The Spartan Race

Dear Readers:

I just watched a short video on the Spartan Race. If you are a student of history you will remember the Athenians and the Spartans from ancient Greece. Both societies were similar in their form of government but there was a major difference between their values and how they lived their lives.  The Athenians focused on the creative side of existence while the Spartans held to obedience and war.  Both paths were instrumental in shaping the lives of the nation of Greece.

Here however, I wanted to share some pictures of a modern day Spartan, your own Rocky Ribacoff.  I am trying not to gush too much about this young woman and her athletic prowess but it might prove difficult over the coming weeks and months.  Suffice it to say take a look at these two images of “The Rock” in the Spartan Race of which there are 50 held each year around the country.  Some of the details you can glean from the short video bellow.  Rocky will be taking a well-deserved vacation to a far corner of the world with her beloved family.  Don’t lament too much however,   she’ll be back in 10 days counting from Sunday to kick our butts in her usual venues. 

                                                                              

The Spartan Race: http://www.spartanrace.com/

Rocky 2.5

Earlier in the week I had asked Rocky to guest pass me into Great Neck for Sunday mornings 8:30 XLR8! I had created a social reality with she and myself that I would actually follow through with my intention so boldly stated two days before.  Research shows that it is better to keep your goals to yourself because if you say you’re going to do something you have already completed it in your mind hence the pressure to actually complete the task evaporates.  I don’t necessarily agree with that because when I awoke just before 6 AM this morning the only self-talk I was hearing inside the four walls of Jack’s brain were: Get to Great Neck and take Rocky’s class.  Researchers need to get to the gym to prove these so called theories.  

I call this entry Rocky 2.5 because this past Friday I only took half a class thinking that I would ease into this anaerobic vortex ever so slowly.  Well since I rarely do anything halfway today I decided to make it to class on time and come what may.  Early I was and by 8:25 it seemed that only one member was visible inside  the Main Studio.  Precisely at 8:30 however, there were no less than 25 willing participants and as if by magic from behind that curtain materialized the Wizard; Rocky Ribacoff. As we started to warm up by jumping rope I kept thinking about my bed saying: Jack where’d you go?  Into the valley of death would have been my answer. But in truth I felt better in this class than the preceding two. Sunday featured a lot of running outside and after 9:15 I actually started to pick up leg speed and I thought maybe just maybe I might see improvement sooner than I expected.  Although the challenge of “Burpees” or squat thrusts as I used to know them are going to take a great deal of exertion and repetition to complete the set of 20 the Rock demands.  

If you are here then you will know that I have started yet another blog and  I am determined to uncover this “Firecracker” as Louis calls her to as many that don’t know of her as possible. I have told Rocky about this blog  and have asked her to contribute when/if she has time and I want to make this my most interactive exercise blog.  Please help me and share your experiences here. I am just a neophyte and most of you that take her class are either National or World-class athletes. Rock on! 

Here is Rocky's Schedule 

MONDAY 

6am Crossfit Revolution (Equinox,Woodbury)

9:45am Sweatshop (Sky Athletic Club, Rockville Center)

10:45am Powerfit Xtreme (Sky Athletic Club, Rockville Center)

TUESDAY

6am Impact (Equinox,Roslyn)

9:45am Crossfit Revolution (Equinox,Woodbury)

10:45am HardBody Meltdown (Equinox,Woodbury)

WEDNESDAY

9:45am Impact (Equinox,Roslyn)

10:45am Streamline Sculpt (Equinox,Roslyn)

THURSDAY

6am Metcon 3 (Equinox, Roslyn)

7:30am Impact (Equinox, Woodbury)

8:30am Metcon 3 (Equinox, Woodbury)

FRIDAY

6am XLR8! (Equinox, Woodbury)

10am Cardio Blast (Equinox, Great Neck)

SUNDAY

8:30am XLR8! (Equinox, Great Neck)

9:30am Metcon 3 (Equinox, Great Neck)