Ramsey Free Week Recap

It's free week at my university's student gym. That means any gym member can take any class they want for free. The only caveat is you have to get a space in the class—meaning there has to be enough space or equipment for you. Some of the classes have lines to get in. So it's always good to get there early to ensure you have spot. These classes are way busier than later on in the semester. Most of the classes are PACKED. They try not to turn people away. They try to squeeze as many people in as possible. So that might mean the late comers have to share equipment. Or for some classes they'll cut the line off. Usually if you're there 10 minutes earlier you'll be fine. It's also a tryout phase—meaning there will be lots of newbies in the class so you don't have to worry about not knowing the workout. Probably half the class won't know the workout so you won't stick out.

Day 1: TRX Yoga
I miss TRX and I liked yoga so I decided to try this class. I got there good and early and got equipment. This class had spots for 23. A few girls came in about 10 minutes late and there wasn't equipment for them.

The first half of the class was yoga. We started out with breathing and mindfulness and moved on to downward dog and other poses. So an average yoga class.

The second half of the class was TRX. It was yoga on TRX so you got a better stretch. We did Y holds and T holds. We did floor work with hamstrings, glute bridges, planks and pikes (so hard! I used to be better at these!). By the end only a few people were left. I was trying to #beastmode through it, but I couldn't do as many pikes as I used to.

Overall, I LOVED the class. It was such an amazing stretch for my shoulders. Because of the TRX you can really stretch deeper than you would when pushing against the floor. (I'm pretty flexible so this was exactly what I needed.)I felt really good leaving the class. Like I'd just had a massage or a chiropractic adjustment. I went in with an achey back and left feeling awesome.

Overseen in this class: International student working out in jean shorts.

Day 2: Yoga
I did Friday yoga and this class was packed. They probably packed 40 people into the tiny studio. I don't think they had to turn anyone away.

This was your average yoga class, not my beloved power yoga.I think the instructor was taking it easy for all the newbies. I like my yoga on caffeine, so I'd really like a more difficult class. The instructor said we'd do headstands and crane later in the semester. So there is hope for it.

We did the usual poses. We did some variations of tree pose—harder versions, arms out, arms swaying etc.  She said to try it with your eyes closed. WHY IS IT SO MUCH HARDER WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED!?! This blew my mind and I must get better at this immediately.

I like the time this class is offered. If I do take it again, I'll count it as an off day.

Overseen in class: Girl in front of me working on in a cotton onesie sleeper that was so short I could see her 80s satin underwear. I didn't even think they made underwear like that anymore.

Day 3: Bodypump

I've always been intimidated by this class. It's always packed to the gills full of girls and giant barbells. 60 minutes of weights!? Sounds awful.
But I do need to add strength training to my regimen and it's free week so I should try classes and see what I like.

I'm not sure if I've picked a barbell since freshman year of college, so I didn't know what to expect.

Equipment for this class: a mat, a platform, a barbell and plates.

I got a barbell (which was surprisingly light. NOT 40 pounds) and a set of small (2.2), medium (5.5) and large (11 pound) plates.

I put the small and medium on each side for the warm-up (deadlifts and upright rows). I survived! I thought I maybe could have added weight.

There were squats and overhead lifts. It was kind of what I was expecting. I didn't die really until the third or so exercise about 10 minutes in when my arms started to shake. I persevered.

The second half of the class was leg day. It was squats. I DIED on the lunges, which was weird because I run and can do lunges. I was just so tired at that point. We did some work lying back on the bench (like a weight bench)

We changed weights throughout the class. I did most of the class with the small and medium or just the medium on the bar. I watched what the one instructor was doing and that was a good weight for me. We also used the plates as free weights—for tricep extensions and then the small plates for some exercise that killed my shoulders (out of the side and back like you're pulling a bow and arrow.) We also did pushups after my arms were tired.

The next day my quads were sore as well as my shoulders. Good sore. I knew I'd be sore.

