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just join in, you can keep going until Jan 16th to make up for it
I will do once we’re all well. House of the living dead right now!
Struggled for time today, I always go meet the Mrs after her 13hr shift at hospital, the walk home does her good to get stuff off her chest.
Went out for 10 miles on the ebike and met her as I was done, just flying about urban trails n stuff, hammering into headwinds along the coastal path, magic.
Just squeezed in another 32 minutes on the trials bike between rain showers this afternoon, with my 2yo spotter again on his balance bike, seem to have trained him quite well to stay well away from me when hopping about. I always feel like I have to quantify the amount of work involved in a 0.23 mile bike ride at an average speed of 1.8mph, but heh.
Oh and same yesterday too.
An hour on Zwift just done. I got a wobble board today so was keen to try it out. First impressions are favourable but I'll hold off any review until I've done a longer spin on it.
What on earth is a wobble board?Never come across one of those.
Checked out some new trails today. Was reminiscent of riding in the UK. A trail through a field, not far from a housing development. Kind of reminded me of a trail I used to ride near Barming.
Thursday and Friday are my days off but as I’ve got a big ride on Sunday I took it easy which feels like a waste of a riding day!
Thursday- cleaned and rebuilt my bike for Sunday, did 30 mins of strength side mobility stretches off YouTube and an upper body workout in the evening
Friday- 1hr10 spin on road bike to loosen up which actually ended up being quite quick and it didn’t rain!
I’m looking to add one of those skateboard style balance boards, a proper pull up bar in addition to my beastmaker climbing holds that I use now, and a weight vest. Those bits should keep me busy for next 83 days!
Went to the gym last night, I'd already done my allotted exercise but I had an hour and a half to kill.
Walk this morning whilst the boy was at athletics. A bit of active recovery was in order. I might do some stretching later but I'm not holding my breath.
5 miles shuffle this morning including parkrun - now back in bed because it's cold and wet and Saturday!
Woken up full of cold this morning. Feeling so bad that I've dropped out of meeting up with friends for lunch. Also pissing it down here, so will be interesting trying to get 30 minutes exercise in. Hopefully a hot toddy will help.
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Did 45 minutes and about 1.5km in Loch Vaa this morning. Weather was much better than forecast although it's definitely getting colder now. Ducky says 13c in the water, 12c air temp.
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It’s been a tough week! We’ve all been struck down with some nasty lurgy (thankfully not Covid). For a couple of days this week all I could manage above walking the dogs twice a day was 30 minutes just spinning out the legs with minimal resistance on the spin bike in the garden. I think the fresh air did me more good than the exercise.
Pleased to say that I’m feeling a lot better now and did a steady 30 miles on the road yesterday and a couple of hours this morning around the local woods.
It’s good to read what everyone’s doing, I’m feeling that the weather is turning against us and making this challenge just that little bit tougher. Keep on keeping on.
Day 17 (Saturday): 1 hour on the rowing machine whilst watching Lizzie D win Paris-Roubaix Femmes. What a ride!
Super soggy gravel/xc ride with our newly formed local woman-led off-road club, at party pace. No way I’d have gone out in that otherwise - and it was great.
It may have included 3 cafe stops… 😉
Steady paced 11k run in the rain today, mix of road and off road. 56 minutes. Wore thin waterproof cycling jacket, and waterproof MTB shorts (Endura) both failed to keep me dry but at least stayed warm.
Scotroutes it's unexpected you have an indoor trainer as you are probably one of the most outdoorsy/least fair weather riders on here!
An hour on the bike at teatime, some crazy showers, one so heavy I was sure it was hail!.
Entered a hill race today, first event since Falkirk ultra a few weeks before covid kicked off, better get my finger oot.
Popped to the gym this morning and have set myself on the couch for a day of watching the racing. Paris Roubaix, World Superbikes and Moto GP.
Next week will be tight, starting with 3 12hr earlies, it's never easy getting out/off erse.
Just a walk for an hour or so over a very windy Ilkley moor this morning, whilst the sun was shining. Feeling a bit run down. Going to take it easy for the rest of the day.
