So, I went to our little club’s first Karate Camp!  It was in Fly Creek, NY and was hosted by one of our members. 

I had expected to tent out over night.. haven’t done that in.. um..  well I don’t remember the last time I slept in a tent.

Evidently, I’m not as good at it as I thought.

I arrived late.  I had to swing by my mom’s house.   She lent me a camp stove and a little coffee pot.  I didn’t really get started until late anyway because Friday night is grocery night which meant I didn’t get to bed until almost 11:30 on Friday.

So Saturday I had to pack the cooler and all my stuff etc etc etc…

Three hours later I arrive..  it’s beautiful!!!!  Great Pond and the dojo was a converted barn.

Set up my tent.  Had a little chat with Sensei and then realized that it was 1/2 hour before the second training of the day. (2:30)

So with no lunch, as much water as I could down in 10 minutes and in 85 degree heat in a sticky humid barn, we got to training. 

An hour and 1/2 later, I was beat!   But training was GREAT!  Sensei from another local club that we are affiliated with gave instruction.  I was hesitant at first because I’d never met him but it was interesting to have someone else give you tips and pointers and to train different combinations. 

He asked me to follow along with my  new Kata.  Heian Neidan.  I’d only done it once but I wanted to make a good showing for my club so I tried.. I tried HARD!

I did pretty good!

So then dinner, but I was too hot to eat… I drank a ton of water and by 8:30 I was ready to eat.   In the meantime I watched the kids in the pond having a great time with the ziplines.. and teasing each other..  tweens are a hoot (when they aren’t yours)

Went and hung out in my tent for a while and ate my dinner cold. I didn’t want to get out the stove.. at this point I needed to eat.

Big bonfire.. lots of chatting with the teenage girls..  they are very interesting.. and I was the only one who brought a flashlight for potty runs.. I was VERY popular…..

went to bed around 11:30.

And tossed…

And turned…

And tossed some more..

In order to light the pond at night, the fountain had to be on…  it’s all on one switch.. and since we were all tenting AROUND the pond, we sort of had to have the light on.

Which meant I couldn’t really hear the bullfrogs (which I did want to hear).. but I could hear the fountain… running.. and splashing..

I got up three times for potty runs…..

which was two buildings and one BIG ass hill away…

Eventually, I just went and slept in the car.. I have a futon mattress in the back for the fur kids.. there were cookie bits and dog hair but I didn’t care. 

I was up again at 4:30… oh my gawd..  we were training at 9AM and all I wanted to do was SLEEP!  I think I got all of 2 hours of sleep.. in bits and pieces..

At first light I hiked back to my tent and grabbed my clothes..  back UP the hill to the bathrooms to wash up sort of and brush my teeth..   as I walking down the hill it starts to rain..

That did it.

Stick a fork in me…  done.

I looked up a the sky and with silent fury whispered “I don’t care how hard you RAIN.. I am GOING HOME to BED!”

The rain stopped… 

I packed up all my stuff as quietly as possible (after flicking the slugs ::shudder:: off my tent) and hopped in the car…

Home, James….  omg..  I had to stop for coffee.. An hour and 1/2 later.. home.. exhausted but glad I went…

Next time…  I’m tenting AWAY from the pond… 

Tags: camp

I’ve missed a lot of karate lately.  Which sucks. 

I had class on Tuesday but I missed it due to a lovely stomach bug that left me afraid to walk more than 5 feet from the bathroom…  you don’t want anymore details than that.

And I lied to Sensei.. I couldnt’ quite bring myself to share that piece of information (but I’ll post it here for the world to see.. imagine..)

So, Wednesday, I stretched out at home and did a little warm up.. a few punches etc etc.   I noticed (because I had time to notice) that a lot of things that were a struggle for me in January, no longer are.  I can get REALLY low on many of my stretches and I have something resembling a muscle forming on my forearms.. Shocking!

This morning I put on a pair of pants I’ve not had on since last summer. 

They are too big.

I mean WAY too big.

Like I can pull them down over my hips and back up again.

holy crap.

I feel so awesome!

I got on the scale at the gym on Saturday and I’ve dropped 4 pounds in a month.  That’s my goal.. a pound a week! 

 I’ve been working really hard at watching what I eat and making sure I get to class.  Heck, one day I cheated and had chocolate covered cherries but my calorie goal was still ok.  Go figure.

 I’ve been looking for ways to add strength training in to my routines since my legs get very tired during class..   they want to buckle under the front kicks.  And by the time we get to side kicks, I’m ready to fall down.

 Sensei reminded me to focus on my technique more than power.  I’m so excited to feel my body moving with energy that I got a little over excited.  Once I cooled it off a little, my front kicks got better.

 I started doing dumbell swings with 2 5lb weights I happen to have lying around from my Denise Austin workout days.  Ow.  Who would have thought just swinging those things between your legs and up over your head would really make me work my thighs!