Hardest Workout of my LIFE

Today was hands down THE HARDEST WORKOUT OF MY LIFE (to this point).

We warmed up with the same medicine ball throwing as previously mentioned. Somehow this time Tom was throwing it so hard that it slammed me into the wall a few times - it was awesome.

Then Tim told us to head outside. We had to do 50 air squats and run 400 m (the length of the block), come back do 50 more squats and run 400 m again. -yeah, this is just the warm up. I never thought it would be so hard to run after doing squats. My legs were complete jelly; and for the first 50 m, I thought I was going to fall backwards.

Once we were done with the 'warm up' we went inside to do some Sumo Dead Lift High Pulls (guys used barbells - girls used kettle bells) An SDLHP is a dead lift that you bring to your mid chest while shrugging your shoulders and lifting your elbows out.

We also practiced reverse wall-balls - in a squat, touch a medicine ball to the floor then toss it up straight behind you to the black line on the wall with full body extension and then catch it.

Finally the last part of the WOD would be knees to elbows. When Kris said this I heard everyone groan, if those people who are crazy fit groan - then they must be bad.

See video for demo: (obviously mine were no where near touching) Just getting on to the bar was intimidating enough - It was my first bar experience in the gym! Wrapping my hands around the bar was awesome and ridiculous all at once. I had to chalk up my hands because they were so sweaty and slipping off but it was really a victory to get up there!

THE WOD:

-3 Rounds-

50 Squats

30 SDLHP (35 lb. kettle bell)

20 Reverse Wall Balls (10 lb. ball)

10 Knee to Elbows

While this may not seem that crazy on paper (or screen...), it was absolutely the toughest workout I have ever been through.

After the first set of squats I knew it was going to be a long road. My legs were shaky from the beginning because of the 100 squats we did outside for the warmup.

I finally made it to the 2nd round Knees to Elbows. Carly (married to Tim - part owner) came over and asked me how many more, I told her I had two more reps and that I was going to quit after the 2nd round. (I thought I was going to barf after the first one!) I was breathing heavily all the way through the first two rounds and when Carly encouraged me to finish and do the 3rd round my breathing became a problem.

As I was on squat 40 or something I began to breathe really shallowly and make vocal noises as I was breathing - almost like a wheezing - I wasn't in control of my breath or the noises. I began to hyperventilate and I knew that if I panicked it would be bad - but I couldn't catch my breath! Carly saw that I was freaking out and took me outside to get some fresh air. As soon as we got out there I burst into TEARS! It was crazy! I didn't know why I was crying - it was totally a mental thing. I knew my muscles could take doing a third round but my breathing was holding me back. Carly somehow managed to help me calm down and get my breathing under control. Once I was able to get some full deep breaths we finished the squats outside. I felt much better. I was able to finish the rest of the WOD with her help and encouragement. (I know I would have given up if she hadn't helped me). I was on to the last knees to elbows and I was the only one still working out, everyone counted down my last 10 and it was really awesome. Where else does everyone count down your last reps and help you finish? Carly helped me make it through without compromising the integrity of the WOD - I did all the reps (just a bit slower) in 31:50. (thats just over 10 minutes a round)

I feel really worked but the mental and emotional battles that were fought in that 31 minutes were worth it. I have really made progress today - physical and mental.