Boot Camp - Cardi Style

The Burn, I Feels It!

Ok, so maybe Mikey and Holly haven't been lifting weights with me, but since I was laid off, we've really kicked it up a notch with our primal exercise schedule. We've been going to the George Mitchell Nature Preserve two or three times a week to hike. The loop is two miles (see the map at the bottom of the page I've linked to) and, depending on how hot/humid it is, we either do one brisk loop, or one loop plus some of the side trails. We love the place; since we've been going on weekday mornings, we usually have the place to ourselves. It's peaceful and beautiful and, according to Holly and Mikey, full of interesting smells.

Holly, Mikey and me have also been running sprints about two times a week (not including agility class/trials). Actually, I added sprints into our schedule several months ago. Sprints are not necessarily something I would recommend for someone with rheumatoid arthritis, but we love it. My joints do suffer afterwards, but I feel so free and powerful, and Mikey and Holly think we're playing some awesome game together. Running full out with them brings back a feeling from my childhood. As an adult, nobody runs just to see how fast you can go, or to see if you can keep up with your four legged friends. What a fun way to get some incredible exercise!

And, it's all totally working. We're all faster and stronger at agility. I don't get winded like I used to, which means that I have breath left over to call out obstacles. Holly's got muscles in her thighs that weren't there a few months ago, which has got to be good for her hips. And Mikey got a great compliment when we went to our vet for bordetella vaccines last Thursday; when she was listening to his heart, she said 'Wow, you can tell he's an athlete'!

Now, if I can just figure out how them to lift weights with me. . .

Holly and Mikey say 'Hi'.