Week looks a little complex, and I think my Tuesday off-road commute is off looking at the forecast. Think it’s time to check the turbo over… 🙁
Spent a few hours mooching round Cambridge yesterday racking up 6 miles, and did my lazy 40 mile route today, so far so good this year.
Another couple of hours exploring on the ebike today, local hills are really wet for about the first time this year.
It's been one huge unexpected plus of buying it, brilliant for exploring off the beaten track local stuff, some of the stuff I was getting up today was ridiculous. Canny be arsed driving a distance to ride now.
Back to running tomorrow, though booked in to give blood in the afternoon, so I'll probably take it easy.
Pissing down this morning* + a big BBQ yesterday together removed any chance of getting up early and doing outdoor exercise, so a mid-morning turbo it was. I did one of the new workouts in the Wahoo Systm (née Sufferfest) app, an enjoyable ride in the Provence with two over/under blocks and some sprints.
How was the wobble board, @scotroutes? I quite like the look of one, although they're a bit pricey... could be a decent winter project to make one, I suppose.
* the rain in Spain doesn't just fall on the plain 🙂
Day 18 (Sunday) - woke up exhausted and the previous injury was niggling slightly, so kept it very gentle - 90 minute walk with the kids in the morning, and another 30 minutes this evening to catch the sunset.
Aye, I think I'm done this year, since falling off a skateboard mid week, I've succumbed to a cold, which had turned into a cough, suspect covid has caught up with me, another pcr tomorrow I reckon. Son is isolating atm with it, daughter came out of isolation on Thursday....
Anyway the dog has had extra walks, but I've not got my heart rate up. Will continue to record the walks but last year I pretty much rode every day so it doesn't feel right for me.
Laughing, sneezing and coughing hurt a lot, suspected bruised ribs
What I will say is last years challenge was a massive benefit to me, and I'll pick it up again as soon as I can... I'm missing my daily press ups and sit ups already, and this is the longest I've been off a bike in about 6months...
Keep going if you can, it's really rewarding, I'm now thinking about the festive 500...
Best of luck mate.
Anyway the dog has had extra walks, but I’ve not got my heart rate up. Will continue to record the walks but last year I pretty much rode every day so it doesn’t feel right for me.
Personally I don't think you've failed the challenge if you're injured/unwell, as long as you do something extra (like long dog walks) above and beyond your normal routine. And you have all my sympathy re. bruised ribs - I got hit by a car while out on the bike at the start of August, and hit the A-pillar on the left side of my chest. ****. Coughing, laughing, rolling over / getting out of bed... And it's been nearly two months now and it still hurts a bit when I'm lying on my left side in bed 🙁
Feeling much better this morning, although my cold seems to have moved to my chest. So just an hour on the MTB playing around in the local woods. First proper muddy ride for a long time, the roots were fun.
Just done three days of Sandstone Way (Inc booze and eating). Bit tired tonight.
Twisted - thankfully you are getting this a year on hopefully with two jabs - but my experience is just take it super easy (sounds like you are) and pick this up when you are ready. Best of luck.
Took kids to rec this morning hoping to do a few pull ups, dips, and bodyweight rows on the climbing frame, but the childs play area was closed because of a fallen tree. Which was also disappointing as thought the kids would have liked exploring/climbing around the fallen tree. Did a few hand stand kick ups instead, almost held in balance for a massive two seconds. Did a quick couple of sets of push ups, balancing on one foot on short posts, and shoulder ride with balance bike strapped to back pack. Tried to do a more serious strength session this evening. I was stung or bitten by something yesterday at the start of my run when shoe flicked up dirt onto left calf. It's a little painful, itchy, and feels a bit tight from slight swelling. I tried a handstand against the wall and it felt like foot was cramping, but wasn't as bad, but disconcerting when upside down. Didn't try that again. Did bodyweight rows, struggled with a few dips, lots of overhead presses with a pair of 5kg dummbbells, and dip bar knee raises. msg end.
Bit of a tough day in Casa Scotroutes today so I squeezed in an evening yoga session with Kassandra. I found the yoga helped energize my running when I was doing it before so hoping for similar results. The 30 minutes of stretch and relaxation is also worthwhile in any case.
