Out for a walk with the Missus today. It's still very cold (minus 6C overnight) with the the result being the lochs are well frozen. So, took this opportunity to visit a castle on an island.
Road bike today, in hindsight merrily ignoring the road close sign and going through the flood wasn't the best idea but I'm here typing this now (feet got soaked, it was quite deep...) - wouldn't do it again I think.
No motivation today at all but had a turbo session booked in by Garmin so forced myself to do it. Actually enjoyed it a bit once I got going and feeling much fitter than I was two weeks ago so got to be happy.
Just trying to build the strength and confidence to go out on the road. Been a long long time since I actually went on tarmac.
Half marathon to finish January yesterday on 303km.
Gentle 6k recovery this morning.
10.3km jog (lead legs!) with a buddy. Age! Aaargh.
Another dip in the Feshie this morning. Some ice on the river and a bloody cold breeze.
Quick turbo session today as part of my Garmin plan thingy. Certainly doing the trick in just getting the legs moving again and slowly building up the power. Have a 50k ride planned for the weekend though so will be interesting to see how I cope with that.
Progress definitely being made though. Here is a comparison on two identical workouts (3x 5 min reps in power zone 4 with 1 min zone two rest) and my HR is so much lower today just one week later. Quite pleased with that 🙂
I've lost grip on this challenge during lockdown. Without lunchtimes to go at I haven't the energy or motivation for so many evening workouts. Schools hopefully back in 3 weeks so will tick over until then.
That said, went running on Sunday in the snowy hills, plus yoga, and some physio exercises yesterday and tonight. Can't guarantee 30 mins a day though.
Jimmy, look up Corpse Pose for yoga - great for padding out a session when needed 😉
Two+ hours on the road bike today, heading north which is not AS flooded. At one point a crow was flying at eye level in the same direction as me, other side of the road, so I was up with the birds for that short moment!
Just been out in the sleet / snow which got increasingly thick into the Pentlands to the point we had to turn back... Then realised we'd had a tail wind and the reversed headwind was like mini ice spears to the face all the way back.
Then realised we’d had a tail wind and the reversed headwind was like mini ice spears to the face all the way back.
Ouch!
Went for the we'd night mental well-being ride. Got 300m short of the trig point but it was hike a bike with bike on shoulders in knee deep wet snow. So turned for home 9km in total but full body workout.
This is all very impressive, people out in blizzards and snowdrifts... I can offer a 3 1/2 mile jog in fog this morning, without gloves or hat (THAT mild). Snowdrops are in full bloom and daffs are starting to come out now.
LOL. I had another yoga session last night. I'm definitely getting a bit more flexible so that seems to be working. I also bought a smart turbo yesterday so hope to have that up and running by the weekend for another option.
Steady tempo threshold intervals yesterday but have felt for a few days my FTP was set a little low as I have been finding the last few turbo sessions a bit on the easy side. However wanted to be sensible at first so just used Garmin's estimate to begin with.
Giving Today's Plan a go as I like the way it builds workout plans for you and started off today with an FTP test. Nudged it from 1.32 to 1.65 W/kg which I know is not much but it's progress for sure. Also I suspect I may have had a little in the tank but it's so long since I've done one that I have lost the knack of judging the effort but still, it's a base to build on for sure :).
Most importantly I am still on the wagon and feeling pretty good. Just need to keep the balance between steady sessions and pushing it and hopefully I'll make the 90 days way fitter than I started.
Yeah today's turbo session was tough did not have a good 45mins. Tomorrow will be active recovery ride with a TRX session and some yoga.
A beautiful day here meant that I was determined to get out for an hour after work. Driving home it starts to rain, not heavy so I’m still going. Ten minutes in it starts raining really hard until I ride back into the village about an hour later. Absolutely drenched but strangely buzzing from getting out.
Sandboy that's the stuff that really makes you feel alive!
2 1/2 hours out with a buddy this morning going up and down the local hills, deliberately, to keep us warm!
Still at 100% although have come very close to failing a few times now. Today is one of those days too as I know I have to do a training session on Zwift but it's a low cadence drill session, sub-50 rpm blocks! I tried pedalling that slowly yesterday on my warm-down and it was incredibly hard to generate any power reliably. Will give it a go but I don't see me doing well at it.
