Health: And I thought I was fit...

Health: And I thought I was fit...

THE NEW STRAITS TIMES, LIFE & TIMES JANUARY 25, 2011

Do you have what it takes for a bootcamp session? Bootcamp virgin SYIDA LIZTA AMIRUL IHSAN only manages to endure 35 minutes of it. IT was the quiet hours of the morning — when the city was still blanketed in darkness and the only sound you heard was your own breathing.

But a group of early risers and fitness fanatics was already up, about and ready to be tortured, trained and toned.

It’s 5.30am and the lights were still out in the neighbourhood but at the Sports Complex in Bandar Utama 3, laughter and conversation could be heard. On that Monday morning, after a 12km run the day before and a good seven hours of sleep, I was there too, giving Original Bootcamp — a high-intensity, thrice-weekly, military-style, 60-minute training — a go.

In recent years, bootcamp has found a following in the city where public spaces have become battlegrounds for people cramming in massive workouts before they head for work.

The same company holds another session in Subang Jaya and amongst other spots in the city and its suburbs. There were about 30 people that day at the camp. Monday blues, I was told. But to those who had woken up at 4.30am, all geared up for a workout, bootcamp must mean a great deal.