Ouch ...

I've been bothered by my husband telling me that he was sure I wouldn't like Cross Fit. So I have been reading up on it and trying to get some information so that I can make an informed choice. I can't say that I love running. I like it, but I do find it somewhat boring. It does give me time to think, but it still is a little on the unexciting side.

Yesterday I called our local Cross Fit affiliate, Razor's Edge Fitness. I told the person who answered that I had some questions. I was immediately given to the owner. He spoke with me for about 20 minutes, answering all my questions and offering information I didn't know. He invited me in that evening, but I told him that I wasn't able, but I'd try later in the week. After I hung up the phone, I wondered why couldn't I go? Yes, I had the dogs, but I could leave them at the shop. I think the thing holding me back was fear. So I went, leaving the dogs at the shop. Gil, the owner, spent an hour and a half with me, while still coaching participants. He talked me through the program and what everyone was doing. He even had me do a few squats for fun. Then he said he'd see me at 7:30 the next morning.

I left out a little piece. While Gil was working with the other people, I saw a familiar face, my friend Cherryl. She's a massage therapist and she works there, offering chair massages (not her primary job). Well, we got to talking and she was interested in starting, but wasn't sure about it. She said she'd do it with me if I did it. So when I got home, I called her and asked if she was interested in going with me to the 7:30 foundations class.

I got there this morning and Gil seemed genuinely happy to see us. He has an extremely welcoming and comforting personality. He didn't pffft any of my concerns, he talked through them with me, pointing out why he didn't think I would have the problems I was concerned about. After Gil demonstrated everything to us and we tried the three moves out, Cherryl and I worked through a modified version of "Cindy", which is repeating 5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, and 15 squats. It is typically 20 minutes, but we had 12. Gil spent some time with me on my squats. Apparently I have a tendency to lean forward which adds load to the quads and knees. I didn't do as many reps as maybe I could have because of the time he took to fix my form, but I am not the least bit upset about that. I'd rather do fewer and do them right, than do more and end up injuring myself. Afterwards, Cherryl and I took the dogs for a walk through the park, which I think helped stretch me out. I am sore in my lower back and a little in my legs when I go to sit down. I feared it would be worse. I guess I'll have to see what happens when I wake up! We're going back for day 2 tomorrow.

I don't know if I will like this. I don't know if I'll do it for the rest of my life. I do plan to finish foundations at the very least and then see if I feel like this is for me. The downside is I am neglecting my running a little. I will have to find a way to work both into the schedule. I think the variety will be good.

The shop was slow today, which seems to be the norm now. I am concerned about the long-term prospects. I think I can make it through this month paying the bills, but I don't know what I am going to do beyond that. I placed several orders yesterday because some of my selections were getting sparse. I hope that people continue to come in and buy. I wonder if the for sale sign in front is affecting business. People ask me about it and I tell them that the landlord is selling, but I should not have to move, as that's what he's telling me. You never know.

Seth Godin writes a blog and offers a lot of good food for thought for business owners and those in leadership and management positions. Many of his posts are skewed towards the management layers of a large company, but occasionally he'll have some gems that apply to me, the small business owner. For example, the other day he posted about what he thinks an entrepreneur should think about (see "16 questions for free agents" in June 2010). There were 16 questions that should be taken into consideration. I thought about my answers to the 16 questions. Lately I haven't been enjoying the shop like I used to and I think it is because I am too worried about the finances. When I sit there for seven hours and one or two customers come in, and only one buys, I get to thinking about how I'm afraid this endeavor will fail. Now, I don't think my husband will love me any less, nor do I think my friends will shun me, if the business does go under. I just want to make this successful.

As if this wasn't enough, I think we are having a/c issues at the house. Tuesday night I was freezing. Even with the thermostat at 80, I put on pajama bottoms and put a throw on the bed so that I could sleep. Last night I was sitting in the dining room and sweating. The a/c blower wouldn't turn off. It's the same thing tonight. So I put in a trouble call, but I doubt anything can happen before Monday. The funny thing is, there is cool air coming out of the vent. I think we probably need our annual recharge of freon.

I am going to put this away and cast on a sock I've been meaning to do. It will be a simple stockinette sock because the yarn is a self-striping/self-patterning yarn and there is no need to do anything else. I am going to try out the 8" circulars I won at Stitches South last year. They look like they'd be perfect for a barbie doll. This should be interesting!

Thanks for putting up with the long post!