I'm thinking about adding the class to my routine. I just don't know what fits yet.

I'd wanted to take the 7 p.m. yoga too, but the gym early for a training so it wasn't offered anyway.

Day 4: Power Yoga
I went to the usual room for yoga. But the yoga class was actually upstairs. So at 12 minutes till I went upstairs and was about #20 in line. Then the fire alarm went off for the gym and the entire gym had to evacuate. There were about 2,000 people shuttled out of the building: lots of people working out, waiting to take classes and about 500 people in a lecture (maybe a mandatory club sports meeting). So we all waited outside in the grass. About 20 minutes in—they decided to cancel the classes and I went home and walked my dog.

I ran this morning so it was okay. Maybe I needed the rest? Apparently the fire alarm had been going off all week.

Fire alarm crowd. About 30 minutes in. A ton had left. 

Day 5: More TRX Yoga
Maybe I should have tried a different class, but I wanted to do this class again. This class had a lot of people come in late (after it was full) and there wasn't equipment for them. And I found that extremely distracting. The teacher was having to teach two groups. I'll look forward to smaller classes later in the semester.

On Tuesdays, there are barre classes that I might do later. There's an Insanity class, which I might be too chicken to try. I die just doing 10 minutes of Insanity abs. 60 minutes!? I'm scared. Today I was too tired to do the class. Maybe on a week I've been a slug and really need to torch some calories.

I didn't do the last day of free week. I have a standing Wednesday class that I try my hardest not to miss.

So that's it I'll buy an all access pass soon.

Closing thoughts:
1. Don't be afraid to go to the student gym. Yes, it's super busy. But if you show up early and pay attention you will be fine.(Also classes tend to be more popular during the school day and slightly less packed the closer you get to 8 p.m.)
2. Maybe I should have tried more classes. I still haven't tried Total Body Tone or spinning with the instructor I liked this summer. But I guess I have all semester.
3. Glad I survived free week: early closings, fire alarms and all.

TSNY Trampoline classes

Trampoline classes at a trapeze school sounded like THE BEST THING EVER to me. I love trampolines. And I love flying trapeze. So when I had a work trip to an area with a TSNY, after I booked my flight the first thing I did was book a trampoline class. (And trapeze class second.)

I didn't know quite what to expect in this trampoline class, but given my history with trampolines—well I was just hoping it was fun.

The day of, I met the instructor. I told him my goal was to have fun, that I'd never even been on one of these fancy Olympic trampolines before but that I'd spent a lot of time at the trampoline park. I don't think he was expecting much from me.

My class was three people. Me. A girl who had done trampoline as her college PE (that sounds amazing) but was out of practice and a lady who was an instructor at TSNY and was working on cool flips.

Since there's only one trampoline, we all took turns.

The warm-up was to bounce up and down and stay in the middle. And the trampoline was a lot bouncier than I'm used to so this took some calibration. I also use my arms to balance me and the teacher was standing to my side, so he had to move before I could do this. Once I got the hang of that (and staying in the middle, not bouncing off to the side), we practice straddles, pikes, seat drops and back drops. I think the teacher was surprised I could fearlessly do a backdrop.

We tried cradles—back to front. And I'd never been taught the right way to do a lot of these things, so he had to show me where my hands should go etc. But I got back to front and front drops—he was pulling a mattress in front of me.

And then he decided I should work on backflips.

I have never been brave enough to do a backflip. Ever. But I was feeling brave. So we decided to go for it.

And Rich is the best spotter ever.

He would jump with me, count to three, and then I'd try to jump back so my shoulder would land on his shoulder, with my back and butt in a straight line with my shoulder.

After a few rounds of that, I'd try to get up and over. And he'd kind of push me so I'd get in the right—back and over.

And I had the same problem as with my front flips. Not waiting. And rotating too fast. My flips were all rotation. No height.

But I started getting them. And I was so SO CLOSE. I was pumped.

