Coco P Loco

I just hope he doesn't have rabies!!!

So I've been ill and only done one strength workout in the last 2 weeks. I have however, kept running, so with the exception of the Abs challenge, I've been able to keep tracking stuff for the challenges. As last time, I've found it difficult to get the trackers filled 'on-time', but I'm currently up to date. IRL, I signed up for another challenge. It started just after I'd been ill, and that's really why I deprioritised my strength workouts. This challenge was held during the 9 days of the Navrati festival here in India. Called 'NavRun', the challenge was 9 days, 9 colours, 9km - Run, Walk or Crawl! I didn't manage to run 9km each day - a lot of it was walked throughout the day, but I intend to run the full 9km for 9 days next year! So far my running total for September, and Bhag India Bhag stands at 124km!!! So here were the specific things I did in week 2 for the mini's: Rebels: Survival of the Fittest Walk/Run miles - tracked through my fitness band Water intake - I typically drink about 2 litres of water a day, but I'll specifically keep a track Stretching minutes - either Yoga or after-run stretching Assassins: Assassin-ey Tunes Porky Pig (until end of challenge): Minutes of dedicated training - either running or strength training mins count for this Marvin the Martian (week 2): Number minutes studying- Hindi works out nicely here Road Runner (week 2): Metres dedicated running/walking - I guess my running will be split between Porky and Road Runner, as one activity can't count for two categories! Wile E Coyote (week 2): Number of seconds of static holds - I guess this will be planks, to tie in with the Ranger's challenge Rangers: Springfield Gonna Ranger Phase 2: Planks - number of seconds held Now to get the strength training going again!!! Onward to week 3

I did my run yesterday morning (logged on the tracker) and by evening was flat out with a nasty fever, cold and sore throat. Gonna have to take it easy for a few days

Hope you're not too banged up! Take it easy!

So I signed up for multiple team-based mini-challenges again, to keep me on track and accountable for my health & fitness goals First is the Assassins: Assassin-ey Tunes, next is the Rebels: Survival of the Fittest, and finally the Rangers: Springfield Gonna Ranger I also joined the ABSolutely IncredABSble ABSsstravaganza Challenge which is an individual challenge. This really suits me as I love the variety that comes with a different challenge video each week (I get bored easily and am always looking for the next thing to try). Oh, and of course there's my IRL challenge - Bhag India Bhag, with the Pinkathon ladies, where we log our running miles both as individuals and as a team. We started the challenge on 1st September and so far there's 300 or so women (and the odd man) signed up. I'm currently placed 90th with a total of 77km logged and my local team is placed 4th out of 56 teams! So for this 4-week challenge, my goals will be those activities laid out in the mini-challenges I'm taking part in, but what it really boils down to is: · Complete 'Zombies, Run!' 5K workouts 3 times a week · Complete 2 rings/strength/bodyweight workouts a week and 1 Abs workout · Daily self-care (any one of yoga, stretching, reading, meditation, sketching etc…) · Practice Hindi on weekdays So here are the specific things I'll be tracking/doing in week 1 for the mini's: Rebels: Survival of the Fittest Walk/Run miles - tracked through my fitness band Water intake - I typically drink about 2 litres of water a day, but I'll specifically keep a track this week Stretching minutes - either Yoga or after-run stretching Assassins: Assassin-ey Tunes Porky Pig (until end of challenge): Minutes of dedicated training - either running or strength training mins count for this. Pepe le Pew (week 1): Number of new people greeted - Interesting one… I've been picking up many conversations online with runners across India, so I'll keep a track of this! Yosemite Sam (week 1): Minutes of mobility and flexibility work - Yoga here too Tweety Pie (week 1): Number of dishes cooked (min 1 vegetable) - I think I cook at least 4 times a week… and as I'm a vegetarian, there's nearly always at least one vegetable present!!! Rangers: Springfield Gonna Ranger Phase 1: HIIT - number of intervals - will be completed during my 5K training ABSolutely IncredABSble ABSsstravaganza Challenge One abs video to be completed each week - as part of my strength training Off to fill in all the trackers now!!!

Signed up Wooo hoooo... Rebels, here we go!!!

Cool, I started reading the thread from the start, and saw the phase 1 post with date of 6th September and thought I'd missed week one, and only realised I was probably wrong once I was on the tracker and saw nobody else had logged any intervals...

