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Day 86 (10 dec) - swim 3.8 km (2.3 miles) in 78 minutes, which given I don’t feel great is really bloody good. Quick scan of the lap data and most of my 100m’s are in the 1:40 range, but clearly I run out of energy and then do a 2:20 100m to recover. Need to work on that. Still haven’t got the hang od rehydration either whilst swimming. Hey ho.
walked Wombat later 3.4 km in 48 minutes. Done for today.
two weeks to go.
I was motivated by the last time you guys ran through this. I dont post on here but i record pretty much everything i do on myfitnesspal or on my apple health. What it did for me is amazing because if i look at my apple health app now my average daily workout total for 2023 has been 1h37. I log my morning dog walks, my lunch break walks + my weights routines. Ive even recently added a weight vest to my morning dog walks to up the intensity and get the heartrate up.
Never been stronger.
Dont just do it in the run up to christmas. Do it all year.
Day 87. Lurgy is clearing (at least I got a better nights sleep). Walked a lap of Loch Morlich with Mrs S after lunch. Then did the club run this evening. With a warning that I was a bit off colour, I actually ran off the front a bit and ended up doing really pretty well!
@TheLittlestHobo - You're correct to say that it good to make the effort for the full year. This annual challenge comes along a time when it is perhaps a little bit easier to lapse into too many "days off" with weather playing a part and the the festive season at the end of it. It's a good way of helping provide a little extra motivation to not just carry on exercising, but to do "a little bit extra".
My VeloViewer stats for the year so far...
Weather has been honking so to get out was a real treat today...
Loch Katrine/Loch Arklet some great light and sunshine! Cold though.😎 70 odd miles all told with a couple of recovery drinks in the pub at the end.👌
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@scotroutes phones are ace! Was discussing this with my chum today no need for a camera anymore.🙏
Just a 30 minute dose of Vinyasa yoga (deep stretch, baby!) with Kassandra. It was painful enough on my tight muscles but, without a mat, the hard ceramic tiles under knees and spine was a killer.
Not sure how I’ll fair tomorrow. A couple of brutal travel days ahead, starting at 6 am.
Still plugging away! Managed my first run in over 3 weeks this morning, and it was slow. Not that I'm fast usually, I was just just slower than my usual slow...you could probably best sum up my running pace as 'glacial' 😳. I also discovered that my running jacket is anything but waterproof/resistant and has the hydrophobic qualities of a sponge.
Lots of lovely photos above. Good to hear everyone is still getting out.
I've failed to update for a bit, have still been doing the 30mins each day but managed double lurgy in November so have only really just got going again properly. Trot about after work monday, managed to pop out bouldering yesterday and hoping to get a bit of a ride today.
Weather has been quite mixed, couple of photos from local rides in the lovely frosty spell with a bit of snow at the end of November.
On sunday I decided to do sprints. Find a space, sprint along it, walk back, repeat, he said. I jogged to my "space" as a warm up - about 12 minutes. 1st sprint, nice, walk back, second sprint, better, feels good to really let go, walk back, 3rd spr... ping,ow, ping, ooowwwww. I hobbled home and took some ibruprofen and looked up torn hamstrings on the internet.
The left leg aches a bit still but the right leg really hurts going up stairs.
So the rest of this week has been walking and yt videos for abs and upper body. I realy don't want a reoccurrance so I'll be sticking to that routine until I'm confident again. Skinny girls on the fingernail are no indication of the quality of the content and some of the accompanying music is horrific. Any recommendations for videos to follow are welcome.
I’m full of lurgy and really struggling.
Monday morning I went out first thing for my usual run and it was hard going but I carried on and finished but felt rough for the rest of the day.
Unfortunately it’s been just extended dog walks for me since then, feeling a little bit better now so I’m hoping to get out for a gentle ride tomorrow.
This time last year I was off my feet with flu, which meant I failed at the final hurdle. I’m determined not to let that happen this year.
Took a day off and went for a walk by the sea. First time at the beach for probably over a year. We spent about an hour walking along the shore of the Bristol Channel when the tide was out. It was great… then the dog found something putrid to roll in on the way back to the car. It was a bit cool to have the windows open, but the rancid stench of dead marine life in her fur made it an easy choice.
Day 90.
Hit the gym for an hour of weights earlier and then spent 25 minutes with Ash doing some leg conditioning aimed at improving my running resilience.
