Not For Girls?

Being at the helm of a fit conscious community of women is a pretty great job. I regularly meet the most amazing people this city has to offer, many of whom report back to us at Camp with interesting tidbits from their continuing life adventures. Like my new favorite bit of absurdity delivered straight into my chocolate lovin' hands by E.

A regular Bootcamper from March through September, E's count-challenged participation in class ("uh...what number are we on?") was a source of more than a few rounds of morning laughs for those of us lucky to have known her during her work related stay in Seattle. Glad to have her back in the city on a term break from Oxford, a couple of us Bootcampers got together last week to enjoy each other's company sans push-ups. First order of business: chocolate! Straight from Lady England, E pulled 3 bars out of her bag. We were pysched!

Oh. But wait, 'cause..."it's not for girls"...

Wha...? Since when is chocolate not for girls?

The myths of our society perpetuate that chocolate is intended for girls: PMS, break-ups, bad hair days. There have been entire candy campaigns built on these myths. And if chocolate is not for girls, then, um...who's it for...boys? That just seems un...well...un-Manly.

Are the men of England unable to score chocolate from the shops if it is not clearly marked like a public toilet? Or is this a passive aggressive ploy to play on the fears of women: yes, indeed, your arse does look fat in those jeans.

Those of you who know me well are aware of the phrase I'd like to interject here, and yet will not, for decency :)

And so, assured by E that the offending chocolate bar "isn't even THAT good", the four of us moved on to the second order of business: The New Year! Where chocolate in America is still deliciously gender unspecific...

Kimae :)

We Finished Our First 5k!

Team SWL Bootycamp completed it's first 5k on Sunday, September 28th! The Alki Beach Run benefited Northwest Hope and Healing, a local organization providing social services to women in our community being treated for breast cancer. In 2007, Northwest Hope and Healing aided 240 women and their families with basic services ranging from child care to transportation to and from medical treatment. We are excited to have raised $700.00(and counting...) for this charitable event and we want to thank our families, friends and fellow Bootcampers for all their support, both financial and emotional- for some of us this was our first 5k run! Looking ahead, our team has big plans for the upcoming Pineapple Classic in November; another excellent fundraising 5k- with the added bonus of an obstacle course! Check it out at http://www.winterpineappleclassic.com/.

What's A Little Weather Among Friends?
This time of year, as the Bootcamp Summer season winds down, longtime Bootycampers begin to reminisce about days of yore, of misty Fall mornings and...mud! It's true, Bootcamp is held outside rain or shine, and while Seattle days like today(sunny and deliriously beautiful) make us feel as though it will never rain on our bun kickin' workouts, eventually...I mean, this is Seattle! For all the Duck and Cover we perform on rainy days, dashing to and from our front doors with heads hunkered under junk mail pulled fresh from the box, our Northwest weather is embraced at Bootcamp as that place where our Inner Child sends our Outer Grown-Up straight to time-out. Last winter, during one of those sideways rain December days that flooded the homes of many of our neighbors, the women at Camp, already soaked and smudged, took it upon themselves to "decorate" each other's shirts with big ol' muddy hand prints. I don't recall how it started, but for a brief moment between Push-Up's and Plank, it was a class right out of kindergarten. It really is true, what's a little weather among friends?

Hope to see you in the play!


Kimae