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Day 87 was a busy one.
I did some weights and some "runners" yoga this morning. The latter was from Nuffield Health on YouTube. I really liked it. Seemed well targetted and a nice mix of the yoga mindfulness thrown in . I'll likely do it again.
I'd been looking at the mountains and the skies the last couple of days, especially around dusk, so decided to walk up the Burma Road, just as the sun was disappearing over the hills.
It was hovering around zero degrees as I started up the hill, and didn't take me long to get to the icy bits.
Lovely hues looking North from the summit of the road
Half moon was out too
Of course, what goes up must come down, so I set off before I could get too chilly and ran down as fast as felt safe.
Looking across to the ski areas and (soon to be re-opened?) funicular
And a lovely red sky at the end.
Lovely photos
Day 87 part 2: Felt like I hadn't done enough in the morning so did a "power and strength" circuit in the shed/driveway.
Day 88: early morning singletrack thrash in the woods. Beautiful morning but a little slippery in places... both of us had low speed unplanned dismounts. On my last one I was actually trying to lift my front wheel over a slick log and completely mistimed it so the front wheel came down exactly on it.
Happens to us all @reeksy !
@scotroutes - lovely photos and I'll give that 30 min Yoga a try later. Before I go see the physio. I'm sure she'll be impressed with my level of dedication to being a bit more stretchy 🙂
Pretty dry on last nights MTB ride. But also soft and slippy. Felt the best lung wise for at least a month. Still a bit of top end wheezing tho, but hopefully over the worst. Was a clear night as well, should have taken some pics.
My Garmin (epix2) HR sensor has started playing up since a few updates ago. Often it seems to be missing readings as I'm blowing it out of my fundament on one of the climbs. I know I'm 160 BPM+, it's giving me a 103 in the display. Then it'll catch up as I near the top. I might just have to post about that in the 'disappropriately cross' thread!
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.
Excellent pics @reeksy. If I tried that I'd be sat in the car on the bike having gone through the roof 🙂
7am on the treadmill this morning. Feels good to get the mandatory exercise done before breakfast and anything else is a bonus. Eyeing up one of the nastier workouts on Zwift later.
Weighed myself for the first time in a while. That last kilo was hard to shift but I'm <---> close to my target weight. Extra motivation to go at it hard for the last few days!
That last kilo was hard to shift but I’m <—> close to my target weight. Extra motivation to go at it hard for the last few days!
Now that's impressive!
I'm about 10 kilos away...but then I haven't ever been my target weight as an adult!
Pentland Hill Running tonight. Christmas jumpers, sweets and a fiery moon.
hours walk yesterday. was short of time.
Didn't do second cardio yesterday. 30 mins of weights and stretching instead. Not doing anything today until what I expect will be a very muddy and tough night ride later so saving myself for that. Tomorrow is MTB curry night starting at 5 in the pub and I have an all day teams meeting (!) from 0830. So it's going to need to be an early alarm and probably treadmill run to get the 30 mins in.
Saturday I expect will be a 'phoning in it' activity with a hangover!
I have an all day teams meeting (!) from 0830
Worth 10 days of exercise surely!
Day 94 was a busier one again. 17km walk round Loch Ard with Mrs S then some weights, my daily 5km run and a bit of (pool) swimming to round it off.
Me in camouflage mode
I think she misheard.
Run on Tuesday evening, 6.23k, Yoga last night.
Motivation is a struggle at the moment, not sure why being so close to the end. I was hoping to ramp it up a bit but think the cold I had has knocked me back a bit. And its just dark aaaalllll the time, well, when I'm not working anyway!!.....I wanted to do a 10k in under an hour on Christmas eve, but I'm working and don't think I'll have an hour spare, as travelling to inlaws as well....
I haven't lost any weight! I'm still 105kgs and was really hoping to lose a bit, but I my diet isn't great at the moment. Was talking about this with the wife last night and we're both feeling it. Struggling for time and motivation with meals, kids are a pain in the arse and say no to anything we suggest but won't actually say what they want to eat. Think I'm going to go back to vegetarian for a while in the new year to try an improve my diet.
I'm really hoping I keep up the excersice after christmas, I want to, but also know what I'm like. I'll keep goin to the gym throgh the winter and I want to run a couple of times a week as I'm enjoying that and getting better. So hopefully, if I exersice 4 times a week min and with a better diet, I'll shed a few kilos and improve everything fr the warmer months.
I haven’t lost any weight!
If it's any consolation, neither have I, but I wasn't really expecting to. I'm one of those folk for whom exercise is really just an excuse to eat.
If it’s any consolation, neither have I, but I wasn’t really expecting to. I’m one of those folk for whom exercise is really just an excuse to eat.
Lol. That makes me feel better! .....sends my son round the shop for some mince pies.....
30 miler today. cold and cold.
fuelled by black pudding and dripping butties.
Wanted to go for a run but I'd left my trainers in the garden and they were soaking!
Went down the gym instead and did 6k on the treadmill in 33 minutes.
5 to go!
Night ride not as muddy as expected. Still medals were earned and beers were drunk 🙂
6:30am alarm call to get a run in before the dreaded all day teams meeting.
Day 96: gravity uplift morning was brilliant. Kids still had enough energy for a couple more runs (13km) after lunch too.
Went for a walk at lunchtime, 2 miles / 40ish minutes. Ticked the box, might do some yoga in a bit. Biking tmrow, don't know about Sunday, hope to run Monday and Tuesday and then it's Mince Pies on the sofa.
Morning weights and treadmill again.
And then an after-lunch walk on Loch Katrine after the worst of the rain had passed over.
Riding MTB at Glentress today. Place has changed so much with the new holiday cabins (more like houses) but the trails still make big smiles.
Running club Solstice Half Marathon, done in some incredibly wet weather and on trails that got wetter as we ran. Still, a good turn out and a catch-up at the Balavoulin over beers and nachos.
3 days to go and I suspect tomorrow will be done indoors!
Day 97: half day drive to the next campground so only time for a 45 minute walk on the beach.
Sneaked a 8km run in between day long meetings and MTB curry evening on Friday. Yesterday, as expected, feeling a little delicate and a long windy hike with the mutts followed by some beer-curry sweaty Pilates was all I could manage.
Thinking about MTB today, but pretty windy out there and everything we ride is in the woods so it might have to be a couple of hours on the turbo and postpone the ride till tomorrow.
Always enjoy @reeksy pictures but they do make me pine for summer!
a day of walks yesterday.
3 mile in the storm in the morning the 2 short walks to and from the pub in the icy cold evening. all good.