My Personal Indoctrination

My wife and I walked into our first ever DDIP workout, scared to death.  I didn't know anybody, outside of Ralph and Sho'neil, and I didn't know what to expect.  All I knew was that the next 60 minutes were going to possibly change me forever.

After people started to show up, I noticed that we were welcomed with open arms to a group of people.  All walks of life were in the gym that morning.  The old, the young, the large, the small.  They were all there for one reason: to get fit.

A post-knee-surgery Zimm hobbled in on a crutch, and Shoneil takes one look at him and yells out, "TINY TIM!!!"  Hugs and smiles followed.

I was introduced to two instructors: Iron Mike and Becky.  They seemed nice and quiet, until the class started.  Then they turned into two yelling, screaming, motivating machines.

They started out by doing side-straddle-hops.  This, to the lay-person, is the jumping jack.  Not hard...right?  The slight difference is that this group does them 4-count style.  So each count is REALLY 2 side-straddle-hops.

We start off, sounding off each count.  We get to 20.  I'm warmed up.  We get to 30.  Legs are warm.  We get to 50.  My calves are on fire.  We get to 60.  I want to go home.  We get to 70.  What the hell did I sign up for?  We get to 100.  I was spent.

Welcome to DDIP.

The next 57 minutes were spent running through a gauntlet of exercises, stretches, and cardio routines.  I remember Mike making us do pushups.  I could do 4.  Four. F. O. U. R.  4.

We were welcomed with open arms and big smiles.  We left the gym with sore arms and sweaty bodies.  I knew I was in for the long haul.

At the time, I was working in south Jersey, and had a long car ride to get there in the morning.  I was apprehensive about doing the workout and then driving for an hour or an hour and a half in the car, but I had to try it.

I was afraid that I would fall asleep at the wheel after waking up at 4:41am (I always set my alarm for an odd number), but what I realized was quite the opposite.  After the workout, I woke up even more.  I was alive.

And then came the soreness....