Today was tennis day!!! Favorite workout of the week!!! But there was a new dynamic that was unexpectedly introduced into the mix: An Audience. Yes, an audience came with the purpose of watching us play. We had never played in front of an audience before. There have been times when students were using the other half of the gym, but they weren't watching us, they were doing their own thing. Maybe a glance now and then, but not watching. Today, just as we were beginning, a group of students quietly entered the gym and sat down on the floor. Luckily, they were on the far side of the gym, away from me so I was a little relieved. But the whole dynamic changed in that now we were under the microscope, as it were, of our students. We could hear the "Ooo's" and the "Ahh's" for good shots and the "oh no's" and "Uggh's" for junk shots. We definitely were playing with a lot more seriousness than fun. Of course we didn't want to look bad, so we upped the level and were stroking the ball very well. As for the match, I had to adjust to the added stress so it took a while to get the first game. We were all even until 4-4, but then I shifted up a gear and I finally ended the first set at 6-4. That took a lot longer than it usually does. Finally, after a little more than an hour, the students had to leave and that in itself was like having a huge weight removed from my back and I swung free. And I took the second set 6-1. But at the end, we both were a lot more tired that we usually are.
I did my Splits and Flow after my night class so I was able to take a little more time with them both and sink in a little deeper. I'm really feeling good with the splits. But the three positions I'm stretching for are all at different levels. The lowest and best right now is my left side splits. The second lowest is the straddle splits, and the highest is the right side splits. Below is the Left Side Splits. I'm almost there, just about 4 inches or so. My straddle splits are about 6 inches away, and the Right Side Splits are close to 6 inches. It is those naughty front hip flexors that are giving me the trouble. I need to loosen them up big time. But I'll get there.
The Flow was very smooth and clean. Just a little tweak on the right knee, but it's getting less day by day.
In the end, for just the tennis, I torched a nice 1100+kcals. Next week, I'm going to try attending a tennis club at night so it's going to be a lot of tennis next Thursday. YEAH!!!
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