You know that moment when you’re halfway through a Bulgarian split squat and wondering what on earth this has to do with your actual life?
Marnie just answered that question, and she did it from a canoe!
This August, Marnie (50’s) took her family canoe tripping in Killarney Provincial Park. She’d been nervous going in. It had been a few years since she’d portaged a canoe or done any serious paddling. Then she came home and sent Sally a note that made our whole week.
Every tough moment on the trip had a matching exercise from her workouts here. The water lilies, the portage, and the rock that was taller than the boat. She didn’t plan any of it. She just noticed her body already knew what to do.
It’s the best kind of unprompted feedback, and we’re sharing it with her permission in her own words…
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“Hi Sally,
In August my family went canoe tripping in Killarney Provincial Park, and I'd been a bit nervous about it, as it had been a few years since I'd portaged a canoe and done any significant paddling.
It was an incredible trip, and I thought I'd share some of the thoughts I was having during the best (and worst) moments:
Paddling through a windy lake completely grown over with water lilies (which meant paddling through dense root systems): "Thank you, Russian Twist!"
Getting the canoe back on my shoulders halfway through an 800-metre portage: "Thank you, Shoulder Press!"
Getting out of the canoe onto a rock higher than the boat: "Thank you, Bulgarian Split Squat!"
When a wind gust tugged the canoe unexpectedly while I was getting in: "Thank you, Side Lunge!"
Staggering along the portage trail with 3 life jackets in one hand, a food barrel on my back, and a bag of kindling in my right hand: "Thank you, Farmer Carry!"
Reaching into the tent to grope for a headlamp with legs outside because I didn't want to take off my shoes: "Thank you, Plank Hold!"
Hiking "The Crack" trail to the peak that overlooks Georgian Bay and Manitoulin Island: "Thank you, Box Steps!"
Realizing that the lake we were supposed to be paddling across was dry (so we had to portage the whole thing): "Thank you, Overall Conditioning, and the 'you can do it' humour the coaches bring to our workouts!"
Reaching the take-out point with no injuries and a happy glow: "Thank you Bomb Fitness!"
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Notice what Marnie didn’t say. She didn’t mention how she looked in her paddling gear or how much weight she lost for her trip. She told us about carrying a food barrel, hauling a canoe onto her shoulders, and hiking to a view of Georgian Bay. That’s what strong looks like to us.
So next time you’re in the middle of a farmer carry and your grip is giving out, think of Marnie and her three life jackets. Whatever’s waiting for you outside the gym (a toddler who wants to be carried, a driveway that needs shoveling, a long shift on your feet), these movements are practice for it.
Thank you, Marnie, for letting us share this. And if you’ve got a “Thank you, [exercise]!” moment of your own, we’d love to hear it.
Have a great week!
Kevin & Victoria
