UP DOWN UP DOWN

Taking fitness classes can make you feel like you're in the Suburban Army. UP DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN. And I do as I'm told, which, as you might imagine, is not my M.O. UP DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN. Pant. Pant. Pant.

Teacher LOVES "jumps". This is where you ride your spinning bike seated, position "2", then take it to position "3", up off the seat and pumping with all you've got, then back to "2", then back to "3", "2", "UP", "DOWN", "UP", DOWN". You get the picture. Fairly grueling, and I don't even have balls.

It's an intense workout - pretty challenging. Teacher asks, "How's everyone doing???". No one answers because WE CAN'T BREATHE. She's beating everyone's pace, telling us what to do, paying attention to the routine AND watching to see if anyone has died yet. And then she smiles. Sweat is pouring off my nose, boogers are imminent, my hands are slipping off the handlebars, and she's smiling. Even at the end of the workout she looks great, because, of course, she's alot younger and really pretty. Me? I look like I'm in the Suburban Army after a battle with zombies. I'm beet red, soaked with sweat, and my hair, which I've been growing out, is all over the place (I've just managed to get it into a stupid looking little ponytail for the first time this week).

When Teacher's voice is in my head during my other workouts I find myself really pushing, which is a good thing, because my usual is to think more about form and what's for dinner tonight. Lifting weights is alot about UP DOWN UP DOWN. Running is also a good deal of UP DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN (especially when my left knee is acting up). Swimming is also alot of UP DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN. Through it all, I also try to remember to breathe. This is essential, especially if you are swimming.

Creepy Old Guy always gets in the pool at the stairs and does the UP DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN from lane to lane to lane until he gets to the one he's decided to swim in. Very weird.

If I'm UP that's where I want to be. If I'm DOWN I fight it. With elections next week I've got to be thoughtful about RIGHT AND LEFT. And since it's Halloween tonight I'll be watching out for zombies. I'm fit and ready for fight. Bring it on. It's sometimes the ONLY way to vision my way through those tough workouts.