As regards balance, I'm definitely stronger on my left foot, even though I'm basically right handed. Still, that gives me something to work on.
But of a long update, as haven’t updated for a few days now.
day 87 (dec 11) - 3km swim in 60 minutes. Walked Wombat later 3.45 km in 43 minutes.
day 88 - nada, fail, fail, fail. Long long busy day, with my teams Xmas lunch in the middle, so I couldn’t even get out for a walk. Lunch was loads of fun though, so good for overall well-being.
day 89 - 2.6 km swim in 51 minutes
day 90 - had to take it easy today, 3.4 km walk in 44 minutes with Willa. Team Xmas do on the night of day 89 🙂
day 91 (dec 15) - 2 mile swim (3.32 km) this morning in 65 minutes, which I think is quite quick for an old guy. Walked Willa the wombat this afternoon 4.2 km in 56 minutes. Done.
Only 9 days to go !
Gym sesh this evening.
Well I'm quite shocked but got a 5k PB this morning according to Garmin/Strava. Parkrun says differently, but I'm taking it 😂
I very rarely weight myself but for Zwift to ensure more accurate wattage you have to - it appears since October i have lost 6 kgs (103-97). Right, off to the gym on the bike (20 mile very convoluted round trip).
I did manage a ride yesterday, a very gentle hour and half, my breathing restricted due to completely blocked sinuses!
Out again this afternoon for another ride which was a little easier but still lots of snot. I definitely feel better than I did and now confident that I can get through the next week.
Tomorrow, the plan is to meet up with friends for a dog walk on the beach which will be fun and also a chance to aid recovery.
been a busy one this week, yoga Monday, kettlebell Tuesday, bodyweight wednesday, Thursday was xmas drinks with old friends so went for a 5k run before work, got under 30mins for 1st time, then skateboard Friday lunchtime, and today dropped wife n kids at panto then a nostalgic ride through the claggy mud & brambles of bridleways on the downs, was treated to an owl circling and divebombing below me
Just a decent walk for me. Maybe 7k. Initially to the bike shop to finally buy a new winter tyre. As I took the dog I just carried on along the riverside.
I’ve been plodding away at this reasonably successfully this year - in previous years I’ve seemed to get lurgied around day 15-20 and fallen off the wagon. I managed a good mix of Zwift, 20km off-road commutes, and hill days until the last couple of weeks, when we’ve hit the pre-Christmas manic phase at work. I’ve ended up recording a lot of my late evening dog walks for the purposes of keeping my tally going on Strava, when I spent 4 days in the last fortnight building raised beds and prepping wild flower planting areas at the local primary school, which I couldn’t realistically record, but which felt like a good outdoor workout!
Bonus day today.
Went to bed after reading Kramer’s sleep thread and woke up extra early!
Decide that I would cycle to the beach with a tailwind, meet the wife and mates. We had a two and half hours on the beach with the dogs and a lift home.
Now with feet up watching the football.
Day 92 (16 dec) - turbo session 42.75 km in 85 minutes at 183w, need to get a new app as the wahoo base app is a bit dull. Walked Willa later for 30 minutes.
day 93, after a short rubbish sleep, morning swim 4.4 km (2.7 miles) in 89 minutes, longest swim to date according to Strava, not fast, but my pace dropped off hugely towards the end. Walked Wombat with Soph for 32 minutes later. Very tired now.
one week to go !
Knackered today through lack of sleep. I had to get up early, so fitted my new winter tyre before breakfast but was too knacked to take the bike anywhere meaningful.
I ended up driving up to a local hill and did a circular route for an hour. Bloody windy on the tops so not such a bad call to ditch cycling.
Day 93 - one week to go!!
Another hour and a half indoors with Zwift and weights but I did get my Xmas tree up.
Saw Santa too!!
Day 94 - turbo session, 70 minutes 36km at constant 193w. Was using an old pair of trainers and flat pedals, but today I threw them away and used my new 510s with some nice flat pedals and that is soooo much better.
6 days to go.
Unfortunately not been able to keep up with this, due to motivation, pains, sprains etc. However, it has definitely increased my exercise intensity and upped my overall level of exercise. Hoping next year I can complete it, but I bow out happy.
Keep going everyone. Great effort.
Half an hour on Zwift as I did the Restrap Solstice ride yesterday in dreadful weather, rained for 8 hours straight.
