I Don't Know Squat

So last night's boot camp was at least 50% squats. Mind you, I always consider squats one of my weaker skills. (Then again, right now, I consider almost anything one of my weaker skills, but I digress.) In theory, it seems like it should not be too hard. Things you have to remember though:

• Chest Up - makes lower back rounding impossible & tightening of your upper-back easier.
• Arch your back - don't round it.
• Hands up as high as possible.
• Look Forward. Look down & your back will bend. Look at the ceiling & your neck will hurt. Look forward.
• Foot Stance. A narrow stance doesn’t work. Heels must be a bit wider than shoulder-width apart.
• Weight on The Heels. Someone gave me a tip to try to curl my toes up if needed. Never get on your toes. Always on your heels.
• Need to get deep - below parallel

I guess this is why someone said: "the Squat is probably the trickiest exercise to learn to do with proper technique." And to do it with good form - over and over and over and over and over and again - is far from easy. Now I will say, that my squat form has actually improved since I started bootcamp. (This is obviously a good thing, I think I began with my squats looking like a Raggedy Ann doll.) But doing lots of squats and then staying in a squatting position in good form is challenging (to say the least). I have a long way to go - but at least am making progress. The irony, of course, is that I went to boot camp hoping to take it a little easy on my legs for Sunday's 1/2 marathon because I was concerned whether whatever I pulled would not heal in time. I guess someone must have missed my memo on that.