I went back to the hotel and sent the video to my adult gymnastics instructor. And I was high as a kite on adrenaline for a few hours.

Almost doing a backflip when you've been terrified for years is amazing. And that was some amazing spotting.

I ended up taking THREE trampoline classes in three days while I was in D.C.

I came back the next day and took a class with a gymnast. I wanted to get my back flip. Only the second teacher couldn't spot that. I was so disappointed. She had me working on front drops and cradles. And I am not good at them and don't care to do them.

My last day in DC I took another trampoline class after flying trapeze. Another class with Rich. I needed to get my backflip. This class was also three people. Another girl from the flying trapeze class—who used to live in Athens and work at UGA. And there was another lady who worked at TSNY in NY.

The instructor was working on cradles, which is a back drop, and you go up like for a front drop but rotate over so you land on your back again. I can't do the rotation. I think it's all about waiting and getting enough height in the air. I have enough power in my drop but can't.

The other girl really wanted to learn net tricks for flying trapeze. She was working on back drops. They are so scary and hard to learn.

I wanted to work on my backflip.

(Thanks Nadia for the video) 

I didn't quite get it. Either it wasn't as good as a few days ago (or I was tougher on myself. The first time I was so thrilled just to be making progress, so not as tough on myself.) And then I worked on front flips. I don't know how to land them. I was trying to stick the landing. Like on a mat. But with a trampoline you just bounce. Haha. That's what I learned.

I love these classes and wish I could find one in Georgia. I found a gym that does have trampoline classes—but more for kids. I messaged them and they told me about their open gym. Not interested.

Verdict: Trampoline classes—LOVED. Need in my town.

16 Fitness goals for 2016

Classes to try.
1. Try a class at Blast.  (Interval training with treadmills)
2. Take a yoga class.
3. Try a barre class at Ramsey.
4. Try a SUP yoga class. (or just rent a paddle board one day when it's warm.)

Running goals
5. Run a 5k.
6. 7 minute mile

Tumbling goals
7. Connect fly springs
8. Walk overs
9. Touch my feet to my head
10. 10 second handstand
11. Practice handstands at home. (Daily?)

General goals
12. Conquer the Ninja course at Rush
13. Try another flying trapeze place. Bonus: Get my cutaway!
14. Get a body composition test done
15. Stay on budget with fitness clothes. (Spend less money at Lululemon)
16. Active wear brands to try: Goldsheep, Alala, Sweaty Betty, Heroine Sport, Michi, Koral Activewear, Albion Fit

What are your goals? Any goals I should add?

Nerdy Girl's Guide to Ice Skating

I have never been ice skating before. I grew up in the rural South. We didn't ice skate.

I went roller-skating once in my life at a rink an hour away from my house. Skating isn't something I'm familiar with.

When a friend wanted to get a group together, I decided it was time to try ice skating.

I was pretty hesitant given how accident prone I am. Skating is dangerous.

But Athens had a skating rink for a few years now and it was time.

I bundled up—I wore wool socks, my warmest leggings, a full half zip from Lululemon, a neck warmer and a cute hat from the Gap. (I hate being cold.) And I think I dressed right. I wasn't too hot or too cold.

My husband bought tickets and we headed down to the rink. They give you orange skates in your size and you go to nearby chairs and put them on. They had a plastic adjustable buckle—one on the foot one of the ankle. And it wasn't easy to adjust and put the skates on. And you want them to be snug.

Standing on the ice skates wasn't hard. I felt taller.

Then I walked out on the ice.

Well, first there was a traffic jam to get on the ice—with people not wanting to get on the ice and people taking pictures and just being in the way.

I got on the ice—and sure enough it was cold and slick. I decided to walk slowly around the rink—hand on the wall while I got used to it. About 1/4 of the way around, I got over confident and thought I could skate. I took my hand off the wall—and fell hard. I bruised my hand and thought for about two seconds that I broke my wrist. I got up. Shook it off and kept skating. I knew I was going to fall so that much was over with. The problem was I fell on my butt—but tried to catch myself with my hands and ended up bruising my palm pretty bad. That was my worst fall of the night.

