It felt as if my shoulders were going to throw up

A few months ago, after reading an LAist writer's experience about CrossFit in Santa Monica, I knew I had to give it a try. Knowing it would be extremely intense, I kept on saying to myself, "I'll go in when I'm a little more in shape." But for me, my desired workout routine only comes into play when I am preparing for a race and I accidentally missed the deadline for next week's Mud Run at Camp Pendleton, therefore, no intense working out for me as of recent. Around 6 p.m. last night, I just decided that I had waited long enough and it was time to visit my local affiliate in Van Nuys -- Valley CrossFit.

What is CrossFit? It's all a bit new for me to explain, but the national website starts of saying that "CrossFit is the principal strength and conditioning program for many police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists, and hundreds of other elite and professional athletes worldwide." Sounds good to me!

The one-hour class started off with a routine outside in the parking lot and in the suburban side streets of Van Nuys near the Orange Line. We ran, high kicked, high skipped, side stepped and other warm-up exercises I cannot name. Back indoors, it was burpee box jumps as a functional warm-up. Then came the main attraction, a circuit of functional exercises that demand not just physical, but lots of mental strength, especially for a first timer. All of these, back to back, for your best time: 500 meter row, 30 pull-ups, 800 meter run, 30 squats, 250 meter row, 30 burpees and a 400 meter run.

I am so fucking sore right now (especially my shoulders) and it feels great. I can't wait to go back. CrossFit equals addicting fun.

Photo from the Valley CrossFit website