Season is over now, and I’d promised some ladies at work that I’d join them in their boot camp class after the season was done, so, had to stick to my word.

Oy! I’ve only done two classes since Sochi and that’s because after the first my calves hurt so much I didn’t want to go back till they felt better. Then when I did, half-way through the workout my right calf started acting up and I had to switch to one-legged jump rope (among other adjustments).

What is boot camp? Kind of like a mixture of aerobics, CrossFit and calisthenics. The first workout we did consisted of three cycles of two stations of five minutes each. What does that mean? Well, for instance, the first cycle was kettlebell swings, squat jump over a bench, and a dip. For five minutes you did those three exercises in a row; the first time through one rep each, the second time two, and so on, till the five minutes were up. (I think I got up to 9 in that one.) Then we (3 of us in that group) switched with the other group (also 3) and we did their workout, which if I recall correctly was a jump squat, a double-under jump rope (meaning the rope goes under your feet twice), and a lunge. One rep each through, then two and so on. After we hit those two stations (~10 min total) then we ran around the basketball court three times. That’s the part I hated the most.

I wore my calf-hugging specialty socks during this first boot camp. Bought those socks because my calves would just hurt so much by the end of the day as I was walking home. No matter if I stood at work all day or sat. The socks definitely make my calves feel good, but I’m really not sure if they help at all. This past Thursday I didn’t wear them to class and about half-way through (8 stations @ two minutes each then through them again at 1:30 each) my right calf suddenly screamed each time I would jump. I switched to one-footed jump rope (surprised myself I was still able to do 6-8 in a row before faltering). Jumping jacks didn’t work out so well; the instructor had me do some weird twisting thing that someone later told me was part of P90X (or whatever it is called).

Both times I offered to swim with anyone after the class for 15-20 minutes; no takers. In fact, each time the instructor (different one each time) looked at me and asked “Seriously? You’re gonna swim after this?” Well, yes. And each time it felt great. My boss lets me show to work a bit late on days I’m working out, so I swam till 9am or 1000 yards, whichever came first. That meant on the first day I got 500 yards swum and Thursday I did 1000.

I have an ulterior motive, though. The one and only certified, official, no-sh!t CrossFit class I ever went to was back in 2013. The base I was stationed on had a CF club and every Tuesday morning during the summer they did a swimming WOD (workout of the day). That was so blasted fun. As I recall it involved something like 3 lengths (the base pool is 40 yards per) and then hop out and do flutter-kicks, another 3 lengths and do a bunch of push-ups. Do that 10 times or so. Can’t remember exactly; too long ago. But damn was it fun.

Well, I want to run one of those swim WODs with this group. I come up with all kinds of ideas while I’m cooling down after the class. But first have to get myself more ensconced in the group and get some of them to join me in the pool after. I already know one of the instructors would support me in this: Jen, who went with me to Sochi! Just gotta get some of the other students and the main instructor to want to do it… Wish me luck!