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Day 26 (day 4 of lurgy)
I spent three hours digging a hole and planting a signpost this morning. The glacial till of Glen Feshie made for some bloody hard work. I'm calling it.
Is that 750mm deep yet?
Did you think these things grew on trees?
Good effort @scotroutes. Who doesn't love a well erected sign 🙂
Did the horrible run. It was, unsurprisingly, horrible. Then received message from WA group saying the big ride is Sunday. My legs had a little cry of relief at that point!
A beautiful afternoon for a bike ride, I can see these Poets day rides becoming a bit more commonplace between now and Christmas.
A nice easy jaunt out to the Fens and some shopping on the way home.
What chain lube for sluice?
along the river
Semi-fail yesterday: I was on broom-wagon duties for the first part of a local ultra, which was supposed to start at 23:30 - ideal to get in my 30min for Friday, then carry on into Saturday for a twofer. Due to local weather warnings for rain they put the start back to midnight, which meant I missed my Friday bit. Not my fault, so I'm just going to ignore the fail 🙂
Anyway, finished about 10 and a half hours after we started, with some pretty torrential rain along the way. Just shy of 42km, and about 2500m+. Now having a well-earned beer!
Day 27: just a chilled walk up a local ski hill and back through the forest after work. Saw a pair of waxwings and a long-tailed tit.
Signed wife & myself to morning yoga at our hotel in Amsterdam, mighty hangover had me sweating and queazy was over an hour long too
40 minutes on the turbo on MyWhoosh last night and 1250m in the pool today.
Hour of Yoga always feels like about a days worth.
Easy 5km run on the Dreadmill. Muddy hike through the woods with the doggos. I would like to add mowing the pointless vast and damp lawn but that feels like a stretch 🙂 Cleaned my MTB so it can get muddy again tomorrow. "Drying wind" I was thinking while lowering the grass, only to put the mower away as fat raindrops went all small arms fire on the shed roof.
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Family stuff and house work all day so just grabbed an hours walk over the fell with spectacular sunset
As expected, tricky getting anything of substance done on first day away, but we're all tired so a stroll around Grasmere fitted the bill. (10k steps reached as a minimum measure for walking days).
Day #27 - turbo session on the Wattbike for 61 minutes at 177w indicated 30.6 km, need to work on my bike stamina, finding just an hour sodding hard work. 32 minutes of the dreaded physio exercises later and I’m done.
Hadrian's Wall Half Marathon today. It was cold. It was muddy. No, not muddy. It was clarty. It was utterly beautiful. I'm utterly spent. I'd love there to be lots of stunning photos, but if I'd stopped to take a picture I'd not have finished! (laugh emoji)
Day 27: Another day of stretching and running about 6 k. My last outdoor run in Finland, I think.
@fazzini - good job. I quite fancy that one for next year. I reckon half marathons are the ideal distance. Marathons just need too much training time!
Day 6 (of the lurgy) but I was determined to get out on the bike, so took myself for a solo ride so that I could control the pace. Jeez though - Aviemore and surrounds are absolutely hoaching with mid-term holiday makers!
A wee bit of snow over the past couple of days has picked out some of the nooks and crannies of the mountains too.
Meall a' Bhuachaille - just a dusting on the summit.
On the high track to Loch Eainich - further than I was going to go today.
The corries of Braeriach. As you can see, it's not quite pogie weather yet.
And that's the cliffs of Sgor Gaoith on the right.
Day... 28 is it? Was at a Go Ape alike on Windermere followed by 2 hours running and bouncing on tree top nets. I was going to squeeze something in this evening but I'm pretty sure I'll ache after today, so I'm counting it. More to the point, I'm already recovering.
Mildly full of asthma, but wanted to do a proper all day ride. Been nearly two months since I'd do a 50km+/1000m+ climb day due to elbow rehab, and a week with the uplift truck. Eased myself back in gently 🙂 Blimey tired now. Also means my 10,000 steps per day record of 27 straight days is over. I'm 4000 short and there's no way I've got that in my legs! See if I can beat that stretch before the challenge runs out.
Great work, hats off to you both @stanley @fazzini .
Day #28 - 2 mile pool swim in 66 minutes, ridiculously slow, not so much swimming as dawdling with good technique. Day 28 and I’m sure I’m getting slower.
spent the afternoon digging out and removing a eucalyptus tree trunk. It was really hard work, so I’m including it.
Back on it today after a week of Covid - an hour's walk round the local nature reserve at a pretty sedate pace, but still had me blowing out my hoop ever time the path gained any sort of elevation. Grand to be out on a fine frosty morning.
Spent ages cleaning the bike and kit after yesterday's adventures. Can't really count that as exercise, so did a yoga session with Adrienne. Much prefer doing yoga in a class, but handy when there are no classes on!
Hour on the turbo on MyWhoosh this evening.
Day 29: hour and a half before breakfast of mixed gnarly clay climbing, sandy tracks, and black top.
Totally fell off the wagon last week ;(
Had a really stressful time at work last week which really took away all my energy and just couldn’t be bothered with doing exercise of any sort. Particularly annoying as had the time but not the motivation.
