I have never... been to bootcamp

Ok so Groupon is shaping up to be a bit of a nightmare. I keep looking at offers and thinking, "well I've never done that before". There is so much stuff on there. Today I considered a makeover and photoshoot for £15 (seriously outside my comfort zone) and a hot stone massage (much more up my street).Usually I look at the price and leave it for another day, but I didn't think I could refuse an offer  that was £8 and worked out at £1 a session. That's way cheaper than joining yet another gym.

I have never had any desire whatsoever to go to bootcamp. It sounded hideous. And Shouty. But hey ho, in for a penny. Well in for a pound as it goes.

In case you don't know me well I'm not what you'd call fit. I cycle to work occasionally when the weather is agreeable and I don't have to pick shopping up on the way home. Other than that I do a good line is exercise avoidance. I just don't have the time you know. So if this challenge has done nothing lse it's made me get off my backside at least once.

I went to the park at 6.15. Luckily some other people had bought groupon vouchers too so I wasn't alone in my decision, but my anxiety levels were pretty high. I reckon I burnt calories just panicking about starting the exercise.

It began. There was running in a circle in a variety of formats. I was out of breath. After ten minutes of what by my standards was extreme exertion the instructor said "we'll be starting in just a few minutes and it will probably be a challenge". Starting in a few minutes? I thought we must have at least been half way through and due a nice sit down.

At the brief opportunity given to drink water I looked at the group of mostly women around me. I was learning you could tell a lot by what they were wearing. Anyone wearing a top with their nickname on the back was way out of my league. Along with the girl who had played beach rugby in 2012 sponsored by Spar. The next level down were the women who were either significantly fitter than me, or had previously been, as they were sporting 10k T-shirts. The rest of us had recently been shopping at Sainsburys for fitness gear. One in a very ridiculously well suited headband ran the full length of the course constantly during the most difficult bit even though it wasn't required of her. I tried not to look.

Reassuringly everyone else was pretty much similar to me. Knackered, hot, sweaty and with a worrying hot pain in both thighs at about 15 minutes in. But I did it. In not avery graceful way but I did it nevertheless.

In the car park I chatted to two members of staff from Phoebe's school and was partially convinced to do an 8km race in mud in October. One bootcamp and I've gone mad. I think maybe I'll get through another session before deciding whether to commit to that or not.

Now I am home. I can no longer ascend or descend stairs. I have asked Paul to bring a duvet down for me as I'm not getting off this sofa any time soon. I've done a bootcamp. Just another seven to go this month then...