David Ledoux

Today's Workout. For time: 300 cals echo bike. 26:12.

Tuesday. 7:14 am. Sweat is dripping off my nose after the warmup. Coach is writing the WOD on the whiteboard. 6 ROUNDS FOR TIME. 60 double unders. 30 Russian kettlebell swings (53/35). 15 burpees. 25 minute cap. I grab a well worn 35 pound kettlebell. Thick handle, black and rust. Perfect. I lay my skipping rope on the mat in front of me. I haven’t done double-unders in 3 months. Do I remember how? It’s a small class. The lady is fit. She’ll finish under the cap. My buddy Rocco is the third. He’s 2 age groups below me, late forties. Super fit. He swears he’s a software engineer, but he gives off a special forces vibe. He grabbed the green 53 lb kettlebell. What a savage! I do a little mental math. 4 minutes per round, 6 rounds, 24 minutes. A minute for the skipping, a minute for the swings, and 90 seconds for the burpees. And even some rest. Good. 3-2-1…GO! I go unbroken on the dubs, unbroken on the swings, and unbroken on the burpees. I glance at the clock. 2:47. I went out hot on purpose. I know Rocco is watching and pacing off me. Maybe I can drag him into deep water? Round 2. 6:45. A more sensible pace. Moving well. 3 deep breaths on transitions. Round 3 gets real in a hurry. I can hear Rocco cussing as his dubs fall apart. But mine are starting to struggle, and I’m breathing fire on the burpees. Round 4. I need to gear down on the burpees and start sneaking extra breaths in between reps. And Rocco goes unbroken. He gets 3 deep breaths as I finish up, stand up and walk to my rope. Neck and neck going into round 5. Round 6. I’m on burpee 7 as he finishes ahead of me. I crawl to a floor fan after the final burpee. 23:27. Got sweaty, had fun, and high-fived my friends. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.