@mogrim - I've only had one ride on the rocker plate so far. Initial impressions were that it's too stiff and doesn't move enough. However, I definitely felt less sore after the hour so I rather suspect it's about right after all. More feedback after a couple more rides.
Hope things are looking up today @scotroutes
Low intensity weekend here, working on the house status and two hours walking round Grasmere yesterday, back out running at lunch time today though! Might actually get to ride a bike still some point!
Lovely flat ride out with the moderately paced cycling group on Sunday.
This morning I headed off with some of them (today's group = 3 x retirees + 1 x day-off) up to Islip to see the women's tour go through.
The hill we were all granny-gear-ing it up? They just belted up without a second thought!
Couple of half-hour circuits-tyoe classes this evening. Probably ~30 miles of cycling today.
Felt rubbish today so just a walk to town with the child. Early night tonight.
Very gentle walk at Loch Morlich with Mrs S was my mandatory 30 mins but I did a 45 min evening Zwift session to keep myself honest 😉
I have been feeling a bit mentally drained the past two days. I have had a couple of kettlebell workouts, some stretches and an annoying turbo ride where Zwift wouldn't load, then wouldn't finish updating. I wouldn't have bothered yesterday if it wasn't for this. Which is good. Tomorrow is a bit of a milestone. I think last year I had missed a day by now.
For last week:
Monday - run and then bike ride later to check bike working
Tuesday - bike ride
Wednesday - off road commute home from work
Thursday - return to work
Friday - ride after work - photo from this
Friday also meant covid booster which I am very grateful for and think is a very good thing but resulted in the weekend being less energetic.
Saturday - very short run after work
Sunday - a walk
I think 100 days is a long time to not be affected by life/illness/other stuff happening, especially at the moment.
10 total cycle commute. Half hour walk to shop and back at lunch time. Half hour yoga 'after work stretch' with Kassandra which, having not followed a yoga video since this time last year, I struggled with.
Another walk…! Tiredness not great so decided no significant cardio for a week. And have asked the doctor for a blood test to check vitamin D levels, as last year at peak long COVID it was low, despite taking supplements!
Weights at lunchtime yesterday, registered in Strava as over an hour and a half due to user error and not stopping the Garmin on time 🙂
Then a run with my triathlon club in the evening. What with summer holidays and ultra marathons and other stuff I haven't been out with them since the end of June, and that was pretty much the last time I did any speed work. We did hamster-like intervals on the 200m track, I'd much prefer a full-length 400m track but that's what we've got available. Fun though, and there's a certain childlike (or childish?) joy in running as fast as you can without holding back.
Missed it yesterday - work took over at lunchtime, peed with rIn in the evening when I'd planned to get a walk in, and then by the time MrsMC had gone to bed and freed up the living room for some late night yoga I was already asleep on the sofa.
Start again today.....
I also missed yesterday, busy day at work whilst not feeling great then promised a mate I'd help with converting his bike to 12speed yesterday evening. I did start 5 days early so think I'll allow myself one day off.
Pretty lazy one yesterday, hour walk wi the wife, felt cold and tired after blood donation, so easy one it was.
Braw night for it.
Nice place for a walk!
Yoga and physio last night for me and mtb fitness metcon circuits tonight. Doing a big event at weekend has taken it out of me! Back on the bike tomorrow
Today was looking like a repeat of yesterday. I had a chilled, easy walk with the wife for a bit of lunch, then I waited all afternoon for a break in the driech conditions so I could go for a run. It didn't look like it was going to clear and I was even contemplating waiting until it was dark as at least you can't then see the shitty weather. However, I manned up, put on hat and gloves and managed a run just as it was dusk. It felt good to be outside rather than on Zwift again and it was a reminder of how it felt to run when the weather is less clement. I even felt that my one yoga session earlier this week had helped.
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Shitty ISO setting also lies about how dark it was 🙂
My favourite time of year for running, that lovely gloamin around teatime.
Wee 4 mile social run with a mate today, good chat. Then a BLT n chips, magic.
