fitness adventure: squash is yummy, but it's also fun to play

Today was the Bagels and Boasts open house at the Jewish Community Center in Allentown. My friend Pam invited us to come. So glad I went.

Squash is a racquet sport for two, will a hard-ish, hollow ball about the size of a golf ball. It does not bounce.

You serve from the box, and if it doesn't go in the blue zone it's legal. In a real game, each person takes turns hitting. And the person who fails to respond first loses the point. If you collide into each other you say let, and let the ball fall. If you make a line drive up the side it's a boast. Hense the name.

We did more of a round robin event because there was people feeding in and out, coming and going. Normally you would reserve a time. Like at the tennis court.

All the beginners were on one court. My friend Pam (above), and Anita were our teachers. The pros were with the more experienced players. We learned how to serve and to hit. Taking three or four turns each. I was drenched in the 45 minutes. I looked online and it said if I was playing a real game I would burn about 800 calories in an hour for my size and weight. I was tired doing the round robin. Can't imagine playing a whole game.

Anita said Lydia was a "natural". With a few real lessons she could actually play well.I think she's interested.

It was a real workout, but you don't get much mileage for it. The courts are small.

When the Morning Call photographer came, we started doing drills with the pro. Those I wasn't so bad at. I could hit the ball a lot more. Maybe I'll be in tomorrow's paper. We'll see. (Online already up. Even one of me stuffing a bagel in my mouth!) There was little kids and elderly people there. They make better print copy.

I also walked the dog before and after squash. But I'll need to walk tonight when it gets cooler to make my mileage for the 500 mile challenge.