Followed that up with a weekend of boozing which has meant now missed 5 days.
Getting back on it this week but now target will be get in as many days out of 100 as possible so next year can aim to beat it.
On more positive note has led to hopefully a small epiphany, decided to give myself a break from trying to do too much and setting myself other unrealistic targets and routines but will just focus on doing something physical each day (might do a separate post on that!).
I'm a bit "all or nothing" so I've learnt a few techniques to help myself over the years. One, that might be helpful to you, is that I might say to myself... Ok, I'm going to fail if I try and exercise every day, so I will give myself two strikes* each week. This means I can skip any two days if I need to and still be successful within my personal challenge. Strikes cannot be carried over to the following week, nor borrowed. That technique helped me during this challenge two years ago when I was having some medical stuff at the same time.
*Strikes... I've used strikes to improve eating habits, reduce booze intake, etc. It helps an "all or nothing" mindset from relapsing completely!
Edit- I'm not suggesting you are"all or nothing" but that the technique might help when surrounded by other pressures.
@stanley Thanks - I am an "all or nothing" person so good tip re the two strikes. Think I need to rethink my whole approach to life at the moment and make sure my leisure time is more full of things I want to do rather than adding even more pressure to my life.
Back on the bike properly yesterday and today. Up Ben Lomond yesterday - it snowed a bit at the top!
Out on the gravel bike this morning - doing a bit of zone 2 stuff to try and undo my overtraining.
it snowed a bit at the top!
Show off! (wink emoji)
Nothing strenuous for me today. Legs surprisingly OK after yesterday's run, however, just a walk in my 'happy place' . As much as I love the countryside, moors, mountains, forests, woods etc. I never, ever, get tired of listening to the sea. (big smile emoji)
I did 3 biggish MTB rides in the Tweed Valley over the weekend and I'm absolutely knackered, I had to have a 20 minute power nap at lunchtime to get me through the working day.
I have no shame in saying I am doing **** all exercise today!
4k hike/7k on the treadmill. Defo tired from big ride yesterday. Garmin was giving me the 'have a day off' advice. I don't know how to tell it to suppress that message until Christmas Eve 🙂
Saturday was a run first thing and an hour of weights in the afternoon, yesterday was a struggle. Got up but just couldn’t get going, sat watching television, yawning and nodding off!!
Decided that if I didn’t get out and do something, the day would be a right off and I would beat myself up for wasting a Sunday. The weather was lovely so I went out on the gravel bike trying to link some newly found byroad’s together with the odd road or farm track. Was out for a couple of hours and it made all the difference to my mood.
I ran again this morning but as the day has gone on, I have developed a nagging pain in my lower back. Going to try some gentle stretches later after cooking dinner.
Weights at lunchtime and an evening Zwift session. Though I'd lost weight as my jeans were loose but I've put 2 kgs on. My fancy scales tell me it's muscle.
Took my daughter on her first multi pitch climb* today in the foothills of Old Man of Coniston. Went swimmingly until we told her we'd be walking further on up after the climb - tears and sulking from that point. Still, overall a success.
Grade I scramble, The Bell from right to left up the rocky ridge.
Day 29?: Busy day today, so after work I combined some errands with walking in the dark drizzle, instead of taking the car. I got more than 30 minutes of walking in, but also dropped tomorrow’s lunch (a bought sarnie) which exploded on the filthy wet pavement. Definitely couldn’t apply the 3 second rule. Pah!
I’ll do a quick yoga vid before bed.
Hopefully some running/gym tomorrow evening.
Daughter's birthday so just a 30 minutes home workout on youtube tonight.
Day 29 & day 7 of the lurgy.
Despite feeling a bit under par I turned up for our regular running club Monday run. I'd arranged for someone else to lead the group this week so I knew I could drop back/turn back if necessary. I got round without pushing myself too hard.
Last of the daylight hitting Loch Gynack
Super lovely evening out West
Turning for home under a bright moon
Some old ruins
Council Health Ride last night - celebratory Jelly Babies were shared mid way round as Ian celebrated 2000 miles for the year.
Some yoga with Kassandra tonight, and then real life yoga with Paul tomorrow night - one of our clubmates is a yoga instructor and does weekly sessions through the winter which are always packed to capacity.
Lower back pain had gone when I woke up this morning so I have just been out for a run. Hoping to do something else later today even if it’s just a long dog walk.
Day 30: Just walking between the office and station today. Ride to work day tomorrow...and I'm working at home.
Done the - getting every more - muddy dog hike. Not shaken this asthma, now got a cold so I think this is my body saying 'that'll do for today'. I will try and motivate myself for a Yoga session later, but based on previous experience, I'll probably substitute a 'Power Nap' instead 😉
30 - paddleboarding with the girl today.
Didn't bring our own paddleboard, wetsuits, boots, lifejackets with us thinking it's a bit chilly now and she doesn't take well to the cold. Day one here, ask what she'd like to do this week - paddle boarding, obviously. So we paid through the nose to hire board and wetsuit (no boots or gloves), 2hr minimum rental and after 1hr it's too cold. One day I'll learn: bring EVERYTHING.
