Day 1: Pre-test

Body fat: 32.1 percent
Push-ups in one minute: 29
Sit-ups in one minute: 29
Laps in 10 minutes: 12 (one mile)

I walked into the YMCA and saw an empty lobby. The sign did say to meet in the lobby, right? It took me a moment (during that moment I daydreamed that I was the lone participant, and would be drilled into the ground by some ex-Marine until I cried or barfed), then I asked one of the ladies behind the counter for directions.

They were in the gym.

And they were all women. At least at first. When everyone grouped together there were 20 of us: four men, 16 women, HiP Instructor and a body fat calculator.

The first class was a fitness test. Push-ups, sit-ups, running. Just like high school.

But this time I wouldn't qualify for national merit. Why couldn't we do the sit-and-reach? I was always good at that.

But I'm getting off track.

I was impressed that I was able to do a mile in 10 minutes. I was especially impressed because I walked at least a lap and a half. I must have really busted it during the other laps. I was also impressed because just last Saturday I tried to do a mile at Mac Anderson Park but couldn't keep up a jog beyond a quarter mile. Maybe I am destined for indoors running...

So I survived day 1. Day 2 is on Thursday.