10 March 2010 - 6:41Getting Ready to Get Ready!

Tuesday, I was feeling a bit tight and sore from throwing myself and bicycle up two really steep hills. The most concentrated pain was in my lower back, a place where single speeding often manifests itself when I am not in my best form. Standing around in the shop all day doesn’t really make things better either.

I have decided that sitting around and drinking beer is only good for training for rides like SSUSA and SSWC, and that I need to start actually getting myself ready for rides like Singlespeed-a-palooza. Well now I have a new activity, dynamic training.

Mocean 365 is a group that specializes in such activity. They are running a series of Adventure Conditioning Camps over the next few months, and Tuesday marked the first night of the Base Camp series. It basically is an introductory course in getting yourself outside and getting active. These guys run camps like this all year, but this is the first one in Waterbury. Not only am I a participant, but Five Hills Bikes is also a sponsor. The courses will get more involved as the classes progress.

As with anything new, I had a little apprehension. The same lame excuses the lazy side of my brain that always talk me out of going to the gym were in full force. I shut them down though, I gotta get serious some time, and it may as well be now.  After the first 20 minutes or so I was all limbered up, the pain in my back disappeared, and I was able to really get into the activities. To be honest, it was a lot like playing. It was fun and challenging at the same time.

Skye (founder of Mocean365) did a great job of keeping the mood light, all the while gently pushing us to see where the limits are. This is an introductory class after all, and overdoing it is something that is to be avoided. We focused on a lot of core exercises and balance. I remembered most of them as ones I was supposed to be doing to help me with my knee…

The first night was great.