A bit of an update, I’ve been working late because I have a couple of jobs that I promised would be finished before Christmas!
Jnr came back home from Uni last Wednesday and we have run every day since. Its the most I have ever done in my lifetime as I have always been a cyclist. This feels like a bit of an achievement for me and wouldn’t have happened if not for the challenge.
edit , just seen your photo’s @scotroutes, beautiful!
First VO2 max session in almost 20 years. Completed on Rouvy... and not as bad as I expected!
Easy day tomorrow (walk and weights) and then the Velo29 York sportive on Saturday 🙂
Lazier day today - Garmin had me at 72 hours recovery time after the last couple of days exertions 🙂
I had to pop into town to drop something at the Post Office so took the opportunity to walk it instead of drive. Followed that up with 50 mins easy on the treadmill for Marcothon Day 12.
Gym again for me tonight. Had a bit of a scare this morning, when the local leisure centre closed due to a power outage. Fortunately they got it back up and running in the afternoon.
To be honest though I'm kind of at the point where I want to do some exercise rather than need to some exercise....I'm not giving up but I'm not getting to do fun things so it's getting a little bit tedious. I am enjoying running and getting better, but the weather isn't helping me run outside, and I haven't ridden a bike outside for weeks....
Day 89: Definitely not feeling as sparky as I had been. 43km gravel lap before breakfast was a bit slow and lazy.
Couple of big driving days ahead as we're going camping, so it might make things a bit tricky, probably some walking coming up.
Garmin had me at 72 hours recovery time after the last couple of days exertions
I love some of this Garmin stuff @scotroutes 🙂
My main riding mate is an Adventure racer. She told me once about being three days through a 600km 7-day Godzone race in NZ when her watch beeped at 3am to tell her she'd completed her steps for the day and needed to rest for x hours!
Had a bit of a scare this morning, when the local leisure centre closed due to a power outage
Had that last night. 10 mins into a treadmill run and out went the power. National Grid promised it'd be back 3 hours later so we went to the pub! Had already done my 30 mins + bonus Yoga session following the one posted above (good that, bit different, will do again)
Treadmill again this morning. Going to do a 5k test next week. Looks like I'm on track for around 26:30 (1 deg incline). Be happy with that. As my wife is now using her Garmin for couch to 5k, I'm going to try the coaching part of the app as well. Set myself a target of 56 mins for a 10km by spring and see if I can run that outside.
5k run at lunchtime today. Was rubbish though as I got a pain in my right leg after about 500m!, nearly gave up and waked home, but carried on and stopped to stretch a couple of times and got through it. Bit gutted though as I thought I'd be faster after all the treadmill work I'd been putting in at the gym.....
An intervals session on the Speyside Way for my daily run. Useful to check LTHR too.
And then 90 minutes in the turbo - in virtual Canada doing the Icefields Parkway in the Rockies. Brought back some great memories of driving there 20 years ago.
Day 90: Tried a run again but my lower left calf immediately said no which was annoying as it's been feeling fine. Did a steep walk in the nature refuge instead.
Oh that sounds awful 🙁
Had a decent all day ride yesterday. Always good to crack the 50km ridden/1000m climbed. Great conditions as well.
Riding back into town today to fetch my car as tucked into a few post-ride beers last night. Really should do some Yoga as a bit stiff after a bit ride, but may go for a sofa based "Power Nap" instead. 9 days left? Defo going to miss this challenge.
No rain today so out on the road bike with a few people.
Did swimming on thursday, but not lots. Friday was just a bunch of walking around. Today and yesterday I have done nothing. No bike, no walking.
Tomorrow: Bike again
Easy Z2/recovery ride with the Mrs.
Included a superb cake and coffee shop. Actually, visiting that shop was the focus of the ride!
Day 91
Out for a run to complete todays Marcothon. Temperatures have rocketed overnight (double figures!!!) so no ice around.
I did see the Santa Express though.
I also added an hour of turbo work, riding virtual Canada again.
@Alex - the challenge is only over if you want it to be. You could use it as a springboard to something even longer...
Just yoga after driving home today. Feeling very tired but hopefully a good night's sleep in my own bed will tee up for a strong final 10 days. I can feel possible lurgy coming on though, perhaps why I'm so tired.
I remember from doing this before, the balancing act of keeping up the challenge, plus Christmas do's, plus general business and short days - feels hard to stay healthy just now.
Yesterday, after a run first thing, in the afternoon,I completed my first ride for over a week. After having a little break, felt great to be pedalling again and when I got home I felt so much better! It proves that when it comes down to it, cycling is my passion.
Another ride today, first on the single speed for some time and it felt nice to just hose the mud off and forget about it!
Work wise, I’m on the wind down now with just a couple of little jobs for friends this week so I’m hoping to find some time to get a few miles in. Just hoping the weather plays nicely!
Still hanging in, weekend out on the bike with first Innerleithen uplift in a long time (definitely counts, legs were tired!) and a nice easy, longish pedal yesterday. Under 10% left now but also thinking how to kick on into the next challenge and whether Christmas day should be a day off or not!
@scotroutes - that's impressive. Something to aim for maybe, but I'm not going to beat myself up if I have a few days off.
@reeksy - 117 days. I reckon that's doable 🙂
Sacked off the Inbox this morning after looking out of the window and seeing all that blue sky. Definitely the right decision 🙂
Haven't posted for a while but I have been trucking on. I missed three days due to illness. Had some cracking rides, and have started to do some really hard stuff and am feeling fitter for it.
I was pondering how much time I spend exercising over the course of the challenge. So far I'm up to 150 hours this year, obviously with a few more days left.
Day 92 - yoga and weights in my gym earlier, then out tonight with the running club.
I've developed a bit of a "niggle" in my lower left leg. It might be related to this 5k per day thing that I'm doing. I had a similar thing last year when I suddenly upped my running distance and was resolved with the use of calf compression sleeves so I'll be digging them out again.
Yesterday was a trial- after that long hike with the mutts, energy state appeared to be zero and even 30 mins easy Yoga felt hard work.
Run, Turbo and Yoga today. Trying for three different exercises every day until the 100 are up.