If you look closely, my palm is bruised under my thumb. Not a shadow.
The lower left of my hand was bruised. Better in a week. 

I did a few more laps, still sticking to the wall but trying to not use it as much.

I felt like I'd gotten the hang of it—when my friend (was he an Olympic skater? he's awesome) came and told me to push out (the side not forward backward) and to keep my nose, toes and knees in a line. I tried it and promptly fell a second time. Not as badly. I laughed.

I was getting the hang of skating—the problem was the rink was very crowded. And crowded full of people who couldn't skate, so everyone was hugging the walls. And it was hard to pass people hanging on the wall and going to slow—or people too terrified to move.

Another downside: teenage girls. They were stopping to chat. They were skating in Red Rover chains five wide and impossible to pass. They were the ones generally causing the problems as they jammed traffic for a selfie or skated snail speed because they didn't want to be there in the first place.

I ended up falling three times and felt like I mostly got it by the time we left. I was still scared of going to fast and falling. And I haven't figured out how to stop. I'll do that next time.

For now my method of stopping is grabbing on to the wall. I went to say hi to a friend and then realized I could stop—so I almost ran into her. But the catcher from flying trapeze stopped me. Twice that night. This is why you skate with flying trapeze friends.

All in all—I had fun skating. I'd go back. (When my hand bruise heals. Though next time I might wear my climbing gloves to protect my hands.)

Matt was a pro. He saw the camera of course and got thrown off ;) 

My husband was awesome at it. He used to rollerblade. He could skate backwards. But I know this would happen. He's good at everything :)

If you go

• Go with friends. Maybe someone who show you how to skate or help you take your skates on or off.

Wear warm clothes. Maybe a hat and gloves. Don't wear jeans.

Be prepared to fall. And you want to skate with your nose, knees and toes in line. Almost a squat with your butt slightly out, because if you fall, you want to fall on your butt. And not your hands and definitely not your head.

Take breaks when you need them. I got off the ice several times to catch my breath, because I was tired etc.

Nerdy Girl's Guide to Pole Class

Looking nerdy on the pole. 

I finally tried a pole class! It was fun. I like learning tricks. The teacher was super nice.

My friend from work and I went. We were the only two in the class. The instructor started the class by telling us all about the poles (brands, heights, widths. Didn't mean anything to me. Not sure I plans to have a pole in my house. Just wanted to try the class.) And she cleaned the poles. (Apparently this is important.)

We moved on to sassy walking around the pole (I felt very self conscious) and getting used to grabbing the pole. She called the different positions by the poles by their positions around the clock: 12 o'clock was the mirror (the audience), 3 o'clock was right of the pole, 6 o'clock directly behind it, and 9 o'clock to the left of the pole.

I think one of the first tricks we learned was called opening a book (something like that). It ended up being my favorite. You stand at 9 o'clock almost in position for a jumping jack (holding the pole with your right hand) and use your momentum to to swing across the pole and to the opposite position on the other side of the pole. I liked doing this one super fast. (I wanna go fast!)

We worked on pirouette with your hand above you on the pole. It took me a few tries to figure out how to switch your hand on those. The teacher came over and man handled me into position. It worked. I needed a few extra tries on this one. But story of my life. I always feel like I need more practice.

We worked up to sassy walking and swing around the pole. (Finally!) I totally jumped onto the pole and swung around super fast. I actually had trouble stopping. And no, you're not supposed to jump, so it took me a few more tries to get up without jumping. I couldn't figure out how to stop spinning. I mean obviously you can just jump off. I couldn't figure out how to exit gracefully. I need 20 more minutes to work on that.

We put those elements together, walking around the pole, opening a book, half pirouette and swinging. And then we switched poles. One was a little wider than the other.

Then we worked on another sequence from the beginner's routine. So if you take the 9-weeks class, you'll learn it.

