H-O-ly Crap.

Ok. Wow. I ended my first Crossfit workout over 20 minutes ago. I'm still panting. My arms and legs are shaking. My face is bright red. I can't wait to go back tomorrow. I just hope my breathing returns to normal by then.

I showed up a little early in case I needed to sign any release forms. I was introduced to everyone, and then there was about 10 minutes of awkward waiting for 1pm to roll around. I eyed all the equipment around the gym. Some of it looked straight out of medieval torture chambers. Other equipment was fun, toy-like looking almost. Other items were familiar.

There was a huge white board on one side of the gym, with WOD scribbled on it, and a list of warm-ups, and then a huge blank space with names and times. Our trainer pointed to "warm-up 1" and we ran out the door for a quick 400m. Once that was over, I was singled out to work with a trainer to learn some basics. I was taught "free squats" (squat till your bum hits a medicine ball- there is more to it, but that's the gist) "samson stretch" (stretch in the lunge pose with your arms above your head) and then told to follow those up with push-ups and jumping jacks. So after my 400m run, I did 3 sets of 10 free squats, 15 seconds on each leg of samson stretch, 10 push ups, and 25 jumping jacks.

I was officially warm. I was told that my form was "very good" and "indicative of an athletic past." No words could ever sound sweeter to me. I'm sure they were just trying to encourage me and be nice, but still, I'm a sucker for that stuff. Next up, I was introduced to kettlebells and the rowing machine. Ah, my 3.5 years of high school rowing DID serve some purpose later in life! Lol. So after the trainer was confident I could do each skill, he told me the workout. 21- 15- 9. I would do 21 kettlebell swings, 21 push-ups, 300m row, 15 kettlebell swings, 15 push-ups, 300m row, 9 kettlebell swings, 9 push-ups, 300m row. As fast as I could.

The whole thing took me 10? 11 minutes? I was DEAD. I can honestly say I gave it my all. I'm sure it was first day jitters, wanting to show that I'm capable of some things. But also, it's a promise that I made to myself, that I will give Crossfit everything I have, every workout. I will leave my infamous attitude at the door. I will not let my brain tell my body when it thinks its had enough. I will not let my brain tell my body what it thinks it can and cannot do.

I gave it so much in fact that it was a full 8 minutes after I was done with my workout that my body felt relaxed enough to get a side cramp. About this time I also came down with an intense headache. One that I knew wouldn't be lasting...but more of a purge of toxins from my muscles. I let the headache wash over me, and as soon as it came, it was gone.

Did I mention I can't wait to go back tomorrow?