@munrobiker - do you do any form of sleep tracking? I wear my Garmin watch 24/7 and I've seen how a drop in HRV is often followed up with some sort of illness, resulting in poor performance.
No, I don't - I do have a fit bit style watch somewhere which I'll maybe revive.
I wear my Garmin watch 24/7 and I’ve seen how a drop in HRV is often followed up with some sort of illness,
Mine is scarily good at predicting illness like that. I still feel fine when the hrv is dipping then a few days later I'm knackered. Doesn't seem to be as consistently affected by alcohol though.
My Garmin seems pretty good at working out when I'm going to struggle the next day(s). Well more than normal anyway. Sadly defo affected by alcohol (sleep score/HRV)
Fartlek today. Because I am still a child, I giggled when I read the workout name. I am not laughing now. More lying down in a pool of sweat. Still 50 mins on the Dreadmill is still more engaging then the same time on the Turbo.
I had every intention of running outside as it's a balmy 16 degrees. Rain torrents - however warm - put me right off.
Trying to work out how much my cold is still affecting me so headed out for a run, doing an interval session of 6 x 800m. Felt not too bad and definitely seemed to clear the lungs out a bit.
Followed that up with a bit of post-run streetching and 30 minutes of weights. Let's see how I feel tomorrow 🙂
Day 31, escaped for a run while family went to the aquarium. It was planned in the wet but driving down there I was even doubting I'd go out in it. Glad I did, love being out in big rain as you get the place to yourself. 10km on the nose, including getting a bit off-route.
Still feel like crap so just stuck to yoga tonight. Did 45 minutes with Kassandra.
Day 31 already.
Grabbed an hour at the trails yesterday lunchtime - athough that was reduced to 30 mins riding time due to being socialble
Today I've done a few bodyweight things while I could and adding in a 15 minute evening yoga session.
Yesterday I had to drop the van at the garage so took the bike and cycled to work then later rode back to pick it up. Two hours of cycling and in the evening took the dogs out for a walk under a very bright moon.
Went for a run first thing and planning a weights session later on.
Longer dog hike this morning as normal route flooded. The brook we normally just jump over was impassible without a kayak or a bailey bridge! Dog didn't seem to mind as she found lots of mud to roll in. Stunning views as the sun burned off the mist. A good morning to be out - esp as we had a power cut!
Multi day update
day #29 - 2.5 km pool swim in 51 minutes and 30 min stroll with wombat and my daughter
day #30 - turbo session on the Wattbike for 61 minutes indicated 30.6 km at 175w average, using the wattbike app and irritatingly Wattbike have a tech issue, so myself and countless others have rides stuck in the app, that aren’t being published to the Wattbike hub and not to Strava etc, frustratingly Wattbike haven’t published acknowledgment of the issue, well not that I’ve found. Hey ho
day #31 - 2.46 km pool swim in 48 minutes, early doors session as soon as the gym opened, not done that in a while, bloody hard to get going that early. Annoying developed a shoulder injury / shooting pain late in the day - somehow from work. Probably how I’ve been sitting and moving, but annoying.
day #32 (today I hope 17 Oct) - shoulder too sore to swim, so 30 minutes of physio exercises, then lunchtime turbo session on the Wattbike using TrainerRoad which worked well, for 60 minutes at 174w, indicated 29.7 km
for the next few days my activities will be mainly yoga / physio exercises and walking,
I've been quietly in from the start, it started at the end of a very lazy week post biking holiday so gave me the push to keep the training up. Mix of MTB, turbo and walking/golf with a couple of stretching & weights sessions in there. Weekly pilates is on a short break too but starting back next week 🙂
Interesting chat on the HRV, mine dropped to unbalanced a week and a half ago and is now a couple of days into reporting low. No illness emerging but feeling very tired. Looking at what I'm doing it hasn't changed at a point of overly high intensity in the 25 days (to that point), the first day was nice and sunny, I had a day off work and just couldn't get the bike to move forward and cut the ride short. Apart from that I can still turn up on the bike/turbo close to where I'd expect but just can't shake the complete tiredness. No real point to this, just interesting that others were reporting HRV down at the moment too.
No plans to take a break though as lunchtime walks feel a sensible "rest day" at the moment but wondering if it is going to be forced on me at some point.
No one wanted to go riding tonight. Can't say I was that bothered as it's going to be blooming horrible out there.
Hill sprints on the Dreadmill. Almost wished I'd gone out and got muddy!
Cold seems to on its way out so took the wife and dog for a jog. Just a slow 4.3k but felt ok.
Weather's been glorious in Leeds today. T-shirt weather!
I've had a couple of really lovely twilight/early evening runs recently and decided I wanted that same experience on a bike, so headed out quite late in the day for a wee local loop on the Topstone.
I wasn't disappointed.
Sun had already set by this point, but the camera compensates.
Hunters "super"moon.
