I know blame it on the rain, really my absence was a combo of DOMS, tryptophan, a jenky internet connection and miscellaneous matters all mounting concurrently. For the record I won't go MIA again w/o sufficient notice ;).
But I am back and in full effect, so let’s keep it moving, shall we?
We shall!
The last few weeks have been quite productive, this is the close of week 5 in Champaign and my body adapted pretty quickly to the first training cycle. A few weeks ago I went to practice on a Thursday and began a rather hard session. This workout used to make me queasy just knowing it was coming. I started the routine, which was a full body, high rep, exercise circuit that included using body weight and weights, with very little rest.
I zipped through the workout, and didn’t even chip a nail. Don’t get me wrong, I was taxed—this was expected. But I wasn’t wheezing, hurting or broken—this was not expected. I sat on the bench sipping my water, waiting to begin the second, (more tame) portion of the day’s session and a funny thing began to happen.
When I looked in the surrounding mirrors my muscles began to bulge and protrude. Not subtly-- but ala She-ra!
(ok if sister girl did have muscles!)
Caught off guard, I run to the mirror to examine my entire body. My muscles are pulsing. Even my earlobes look buff.
Yikes! Now I’m scared.
I bolt towards my coach and ask him, wide eyed: “Do you see this?!”. He sees exactly what I am worked up about and he begins to laugh.
Confused and following his lead I start to laugh too, though not knowing what about. But hoping he as the author of my form will be able to explain my beefing neck muscles.
Hearing the sounds of my demented laughter my training partner comes over to see what’s up. She just finished the same workout and clearly wasn't having the same physiological reaction that I did.
“Damn P!” she says through her own laughter, now. Who knew ones instantly hypertrophying trap muscles could induce such hysteria in others.
“I know. I’m a freak”.
Suddenly self-conscious, I ask my training partner if it looks bad. Being a good friend she doesn’t take that bait. Instead she proceeds to tell me, I look how I always look. “…but usually not till the summer”.
ok.
Not sure what to make of that assessment, I look to the coach for some science. Instead of science, I get frigging Marvel comic.
Coach and training partner decide to liken me to The Incredible Hulk.
You see how they do me?!
Talks of “green paint”, and “shredded shorts”, and “P, too bad Halloween is over”, is discussed through their chuckles.
BAHAHA. They so funny.
Once they got over making themselves blue in the face, we got to the serious stuff. Coach announced that he was pulling me from that particular workout.
“You’re done”.
He mentioned that he hasn’t seen definition in my back like that ever. I looked at the mirror over my shoulders. Indeed it was chiseled and dented to the point that I thought I was looking at Apollo Creed's back.
But to explain the phenomenon it’s just how my genetics work, and being away from this kind of environment for so long I forgot how I am built.
In the summer of 2002 as a sophomore in college, we had to totally revamp the way I lift and avoid routines that can bulk me up, since I can build muscle very quickly. Just because I am very strong, doesn’t mean I have to exhibit all of that. Heavy muscles mean extra weight and load. It’s great for me to be strong, but not at the expense of the power and explosion needed for my event.
I do have the nickname “beast” when it comes to strength training, I’m just shocked that my body has reminded us of that this early.
Hoping to be beastly or incredible in this new training phase. Which promises to bring me face to face with my kryptonite that is lactic acid runs and more lactic acid runs after that.
Bleh.
Glad to be back,
Hulk Dita
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