my body did not enjoy. I've learned my vocabulary does not cover off the sensations my abs (oh there they are!) felt at this point.
Then we moved downstairs to all the free weights and other pain and contortion devices. Here were bulging muscles and confidence everywhere, and one twerp with her water bottle. I learned that 30 lunges later, I cannot really use my legs to walk steadily anymore. Also- the whole lean over this, and lift and hold(!) your hips and legs for 5 secs, 10 times times 3 reps, is just about impossible. I suppose I looked like Superman, but I felt like a puddle.
The free weights area taught me that my "stabilizer muscles" are completely undeveloped, and that while my eyes cruised the impressive looking heavy weights, I was challenged just to lift the little 12 pounders.
In short- I fell short of my imagined prowess. And my ass hurts.
Huzzah.
