Personal Best at the Gym

I've been to the coast for a whole month, and  I trained in my favourite gym there.

I hit more than a few PRs, and I couldn't avoid being noticed by the guys - especially by the ones who train hard!

This is me leg pressing 100 lbs (3 sets, 15-12-10). I didn't dare to try repeating it - my right tibia paid the price for my reckless fitness euphoria!

Anyway... who can take away my pride and my sense of accomplishment? N.O.B.O.D.Y.!!!

Present from Santa

... So this Christmas, Santa showed a lot of empathy to me - and among several lovely presents, he brought me a nice pair of focus mitts!

Aren't they wonderful??? :)

Thanks a lot, Santa! I'm going to punch them real hard! I'll start training with them VERY soon!

Gonna get ready to FIGHT, ATTACK, STRIKE, BREAK, SMASH, SQUISH, PULVERISE, ANNIHILATE, TERMINATE!!!

"Whether you call them target mitts, punch mitts, coaches mitts, focus mitts or target gloves - if you are not training with focus mitts or "punch pads" as some coaches call them, YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME."

"As a fighter and trainer, there is not a more important training tool."  

"Punch with precision - start using focus mitts / punch pads."

WE TAKE NO PRISONERS

SPARTANS TAKE NO PRISONERS - or do they, Steve?

I give you my word I'll get ready for the battle! I promise I'll put up a good fight! 

NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER, NO MERCY! 

NEVER GIVE UP!

WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU...

IRONMAN - Till I collapse

I will run an Ironman at 45. I will!

DREAM BIG, FLY HIGH, BABE! Sky's the limit!

To Andy Whitfield. Spartacus.

Andy Whitfield (1972-2011)

From nowhere you sprang to embrace us with your talent, charm and inspiration.
 

A Conqueror of Men, you now walk with the gods...
 

"You were destined for great and unfortunate things."
 

No one could ever fill your sandles - footprints in the sand...
 

Thank you for making us feel again... For bringing the joy of the rain to all of us. For letting us dream your dreams. For teaching us about the sense of honour and the meaning of freedom. For showing us how true love can raise a man from the mud, over the skies, beyond the limit between fantasy and reality, out of a thick river of blood...

Andy Whitfield. Spartacus - the only one.

Forever loved ♥ RIP

(You will always live in my heart.)

No, not Andy!

I was training when I heard the news. My personal trainer was throwing a med ball to me in the park. Nice afternoon, the sun was shining, spring almost here.

Bran told me something had happened. Normally, I tend to worry every time somebody utters the words 'something happened'. I guess he saw it in my eyes, because he added 'It's peripheral, it doesn't affect us'.

So what is it then, Bran?

"Andy Whitfield died."

Oooooooooooooooooooooooh!!! Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaartaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus!!!

I stopped throwing the ball. I... I... I was totally speechless! It couldn't be possible! Not Spartacus! Not Andy Whitfield! Oh, God, no!

One of those things that makes one believe that God doesn't exist. And that life sucks, death sucks, cancer sucks... 

Oh my, oh my, oh my!!!

I just couldn't go on with the workout for a while. I had to re-situate myself - I was in the park, I was supposed to be working out with my personal trainer, I had to throw the ball back to him... Now M-O-V-E!!!

But I was... paralysed!

Not Andy Whitfield... Not Spartacus! Not my hero!

WHY? WHY? WHY?

WHAT THE HECK...?

.......... (SILENCE FOLLOWS) ..........

... And now can we please have a moment of silence in memory of Andy Whitfield. 

(R.I.P. Andy Whitfield. May the gods be with you and take your soul home. Long life to Spartacus, magnificent and irreplaceable - Andy is, and will always be, the only one!)

+++++++++++++++++ I'll be back.

She's my hero!