Follow Fred - Travel Journal

After at least two months of procrastination, I have finally started my off season training.

Following a friends recommendation, I signed up with Bodyscapes, a facility built around a providing one-on-one trainer services. Today was my first session.

This past year, I have focused my training on making sure my body can handle long distance cycling. Long hours of leg workouts. Before that (years before), I ran long and middle distances as a cross-country and track runner. Again, long hours of leg workouts. So, when my trainer gave me a "simple" workout focusing on free weights for the hour, I assumed I could knock it out without much difficulty.

Trouble is, looking back in my athletic history, I have, fundamentally, NEVER worked on my upper body. A fact that became VERY apparent very quickly.

Strangely, I felt ok having as much difficulty as I did. I was honest about my training focus and weaknesses, so there were no pre-expectations on the part of my trainer (or myself, straining to achieve some mental picture of my ability). I even had to stop a couple times to lower my heart rate (although doing such an intense workout on an empty stomach was probably not the brightest thing...).

Afterwards, I felt great. That long forgotten, even missed, muscle burn... Tomorrow, my tune may change, but today I feel alive.