Ten minutes in it starts raining really hard until I ride back into the village about an hour later. Absolutely drenched but strangely buzzing from getting out.
Normally that's my mentality at this time of year, out in all weathers and loving the buzz as I hit the shower to warm up afterwards. Not this year though, only been out on the bike in the real world twice this year! Zwift is filling the gaps and I'm actually much fitter for it but it has come at a price of my hardiness in poor weather.
Lunchtime 5k with my lad
New PB for him 25:29
Pretty good for a 10 year old
it was incredibly hard to generate any power reliably.
I had this today and it's not often I find myself wishing for a true smart turbo but today was one of them. Likewise a slight twitch of the pedals and I am over cadence and over power, back off and the power drops too low. I settled for just living with the fact that I span at a higher cadence than strictly prescribed but still much lower than I would normally ride at.
Well I have surpassed my own expectations the last couple of days. Yesterday was 90 mins on the turbo and then a 5.5k run and today I've done a 2hr 20min turbo session which is easily my longest yet.
Sure, the tedium did kick it at times but I am lucky enough to have a TV and Netflix in the garage so that helped a lot. But, I have been given a training plan and that plan calls for some long turbo sessions so I'm just going to stick with it for now and see how much I can improve.
It's a low starting base for sure but at least that means I should see gains quite quickly 🙂
Nearly missed it yesterday, got out at 11.15 for a run.
Walk today - not v exciting but there you go.
Still going.
Thursday was a bike ride. Melt has made some of the snow very soft and hard going. Luckily, I found a quad bike track to follow and that gave me the opportunity to check out a bivvy site for later this month.
The ducks know to hassle you for food. This time they got a nice nut/fruit bar I chewed into small bits for them.
Friday was a walk up the River Dulnain. Pretty tough going in places as the snow is so soft. Bonny though.
Saturday was made up of various small Elite and Zwift sessions, getting my new trainer calibrated and connected and finding out about Zwift.
Like the action shot of all the ducks heading towards you at top speed!
Run today - there's a local virtual race series of which #1 (by end Feb) is a 30 mins time trial. Well I thought I'd give it a go before joining my friend for a jog, but in the way of things my morning commune with nature took too long so it ended up a 20 mins time trial. Which is just as well as I had to sit down on the kerb for a min or two to recover before continuing!
Good news - I actually managed 9:15 m/m pace average - let us put aside the memory of being able to go faster than that for a marathon, a decade ago and 10kg lighter...
The run after that was a scratch over walking pace though!
Had a cycle too as some COVID-suffering friends needed paracetamol so I got to whizz round Poundland and superdrug (in and out as fast as I could, shops seem to be where people are getting it) and drop it off on their doorstep. Nice to feel useful.
Just back from a very windy and cold road ride. In hindsight it would have probably been better to do an hour on the spin bike again but as I did 90 minutes yesterday due to the non stop rain I was determined to have a ride out.
No snow yet but it’s definitely cold enough, now sitting by the fire thawing out my feet!! If we get the snow we’re forecast it will be nice to get out on the fatty tomorrow.
Another 2+ hours on the turbo. By my standards I actually felt strong so something is clicking. Also enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Couldn't feel my toes afterward though it's that cold in the garage. My have to seriously consider overshoes even for turbo sessions!
A week of turbo sessions this week from a Garmin training plan. Only one run so need to up my game a bit on that as I’m trying to do 25k a week.
Couple of hours out on the fatbike with a stop for a coffee and black pudding roll. Snow was hard work. Not deep but very icy in paces, needing constant care, and very trodden in others so a real "boneshaker". I've been really glad of the suspension forks in these conditions.
My have to seriously consider overshoes even for turbo sessions!
Had mine on for the past couple of months, feel a bit of a **** but at least one with warm feet... 🙂
Good run yesterday, 28km in the hills near here. Today, however, it all went wrong - I managed 1km of a planned 15km run when I suddenly got a nasty shooting pain in my left calf. For once I did the sensible thing and stopped, rather than carrying on and ending up with a proper injury. Hopefully it'll be nothing, fingers crossed. Went home, had a shower, and went for a half hour walk with the wife to keep the streak going.
