I was on time to Barwis on Friday. My right quad was really hurting me and I was nervous about the possibility of NOT squatting. Nick had said that we would squat Monday and Friday and stretch on Wednesday. I told him that it would be like bookends then. He stretched my legs out as I sat in my chair and then helped me onto the white table where he and Sue further stretched my legs out and Sue had me do some PNF stretches while Nick went to get the harness. Nick and Sue got me into the harness and I was excited that I was going to squat and equally nervous that I would n’t do well. My quad felt better but I was SO EXTREMELY tired after my squats on Monday.
I recently re read a previous blog post that I wrote on 4.14.15. I actually wrote it on April 15th which was “Jackie Robinson Day.” I titled the blog post 46 because I did 46 squats. They were unharnessed squats and I wasn’t as tired as I was this past Monday. Even though I am harnessed now, I am FINALLY okay with that and HOPE that the harness won’t be necessary soon.
Sue pushed me to the Keiser machine and Nick set my feet as Sue clipped me to it. Nick started to give me air to get me standing. I started squatting and Nick was keeping count for me to bend my knees and to stand back up. It’s that last bit to fully stand that is difficult for me so Sue was there to help me to stand fully. A little more than halfway through the set, Nick told me that we would do 20 instead of 15. I felt really good so I agreed. I sat back in my chair after the first set and rested a bit. I felt good enough for set #2. At the end of the set, Nick said I did 21. So I had a total of 41 squats. I was tired but not exhausted. My PR (personal record) at Barwis was 46. I was five away and was pretty sure I could do it.
For my last set, Nick Lucius was there and he cheered me on and encouraged me through it. I got through it and I was tired but not exhausted. I did 3 sets; 1 of 20 and 2 of 21. I even had enough energy to put my hands up and “Woo-Hoo!” as I came down the ramp. I was tired but felt REALLY good… Hopeful. I tweeted this picture:
Mike Barwis retweeted it and a BUNCH of people favorited it. I first wore my Central shirt for Heather but maybe now, it’s my “Squatting Shirt.” Well, regardless, it’s working for me. I did 62 squats and it doesn’t even matter to me that they were harnessed.