Summer of Seals Competition

Today was the big day that I having been preparing for for 12 weeks. It has been brutal. 4 workouts a week, a minimum of 30 minutes each.

Swim 500 meters. 10 minute break. Following 2 minutes of as many push ups as you can do. Two minute break. Then 2 minutes of as many sit ups as you can do. 2 minute break. Then as many pull ups as you can do. Finally a 1.5 mile run.

Today was the final performance. To see if those 12 weeks of desperately trying to do  push ups, pull ups, and sit ups would all pay off? Two weeks ago I still couldn't do a push up. At least not any that would qualify.

But today was different.

I'm not sure what happened. I've never been any kind of athlete. I have never really pushed myself physically, other than child bearing and rearing. The last trial run through of this competition yielded very pleasing results, so I hoped to get at least as well as I had practiced. Okay, I did want to drop 6 seconds on my swim because that would earn me to the next tier. But even if I didn't drop six seconds, I would still be super pleased with how far I had come.

I couldn't swim when we started. I couldn't do any push ups when we started. And I couldn't do any sit ups with my hands still on my head. It was bad. I could run. But I couldn't do anything else in this competition. And I worked my tail off and still two weeks ago I was yet to do one push-up.

And then today happened. My best swim time had been 13:36. Today I swam it in 12:19. I dropped over a minute! I had to pass 4 people!

I took the 10 minute break and then started on the push ups. I did 10 pretty quickly and wasn't as tired out as I had been in the past run throughs. So I though what the heck, I'll see if I can push out 15 more and make it to the next tier. And for those of you who were watching, I know I looked pathetic. But my lower chest was touching the block. My mom, who was taking pictures, said it didn't look like I touched the block at all. Ever. But I did. And the kid counting them agreed with me and counted them, making them quite legal. After I had finished 25, I still wasn't exhausted, and I still had a minute left. So I thought, what the heck, just for fun lets see if I can reach 40. If he says they don't count, that's fine. But my chest touched the block and I reached 40 total push ups!

2 weeks ago I couldn't do any. And even if they were pathetic looking push ups and barely legal, I DID THEM. What an accomplishment! It must have been a high from doing so well on the swim. I was on fire!

2 minute break and then I had 2 minutes to see how many sit ups I could do. Sit ups are a bit of a challenge for me. Tail bone issues. Removal of tail bone because of tail bone issues. Still have those issues, just not as severe. At the run throughs, I was able to do 30. And that is keeping my hands on my head. That part is worth mentioning because that is a big deal. It is hard to do push ups and keep my hands on my head. And guess how many I did? 50! The most I have ever done.

I didn't do any pull ups. Maybe next year.

I completed the 1.5 mile run in 14:20. It was my normal time, no improvements there.

But look at what I did. I was so happy with my results, so happy with how far I came.

And what was even better is Evan did it with me.

And my two sisters were on my team.

Bonnie took 3rd place in women's, 2nd for today's activities (no weight loss or points for workout). And she placed 1st for pull ups (tied with 3 others).

Dorias improved in everything like I did. I am so proud of how far she came. She is a superstar to me.

And Evan is a machine! I am amazed how strong his body is. He can do push ups like it is no big deal. He swam very well and dropped 2 minutes off his best time in the run.

My team came in 4th place of 10 women's teams. Staci got 1st place for the most weight loss. She lost 31 pounds! Unbelievable!

This was a great accomplishment for many of us. It is all over. Now what to do with these muscular arms of mine. A few weeks ago I was mindlessly rubbing my arm and noticed a bulge. It caught my attention and after further investigation I realized it was a new muscle that I didn't know I had. I had developed my triceps. And I think I will continue with the push ups and sit ups and see if I can get at least on pull up. I won't have access to a pool this winter, but I plan to keep those muscles growing so I can do even better next summer. Maybe give my little sister some competition. I doubt it, but it was a fun thought for a minute.