Went for an easy run yesterday to wake the legs up for a bigger run today. Instead woke up with a sore back and my running partner bailed out, so just took the bike round semi-frozen local trails. Which was nice!
I'm missing not having run up a hill, though 🙁
What's the white stuff? 15 mile walk through the Great Park yesterday - had to remove my coat. And 8 miles today. Pace is down though at just under 4 mph 🙁 Probably time to get back on the two-wheeled horse properly. I managed to walk over 60 km last week.
Today was my day 69, as I started on 1st Dec. Legs felt heavy after back to back slushy slogs, but with a freeze on the ground it was much easier today. I should have used a bike with spikes, so tomorrow’s project will be putting gears and spikes on the singlespeed as a temporary change.
In awe of people going out on bikes! Unless it's above about 3°CI just can't keep any warm enough. Sadly I have old crappy knees so I can't just run every day (I used to). So it was 45 mins walk in a snow shower today with extra resistance (literally) provided by the dog, who is over 30kg and wanted to turn around the moment he'd "lightened the load". But if you let him do that you regret it later!
7! miles! Jog! Yesterday
And today
Put on all.the.clothes and did an hour pottering round [what's not flooded] for an hour in the (cold) sun. Kept feeling in extremities. A great triumph.
Had a quite literally brilliant (bright, clear and crisp) run this morning around the local golf course.
I had first track through the snow down the 7th fairway... felt like snowboarding !!
Hit a couple of the little hill/bump features around the greens..... A BS 180 here, a half cab there.
So much fun, got a silly smile on my face just think about it again.
Happy Days
Last 3 days I’ve been out on the fatty in the snow/slush. This morning it snowed heavily for about an hour so took advantage of being on homeschool duty went out for a couple of hours once the kids were settled. Really bright sunshine, still freezing with fresh snow and loads of wildlife along the river bank. One of those rides where you’re really glad you took your chance!
Still on it - turbo session Mon and Tues and now my training plan has called for a couple of rest days which I have very much been looking forward to. So took the dogs for a lumpy, snowy walk round Greno Woods today and will take them on a steady flat walk tomorrow before the turbo sessions resume.
Yoga yesterday, snow shoveling today, skiing tmrow.
^^ said skiing
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Loving the snowy Scottish pics - not so much of it round our way (Surrey Hills). Started off the year with the goal of riding every day in Jan and this thread has inspired me to carry on. Now on day 42 and mostly out early before the kids home schooling starts.
Happy to report the problem I had with my left leg doesn't seem to have lasted - did a decent run last night (and a tough swim after), and another half hour today and all seems well. A bit odd, but I'm just hoping it was "one of those things", and nothing of any real importance.
+1 old keep the snow pix coming!
3+ mi jog first thing this morning, v heartening that when we started, the sun was rising as I came home, but this week the sun was rising as I headed out...
I've failed this challenge dismally, having really struggled to get motivated during lockdown but I have at least got back on the horse this week, so to speak. I now have a couple of dumbbells, a kettlebell and some TRS straps. this was today's workout;
Superset; TRS pull-ups & Step-ups 12KG 3 x 10 no rest
TRS Plank 30s no rest
TRS Knee Tucks 5x10 30s rest
Superset; Dumbbell Squat Thrusters 7.5KG & Kettlebell Swings 12KG 5 x 10 no rest
Superset; Step-ups 12kg & Dumbbell Curls 7.5KG 5x20 no rest
Superset: Kettlebell Squats 12KG & Triceps Extension 7.5KG 5x10 no rest
Push-ups 5x10 30s rest
Superset; Crunch & Mountain Climbers 3x20 no rest
My last workout was Sunday but I got really bad DOMS and I've been walking like I've shit myself for the last couple of days.
That sounds like it WOULD give you DOMS - worth it long-term tho no?
Too **** cold for cycling, went out for a hike round the local hills & woods with my Friday bike buddy instead - returned after 3h with dry feet which was a pleasant surprise!
worth it long-term tho no?
I bloody hope so! I was in the gym every day I didn't ride my bike before this lockdown and it's amazing how fast my strength dropped off in a matter of weeks. Coming back now though.
this is today's workout; a little bit more in a bit less time. Working hard or hardly working?
