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Do any of you find a couple of hours cycling in Autumn much more knackering than in summer?I seem to.Unless,of course,its just tiredness kicking in.Could be cycling into strong winds that doesn't help.
The wind has certainly made it hard work this week especially when out on the road bike. I’m starting to feel aching all of the time and I’m having to stretch and use the foam roller almost every day now to keep me going. The lad is still right on this, still bouncing and hooping but has spent this afternoon playing footie with his mates, as well as a couple of loops of the woods after school I’m really pleased he’s showing a commitment to this challenge, can’t feed him enough!! It’s good to read how everyone else is finding it and knowing others are finding it tough is reassuring as well as spurring me on. Keep going folks.
It is harder in winter. You burn more calories when it's cold, trying to stay warm, there's a head wind that's stronger and often there's wetness whipping heat from your body.
I had a weekend bike touring in the Cairngorms so am all caught up. I'm eating like a pig, it's great.
This morning's post wedding run was slow and I think the Orcadian strip the willow has buckled my knee. It's certainly a bit puffy. Easy turbo tomorrow.
I'd count a ceilidh as exercise to be honest. It's certainly the sweatiest thing I do.
What is Orchadian strip the Willow?Is gardening now included in the challenge?
It's a no holds barred proper ceilidh dance. Bruising is considered a standard reaction.
Stonking cold + weather means ive been nowhere near exercising every day, there was a week where I only commuted by bike once!
Not doing so badly now, last week was good but skipped Friday as I was in bed by 8! Saturday afternoon was spent doing gardening, dug out two big leylandaii stumps. Sunday morning clubrun followed by a third leylandaii stump has utterly done for my hamstrings and back muscles though! So will either get the rollers out for a spin or look up some of this yoga tonight.
Weight training yesterday,cycling today.I,ve been eating alot and sleeping better.A couple of dry windless weeks would be a pleasant change.My main challenge is psychological....motivation is a challenge for me.A month in I,m determined to finish and not feel like a failure.Easy day tomorrow after my flu jag.
jimmy
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I missed a day, Tuesday, was just too tired and the day squeezed that it was nearly 10pm before I could do anything
Tuesday seems to be my grind to a halt day, same last night. Actually felt fluey and achey so rested. Rather that than break myself for the remainder. Weekend of cycling and beer coming up too.
TINAS - was gardening on Saturday and my watch beeped at me loads for reaching my goal x1 X2 X3 so planned evening exercise got canned (beer canned)
So far so good, doing it with my wife and she's saved the day on more than one occasion (making me do a yoga session at 23:15 was ever so welcome).
Mixture of running, cycling, turbo, walks, yoga and circuit training.
I'll check in next month.
Still haven't had a day of bad enough weather for me to start learning yoga - it'll happen at some point though.
I can't blame people for having had the odd day off. I'm really impressed at everyone who's kept it going though, well done!
Still ticking them off old knee problem strapped so it's been turbo all week. Hoping to get an outdoor ride tomorrow followed by at trip to thornielee Sunday. Saturday probably back on the turbo.
Too stubborn to stop.
Still going, it's been a week of sufferfest. But I'm quite enjoying it. Tomorrow it's thornielee for some steep fun.
Anybody else had a bit of a dip ine month in?This week has been a struggle.It may be because I,ve seen a former "Loise" in my life!That and the weather has knocked me a bit.Time to MTFU me thinks.
Have we all died?
Still going well although struggled on Saturday with travelling to Wales and going to the football on route in The midlands. Landed at Hermon Bach at about 10 pm and had to settle with walking the dog up a big hill in the dark. Yesterday was spent walking in the forest and down to CdB visitor centre to plan the weeks riding with the kids. We’re staying about 200m from the halfway cafe so have access to the trails from the door and the kids can’t wait to get there!! Hope to get up Cadir Idris if we get a day with a decent weather forecast so all is good.
