Newbie Soreness

Veteran DDIPers talk about something called "Newbie Soreness."  It, they say, is expected, for people not used to rigorous physical training.  It doesn't come the day of your training.  It doesn't come the day after you training.

It comes two days after your training.  If you don't believe me, ask anybody.  They'll tell you.  They'll tell you that it's something that everybody goes through.  They'll tell you that it's worth it.  They'll tell you to just keep working.

It was St. Patrick's Day, 2010.  My wife, the Irish fan she is, LOVES her some St. Patrick's Day.  We got up that morning, worked out, and went to work.  We got home, and decided we'd head out with her brother and his girlfriend for a green beer and a bite to eat.

Everything was fine.

Until we sat down for dinner that is.  I knew I was sore.  What I didn't know was that it would be impossible to stand up AFTER dinner, as my muscles had contracted and cemented during dinner, unbeknown to me.

My legs hurt.  My arms hurt.  My eyes hurt.  My head hurt from processing all of the hurt.

I learned that stretching and drinking enough water to flood a small basement helped, but only a little.  The soreness was something that you earned.  It was something to remind you that you worked hard.  It was something to remind you that you were still alive.  And it was something that would eventually go away.