The Pride crew is a group of 30 - 40 strangers and friends who gather on Tuesday nights at 6 pm and Saturday mornings at 9 am in the evil genius' yard. 90 degree weather...30 degree weather...snow...slight dampness... doesn't matter. PRIDE knows no season.
You see....here's the thing, that picture up there...^^ yeah, that's me. I'm fat. No...really...I am. I get it. But this is the body I have and I haven't been very good to it. I'm trying to change that now, and it's going to take some time. That's ok, though, I have plenty of that. Well, you know...until I'm OUT of time, at which point I'll be dead and it won't matter what I looked like in jeans anyway. Right?
So, my friend Carrie, who is aware of my trying to make healthy changes says to me.. "hey...come with me to 'THE CIRCUIT'. it's a lot of fun, it only costs $5 a session, great group of people. TRUST ME". So, I did.
I've never been an athlete and traditional sports do not interest me. The Evil One pairs us off into teams. Usually a novice with someone who's a bit more experienced at the circuit. The "circuit" is set up so that you do each exercise for 30 seconds, then you move on to the next station. I can do anything for 30 seconds. If something is too tough for me, I modify it into something I CAN do. The key is to just keep moving. The WHOLE circuit is performed once through, then there is a very short break and you do the WHOLE circuit over again. By the end of the session, you are dripping with sweat, out of breath, every muscle in your body(most you forgot you even had) are screaming and you feel more alive than you have in your life.
The first time I went I got through it with a minimum of mishaps....ok, I did trip on the tire obstacles and landed on my butt. I wasn't quite able to make it over the turf climb, I kinda landed on top of it and looked like a beached dolphin. The turf climb is a ROLL of artificial turf that's roughly the size of a 4 foot high hill..the object is to run at it, plant your foot and toss yourself over. It has become my personal Matterhorn.
Todd really is an evil genius... he's assembled the greatest bunch of people and every one of them is supportive and motivating. The very first time I went, people I'd never met before were cheering me on, telling me what a great job I did on this or that, encouraging my efforts on the turf climb, instructing me on the proper technique for tossing an empty beer keg. The whole experience makes you want to go back for more. How sick is that?? I find myself looking forward to Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings. Pretty crazy, huh? I've devised my own home circuit that's not quite as challenging, but still keeps the body moving and makes me sweat, that is the whole point, anyway.
I've been doing "The Circuit" for a little over a month now...roughly about 10 sessions. I'm making progress... a little bit more every time. I have made it over the turf climb a few times. There was a celebration the first time. Everyone was very congratulatory. That's how the PRiDE crew does things...
