Buh-Bye Brighton

I want to start this entry off discussing how much I despise Brighton. More specifically, Oak Square in Brighton. There is literally nothing important here, there is no T (subway for you non-bostonians), I am petrified of running into my neighbor that I had a brief thing with when the weather was warm and sunny and it seemed like a great idea, and the closest bus stop is still a fifteen minute walk. I would have to say literally the only thing I enjoy about this place is the Oak Square YMCA. And that is exactly where I was at 6am this morning.

As previously mentioned I usually like to start my week off strong with some serious cardio. I did a variation on my normal sprint action on the treadmill. I did more of an endurance sprint sesh.

Minutes 1-5: warm up @ 6mph
Minutes 5-9: run @ 7mph
Minutes 10-13: rest @ 4mph
Minutes 13-16: run @ 7.5mph
Minutes 16-18 rest @ 4mph
Minutes 18-20 run @ 8.5mph
Minutes 20-21 rest @ 4mph
Minutes 22-23 run @ 9mph

Then I finished up with a few 30 second sprints @ 10mph.

Next, I hit up the erg (rowing machine). The erg is my bud. It brings me back to the days of the Wequaquet Lake parking lot where we sprinted so hard on them we either passed out or threw up. Or the BHS training room where I watched my coaches race on them, while we all complained about how sore we were from Spring Training. Ohhhhh the erg, you devil you.

Anyways, one of my worst pet peeves ever ever EVER at the gym (worse than skinny chicks swinging 5lb dumbbell curls) is people's form on the erg. It is a full body exercise, not just an upper body machine. In fact, you should probably be getting most of the power from your lower body when you're using this machine.

Well, I inserted a video from youtube above, but I'm not sure why it's so small. Give me a break, I'm new to this whole blogging thing. Anyways, main points are to keep your back straight, lean far forward when you're moving back up the machine - my butt literally comes off of the seat - and then explode up with your legs. Good stuff!!!!! I did it for 25 minutes, and boy, let me tell you I have the blisters to prove it.

One thing I do notice about the early gym sessions at the Y is the clientele. They are about quadruple my age. Oh, and you think I'm kidding? I'm not kidding. I am pretty sure there is a bus that picks them up from the dying home and carts them to the pool to let them experience most likely their last swim on earth. I don't really mind, the smell is bearable I suppose, but the locker room is another story. First of all, I don't know what it was like in 1920, but apparently, surprisingly, nudity was not an issue. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm totally comfortable with my body, but there are things I see in that locker room that burn the inside of my eyelids. It creates a paranoia in me about growing old or ever - ever -  having children.

I'm always in a rush because I need to get ready for work. This morning I was in the corner facing the wall stripping down and getting dressed - don't want to make anyone jealous, ya know? I don't even have my pants all of the way on when someone croaks, "Is that one of those, ya know, thingy magigs, an....an..ipod?" I look over at this wrinkly, still wet from the pool, leaning on the locker to stand, indistinguishable creature to verify that she was indeed speaking to me. She was. ugh.
"Yes" I reply, "that's an ipod".
"Oh, so you make phone calls on that too, huh?"
"No....no...that's an iphone"
"A what?"
"An....it's an iphone"
"That's an iphone?"
"No, ma'am, this is an ipod. You make phone calls on an iphone"
"I see people reading on the bus with those iphones"
"Well....no...no...that's probably an ipad"

She stares at me blankly. "You look just like my granddaughter". Jesus Christ, I need to get to work. Of course I look like your granddaughter lady, I'm the only person here born in this century and I'm sure you don't even remember what your granddaughter looks like. I politely smile and slowly walk backwards.

This is why I need to get out of Brighton. Let me rephrase, this is why I am leaving Brighton. I found my apartment tonight. It's in the North End, you can throw a rock to Government Center, and yes, it is about double my current rent, but I'm prepared to make some sacrifices. I will eat peanut butter sandwiches, wear the same clothes on a rotational basis for a year, cancel my gym membership to work out on the ROOFTOP DECK, and sell my soul to live there. I will do it and I am doing it. Goodbye soul,  hello world.