I failed. Am gutted to be honest 😔
Was going well and feeling the benefits, then last week I was travelling abroad for work, with my boss and visiting suppliers. Early flights, moving hotel rooms daily, late hospitality... it opened my eyes as to how much these work trips take over your life while you are away. I feel a bit annoyed with myself that I didn't make time, I think a big part of it was 'not wanting to make a fuss' or to having to explain why I wanted an hour to myself. But I wish I had - feeling really sluggish and unhealthy when I got home.
I will continue, but I probably need a new goal to keep me going. It's my birthday at the end of Jan, so maybe I'll look at using that as a target.
Well done everyone who is keeping it up. I'll be a bit more prepared next year.
Still going. Finding it a boost. Didn't get as much done last week as I wanted and this week will be a drag but dog walk when I get home from work then probably hit the turbos again. Would much rather ride outside but it's not a good idea, at least for this week.
Still on it, had a dip to be honest Saturday came down with a 24hr vomiting bug!!!! But back on it today just feeling weak, can I be let off Saturday for being sick 🤢
Commiserations to anyone who's dropping a bit on this - Don't beat yourself up, start a new streak.
I'm trying to do every day sept - dec which so far is on track, niggling Achilles injury and saddle sores have seen a lot more yoga than usual for me (i.e. more than none) and after a week racing across the Pyrenees it has taken some motivation to keep on it for the last week or so, but am coming out of the other side of the tiredness hole and still on track.
Good luck to all still going and those who've dropped a day or two, it's a great habit to build even with gaps.
I'd definitely not consider it failing - it's a voluntary, light hearted challenge. The real aim is to get you doing more than you would normally, and I think that everyone posting has achieved that. If you had a few days off and still want to do it, just keep going til Christmas.
I've realised (agian) that I just bloody love riding my bike. I've only had one day off the bike each week for the last couple of weeks and I'm not getting bored of it. I have some hard days (I had a bit of time trial this morning) and some gentler days to recover and it seems to be working.
Yesterday we lifted 1.5tonnes of topsoil up a flight of stairs and I counted that. It was tough.
As I said right at the beginning of this challenge, I used to commute every day, one way I used to treat as a time trial and go as hard as I could followed by an easy spin. That coupled with riding with the kids on Saturday and club run on Sunday meant I rode a bike almost every day. Since losing my job this has slowly declined and this challenge was just the push I needed to get back at it and I can honestly say that I’m feeling so much better both in body and mind. I’m feeling fitter and stronger, much better appetite and sleep. The lad has also kept it up every day and although I made fun of his bouncing and hooping he has also felt a benefit. Today we did the blue route at CdB twice, once this morning and again in the afternoon and I noticed how much stronger on the uphills he was. In the grand scheme of things, half an hour’s exercise each day is within the scope of most people and the benefit is well worth the effort. My goal is to continue this for the foreseeable simply because I know it’s doing me the world of good.
I failed last week. Came down with humdinger of a cold so missed about 4 days, then had a weekend away at relatives which meant lots of driving etc.
And I missed adding a few non-recorded activities to strava.
Working away so only a walk tomorrow before a long train journey home.
Back on it Wednesday. Shows how hard it is to actually do it every day.
Seems to be alot of cold around.My mates are all suffering.MUST AVOID.
One thing I've found invaluable in dodging colds is this stuff. I use it whenever I get a hint that I'm getting a cold and it's worked almost every time. When I haven't used it I've gone down with something. It certainly helps at this time of year regardless of whether you're doing the challenge or not.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/267308562
So I must hang my head in shame and admit defeat. I’ve been unable to do any activity for the last two days. I work a twelve hour shift and due to work load over the past two days I haven’t been able to take my lunch hour. I’ll pick back up today- great work to all of you that haven’t skipped a day yet!
Those shifts count in my book beaker.Sounds bloody tough and puts half an hours exercise in the shade.
