In a Workout Rut? Give Yourself a Boot

As I sat down to write this week, I lowered myself into the chair slowly, wincing slightly at the pain in my quadriceps. I silently cursed myself for being so competitive with my husband, as visions of racing down Mount Si danced in my head. The hike has special meaning for us. Early in our relationship we found out how competitive we are when we raced up the same mountain (and I won, not that I’m keeping track or anything). He beat me in the rematch a few months later, and this past weekend we went up again to celebrate our five-year anniversary.

The pain I’m feeling is most certainly karmic payback for the pain some of my Boot Camp participants feel after one of our Saturday morning sessions. We have a group that meets outdoors every Saturday in Gig Harbor at 7 a.m. for an intense, hour-long group personal training session that we lovingly refer to as “Boot Camp.” We run, we jump, we flip tires, we work with kettlebells, dumbbells and TRXs for a total body workout that is tough to beat.

I’m sure you have heard of the boot camp workout style. You may have even seen some of them in local parks. Generally, boot camp workouts involve weight training, cardiovascular intervals, core work and more, done in circuits. These workouts are usually designed to push people outside their comfort zone to get maximum results. Some people join these classes to lose weight; most people just want to improve their overall level of fitness.

I talked to Jeff Jowers of Tacoma Boot Camps (www.tacomabootcamps.com) and asked him why he thought boot camp workouts were so popular right now. “It’s an affordable way to get personal training without spending five to six hundred dollars per month, “ he said. “You have that accountability to the others in the group. They help motivate you and encourage you to continue to improve.”

So, is boot camp right for everyone? That depends. In my opinion, the participants have to be ready to work hard, maybe harder than they have worked before. It will challenge you for sure. You also must make sure you speak with the person who will be leading the session to find out what level the class is. Some boot camps may be for advanced athletes, while others are designed to include beginners and advanced participants. At Tacoma Boot Camps, as well as my boot camp in Gig Harbor, there is usually one exercise given. Then there will be modifications demonstrated to make the exercise easier for those who are new or for those who might have injuries.

Doing something different with your workouts is almost always a good thing. So often we get in a rut. We do things that are comfortable and hesitate to challenge ourselves. Boot camps provide a way exercise with others who are motivated and encouraging. It may also bring out a little friendly competition!

You might be wondering who won last weekend’s race of Mount Si between my husband and me. I hate to disappoint, but he beat me to the bottom. I would like to think it was because it was very rainy and muddy, and I was just more careful. This may require another attempt later in the summer!