Trampolining – Day 18
In my last challenge, I named capsizing as one of the three indignities which I do not want to experience in my 100 challenge. Following hot on its heels in the chart is wetting myself, so as a mother of three, I classify trampolining in extreme sports. The kids have a trampoline in the garden - I've been on it, I know it’s possible.
In the run up to the evening session, I limited myself to a few small sips of water from lunchtime onwards and regular toilet breaks. I felt like an athlete in competition. Another challenge trampolining posed was preventing self-inflicted black eyes, as I am amongst the larger mammary-ed of the species. So with my boobs scaffolded into place and an empty bladder, I trotted down to the Callywith Centre in Bodmin.
The one thing I love about this challenge is meeting so many different people, listening to their tales and for a short period of time, through osmosis, picking up their love and enthusiasm for their particular activity. Ann, the coach, is one such inspirational person. She coaches 7 days a week, in venues across the region; from little tots through to national contenders, one of whom she trains at 8am on a Sunday morning. If anybody was going to make me bounce, Ann can (I was determined to shoehorn that grammatically incorrect phrase in here somehow!).
She asked about my previous experience, and I self-congratulatory mentioned my preliminary trampolining badge when I was 11. Ann looked for a hint of irony in my eyes. She saw none. I still have that badge. Before we moved over to the trampoline, I moistened my dry, dehydrated lips with two drops of water on my fingers and excused myself to the ladies.
When I commenced bouncing, I was surprised how much it differed from our one in the garden. Probably obvious, but it felt really different. Ann took me through the basic technique, as my arms were going off like a demented windmill. Next, was bouncing to sit and back up again and then sitting down and stay bouncing whilst sitting down. That was tough on the old abs! After a blast from the past, with pike, straddle and tuck jumps, we moved into putting it all into a sequence.
First things first though: off for a quick wee and back on for the sequence. I was in full self-achievement mode already, just by completing the moves individually and I wasn't confident I could pull off a routine. Usually I would find it quite funny, but there was no way I could risk a laugh - not even a smirk. I didn't manage to fully do the routine without mucking it up but I had a good go. Trampolining is a surprisingly exhausting sport, as you’re literally working the whole body, especially the pelvic floor!
It's been a good few days all in all. No indignities have been made and I continue to meet the most inspirational people who keep me going on this adventure.
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