There was crawling, booty-popping squats holding the pole, a move called the princess.

We ended class climbing the pole. Note: This is not like climbing a rope. (You should have seen the instructor's face when I muscled up to the top of the pole). I love climbing things, but that's not sexy, is it?

Was I good at it? ::laughs::The teacher's eyes did bug out on occasion. I think that says it all. She said I had power. No coordination and I can't remember a routine.

What to wear: short shorts (the shorter the better), and a tank. Don't put on lotion that day if you can help it. The workout is barefoot.

Would I go again? Yes. I'd like to try a more fitness based pole class. I'd like to learn tricks more than a routine. I'd love to try another instructor too. This instructor was a dancer (and I just don't dance). She was soo nice and enthusiastic. But my lack of coordination might not be fun for her. My friend and I debated on taking the 9-week series. I ended up bruising the back of my knee so I couldn't pop in the next week. Then I had a bad experience with Canopy and decided against the session. I'd go again, maybe drop in after the next 9-week session is through or see if another studio offers it.

I like the athleticism of it and would love to learn some cool tricks. We'll see if this is next summer's obsession.

Year midpoint goal check

Half of 2015 has flown by. How is this possible?

But what a great time to look at my fitness goals from January and see where I am.

1) Get my left split.  Done.

Doing a split at Pure Barre. 

2) Front tuck on the floor (with a spring board is acceptable).  Haven't tried. I can't figure out run, run punch. 

3) Climb once a month. I got certified to climb in February and have climbed twice and mean to go this weekend (before even looking at this post.) I miss climbing.

4) Keep trying new classes (once a month if I can find something new).

Have tried trapeze, a new barre class, a different Pure Barre, a SPARC class, fitness class at Rush, ninja course at Rush and took up running. I'd say good progress is made on this.

Taking a class at SPARC.

5) Take a class at Leap Flying Trapeze school.  Done. Obsessed.

6) Try the 6 a.m. Pure Barre class. Have yet to do.

7) The the vertical pole class at Canopy. My goal to do this summer maybe this month. 

8) Hold a handstand for at least 5 or 10 second. I'm still working on my handstands but think I've gotten a five second hold a few times.

Handstand on the beach.

9) Buy something from Lululemon. (Maybe a cute top for my birthday). I have 20 or so pieces and am a total Lululemon addict. I've spent my lulu budget for the month and aren't allowed to buy anything else.

10) Keep working on 6-pack abs. (One day!). My abs are looking good from Pure Barre. Not six-lack, but it's a something pack when I suck in ;) 

So, four of these goals I can check off as done, with two in progress and four to work on. I'd count this as progress.

Maybe I should even add a few goals. (Not necessarily by the end of the year.) 

1) Bump up running to twice a week.

2) Run a 5k. Before next summer.

3) Run a 5k in under 25 minutes.

4) Get a fitness tracker.

5) Touch my feet to my head. (Handstand scorpion).

Working on my scorpion. I can hold my
 own weight for about two seconds! Will get this trick. 

6) Do body composition testing.

7) Make a fitness plan for the fall.
8) In 2016, find some relay races to run in like the Chick Fil-A Half or the All Comers Track meet.
9) Take a class at Blast.
10) Try a pilates class. 

10 Things I learned from Flying Trapeze

1. I have no fear of heights.
For me, it's awesome to have a such a great view.

2. My sister IS afraid of heights.
I learned this from looking at the pictures. She later said it was scarier than childbirth, which I think is WAAAAAY scarier and has a longer recovery period. (But now she's super mom and is working to conquer a fear).

3. Look at the horizon. Keep your eyes in front of you.
I was looking for the other trapeze or in front of me. I actually never thought to look down at the pavement until my sister told me her fears the day after. She kept looking at the pavement and imagining splatting. Guess which one of us was more anxious? (Other than climbing the ladder up and off the rig, I wasn't worried about my safety).

