12 Things
Nearly 80 people attended last Monday’s 9am Labor Day workout with Steve and Jess. I loved every minute of it! Being their professional sidekick on days like these allows me to catch up with so many precious IC veterans whom I haven’t seen in a long time. It was great to rediscover that you all still have the amazing healthy glow that only comes from consistent exercise. I was touched by a comment made to me by Holly Bartling, a mother of two who’s been training at the Ice Chamber since the birth of her second child. I remember Holly’s first day of training quite well because I was still in the throws of new babyhood back then too. Seeing her son slung across her hip three years later was motivating to say the least! I left the conversation feeling proud to be in Holly’s “Moms Who Exercise No Matter What” club.
I know some of you think that this whole “consistent training” thing is effortless for me by this point, and that I must wake up über-excited to swing a kettlebell over my head each morning, but that is simply not true. (If you’re anything like me, taking great care of yourself is nothing but a consistent challenge!) …and so I’m always craving new sources of motivation and ways to keep myself mentally and physically in shape.
Here are 12 things (in random order) that have recently inspired me:
1. Seeing Olympic bound Foreste Petersen and Keith Moffat training at the IC last Wednesday morning
2. My ICKB teammates preparing for competition (Sara and Surya are the Queens of Consistent Training)
3. Jessica’s incredible prenatal workouts (she still trains like an athlete)!
4. Valery Fedorenko’s 8 minute kettlebell swing set on YouTube
5. My new zip hoody
6. Steve teaching the snatch (with barbells and kettlebells)
7. Tamara and Suzanne from 7am’s Morning Bootcamp (incredible changes!)
8. Kaiser Pinole employees successfully losing weight through Dr. Calvin Deng’s Wellness Initiative
9. Annie’s 1st round win at the Judo World Championship last weekend
10. AC/DC’s Back in Black and Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream
11. Nick’s overhead squat in Industrial Strength today
12. Each person in the collage above showing up every week to do the work
What are yours?
Maya
I’m inspired knowing that I can count you and Steve, Surya, Sara and Jess as my friends and fellow competitiors. You may not feel it everyday, but you got a whole lot of awesomeness in you that radiates to all those who surround you.
Maya observing that “this is what six-packs are made of” during the overhead squat set last night.
Definitely Nick getting off probation. Jen C. making some leaps in technique. The Industrial Strength ladies getting stronger every week. Battle Zone. Renee Simi lifting kettlebells. Brenda on snatch. Annie on Thai food. Maya no counting me. Sara chiming in. 0600 Bootcampers – you guys are crazy. JD repairing equipment. IC Kids.
beautiful post may may i am inspired by it xo
Mostly I’m inspired by the way Steve constantly punks me during my workouts. Truthfully, It’s the only thing that can really inspire me to do things like get my squat form in order. I hope he never stops. My favorite is when he yells’ “Nick, man, WHAT IS THIS???!!!?
The energy pulsing from Industrial Strength, Jess holding plank while eight months pregnant, the positivity and ferocity of the core class athletes, feeling welcomed and supported regardless of my state of mind on any given day, Steve snatching the KB’s always a humbling and inspiring experience, Bear casually stepping up to the platform and executing her intuitive technique to kick my ass with the bells and then letting me think it was actually hard for her, Maya always speaking the truth-strongly,kindly, wisely, Neon Trees-Animal, Disturbed-Down With the Sickness, Jake and Lily chasing their dreams, Orion supporting me to chase mine, knowing that each day is a new opportunity to claim health and happiness!
Thanks Maya !
Everyday IC people with their exercise glow and glisten. My sustainable health kick (two years and counting – thanks IC) and passing the weight loss torch to others at work – thanks again IC for the exercise ideas and the Kaiser plug. Making dear friends. Our boys growing up to a future family flex. Soul Train experimentation. And the list goes on.
For the record, my comment was that we had our kids at the same time and Maya blew past me with her super fitness fantastic-ness miles ago…You are totally an inspiration, Maya, as are all of the folks who keep me coming back…
1. Rune-integrity & commitment defined.
2. Haakon and Annakari- playful, strong, fun & fierce.
3. everyone @ the IC who keeps showing up and giving their best- really makes the IC so special.
4. competing in a paddle board race with Aloha spirit- but next time I’m going for the solo win.
5. JD laughing with my kids, making everything look easy and being a great role model for H & A
6. my kids get to see what going for an Olympic dream really means- that is something special because it can cross over into any dream.
7. new goals and dreams
8. Thanks IC- Steve, Maya & Jess. Grateful and inspirational.
12 things that inspire me to keep up the IC work?
1. The scary thought of where my body/health would be if I had never joined.
2. The glow on Jess’s face with that superbaby on the way.
3. Being able to help to lift really heavy crates full of priceless paintings at work and impressing the hell out of those 20-something art-tech Mission District hipsters with my functional fitness strength.
4. Steve being really mean, I mean demanding, during workouts.
5. Getting to gossip with Gretchen @9 am about Albany High while warming up.
6. Coffee with half & half.
7. Lisa’s encouraging yelps.
8. That I no longer have back problems after three years of doing this.
9. Maya
10. That in my my next life, I will work out as hard as Mel does.