Today was just Pilates. First non cardio day. Hoping to get a good ride tomorrow.
Heavy rain tomorrow dude,might not be pleasant.
Decided to come to Lake District for a few days with kids so hiked up Loughrigg this morning, pony trekking tomorrow and a whizz up Whinlatter 🚲 tomorrow night... anyone in Keswick want to join me please feel free 👍
yeah just spotted that longer ride might have to wait until sunday. it'll be sufferfest again tomorrow.
Alas I have totally fell off the wagon. Felt a bit weary and run down, general manflu like symptoms. Turns out my blood pressure has sky rocketed. Currently trying to sort it out but the challenge has fell by the wayside. Hopefully get back on track though, just need to introduce something a bit more low-key.
Looks like today might be my first failure. Was all set to head out on the MTB this evening when, alas, call from the wife and her car had broken down. So I've had to go and rescue the kids. Will try and do some sit ups and press ups when I finally get them to bed... but first Fifa 19 🙂
Tp,as you rescued the wife,aren't you owed half an hour of rough sex?I,m single by the way.
but first Fifa 19 🙂
I think you're the first person who's missed a day I've no sympathy for - if you've time to sit playing a computer game where imaginary people exercise, you've got time to do exercise!
Speaking of time, I've realised part of my problem with this year's challenge and how tired I've been feeling is my tardiness. A lot of mine is cycling a long, long way to work (direct is 4 miles, I go at least 13 and up to 30). I keep thinking "tomorrow I'll take it steady" but then set off a bit too late and have to hoon it to get there in time. Weekend of decorating ahead so I'll sneak in two properly gentle half hour rides to recover.
Travelled back from Wales today and wasn’t looking forward to going out. I charged my lights yesterday and just got back from an hour out on the road bike. The challenge is now going to be even tougher for me, getting out in the dark after a day at work has always been hard, going to need some extra motivation if its wet!!
Munrobiker Fifa 19 was with my lad before his bedtime, he doesn't handle change of routines well so was a bit anxious after being stranded in the car. But yes I did fail, tried to work up the enthusiasm for press ups but the sight of my mtb equipment already to go knocked the wind out of my sails.
Monkeycmonkeydo 1/2hour of sex. Jesus those days are long gone 🙂 a couple of minutes and an embarrassed apology is a good showing.
Thursday was a long day....
Been back on it since, blooming knackered at the moment though.
Struggling a bit with a mild chest infection.Mainly just walking and stretching,plus about to do some Yoga.The recent Monsoon conditions seem to have knocked my health/motivation for six.Perhaps, Dr P, if he's still going can give us all advice.Staying healthy in these conditions is a challenge.
Lost about 10 days total due to illness, but enjoying it much more than I thought I would! Done loads of climbing and running, which has really improved the mood 🙂
Climbing and running are things I can only dream about.This challenge has made me realise what a knackered old man I am.I think,nothing short of a new life will galvanise me into real fitness.Perhaps, this adventure will make us all realise our lifestyle shortcomings.To that extent it's a useful exercise.Neil.
I'm realising my own short comings. I think I've started to get the feelings of overtraining. I'll take most of next week off the bike and do some hiking and stuff.
Still on it, had few days biking around Keswick over a long weekend, sadly the day I failed was an ear infection and not a sick bug (Labrythitus) bloody horrible feeling of nausea and vertigo, but only missed one day so tagging it on at the end (Christmas Day 🥳)
I’m realising my own short comings. I think I’ve started to get the feelings of overtraining. I’ll take most of next week off the bike and do some hiking and stuff.
I did 'Marcothon' last year, it's a similar idea to this, run 5k every day in December, and I ended up feeling a bit meh towards the end.
I reckon it would be good for someone who didn't really do much, a wee kick starter, but tbh I ran less that month than I normally did, as I was only ever running 5k to tick the box, none of it quality training such as tempo, zone 2 runs etc, as such I never felt any benefit at the end up.