While researching USD boot camp for my article for the Volante, I was given the opportunity to actually participate in the class. Thinking of myself as a generally fit person, I thought this would be no problem, a walk in the park, as the saying goes. Well, it was more like a vigorous run through the park.

The class, full of wonderful women whom I truly admire for going through this twice a week, started out with a brisk half-mile jog. Most of that jog, I settled for a brisk walk. Huffing and puffing when I arrived back to the exercise circle, I grabbed a mat and joined the rest of the stretching women. Stretching, thank goodness, I can actually handle that.

However, the stretching was there to prepare me for some exercises that used muscles I didn’t even know I had.  There was a lot of work to strengthen arms, muscles and, of course, legs. The next day, even laughter is painful for my muscles. After we finished all those very painful exercises the instructor announced that we would be embarking on a long, long, long run up hills. I bailed.

I waited around for about 15 minutes with the photographer, for the women to return. Return they did! They were exhausted, with good reason. I was exhausted just from the first run, not to mention all of those techniques we had done.

The teamwork among these women was something I found quite amazing. They all worked together and encouraged each other, and even through all the difficulty they kept their humor. One woman said something very hilarious. I believe it was “Don’t get out of shape, don’t drink all the time and don’t get out of shape when you have kids.” Along with myself, the rest of the women burst out in a fit of laughter.

So what did I learn from this experience? I am not at all fit, not even at a beginner level! It felt good though, being outside, breathing in fresh air, treating my body right. It was certainly a very interesting experience.

– Jessa Waters