Thursday, April 10, 2008

Water Walking

So apparently I joined a new club yesterday.

I didn't know I was joining. Maybe they joined me. I don't know.

See, Kami and I have been working out at the rec center several days a week, since our Bally's membership ran out. We usually swim or lift weights or cycle, but last week, we noticed The Water Channel.
It's basically a big circle of water that has a current in it. So you can walk around and around and you have this water current that provides resistance and feels like you're walking upstream.
So we decided that if we did that, we could get the lower impact exercise without the stupid goggle marks that come with swimming, right?

Sure.

So early yesterday, we show up for our foray into water walking. We jumped in and started around the "track". And just to give you an idea? It takes 56 times around the track to go 1 mile.
And it's harder than it looks. There were some underwater jets that I'm pretty sure someone had turned the setting from "running brook" to "tidal wave", and every time we walked past there we had to hold the wall to stay upright. We were just getting the hang of it when the clock struck 7am, and we were quickly joined by a large number of people. OLD people.
"Hi! You're new here! - My name's Barb. what's your name?"

You're kidding me, right? They wanted to make conversation. We were sort of struggling our way upstream, just concentrating on keeping our legs under our bodies, rather than being pushed up behind us, but they wanted to chat. They were chatting with us, chatting with each other, even setting up little get-togethers for after the work-out.

It was a little surreal.

Then as sort of a final jolt into the I Am Never Doing This Again reality... they started lapping us.

Did I mention that Kami and I are both marathon runners? I mean, we're not in marathon shape or anything, but still. It's the principle of it. We were being lapped by 80 year old men.

I'm sure it's really great exercise, but I'm not sure I'll go again. I don't know if I can take the humiliation.

20 comments:

Vern said...

I'm feeling several emotions. Joy because I'm relieved to hear someone else confessing their weaknesses. Hope because maybe when I'm 80 I will still be able to exercise and lap young, cool people. And relief because I now have proof that running a marathon won't do anything other than take up several hours of my time. Just let me live in peace with these conclusions, okay?

jjstringham said...

Hee hee. You got lapped by 80 year old men. :D Of course, I will not go anywhere near a gym or rec center for fear of complete humiliation doing just about anything.

Melissa said...

Well, before you give up on water walking... let me tell you that I took a water aerobics class a few years ago that did a lot of water walking. I got down to a size 6 and 11% body fat... I'm just sayin!!

Corrine said...

I love "vern"'s comment! I have to say ....well not sure what to say other than the fact that maybe y'all should get there earlier :)

Heather said...

Ha Ha. Vern is always good for a laugh. Man if I could fit into a size six I wouldn't care how many old men lapped me! Maybe put your ipod into a ziploc... no conversation that way. :)

Randi said...

I might feel the same as you, Heather, if I could fit into a size 6...

And Vern?
nevermind.

Anonymous said...

That sounds like the best exercise ever though. I would kill for our gym to have that!!

Yvonne said...

That sounds like a great form of exercise, but 56 times to equal a mile--YIKES!

But keep in mind what great blogging material this would be if you continue to go...

Caroline C. Bingham said...

LOL. My g-ma broke her hip in a hip-hop aerobics class. She was 87 at the time. And she'd never been so embarrassed in her LIFE.

Sheyenne said...

Wow, good for the old fogies! It does sound like great exercise, but you really do need to pick another time so as to avoid future humiliation. :D

Tonya said...

I'm sorry to laugh at your humilation but that is hilarious. It really sounds like a neat place though and a great idea. I'll bet if you gave a second or third chance you would get the hang of it and take those 80 year olds to school.

Paul said...

Next time you go, make a big show of eating some beef jerky and an apple when you're done.

That'll get 'em!

Tori :) said...

Did the old people all walk around naked in the locker room? I'm still warped by an experience years ago...

Busy Bee Lauren said...

I'm sorry, I will have to come back later...I have been disturbed by Tori's comment and the mental picture she has pasted into my brain.

Stacey said...

I'll come walking with you and then you will have NOTHING to be embarrassed about. :D

mindyluwho said...

Can't think of a witty comment...too busy laughing!

Whitney said...

Ooooh my that sounds hard!!! I hope you said yes to the after-work-out-plans with the 80 year old men. That's too bad that something you could have liked got ruined though :( I'm sorry.

Super Happy Girl said...

56 times = 1 mile. WOW. Tired ust reading that.
You go girl!!

Super Happy Girl said...

Tori's comment:
OH NO. Oh please no no no.

Nancy Face said...

Lapped by 80 year old men? I'm laughing out loud! :D