The typhoon blowing me along the lang whang at 30 mph was a nice way to finish the day right enough.👌
I won't be keeping it up after Christmas, it's been good and I will do something just not every day.
Out for the club Xmas gravel ride last night. Wish I'd lost weight, however, I have at least maintained and not put any on, despite keeping various winemakers in business and I seriously need to get help for my crisps addiction 🤣.
I’ve just done an hour of weights that I didn’t do yesterday.
Jnr has just asked if I want to go for a run? I’m not sure what to do.
Day 95 - I've not been in the water for a while so we had a day trip to a very windy and wavy Loch Ness.
The water was about 7.5C, which is quite a bit warmer than our local lochs,
The waves were a bit mental at times though. Swimming was tough and we kept getting swept back to the shore
A great laugh though.
I also treated myself to a wee yoga session with Kassandra earlier this evening. FWIW I find the combination of cold water and yoga is great for muscle recovery.
Another gym sesh. It’s nice and quiet in the evenings right now. No meatheads!
@thestabiliser - commiserations, but kudos to you too for keeping at it. ✊
Decline Jnr’s invitation for a run last night, no point in overdoing it this late in the game!
Finished my last job by midday so had a lovely road ride this afternoon.
I have just been informed that although everyone is now on holiday, I’m free all day tomorrow. Might be nice to mark the Solstice with a long ride. If the forecast is dry, could be on the cards.
Day 95 (dec 19th) - 2 mile swim in 67 minutes and a grey wet gloomy lunchtime walk by the thames in the city for 45 minutes 4.62 km and walked the long way home for another 45 minutes at 4.2 km.
day 96 - turbo session 33 km in 65 minutes at constant 196w.
day 97 - 3 km swim in 59 minutes. Done, off this afternoon for an afternoon to evening catch-up with my old dev team from the 90’s. Tomorrow’s update will very likely be super lightweight at best.
ONLY 3 days to go, congrats to everyone who has made it this far. Superb effort.
Short run after work on Monday round eyam/follow.
Hilly ride on the road doing Christmas card deliveries around Sheffield yesterday.
Walked to dentist then into town this morning as super windy for a ride, planning to go bouldering this afternoon.
Glad to hear what everyone is getting up to.
I went for a lunch time run today. I never go for a run at lunch time. It was OK. I survived. The homeward leg, however, running into Storm Pia's headwind quite literally took my breath away. 😂 Fingers crossed its a bike ride tomorrow, parkrun on Saturday, then a traditional, for me, bike ride on Xmas Eve.
Good luck to you all, you're nearly there!
I just thought that I'd pop this up in case anyone is looking for inspiration for their next challenge - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-67708818
Day 97 - some pre-run stretches with Ash and then the planned Solstice Half Marathon. We had a good turn out and split into a few groups. I ended up with the fast squad and seriously thought about pulling out half way round (we were doing two laps). Anyway, I soldiered on fuelled by Active Root drink and some Iron Brew jelly babies, found a fresh pair of legs and finished strong. 2h05 for the HM.
Mince pies at the finish too!!
I've really missed the running and cycling due to my hamstring injury. Abs and upper body exercises following yt videos have kept me going. On Tuesday I stood on the balance board for half an hour continuously, so that was an achievment.
Again today, too windy for cycling so I did an hour of weights this morning in the hope that it might improve later. No such luck so the dogs have enjoyed a two hour walk this afternoon.
Let’s hope the wind has died down by tomorrow!
37 gravel-ish miles today with some of the club folks. Very windy into a headwind, which 'oddly' had vanished as a tailwind when we changed direction 🤔😫 it was a morning out. It was good. It's helping the anxiety a little at a time. Looking forward to finishing this year, and already thinking about how to do more/better/be more effective next year 😂 yoga sounds like a plan 👍🏻
Did park run this morning - fallen off the waggon a bit this week - did a 72 mile ride on Sunday - cream crackered commute on Monday - Tuesday and Wednesday just needed to recover. Back on the bike commuting Thursday and Friday. sick of the incessant rain.............
Day 99 - more Zwift (like almost all of the other 98 days).
congratulations to everyone else that has managed to stick with challenge.
I’m going to finish with a Zwift ride tomorrow and then going to have a couple of days off.
Have enjoyed the great photos some of you have posted.
I hope you all have a good Christmas break and a peaceful New Year.