Weights and bodyweight stuff tonight, tomorrow could be a struggle on a training course and then straight into my week to help at Cubs. Mebbe get the turbo out (shivers).
Yesterday was a bloody wet and cold 8km run. But in the hills with rainbows and 5 deer. Dogs decided to only chase pheasants though.
Today was a 40min tempo ride.
One week after the bike park Wales fall and my neck still hurts but not stopping me exercising now. Did some very slow and lazy walks last week to get some form of movement in. Friday walked my youngest to school and ended up getting a bit wet and having to run a mile home as the plumber arrived earlier than I thought.
Started back on bodyweight workouts Saturday and Sunday again, walk for 90 mins ish yesterday and just done an hour of beginner calisthenics.
One thing I forever seem to struggle with is physically gaining any strength. I'm hoping that this method of keeping me focused might for once have an impact.
As for drumming half hour every day, well and truly out the window, probably missed a week so far in total irritatingly. But I've still had more focussed practise than I normally do so that's a positive to take out of it.
A few hours pootling about on the canal in my new inflatable kayak. I am still managing to get in and out and portage, though it's not pretty - often I end up lying prone on the bank, but "not in canal" is always a win!
club run this evening
Turbo session at lunchtime, could probably have got out for 45min on the road bike but I'm pretty sure doing intervals indoors is better exercise and of course there's no risk of getting a puncture and getting back late to work.
Proper swim tomorrow for the first time since June, could be interesting 🙂
Reader, I got through that tree!
Back on it today, fitted half an hour with Kassandra in between work and a Scout exec meeting
Morning commute usual 5 miles. 50 minute lunch ride inc. bike shop and chip shop stops. Very windy returning to office. Mixed road/off road commute home, legs felt tired, overdressed in uneeded waterproofs and overtaken by someone on a gravel bike which was nice - rare to see other riders off road around here. Felt like I needed more Yoga, did a couple of 30m Beginner yoga with Kassandra. Much better than yesterdays, but still frustrating when she does the option for the super flexy people rather than showing the option for the rest of us.
Still feeling rubbish, was off work today and just spent time chilling. Realised that I didn't fancy going out in the wind and the rain with my dodgy chest so did some strength and stretching, using resistance bands and YouTube for half an hour. Quite enjoyed it and will probably fit in a session or two a week.
still frustrating when she does the option for the super flexy people rather than showing the option for the rest of us.
Reclining pigeon? Yeah - I LOL
Well I'm back on track, out for 90mins last night. I was quite prepared to set my jaw and just head out into the filth but by the time the wife arrived home at 8:15 the rain had stopped and the wind abated a little. It actually ended up rather nice out. Still feeling a bit of lurgy, but I felt better for being out in the fresh air.
Pilates for me last night. I feel like a few quiet slow day is helping - feeling a bit less run down.
Just went for a stroll last night to get the 10k steps in, no time for anything else as I'm on a course this week with no lunch break. Beaut of a day today, gonna admire it from my desk.
Day 21 - started off nice and just got better.
Took the #gradventourer over the Burma Road for the first time. I missed not having lower gears of the MTBs.
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I'd have stayed out longer but had to get back to cook dinner for Mrs S.
Christ, that's a horrible climb on a 50t 😅
Kettlebells brutality today, really enjoying it though.
Getting frustrating now, had a cold that I can’t seem to shift since the challenge started. I’ve purposely left the house to do something every day but that has been mostly dog walks. I miss getting the HR up and doing something longer, running in the hills or out on the bike. Just trying to shift this first rather then pushing it and setting myself back. Almost miss lockdown, didn’t get a single cold last year…
Great to read about everyone’s efforts. Hope to have something meaningful to report soon!
Busy day today, walked the dog, cycled nigh on 30 miles, then went to back-to-back fitness & weights classes.
I do think I'm getting fitter, I could do bicep curls with the next weight up and when I started the final class I was more mentally tired than physically.
This is REALLY welcome as recently I've been feeling that age has come got me and that training just slows the decline rather than triggering some actual improvement. Apparently all is not lost!
Felt better today and was dog sitting, so took the dog out for a half hour run. Think he quite enjoyed it as he's only ever walked, never run, if that makes sense.