Superset; TRS pull-ups & Step-ups 12KG 3 x 10 no rest
TRS Plank 30s no rest
TRS Knee Tucks 2x25 30s rest
Superset; Dumbbell Squat Thrusters 7.5KG & Kettlebell Swings 12KG 5 x 12 no rest
Superset; Step-ups 12kg & Dumbbell Curls 7.5KG 5x20 no rest
Superset: Kettlebell Squats 12KG & Triceps Extension 7.5KG 5x10 no rest
Push-ups 5x10 30s rest
Superset; Crunch & Mountain Climbers 4x20 no rest
Another walk today in the cold - at least the towpath ain't flooded any more so we can walk by the river. Though the path is parallel to a railway line, so we were looking mournfully at the trains (all empty) whizzing past and wishing we were going somewhere...
I wasn't consciously joining in with this, but I'm on a running training plan as of mid December and have been doing yoga on my rest days anyway, so without really intending to be, I'm in. I've not been covering as much distance in recent months as I'm riding less and running and walking more, but I'm still over 400km covered since Jan 1st - nearly double what I did in the first 6 weeks of last year.
Mainly turbo sessions again this week but I did manage an 11k run after discovering my local shared use path has been completely cleared of snow unlike the pavements round my house!
The last few days I’ve been doing sessions on the spin bike, way too cold to be riding outside!! Out at the woods with the dogs yesterday and the trails have frozen and look like they will be fast to ride so hoping to get out later for an hour or so.
30 mins (running) TT for a local virtual race series and managed to get just over 5k, which is not breaking any records, but last June when I got back to running after a parcel of foot problems, an (admittedly hillier) 5k took me 37+ mins, so I'll take that!
Once in the woods and out of the wind it was great, every trail had been freeze dried and riding nice and quickly. The 10 minutes on the road there and back was brutal, icy wind that cut through you and not pleasant at all but still pleased for getting out. Looking forward to milder temps next week.
Not looking forward to milder temps at all - trails are lovely at the moment with all the slop frozen. Came back from the ride today with dust on the stanchions.
Ran 10k on snow covered trails this morning. Compact enough to be firm with a little bit of give so was like running on a gym mat. Melting quickly though.
Halfway now. So far, so good.
Already? Crikey
Half way and still in. Not a lot of riding, but plenty of walking and the odd rowing session. Quite fancy faster jogging rather than fast walking, but nowhere to buy shoes without trying first. And I have stick thin feet!
Well TiRed you know what, you're right not to just chance it.
Ask me how I know that you can get plantar fascitis by running 5k in random shoes....
Anyway it's warmed up here THANK MALLARD so out on the road bike for a decent ride (couple of hours). Saw ponies and a black llama!
Pleased with the last couple of days. Mrs D was working yesterday so managed to at least sneak in a 30 minute turbo session so did an ad hoc FTP test and got my FTP up from 1.6ish to 1.93 ish.
Today was a rare full day in the office so by the time I got home I really couldn’t be arsed but still did my scheduled SST session but of course the 30 SST reps were now based on my new FTP from yesterday so it hurt and bit and I had to dig deep to finish.
But I did it and can now sink into a nice deep hot bath and treat myself to an early night 🙂
Roll on the rest of the week...
Oh and Saturday I managed to grudgingly get through a 2hr 20min session as well. Can’t wait for the weather to improve so I can start doing the longer rides n the road.
Got home from work and went straight out for an hour on the road bike. 11 degrees and the nights are really starting to pull out which is great motivation. Spring is on the way!
It's great isn't it sandboy. Out running today NO hat NO gloves jacket off after ten minutes and just the short sleeved t-shirt, and it wasn't as if we were going fast! It was 12.5km plodding with stops for the slightest excuse, but it's the furthest I've been in 14+ months (maybe longer).
Snowdrops everywhere!
Walk today, 8 1/2 miles in the rain, now v v peckish....
Really pleased with today. Was feeling good in a run so decided to just keep going and clocked in at 10.8 non-stop running and then another 1/2k cool down. Furthest I've ever run and did the 10k in 16 seconds over the hour. Bit frustrated that I didn't get a sub-1hr in but more than happy with the distance 🙂
Then to top it off I did 1hr 10 mins on the turbo as had a session in my calendar booked in.