4. You have 3 safety backups.
They'll belt you in and clip a wire to your right and left sides. There's also a net to keep you from falling to the ground. That's plenty. I think the trampoline might be more dangerous.

5. The first time is the scariest, but after that it's soooo much fun.
To begin with, I climbed a very rickety ladder. So rickety, I had to clip in. I climbed to the top of the ladder at the instructor told me to take a breath. I was actually nervous. And then I wondered what would happen next. Since they made me go first. I was the guinea pig. I like others to go first. But I did it and it was a rush.

6. Just listen.
The instructors will tell you exactly what to do and when to do it. Their timing is perfect and I kept getting tricks the first time because I just did what I was told. It was fantastic.
I love this aspect of working out. I like not over thinking and just doing. It's my favorite way to go. Also, don't cheer. then you can't hear commands. Wait until after the flyer is on the ladder coming down off the net.

7. I can be good at something the first time I try it.
I am uncoordinated. I am not graceful. I am flexible. I am a slow learner, but determined. And it takes me months to get a flip someone could learn in 20 minutes. I felt like I was good at trapeze. The instructors made me good, but I like this feeling. (Which is in opposition to my usually negative, overly self critical nature.)

8. I can assign my husband to be photographer for the day and he will have fun. But bring you camera (or iPhone). You will want pictures.

9. I like being upside-down.
Well, maybe I didn't learn this one, but I was reminded that I like to be upside-down and hang off of things.

10. Don't miss a spot with your sunblock. I need to make sure to get both of my ears and behind them.

2014 Fitness year in review

1. I finished physical therapy for my ankle. Didn't resprain it. Ankle (knock on wood) is as good as new now. I wear high heels less now though.

2. Got into indoor rock climbing. Went several times. (Tried Active Climbing in Athens, Adreanaline climbing in Suwannee and Stone Summit in Atlanta)

3. Started taking adult tumbling classes in the summer. It's my favorite class of the week and what I look forward to most. (Worked on bridge kick over, flips, hand stands and more)

4. Learned to climb a rope.

5. Tried a yoga class (I am too ADD for yoga)

6. Tried an acro yoga class. Pretty fun.

7. Tweaked my knee this summer. Apparently my hip flexors needed strengthening or something.

8. Took a trapeze class. Wasn't very good at it.

9. Took a flexibility class and a few handstand class as a new acro yoga studio.

10. Got my front flip.

11. Got a front bounder.

12. Got my right split.

13. Tried classes at the Exhale spa in Atlanta when I was there in Decemeber

14. Aerofit closed in December. I took up Pure Barre.

15. Got my center split at my second Pure Barre class.

Classes taken over the year: Aerofit cardio, tumbling and TRX; Pure Barre, yoga, acro yoga, Canopy beginners trapeze, Exhale Barre, Exhale Fusion, Revolution spin class.

I'd say it was a pretty healthy year. I only took one sick day. It was an asthma day and I just needed to sleep. My size and weight stayed the same, despite my two-hour a day workouts. My story is that I put on a lot of muscle.

Acro-yoga

Me getting out of crown pose. 

Until a few weeks ago, I didn't know there was such a thing as acro yoga. Then a few new people came to my tumbling class and they were all very impressive: doing back rolls on the first try, rolling up to a handstand even, getting the back kick overs, front walk overs. They were all strong and flexible and I was curious where they worked out that they could effortlessly do these gymnastics exercises the first time. After class, we were stretching and they started doing tricks. I couldn't look away. This tiny girl was balancing on a guy's feet. A very strong greying women, took one of the instructors up on here feet and showed her a trick. Then they invited everyone to acro yoga Sunday at their studio.

I felt like I needed to know more. I wanted to go. I LOVE learning new tricks. But I could potentially be horrible at this, so I needed to bring a friend. But I couldn't find anyone that Sunday—and it was a holiday. So I filed it away under things to eventually try.

