My Favorite Workout

I am back into consistent training, and it feels really good. I have had some tough days where I had to take it easy, but for the most part things are progressing in the right direction. And yes, I am getting use to the fatigue, but I am really good at taking naps. ☺
I have also been good at not doing too much too soon and have been very conservative on the amount I am doing right now. Hopefully this will all change, and I can let loose and join in with Joel’s group.

I didn’t do a lot of training this past fall for various reasons, most of them related to the injury I sustained. To stay fit, I worked out in the gym more consistently. I have never loved working out in the gym - in fact I didn’t really like it at all - but I always knew it was something that could be a huge benefit to all aspects of my triathlon training. In the past I have done little stints where I would be motivated for a short period of time to go to the gym, but I am sure I was never consistent enough to make any major improvements.

In September I started going to the gym on my own and was doing a lot of core exercises and rehab exercises that my physiotherapist Sheri Shelton gave me. Then a friend of mine, Chris Hawkins, started to tell me about his trainer, and he explained to me how working out with this trainer helped him over the last 2 years. He figured the sessions were providing him with large strength gains and, more importantly, injury prevention for the upcoming season by strengthening all those very important but often neglected stabilizing muscles. I have always wanted to find a good trainer to workout with on a regular basis. My excuses for not doing this sooner were that I wasn’t ever in one place long enough to commit to a trainer and that I never found the right person to work with who lived in Penticton. I do know a few great trainers who live in Vancouver and North Vancouver, but that does not help me in Penticton.

I started training at the beginning of October with Brent Dobie from Synergy Fitness at the Lakeside Fitness gym. I have now completed three and half months with him. I can honestly say my weight workouts have turned from something I would skip or avoid to something I look forward to doing each week. We have worked on a variety of strength and conditioning components to help me become a more well-rounded athlete. It has been so much fun to look forward to these workouts and to take on another challenge. It is especially challenging for me when he switches up the exercises. Just when I think I have mastered the lateral side hop onto the Bosu Ball with a dumbbell lateral raise, he changes the exercise to a single leg lateral hop. It makes me frustrated that I can’t do these things right away, but with a little patience, practice, and coordination training I pick it up really quickly. It is very rewarding to challenge myself in a different area of athleticism. We start the workout with a little SAQ (Strength Agility and “Quordination”), some balance work, and footwork. It helps to activate the right muscles before we dive into the bulk of the hard work; then we finish off with some core exercises. It has made me stronger, more powerful, more connected and given me even better body awareness. Now the goal is to keep up these workouts on my own while I train outdoors in the sunshine in California. It shouldn’t be too hard as I really do like to go to the gym now. Thanks Brent! (And thanks Chris for suggesting it)