Well after my cankle mishap there was no MTB yesterday 😭. But we took the boys to the park so did some chins, pulls, dips and rows on the climbing frame (no other people there so didn't look like a total weirdo - or at least no one saw me). Upside is I've informed work I'll be WFH today at least, so can 'grease my groove' to my heart's content. Will be more upper body stuff today and try the elephant leg on a gentle turbo spin tomorrow.
thought it a really good exercise for balance and ankle/calf strength.
And hip stability.
Balance is why I do these on gtg days instead of the power moves of squats or two legged deadlifts. By after lunch, my left side is all over the place unless I concentrate for each rep. But when you are only doing body weight its easier to get the form you want.
Had an amazing couple hours in the fod Sunday morning, real wet and greasy on a lot of the offpiste but so much fun!
Just discovered running local trails with the head torch on, makes my evening runs a little more interesting! Don’t know why I’ve never done it before!
Working over near Abergavenny so might get some hiking in or maybe some welsh riding while I’m over here
Anyone else thought about carrying this on for a year?
What I have learnt so far...
1)My exercise choices are somewhat limited.
2)Proper diet and sleep are essential for anything more demanding than walking.
3)Getting a low level illness in the middle of this challenge is very unpleasant.
4)I found last years Monsoon less difficult to deal with than never ending lockdown.
5)If you can manage to exercise everyday,it makes you a nicer person.
6)I must try to be more like munroe and less like a grumpy chimp!
P.S outdoor gym work seems to be my winter exercise of choice.What have you all learned?
Ironically exercise often makes me grumpier just for being tired. But I've had a low level / background illness that hasn't helped. Just got to find the balance that doesn't tip me into being too much a grump.
Did 22 miles on the road today to drop off some beers with a pal. Threatened to be too wet and cold at one point, got to get used to wearing more.
Anyone else thought about carrying this on for a year?
It's crossed my mind recently.
What have you all learned?
That getting up off my butt is a lot easier than I thought, especially when I mix up the exercise types.
Edit - and Yoga gets you out a hole when you really need a rest!
Edit Edit - Beginner Yoga that is!
Anyone else thought about carrying this on for a year?
I was thinking about carrying on for 100 days from the 1st Jan. I've quite enjoyed the motivation I have from just wanting to be part of this. So if anyone else wants to keep going...
What have you all learned?
I've been enjoying Zwift a lot. I found out that doing hundreds of KB swings a day wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. And that I really enjoy dancing with my son to various baggy classics on days when I need a bit more chilled exercise. I've missed a few work outs (6 I think, maybe 7) but I have been feeling a little fitter. Started to see some weight loss today, but I'd already around 9kg over the summer coming into this, so I wasn't expecting a huge change. I'm going to start getting Mrs.10 to do some yoga with me, I think we'll try the beginners yoga with Kassandra based on this thread. Also there's a very limited chance of me doing the GtG stuff properly, but I may have a crack at seeing how many push-ups I can manage in a day.
At this point regarding carrying on, I'm uncertain. A few days ago I was thinking no, I'd like to have maybe 1 day off a week (or 1 off every 10 days) to just relax and not stress about squeezing in some exercise.
Think the biggest thing I've learnt which has surprised me is that aches and pains sometimes are better off with more exercise (of the right type) than less. This has mainly been the case with upper bodyweight strength training - which I've been doing very inconsistently over the years - but I've found that those aches in my shoulders I sometimes get from hopping about too much on the trials bike are (sometimes) pretty much waved goodbye to after strength training which strongly activate the shoulders and surrounding areas.
The next biggest thing would be doing less exercise but more frequently is better for me, especially if there's any sort of skill involved. Doing the grease the groove thing the other day cemented this idea and opened up new ideas for me to exercise. For my trials riding, the less but more frequently approach is definitely the way forward for the foreseeable. "If we train to failure we train to fail!" so they say.
Half hour hop about this afternoon lunch break. This evening a warm up with various planks then got the gymnastic rings out for more planks, and various other straight-arm holds, along with a few rows, very basic stuff, but felt good after. Was nice to not get the heart pumping hard nor any difficult pulling or pushing efforts.
I’ve learnt that leaving the house is the hardest part. Once I’m out and running/riding I always come home feeling better for it. I walk the dogs for an hour a day generally as a minimum so I guess I sort of do it already. That’s sort of why I brought in my has to be recordable on Strava to count rule (hike/run/ride). Just makes it feel more effort than my baseline.
