Getting Close

Well it is true this Monday is the day I get to embark on my new career as a full-time firefighter starting out in the academy. I have to say that I look forward to the academy experience; I know it is going to be tough but I believe well worth it. Can not wait to be yelled at :). Getting up early in the morning and going thru the routine like an academy I believe will benefit me well in getting my body acclimated to the academy. We found a place that we are going to move at for the next 6 months. We feel like this place is not the best place in the world but it is what we can afford while I am in the academy. The location is close to the academy at to the Interstate 10.

Cresent Ridge Apartment Homes


For the month of April I will be traveling from my house here in Gilbert to the Academy location. Below is a link to the directions I will be taking. It really has taken about an hour and 15 mins. Not almost 2 hours.

Directions

I imagine the academy being like the "THE ACADEMY" OFCA but hopefully it is laid out the way it is suppose to be. I was told that this academy is not going to be focused on being a running academy, which I am thankful but I am prepared if it is needed to be a running academy.

In thinking about preparation I believe I have done everything to be prepared for this academy. By waking up early was a start, working out focusing on losing weight, maintaining strength and also working on my cardio I think I will do well. As always your prayers and support is appreciated as I go thru this rigorous and exciting process. Thank you again.

Waking Up is Difficult

Today I am writing to you to let you know that I am sore. But like I stated before in the academy I will be sore as well. So have to suck it up I guess. Already had breakfast got the things done I needed to get done and planning on starting my workout here at 530 in the morning till about 7 or 730. So hopefully I will make it till 7ish. Today we might drive out to Tucson again to see if we can find a place to live out there. We are thinking cheap and close to where I will be in the academy. It has not been too difficult letting go of things that we really do not need to bring with us to the next place we are planning on living at. The location here has been wonderful but with the lower pay etc, we have no choice but to start thinking about other options. Today's workout is going to be like this:

0330 - Get Up / Get Ready
0400 - Studying / Emails / Etc
0530 - Lifting & Academy style Workout
0730 - Stretching
0900 - Drive to Tucson today
1400 - Back & Belly DVD
1500 - X Stretch
1600 - Cardio Routine
1730 - Sell ADT
1930 - Bed

Should be a good day I will report what we find out in Tucson. Thanks for following

Mimicking Isn't Easy

Starting out this process of getting up really early, @330 am in the morning and then working out hard every hour or so and then studying and trying to maintain life is becoming difficult and it is only the first day. Monday was a great day felt like I got a good consistent energized workout in. Maintaining good form, making sure that I focus in on power, strength and flexibility. With all of this in mind, being tired. I know I am not going to be as tired as I will in the academy that is for sure. The nice thing is that I have 3 more days of this then I can rest over the weekend and recoup. Tuesday I will be getting up again early, working out hard in the morning. My morning workouts have consisted of the activities like Crossfit style workouts that I will most likely be doing in the academy. For example I have a station that I do for a minute, then rest for 30 seconds, then go to the next station and continue doing multiple reps of this. There are a total of 8 stations that i work on doing. I will let you know how it goes the next day.

The Final Week

This Sunday marks the last week before the 2010-01 Academy with Golder Ranch Fire / Northwest Fire and Casa Grande Fire. This academy is a big deal because in 14 weeks I am planned on being pounded to the ground day after day. The nice thing is that the academy is only 4 days a week vs 5 days week. The bad thing is that it is 10 hour days. We were told that this is going to be a tough experience and the fire service is a paramilitary environment. So with that being said I am expecting to puck, be sore, get beat up, and enjoy every second of it. This next week is a big deal. My buddy CJ from Phoenix Fire and my mentor from Firefighters for Christ recommended that I start the week before the academy like I was in the academy. I setup my week to do the following: Please comment if you have any suggestions to this, but here is how Monday thru Thursday this week is going to play out! The Academy starts at 6am and goes till 4pm in Tucson.

0330 - Get Up & Get Ready
0400 - Study Firefighting Essentials
(This would represent driving to the academy)
(A Note on this is that I purchased a Audiobook of the Firefighting Essentials that I can listen to in the car)
0530 - Lifting Routine at the Gym
(My workout is a circuit workout 1 min workout, 30 seconds rest, then the next station 3 times mimicking Firefighting activities.)
0700 - Stretching Routine
(X Stretch from P90x)
0800 - Studying Firefighting Essentials
0900 - One on One Routine from Tony Horton
(Butt & Belly, Back and Belly, or Masons Choice Cardio)
1000 - Studying Firefighting Essentials Again
1100 - Running (2 miles, 3, 4, 5)
1200 - Lunch
1300 - Cardio Routine at the Gym
(Elliptical, Treadmill Routine, Stairclimber etc)
1500 - Stretching Again
(Focus on injury prevention, cool down, and flexibility)
1600 - Studying again
(This would represent driving home from the academy)

By 1730 - I need to go out and sell some ADT security systems door to door, we can use the money for sure for our family till about 1900 and then go to bed at 2000.