Boot Camp Assessment

So in light of my travels on Monday - I did not make it to boot camp for the assessment. But one of the things I wanted to do in 2009 is make a better effort to consistently exercise - even when I travel. So for this trip, I packed my shoes, and clothes.

So Tuesday night, I left the office about 8:30 p.m. determined to do the assessment from Monday. I headed back to the hotel, changed, and went down to the hotel gym. I was sad that I was not doing it with my friends - so I settled for the company of my iPod. I was expecting the gym to be empty at that time, but it was kind of full - which honestly made me a bit self-conscious at first in light of what I would be doing. But then just forgot about it.

So my understanding of the assessment was:

Run a mile

• I had to do this on a treadmill being it was starting to snow outside. It made it harder to run at my own pace. As I brought my little i-pod shuffle with me, I thought it appopriate when Howard Jones' "Don't try to live your life in one day" came on as I was running the last quarter mile.
• I ran a slow mile, but it was the first running I had done in a while, and more importantly I did not feel any pain in my hip.

50 dips

• I found this fairly easy and straight-forward.

50 walking lunges

• This is where I am sure the 7 guys in the gym thought I was nuts. There was a hallway next to the gym leading to the pool. So I used it to do my lunges. I admittedly still suck at them, but do feel like I am getting better.

50 push-ups (no knees)

• This was the hardest part of the assessment for me. I am sure I looked retarded as I rested on my knees in that same hallway area. I also ate the carpet a few times. But no knees.

50 broad jumps

• These were fairly easy for me. I have to say I remember when I started boot camp and could barely do these - could barely do a consistent bunny hop.
• The funny part was that just as I stood up from my push-ups to do these, Van Halen's "Jump" came on my iPod. Not making it up - just a really funny coincidence.
• I did catch one of the guys on the treadmill giving me a quizical look as I was bounding up and down the hallway. But I thought, who cares?

50 bear crawls

• I found these to be fairly easy, actually. Another one of those areas that were so hard for me when I started, but have been able to improve.

All in all, I think my time was 24:24. Not the fastest. I lost the most time on the mile and the push-ups. But at least I did it.