Rest day tomorrow so will do a gentle walk and maybe some stretches/yoga-lite and then at the weekend hoping to actually get out on the road with the bike
Just been out for the weekly night ride. There was a hint of light still in the sky at 6pm. And then had a tailwind for the first few miles. That's about where the fun stopped, apart from a wee dram and a chat at the top of the hill. Muddy trails and boggy fields in the dark have finally worn thin, it's time for Spring now please.
Just come back from a 5k jog with a mate - to find the dog considerately keeping my side of the bed warm for me 😉
I'll confess, I've taken a total rest day today. Yesterday took it out of me and I have various aches and twinges. A gentle dog walk would have been ideal however Mrs D has been on a 12 hour shift so I've been in charge of FBG.
Hopefully the exercise gods will forgive me as my daily average is way above 30 mins and I'm back on it tomorrow 🙂
Cycle and a takeaway coffee (drunk v v briskly due to icy wind!) - keeping up the exercise and sensible eating but sometimes I could murder a 🍛 a 🍷and a 🍰 or 🍧. Tell myself I could have them all now but then I'd have to explain to my crumbling knee why I'd been so selfish, soooo I have a bunch of grapes and a cup of tea instead....
I've just had a big bowl of ice cream, taking one for the team 😀
When I digest it a bit more I'll head out for an easy 10K run. Bike tomorrow, another run on Sunday. At least that's the plan.
Cheers mogrim, bizarrely it does make it better thinking that at least SOMEONE is eating the ice-cream!
Slow jog (thank god) with my weekend running buddy - who is getting jabbed later, so is busy doing ALL THE WEEKEND THINGS beforehand just in case...
Dog walk for 3.5 miles today (i.e. turned round when the dog dug his feet in and refused to go on). It was undulating though so I certainly feel exercised!
If the weather forecast holds I can go out for a ride tomorrow afternoon...
Does a walk with the kids count?
@didnthurt - I've counted mine 🙂
Long-ish dog walk yesterday and 50+ km road ride today which was utterly fantastic. First road ride in 2 years or so. VO2max up a smidge and FTP above 2W/kg for the first time every (2.12 if we're being picky).
Struggled for motivation a bit last 10 days or so and glad I've stuck at it 🙂
Well if that's the case it'll be a scoosh to do 😉
It's much easier to exercise everyday when the gyms and pools are open and the the days get longer IME.
I've got the Pacer app which works even in the background, it's pretty scary how few steps I do during the day at work 😬
@didnthurt certainly.
I have not yet resorted to a single DownFace Dog, 2 bicep curls and 29 mins of Corpse Pose but I have that in my back pocket just in case!
Does a walk with the kids count?
Double.
10k run this morning. Trying not to snooze this afternoon.
52 rides in now and feeling so much better for it. The lad has been out with me the last 9 days during half term which I’m really happy about. Definitely feels like spring is on its way 🙂
So at the start of lockdown I decided I was going to come out of it fitter....
I was doing the MTB fitness plan that was really good, got to week 7 and Christmas and after that all I’ve been doing is the occasional push-ups.
Just totally stopped.... there always seems to be something to do now. Finish work, cook tea, there’s ALWAYS lots of pots to wash as we do Gousto that just makes Loads of pots!! Do house DIY research, fix bike, tidy garage, or go for a ride or just rest because I feel I need it. So I am exercising as try to go for a walk occasionally before work, or the occasional ride, and we are doing a doer-upper house too but the strength work has just stopped.
Now mentally I’m feeling good, I’m happy and I think having a new house to move into that needed lots of work has helped and I know this is all happening for the right reasons, sticking to the rules by the book as my missus does 13 hour shifts in X-ray so gives me an accurate picture of how things are...
Also I work in IT and working remotely so finding myself spending longer at the laptop than I would if I was in an office, and I’m pretty whacked by the end of the day which I think is caused by the above as it’s all mental the work.
But the strength work is the one thing that I don’t seem to be able to get a pattern with...
I did have some time yesterday, so I fixed the CCTV.... I’m my own worst enemy 😆
Went for a ride with a buddy this afternoon - sunny and beautiful but still chilly!
Need to get off arse tho and do some "should" stuff.
Am another one who "should" do weights but tends not to unless the weather is unspeakably foul.