Well, two girls from acro yoga came to Aerofit today. So I had to try a move. So I sat on Julie's feet.  It was both easy and slightly terrifying. I just wanted to get down. And try a harder move all at once.

I'm supposed to go to acro yoga with two friends from Aerofit Sunday night at Rubber Soul yoga studio. We'll see how it goes. 

(*Also, Julie is such a good teacher. Love her. She's almost talked me in to trying Leap Flying Trapeze where she works. Now, I just need to save up the money for the $45 class.) 

Climbing in Atlanta: Stone Summit

This photo was taken from the second floor balcony,
 so those climbers behind us are super high up.

My friends rave about Stone Summit, a giant climbing gym in Atlanta. We brought a groupon and visited one Sunday.

You check in at the desk—they give you shoes and then you have to pass a belay test before you can climb anything.

So we bouldered for a while first. They have two big bouldering walls. Fun-ish. With enough easy paths for beginners. The experienced climbers were bouldering, resting, repeating, then going to climb.

But back to the belay test. You're on your own. There's no person to teach you. Unless you sign up for their hour-long class. You have to look at a chart on the wall or ask someone to show you. AND they don't use auto-belays. You actually have to thread your own rope. I looked at the wall chart and knew there was no way in the world I'd pass it. BUT I couldn't even climb on their auto-climb walls upstairs without passing the test. That royally pissed me off.

And then if you did want to take the test, you had to ring a bell and wait 20+ minutes for a staffer to come certify you.

This place is a huge gym, with lots of room to climb. There's even exercise equipment upstairs. But the belay-certication left a horrible taste in my mouth. This place isn't friendly to beginners at all. It's great if you're a climbing enthusiast and know exactly what you're doing.

Verdict: Not a fan of their belay test. If they make climbing more accessible, I'd look forward to going back.

Atmosphere: Casual. Not too judgey. It's lots of fun to watch the really good climbers.

Hazards: Dry, chapped hands and I always get bruises on my legs afterwards.

Intensity: Moderate. I can boulder for 60-90 minutes (with lots of breaks in between)

Price: $18 Groupon for two people. Pretty good.

What to wear: Capri's, a workout shirt. You will get sweaty. Bring socks.

Would I go back? There are other places to climb. I might go back, but I'm in no hurry.

All about kayaking

I’m not sure if I’ve ever been kayaking before. I’ve been canoeing and rafting—but not since I was a teenager. But today I tried kayaking with a group of friends—and for May in Georgia the water was unseasonably cold. My lips were blue when we were done. All I wanted was soup.

For this trip I drove up to a little North Georgia town and drove down a lot of dirt roads until I finally came to the kayaking post. (The drive itself was an adventure.) You sign in, give them your keys (so you don’t lose them on the river), pick out a life jacket and wait for them to call your group. Then, they drive your group on an old mini school bus (it’s doors didn’t fully close) to the top of the river. (I especially liked the guy in front of us trying to smoke on the bus.)

You get off the bus, pick a kayak and a paddle and the push you out on the river.

At this particular place, there was no safety video and no instruction video of any kind. And I had NO IDEA how to kayak.

And immediately, there are rapids in the river. I have no idea what I’m doing. I attempt to paddle through the rapids like everyone else. I keep my core tight, arms strong and PRAY not to flip. I make it through the first two sets (it’s just staying upright). But the water sprays me and the water is freezing.

Of course I'm the dorkiest looking one in a dry-fit shirt, hat and glasses.

It’s cold so I decided the most practical outfit was dri-fit shorts and a long-sleeve T. The shirt, despite being light weight and dri-fit, was immediately soaked through and more annoying than helpful.

So I freeze for the rest of the canoe ride. And after the first two rapids, the river calms down. Without even paddling the kayak just drifts along, which would be great except I’m way ahead of the group I’m with and I keep paddling back. I try using the paddle as a brake, but it’s no good. I can’t figure out how to go slow.