I have also toyed with running everyday for a year, maybe not full on but a mile minimum or something
Had a running night last night. 2km warmup them pb on 5k at 20.20, very happy with that but 20 seconds less would make me super happy! Then ran a 3km warm down. But achy today from going hard though!
I’ve learnt having not been able to do anything for 2 weeks, I really miss it. Only doing 15-20 min walks at the moment as COVID has left the tank empty, so my ability to complete this wasn’t as good as I initially hoped.
7)Weight training turns you into a glutton.
GtG for anyone today? large movement mobility for me.
Burpee variations - planked, press up, splayed, arched.
Plank with rotational twist / thread the needle
Forward / backward rolls, cartwheels
etc...
40-60s per set. 4 sets per hour.
Go!
Anyone else thought about carrying this on for a year?
Yes, whilst I continue to WFH it's become an important part of the routine. I am looking for another target to focus on though.
I couldn't leave the house yesterday again - bowel issues - so it was another session with Kaddandra.
As regards carrying on, I checked my Veloviewer stats for 2019 and it turns out I recorded activities on 217 days. That's 4 days a week and feels like a good balance given that I was doing many much longer rides and there has to be recovery time in there too. I guess the yoga might feature in 2021 though so that has added something to the mix.
Seeing as @scotroutes has failed to provide the usual photos, here are some from my run today. We went up Mt. Abantos, which overlooks The Escorial - better known for the immense palace built by Philip II of Spain (he of the Spanish Armada):
There was an icy wind at the top, but back below the treeline it was fine, and the descent was one of the most fun ones I've done this year. Great stuff, and a welcome return to normality after being in lockdown for the past 4 weeks.
Similar to mogrim, two hours solid housework and a brisk fetch and carry to Aldi's and back.I am going to get out on my bike tomorrow if it's the last thing I do.
Sorry @mogrim. Having been confined to quarters this past couple of days there wasn't much worth photographing. 🙂
Made it out tonight despite not being 100%. It might have been a bit wet but it was nice to be out for a wee run. Did a relaxed 6km.
Now that's what I call a Xmas tree!
Urban Aviemore
Sorry @mogrim. Having been confined to quarters this past couple of days there wasn’t much worth photographing.
Apology accepted 😀 And the edging on the Aviemore platform roofs is so quintessentially British I feel it demands a round of applause.
Hey Mogrim, I've run some of those trails, was there for a conference about 4 years ago, the palace and cathedral are amazing, especially where all the Bourbons are dunked in the mausoleum/mortuary thing. Never got to the top of the hill though. Will definitely go back and take the family someday, loved it. (Can you ride those trails?)
30 MIN ankle rehab twiddle on the turbo tonight and hit 10 chins on the bar for the first time in a while!
Not too bad really, looks like an obese aubergine but not really painful, bit tender at the extremes of movement, totally fine on the turbo. Been lucky I guess. Just going to take it easy this week and try some different stuff.
^Should you not get that ankle xrayed?
Another Loch day. Air temp 2.5C, water temp 3C (according to ducky). That means it's actually warmer in the water, right?
Calm on arrival
All happy before going in
The walk of pain
Ran today. Why does it not get any easier??!
Jesus wept @scotroutes that looks 'somewhat invigorating'. Have they dropped back into sight yet?
Did 30 mins of circuits designed not to aggravate the ankle. The spare room was warmer than a Highland loch slush puppy, I'm happy to say.
@thestabiliser they say that your body gradually acclimatises. That certainly seems to be the case. I didn't imagine 12 months ago that I'd be walking through slush to get into a loch. Water temperatures continue to drop over the next few months so it's likely I'll be needing an ice axe or sledgehammer to get in soon.
Ran today. Why does it not get any easier??!
It never gets easier, you just go faster.
Trust me.
Hey Mogrim, I’ve run some of those trails, was there for a conference about 4 years ago, the palace and cathedral are amazing, especially where all the Bourbons are dunked in the mausoleum/mortuary thing. Never got to the top of the hill though. Will definitely go back and take the family someday, loved it. (Can you ride those trails?)
@thestabiliser you can ride this mountain - further along the range it turns into a national park and you're only allowed to ride on the fireroads. We saw quite a few bikes while we out.
Last night I was able to train again with my tri club after 4 weeks enforced absence. Suffered a bit on the swim, but fortunately the pool was a lot warmer than that loch 😀
It never gets easier, you just go faster.
