Precerpt from Grandma's Ninja Training Diary: Breathless but Unbroken

 

Cardio class, day one. Ninety minutes of movement, three times a week. I showed up with two left feet and a right leg that might still be hiding under the sofa I lifted last spring. Rugged, not graceful. But I try.

We were told to grab our weights. I hadn’t brought any. So I dashed out to the bins and grabbed the nearest pair. Two ladies behind me gasped: “Those are way too heavy!”

I looked. 7½ pounds. Not heavy—for me. Everyone else had 1–2 pound pastel pebbles. I had gaudy yellow bruisers. And then we danced. We lunged. We shadowboxed. We jumped. We swung those weights like we were fighting off invisible pirates.

It was good I hadn’t grabbed the 25-pounders. But the 7.5s? Just fine.

After class, the verdict from my more experienced classmates: “Not very graceful—but definitely strong.”

I’ll take it.

🧠 Ninja Wisdom: Strength Is Breath’s Companion

• I was breathless. Not just from the movement, but from the effort of being new.
• Breath is the bridge between effort and endurance. And mine was still under construction.
• But I showed up. I moved. I didn’t drop the weights—or my spirit.

Because if strength is the sword, breath is the sheath. And I’m learning how to wield both.

Grandma’s Ninja Training Diary is the inspiring true story of a 70-year-old grandmother who dares to dream big—by training for American Ninja Warrior. Teaming up with coach and trainer Brittany Renz, she embarks on a three-year journey to build strength, resilience, flexibility, balance, and endurance—starting from scratch.

Told in a dynamic mix of diary entries, coaching insights, and behind-the-scenes reflections, this book chronicles the ups and downs of late-in-life athletic training. From gym workouts to rock climbing, yoga to injury recovery, sleep to mindset—every aspect of the transformation is explored with honesty and humor.

Grandma shares what she’s learning; Coach Brittany explains why she’s right—or wrong. Together, they offer a realistic, encouraging look at what it takes to pursue an extraordinary goal at any age.

Part training manual, part motivational memoir, Grandma’s Ninja Training Diary is packed with practical tips for readers over 50 who want to improve their fitness, health, and confidence. You’ll also get insider insights into the world of American Ninja Warrior, strategies for balancing real life with ambitious goals, and hard-won wisdom about success, failure, and the joy of simply showing up.

To read more precerpts from Grandma's Ninja Training Diary, click HERE.

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