Fighting an invisible man for three hours is harder than it sounds (unless you think it sounds really hard, then you are right).
Saturday morning, 10 am, Havant leisure centre, and about 200 other people, all with one purpose - to raise money for Cancer Research by literally kicking the living crap out of absolutely no-body for 3 hours solid !!
Body Combat at the best of times is a high cardio, intense, full body workout where you are totally unleashed. Its a fiercely energetic program and is inspired by mixed martial arts drawing from disciplines such as karate, boxing, taekwondo, tai chi and muay thai.
So my friend Sam and I turn up with bags of enthusiasm but no change for the car park (sorry hon) and make our way to the hall. The stage is up, the balloons are about and the place is steadily getting fuller. I am strangely really looking forward to this. I casually mention the 3 hours part to Sam, who thought it was 2 hours, but hey whats an hour between friends, she should be fine anyway she teaches Zumba, I do marathons, this is gonna be a walk in the park right ??
Colin grabs a spot next to us and the mega fit and inspiring Master Trainers take their place on the stage, the music starts and off we go.
Now anyone that has ever seen me dance is very much aware that I have no co-ordination, for me going wrong is just all part and parcel of the class. Colin is very much up there with me and we support each other in flailing arms and legs and misdirected kicks and punches, it takes a certain kind of brilliance to move 'out' of tune to the music.
Within 10 minutes I am wetter than an otters pocket.
The first hour comes and goes and is fine, in fact going into the second hour all is good, legs feel ok, arms are cool, shoulders are brill. A couple of Haribo fizzy cola bottles (good call by the way) and sip of drink and we are back on it. So hour two comes and goes, bit weary but still going good - Most of the people are still in and only a few have retired for the day. The instructors are still going strong and there is still a great sense of camaraderie between everyone.
Wahoo last hour, by the time 2.5 hours hits us I am spent, legs feel tired, arms feel tired, and my shoulders hate me. Just another half hour left. Shouts of 'HEY' on every other punch, and re-assurance there is only one song left motivates everyone to put in a final round of high intensity full on fighting, and then .... that's it .. everyone has done it. High Fives are dished out and a cheer hits the roof.
All different types of people took part in this event which raised a lot of money for an amazing charity. I left feeling heartened and bloody knackered.
Below is a link to a snippet of what everyone achieved. In the photo's my 'after' shot is pretty much what I looked like after 20 minutes.
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