Trust me.
I'm getting slower! No really... I need to go run up some hills for proper pain and hopefully gain.
Not tonight tho, a night ride is on the cards.
A all day zoom workshop meant that I'd disappear from my screen for 30s at a time to do my pull-ups. Rang the 100 bell by 330.
After work I jumped on the bike and did 10 hill sprints. 20s ish each.
The one thing with GtG is you never get warm enough to sweat so it's probably rubbish for any kind of weight loss. Each set does get the heart rate up momentary - I wonder what effect on 2 hour ride fitness that has?
I've been for a hop about on the street trials bike every lunch time this week, and then this evening for the 5th ride hopping about. In terms of normal cycling it's nothing, 13 miles total from 5 rides this week, and only 35-45 minutes each time but my elbows & shoulders are feeling in need of recuperation, so will give that a break tomorrow and over the weekend. Not easy on feet either as flexible soles (currently 510 Freeriders) needed for feedback otherwise it feels a bit like riding hopping blind.
It's been a week of Zwift. Varying between an hour and two each evening. Mini 10 has been riding next to me watching disney. Which has been nice. No exciting photos of my basement unfortunately.
A mix of 10k runs, turbo and jumping about the kitchen this week. Not lost any weight for a while but still feeling fitter.
Has ahsat rejoined us yet?How is she keeping?
Myself a 5 mile hike along the tees followed by some weights.Cycling yesterday didn't take to much out of me,so I must be getting stronger.Some sunshine, would be nice however.
My, err, digestive problems continue. I headed out for a ride yesterday afternoon, managed 17km at a lacklustre pace, then dozed for 90 minutes when I got home. I never nap during the day so I'm putting it down to my illness.
Tonight was another yoga session with Kaddandra. I'm getting the hang of it now, able to follow most of the instructions without needing to see the screen and getting a bit more fluid between poses.
Keep it up folks. Just two weeks to go!
My favourite Yoga pose is shavasana!
Just tried this and thought it was quite good. No shavasana so I added my own (fell asleep!)
20km for me running/walking up a local mountain. Gale force winds made it interesting, and while I'm sure the amount of water about wouldn't shock a UK resident, it was very impressive for central Spain. Also made the mistake of going with 4 guys who are a lot faster than me, so suffered a fair bit 🙂
Road bike tomorrow.
Out on the bike again for a wet, muddy (and very atmospheric) ride round Rothiemurchus. Not fast, but I was only slow because I wanted to be, so feeling much better than Thursday.
I noticed that the outflow of Loch an Eilean had been partially blocked by a big log which meant that the water was damaging the path and managed to track down one of the local Rangers to report it.
Choo Choo!
Been bouldering today indoors. Wasn't a proper sesh because I was with the girl, but did enough circuits that I'll feel it tmrow. Going to do that cyclist yoga just to round off.
Whoop whoop, I’ve got a race tomorrow. A hastily planned half marathon on a horrible, muddy course.
It’s not a course for a PB but we’ll have a crack nonetheless.
A torn bicep almost put me out of the game and coupled with some rough weather this has been the most challenging week so far. Dr advised to rest my arm so I have been using the static bike to keep up with my daily fix. Really dislike indoor cycling so yesterday decided I would get out on the road bike, my arm felt a bit stronger and I was out for a couple of hours with no issues. Decided to get out again this morning and after about an hour got a puncture. Sealant spraying everywhere, a nice 5mm slice in almost the sidewall of the tyre. Tried an anchovy which worked for about 16 miles leaving me a 5 mile walk home in the rain. It’s the one and only ride in a very long time that I’ve regretted going out! In reply to a question further back in the thread about carrying on the challenge into the new year, well that is what I did last year and now try to exercise for an hour every day. It’s really important to listen to your body and make sure you take it easy when you’re not feeling great. I’ve also had to work into my routine time for stretching and using my foam roller. It’s totally doable and I feel much better and happier for it. Keep going everyone, not long to go.
Recovery continues. Another 25km today, down at the coast for a change, and didn't feel knackered
Scotroutes,your recovery is my idea of a big day out!
After last weeks hiking,cycling and weights I had fail yesterday.I really need one day of a week it seems.On the plus side,the weather looks like improving this week.
Yoga today. Bike tomorrow. Lying here listening to it hosing down outside.
