Nine weeks later ...

Technically the photo above is from week 8 - which included a self-imposed physical challenge. I had tire flips as part of my routine and as often is the case, decided I should test my limits.

The workout was a 25-20-15-10-5 ordeal, so during the 25 flips, I questioned my original motives, but there is an insane satisfaction in doing the unimaginable. The structure of the workout provides no desire to quit as the hard part is already finished. So I flipped. And as I flipped I decided I needed more info.

"Steve, how much do you think this weighs?" I called out across the gym.

"Not sure, hun," in a way only Steve can say to all his clients - regardless of age or sex - without being patronizing in the slightest.

So onto the bathroom scale we rolled this monster on top and got a reading of about 170 pounds. Quite honestly, I wasn't sure I could flip the tire at all. Doing it was an amazing high.

Yesterday marked nine weeks of training at PowerThru. Next weekend (end of week 10) is my Dirty Girl race, a 5K with obstacle course and all the women from the gym will participate on a muddy course.

Week 9 kicked off with a monster workout: 21, 15, 9 of Power Clean to Squat + Pullups followed up sets of 20 sledgehammers + 20 squats + 5 pushups. I did nine rounds of the three (in 20 minutes) and made this interaction:

Visualize me slamming a 12-pound sledgehammer full force over my head onto the above tire (which is laying flat). I am sweating profusely and making awful faces. Slightly behind and to my right is a larger, middle-aged guy working on med ball slams (but without any lower body action).

Guy: "Don't take this the wrong way, but I think you're doing that better than any woman I've ever seen."
Me: "Thanks."
Me-In-My-Mind: "I would totally decimate you too."

The good news: There's not much you can't get worked out hauling a sledgehammer into a tractor tire (especially with almost 200 reps).

I think I was a little bitter too because during my golf lesson in the afternoon - instructor John told me I looked like a girl during my swing change. That pissed me off - but I was making pretty rainbows with my 8-iron by the end. My work-friend Scott told me yesterday that I'd be sore from golf. I scoffed.

This morning, Steve and I cranked out four rounds of this beast:
15 plank rows (row with cords while in a plank position on one hand) + 20 B2B squats + 15 burpees + 10 high pulls (like a power clean without the flip, and higher) + 15 3-count squats with 25 pounds + 50 jacks

Nine weeks later, I'm not sore. I am ready for another workout tomorrow morning. And I still love it all.