One of the girls in our group flips her kayak. Another almost loses her kayak, banked against a river rock when we stopped to take a break. The guy in our group has a busted kayak that’s taking on water and not draining.

Finally, we all get so cold we decide to race back to the outpost. And I feel almost warm. And we’re moving at the speed I want to go.

We put up the kayaks and are done—apparently in record time. (I thought the trip time could easily be halved, but apparently I don’t understand the concept of floating lazily down the river with a beer).

The outpost has warm showers (hallelujah!) and we decide to drive home and get food. (It took me an hour after getting out of the water to feel my toes.)

So I survived kayaking.

Quick guide to kayaking

Verdict: I was expecting it to be so slow paced or cold. It sounded more adventurous than it was and I felt like I got zero workout.

Atmosphere: Casual (possibly too casual)

Intensity: Small bursts, but mostly not intense.

Price: Okay. $25 per person. I had a deal for $12.

What to wear: I haven’t figured this one out myself. A bathing suit, sun block, water shoes or sandals. I wore a hat (that wasn’t necessary) and had my sunglasses on croakies.

Would I do it again? Maybe. On a hot day with a group of people who want to race to the finish.

If you go: Bring a cooler for snacks and drinks along the river. Keep a towel and dry clothes in your car for afterwards. And check the weather forecast. Hope you have fun!

Climbing in Atlanta: Adrenaline Climbing

I don’t think I’ve been indoor rock climbing ever. I think I did some too-easy climbing at summer camp once or twice as a teen, but it was always something that looked fun. My husband used to love climbing, so to surprise him I bought a Groupon to an Atlanta climbing gym.

Overall, I’d say that climbing was super fun. There was a steep learning curve and it was harder than I thought at first.

Climbing on the walls wasn’t the cake-walk I thought it would be. Sometimes it was really hard to know where to put a hand of a foot next. I’d panic on the wall, Matt would yell a direction and either I’d try it or I couldn’t do it. But having the direction helped. 

And then belaying. Also hard. God bless the poor girl who tried to teach uncoordinated me how to belay. I was practically in tears trying to learn it. I kept doing my hands wrong, or bending over the belay. She kept saying “you’re not the worst we’ve ever had” which means I was pretty close. Finally, I figured out how to belay, up, up, down, down and slide my hands. And I tried belaying Matt who is 70 pounds heavier than me. It was a struggle to bring him down.  His weight would bring me up. I had to brace and make a staffer spot me.

Mostly we bouldered. I was honestly angry and ready to go home after 10 minutes. It was SOOO HARD. Then, I started watching what the kids were doing and what seemed super easy for everyone else. And copied them. That worked! I could do some of these routes.

Then, I found the color-coded route guide on the wall and voila! I figured it out. I found the easiest routes and tried those. And climbing was so much more fun when I could do it.

I goofed around on the upside-down-holds, though I wasn’t strong enough to climb it. I tried the easiest way around the routes all the way around the gym (and just didn’t any colored holds if I was really lost). And finally had to call it quits when I was too tired to do anything else. The hubby said I did really well and took to it surprisingly well. (He does sugar coat things but I loved climbing trees when I was little.) We left the gym and he threatened to go buy a bunch of climbing gear. He was hooked.

Random thought: I did spend a lot of time spent deciding what to do next or waiting for a path to climb.

Quick guide

Verdict: A fun way to spend an afternoon. A little more challenging than I’d anticipated, but fun once I figured it out. Don’t give up too soon! Ask for help or watch others.

Atmosphere: Very casual and family friendly. Everyone was doing their own thing without staring at you.

Hazards: The day after my hands were a little chapped from climbing. Not too bad.

Intensity: I didn’t break a sweat but I could tell my shoulders got a workout.

Price: $22 for two people to climb. Includes gear. Very reasonable. Rented shoes are awful though.

What to wear: Workout clothes. The website urged against shorts. Bring socks.

Would I do it again? Yes, I’m going climbing again later this week. Matt is completely hooked.