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Most of my challenges have been very similar for the last few months and I've started to feel a little challenge fatigue. I still want to run a challenge, as I know if I don't, I'll get lazy (also, I love it here and love all you guys!) so this challenge is focusing on one thing. Running. Endless Running Christ, these video boxes are big I always have running on my challenge, as it's the thing I do the most, but I suck at keeping to a running schedule. I like running, but I struggle to make it a priority, which is why it's the sole priority this time around. Run 3 times a week - Pass Run more than 3 times a week - Biggus Pass Run less than 3 times a week - None Shall Pass Planned Running Schedule (depending on what races I have that week) Tues: Easy Run Thurs: Speed / Tempo Run Sat: Optional parkrun or Race Day Sun: Long Run or Race Day This challenge is also going to be a makeshift battle log, so I can keep logging my strength workouts and any other stuff I get up to.

This challenge is falling at a weird time. It starts the day after I run a very long hard trail race. Week 2-4 will see me traveling into remote places (for work) and I’m not really sure how much freedom/opportunity I will have for exercise. Weeks 5-6 will see me back at home and scrambling to get ramped up for a marathon ~two weeks after the challenge ends. I’ve known this trip was coming and I worked hard last challenge to get in the best shape I could in advance of the trip (that’s why I signed up for the crazy hard trail race right before my trip). It’s not ideal to have a couple weeks of de-training, but I’m just going to keep up my fitness as best I can. I might need to modify some of the Week 2-4 goals…I just have to see how it plays out a bit. So I’m imagining the trip as a voyage on Serenity: And the crazy nature of this challenge as something straight out of Seinfeld: So my goals…. Running – Weeks 1, 5 and 6 – Total of 80 miles*. Weeks 2, 3 and 4 – At least 3 runs per week totaling at least 10 miles. *This might be pretty hard…week 1 will be recovery, and I’ll start travel at the end of it. Weeks 5 and 6 might be hard to ramp back up this fast. I’ll just have to do what I can safely do. Push-ups!!! 500 pushups (scaled) – Negatives count as one. Full pushups count as 3. (Benchmark, last challenge I managed 307 negatives and 7 full. My biggest full pushup sets were 2/2). Rangerly skills (1) Knots: Practice bowline and trucker’s hitch at least 3 weeks...this one will be useful on my trip! (2) Stars: Look for a different constellation each week...this will fit well with travel (and I'll be working night shift) (3) Cyber-Sorcery: Work through 6 chapters of R book...picked R because I have it on my laptop and my internet access will be spotty. Keep the Brain from Rotting Two non-trashy books. I've had this goal the last two challenges and it's working well for me. Stretch and Strengthen Weeks 1, 5 and 6- Yoga or strength training at least 30 min, twice per week. Weeks 2, 3 and 4…TBA probably chin/pull-ups several times per week and a brief stretching routine.

Epic quests?? The most specific one is to get back to a sub-4 hr marathon. Beyond that, be strong and lean, keep my body in good working order. Live a happy, peaceful yet adventurous life. Run the planShort version: Run 170 miles, complete at least 6 “quality workouts†as RXed. Long version: I’ve signed up for a marathon on November 1 and have worked out a training plan. I’ve run variations on this plan before (Daniel’s Running Formula, Marathon plan A)…it’s HARD, but it works. I’ve had big success with this before, but I’ve also gotten frustrated and given up. I’ve thought about how to work a bit more flexibility into it. If I hit my ideal mileage every week, I would get 209 miles for the challenge. I set 170 as a realistic target, since stuff happens. The plan has two hard scheduled workouts every week, but they aren’t particularly compatible with training with other people. For this challenge, my target will be to do at least 6 of these as specified. For the other 6, I can substitute things like a race, a long run with friends, or a group track workout. This is my major goal for the challenge. +4 STA for the 170 miles, +2 STR for the workouts Find balanceCross-train at least 3x a week for at least 20 minutes. Anything counts. I’ll try to do as much as possible outside, but that’s just for fun. +3 DEX for all workouts complete Keep pushing750 pushups. At least 5 of each session need to be full pushups. The others can be negatives as necessary. +2 STR for all pushups done. Cleanliness is next to Rangerly-nessComplete the “Weekly Home Blessing†(Flylady website), generally on the weekends. Also do a mid-week cleanup (basically just straightening up a bit). Full credit for 10/12 completed. +2 CHA for having a charming home. Win the Kitchen Olympics!Use all the things that are sitting around my kitchen: fondue pot (got it for Christmas >5 years ago, never used), deep fryer (I know not so healthy, but I haven’t used it in years), breadmaker (got as a gift, used once), springform pan, bundt pan, rolling pin, cedar plank, skewers, citrus juicer. Full credit for using at least 6 things.Don’t worry…I’m planning to give away most of the baked goods, and will have friends over when I fire up the deep fryer!+2 WIS.