Day 26: Cauldron Boil Me
The moment I stood up out of bed the muscles in my legs burned. Yesterday’s workout still lingers in my quads in a big way. I was unprepared for this level of sore, but the intensity of Leg Day promised it through every move, so I shouldn’t be surprised.
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“I think the Valkyries were even more sadistic than the Illyrians,” Gwen grunted and Nesta could see the priestess’s legs shaking as she held the pose that had been illustrated in one of her many research volumes. “No amount of Mindstilling will get me through these exercises. What was that phrase they used? I am the rock against which the surf crashes. A rock never had to hold a lunge, though.” – Page 472 A Court of Silver Flames
I think I might agree with her.
This is the last intense workout day of Novice. I cannot believe how quickly this month went by, or how much improvement I’ve seen in myself since it began.
I hit the mat with my Core Focus moves first. The amount of tension in my hips and legs this morning is a bit much, and I wanted to warm up my low core and my back specifically before I got into today’s scheduled workout. We are avoiding injuries here, and excessive downtime, and so we do the things.
Today is Total Body Tabata with weights. The sound that escaped me when I looked at the schedule was rather pathetic, I wont deny it. My legs and butt, and my core are all so sore already, I was more than a bit nervous for the workout Sam has in store for me today. I listened to two different Mindstilling audio’s before I jumped in, I had to calm the doubt in my head before I could get into it.
“Buckle Up Buttercups,” Sam grinned in the video.
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Warm up consisted of a Spinal Roll to Sumo Squat, Camel Pose, and reverse. My quads were screaming through Camel Pose, but in a good way. “Born for This,” played in the background and again, I gotta commend the playlist because it is just so good. We did this warm up 4 times to get everything warm. Once we finished these up, it was time to dive in the deep end.
We did everything. Everything I say.
We did curtsey lunges and hip bridges and chest presses and skull crushers and like 8 more moves that I can't even remember right now because my brain is soup. And it's leaking out of my skin in the form of sweat.
“We can make it up this mountain!” I better be done soon, Sam.
Active Rest- Russian Twists with the weight. I was okay with these as the finisher. I relished them in fact, because I wasn’t doing anything with my legs.
We finished with some stretching and wallering on the mat. I didn’t want to move at all. I am wiped out, wishing I had a High Lord of Night or his General to scoop me up and carry me to a hot bath. I wouldn’t say no to a massage either.
I am wobbly, I am sore, I am shaking, and I am so sweaty. I turned on the Autumn Mindstilling while I laid on my mat and just breathed, it was the only effort I could muster for a good while. When it was done, I still wasn’t ready to take those first steps off the mat. I thought about having to walk Yrsa as soon as I got inside and every aching part of me protested the very idea. I drank all 32oz of my water immediately, and went in the house to get my shoes on. When it comes to walking Yrsa, it’s a do or die situation, because she’s so energetic all the time. If I don’t walk her, she will get in the trash, eat the kids toys, and bark at me all day long out of boredom. I refuse to have a Friday like that, so off we go for our 6 laps at Sunrise.
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