Was good to get out.
Got a 30 minute walk in while daughter had a music lesson, and bumped into friends I've probably not spoken to for a year or so. Which was nice, there aren't many people left who don't know my eldest has just started uni at Cambridge 😎
Well done all, I'm enjoying the pics and stories.
Not as adventurous as many on here, but still on track:
Day 19 (Monday) - busy day, managed to fit in 30 minutes on the rower
Day 20 (Tuesday) - forced myself to do 40 minutes on the rower, late after parent's evening
Day 21 (Wednesday) - 25 minutes intervals on rower in lunch break, 20 mile road loop after work
The easier day on Sunday definately helped, feeling fitter already.
3 weeks in...
Struggling for time again today, but sun was out and the diary clear so rode up Castlelaw at 330 then came back to finish work. Boss approved, I'm lucky.
Zwift Monday and Zwift Tuesday, had planned another tonight but knackeredness and hunger got the better of me. Nearly never bothered but squeezed in a half hour yoga YouTube and feel the better for it. Mind you I'm still as flexible as a dead plank.
Christ, that’s a horrible climb on a 50t 😅
I'm googling 46/30 cranksets. 🙂
This challenge has come at such a good time for me.
Normally by the end of September I'm pretty bike fit, but start to lack motivation to ride mountain bikes three or four times a week as conditions get worse. I lose a load of bike fitness and make idle promises to do other types of exercise, and strengthen upper body and core. This NEVER happens.
I have dusted off my kettle bells and done the onnit academy beginner circuit twice most weeks. MTB maybe twice a week. Yoga with Adrienne or the pinkbike series from a while back. If I'm tired I just go for a walk after dinner.
A lingering cold made it harder but its better now. I'm starting to notice more strength already.
I reactivated zwift membership and need to do an ftp test. Maybe I'll find my running shoes again, but the DOMS is always really bad initially and I'm worried about injuring myself.
Thanks to all of you for the motivation and good luck everyone for the rest of the year.
Last of the commutes for this week today. Went to go for a walk at lunch time but decided to go for a run instead, wearing 5ten free riders. Didn't record it, but Garmin Move IQ tells me I ran for 30 minutes. And 30 minutes of Runner's Yoga - Yoga With Adriene this evening.
but the DOMS is always really bad initially and I’m worried about injuring myself.
It's well worth it! Being worried about injury is no bad thing. Usual advice is to listen to your body and take it easy to begin with especially if you have good fitness from cycling. See the running thread here. I got shin splints when I first started, but really glad I stuck with it (running that is, not running with shin splints) and got past it.
Another 90 mins last night around the local tracks and I've got the day off today so the wife and I are gonna head down to Aviemore and do the Loch Eanaich out and back. Pic's later 👌🏻
Short run at lunchtime yesterday, then swim in the evening. First proper swim since June, and I can certainly feel it today 🙂
Another run later, might go to the gym at midday. Or do a Sufferfest video. Not sure.
@swavis - it's been a bit wet overnight but water levels are still low. You'll get wet on the low path back out, but isn't that part of the fun?
@scotroutes absolutely 👍🏻😁
There was still sections of dry trail last night around here, even after all the rain on Tuesday.
I’m en route to London to the Lael Wilcox thing - with my bike. So it’s going to be an odd 30 mins central London cycle! And given this is something I’ve never done before, I’m definitely counting it!
After three early shifts I'm at an age where I wake up at 5am whether I need to or not. Used this to go out a run and get today's session in.
Took my running gear into Glasgow for a post uni run, got stripped back of van. Nae shorts. Bastard.
30 min yoga class. The wooden man indeed.
trials bike at lunch time for 40 minutes. rear wheel control. no height, no risk. small calm hops light on the bike. small obstacles. in the evening, around 3/4 hour in various hold and hang positions, upside down & right way up - but nothing too strenuous. only had a dips bar so a bit limited, need a pull up bar.
Managed a couple of hours on the bike along the river.A little bit of dirt jump thrown in at the end.I must branch out from walking,cycling and weights.Also,I need to somehow improve my weather dependant motivation.