Signed up for the new challenge... In Mumbai we don't get winter. In December - January we have a slightly cooler summer (people here start wearing warm clothes, but I'm still in tank top and shorts) then we have hot summer, then we transition through icky sweaty humidity period until the monsoon starts in mid June (when it sometimes rains and makes everything muddy and is super humid). Then from mid-September the whole thing reverses until we get to December! If only it could be sunny all year round and a pleasant temperature...

@Tanktimus the Encourager I'm confused by the dates... This starts from today, right? Sunday 17th? Either way, I'm in

I've discovered that I'm best motivated when I'm taking part in a team challenge, as I don't want to let the team down! It's easier to stop or make excuses if I'm taking part as an individual. You make a great point, and thankfully, I've never felt any pressure from this wonderful group of people to do anything I didn't want to do (except workout ). And finally, a big THANK YOU to you both for taking the time to write such minis to help motivate and inspire us

Wow, you've been super busy! And I'm now feeling homesick, coz in your high jump pics, the houses in the background look just like my parent's home...

Retrospective: So my 4-week challenge goals were Complete 'Zombies, Run!' 5K workouts 3 times a week Complete rings/bodyweight workouts 2 times a week Daily self-care (any one of yoga, stretching, reading, meditation, sketching etc…) Practice Hindi on weekdays And I can say that these have worked out much better than my previous challenges - Learning: Keep goals simple I chose a bunch of group-based Mini-challenges that complemented my goals, helping me to stick to them - Learning: Choose group-based challenges to keep me on target So, how did I do? Grade: A Complete 'Zombies, Run!' 5K workouts 3 times a week - Done! And far more. Realised that I really enjoy running, and signed up for a running challenge with my local Pinkathon Ladies running group. This goal will continue into my next challenge, as I'm only half way through the program right now. My big challenge is to run a whole 5k without stopping. Complete rings/bodyweight workouts 2 times a week - Done! I'm still loving the rings, and had fun practicing for handstands too (kick-ups, planks, pike planks etc.) The abs challenge also had me complete an extra workout each week Daily self-care (any one of yoga, stretching, reading, meditation, sketching etc…) Done! Self care has revolved mainly through yoga, stretching, reading and meditation, but I've also taken a look at my diet, and tried out a few new options like amaranth (or Rajgira as it's called in India) and mixed seeds. Can now fit into clothes that I last wore 18 months ago - Win! Practice Hindi on weekdays - Ji haan. I've realised that I can understand a little more now, when I'm in the middle of a group who are all speaking Hindi around me. Still can't easily respond to them, but that will come with time and practice! Bonus points: I joined the Pinkathon ladies running group in my area, signed up for the #BhagIndiaBhag challenge (Bhag = Run!) and interact with them all on the local WhatsApp group - great for accountability! I've got up stupidly early on weekends to go out for a nice run around the area just before the sun rises. I've run at 10 or 11 in the morning in sunny and humid conditions, whereas before this would have been an excuse to not do it. I went on my first ever group run, getting up at 3:15am to meet up with the girls for a 10k run/walk to the beach for a Pinkathon training & yoga session. I am sooooooo glad that I used my 20 seconds of courage to dodge past the Fear Monster and sign up for the group run! I didn't sleep properly the entire night before, coz I was so excited/nervous! I had an absolute blast with some fantastic ladies, and to top it off, the rather dishy Milind Soman (Pinkathon co-founder, Model, Iron man etc..) paid a surprise visit to the training session and spoke to us for a good 30 minutes or so... Didn't get a selfie with him, as he charges 20 push-ups per selfie!!! You can, however, see the lower half of my head in the top right corner of the pic - Lol

@SymphonicDan Thanks for checking in!!! Training has been going well, just between exercise, work and life, I haven't had any time to get on the forums! Off to catch up on what everyone else has been up to now...

Thanks for checking in, and sorry for the lack of reply until now. I picked the minis based on the fact that they seemed to be tied in to me overall goals and that worked out great actually! The only downside being that I had no time to spend time on the forums, hence the delay in reply

I went with option 2, coz I saw how long option 1 was and chickened out! I don't think I was as graceful and coordinated as the lovely girls in video, but could sure feel my abs afterwards! Have really enjoyed this challenge, and now one day a week has become my 'abs video' day I think I'll try the abs of steel video next week... If i build up the courage for it!