Gym Class Flashbacks

So last night was Monday, and Monday is kickboxing, and halfway through the class every week, the instructor's iPod dies, and we have to scramble for music. It's just a fact of life. Or Monday exacting its revenge. Either way, while we were waiting for someone else to bring in a suitable beat, she had us run laps around the room. And it was AWESOME. So why did I hate it so much in gym class? Maybe because I was being graded on it, and I was slow. Maybe because it's not fun to be forced to exercise. But now I'm wishing I could go back and redo gym class. I would totally rock it! Presidential Fitness tests, badminton, gymnastics (actually, I don't think they let them do gymnastics any more). 

I did like racquetball. There was a partition in the gym, and it said "DO NOT LOOK BACK," which seemed like some kind of philosophical statement/life lesson, but was really just there to remind us that racquetballs hurt when they slam into the back of your head on the rebound.  

I'm not going to go all Michelle Obama on you and say that I have an answer to getting kids physically fit, although I do think the Girls on the Run program is pretty awesome, and I should probably volunteer to help at the race that's coming up in a few weeks, but I will say that I dreaded gym class and running, and basically having to prove exactly how uncoordinated and unsportsmanlike I was. I wish that someone had told me back then that walking IS good exercise and that I should try things that I'm good at and work my up to harder activities. I think instead of making kids run one mile really fast, we should have them log their miles or steps over a month, and show them that fitness isn't just passing a test; it's a way of life. 

After kickboxing yesterday, I ran 5 miles this morning (glad I didn't go longer, because I had to rush into work for a business card emergency) and I need to mow the lawn and I'm hoping to go to Zumba tonight. Don't worry; I've eaten enough calories lately to get me through it! I realized that I have another 5k THIS WEEKEND (oops. Helps to look at a calendar) so I'm wondering if I can PR (even by a few seconds!) or if I should find someone realllllly slow and buddy with them so I can run it "for fun." 

One more story: speaking of "for fun," there was a woman at the last 5k who was complaining to one of the workers about the food or something ridiculous (I mean, seriously, the spread they had was better than half marathons I've done! It was better than Old Country Buffet. It was crazy!). So the worker just shook her head, and said something like, "Well, she's not any fun." and I replied, "Why would you run if you don't think it's fun?!" 

Which just shows how my attitude has changed, because I remember seriously contemplating how I could sprain my ankle so I wouldn't have to run in gym class! 

Go! Run! Ask any toddler. It's fun!