Early this morning I attended another great OTF class.  3 years ago my daughter took me to OTF.  My schedule that fall was incredibly busy, so it took a few months for me to go “all out” for OTF.  My addiction started slowly, but within 6 months I was gung ho.  And since then I have attended class around 4 or 5 times each week.

To this day, I have not tired of OTF.  The workouts challenge me daily.  They work.  At age 69 I am in better physical shape that in my 40s.

I joined as a runner – used running and diet to lose 40 pounds started May 2013 and finishing May 2014.  I knew that I could become a better runner, and I also wanted my share of resistance training.  OTF stresses me differently each workout.

I remember when my all out speed was 7.2.  Now I usually use 9, but occasionally 9.3 and even 10 in the right situation.  My pushes and base pace have obviously also increased.

I was a lousy rower.

I could not do a burpee.

But OTF means much more.  In my youth (prior to age 40), I played basketball religiously.  I loved being on teams, and seeing the same guys at the gym for games.

Now OTF is my exercise family!  I love seeing the familiar faces each morning when I go to workout.  I love seeing the regulars who work hard and push me to work hard.  We cheer each other to improve with each benchmark.  We give each other high fives for personal bests.

Our coaches encourage us to work hard each day, and thus we grow.

My weight is approximately the same as when I started, but everyone thinks I have lost more weight.

I am so grateful that OTF exists and that my daughter convinced me to try.  I am a better person because of OTF.  I am a better athlete because of OTF.

I have drunk the orange Kool-Aid.