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Main Goal This is it. At the end of this challenge, I'll be traveling to Blue Mountain, Ontario, 12 October to 15 October for the 2017 OCR World Championships. I qualified as an Age Group competitor during the Spartan Sprint in Illinois in June, and will be competing in Saturday's 15k Standard Course race in the 50-and-over Age Group. I spent almost a full year building toward this race, but like in years past, I am coming into the fall season at less than my peak. Unlike previous years, however, my issues are not due to injury, but to my now-constant running companion, knee pain of varying intensity due to psoriatic arthritis. I'm coming to grips with this development, and learning when to be smart and back off, and when to push through. First, according to my doctor, the best thing I can be doing is moderate exercise. Now, he and I have a differing opinion on what constitutes "moderate," but that's a different argument. Second, I almost never experience pain while I'm exercising (especially if I'm smart and use KT tape on my knees). Pain comes later, so what I'm really dealing with is post-activity pain management. Knowing those things, and knowing that I now have five weeks until I step into the gate, here's my challenge: Goal: Run so that I don't finish last I've used my knee pain for a crutch for a good two months now, and either I need to come to grips with finishing dead last at Worlds and potentially being pulled from the course as a DNF, or I have to start running with intent. I have five weeks to build up some proficiency here, and I'm not starting from scratch. Goal: Run a minimum of four days per week. Must include a long run (7+ miles) on the weekend. Goal: Work Out so I don't lose my grip This is a World Championship course. They are bringing in signature obstacles from literally all over the world (Dragon's Back, Urban Sky, others I won't know about until they are confirmed) that will include at least one long, miserable uphill carry. Last year's race included a half-mile Wreck Bag carry up and down a Black Diamond run and the US OCR Championships at the beginning of this month had a Yoke Carry that people said was a quarter mile of misery. I need to keep up my strength. There will also be a good five or six rigs. I'm pretty proficient at rings and bars and whatnot but vertical grips get me. I've got five weeks to fix the fail here. I haven't abandoned my Grease the Groove pull-up work, but I need to modify it to include towel pull-ups: Goal: Strength Training Classes 2x per week. This includes both weight training and boot camp. Goal: 16 pull-ups per day, at least 8 with the towel Goal: Eat so that I look good in my jersey This may sound ridiculous and vain, but I'm really worried about this. I ordered one of the USA team jerseys from Legendborne, because while I plan on being able to compete in this sport for a long time, age and arthritis are catching up with me and who knows where the event will be held next year, whether I will qualify, or whether my body will be physically able to handle it. So I dove in and ordered one of these. All reports say that they fit tighter than my North Star Spartans jersey, and I have two of those and my GF doesn't prefer my tight-fit style. Legendborne doesn't have a loose-fit option, so I'm going to get something that fits tight like the above, only it won't come with the pre-sculpted six-pack as shown in the image above. My jersey will be here before the start of this challenge and I'm worried it's going to fit like a sausage casing. I'd be completely screwed, but I know what works for me as far as macros and weight loss, and I will be focusing on cutting weight over the next five weeks in order to meet my goal of not looking like I'm going to burst the seams on this thing: Goal: Be at or under my macro goals every day. Goal: Be accountable and Don't Give Up This challenge will be bracketed by Rugged Maniac on the Saturday of Week Zero and end with OCRWC on Saturday of Week Four. I have to stay accountable or I will not meet my goals for this year. This means no disappearing from the boards here. Y'all can't hold me accountable if I ghost out of here. Especially since my challenge recap should conclude with me holding one of these: It won't be gold as that's a podium place... but I want mine. Five Weeks of No Excuses.

Welcome back for another episode of The Exciting Adventures of JediNickD! It was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away that I joined this site and started my first challenge.. World 1 was my first extended stay. I took a hiatus from NF and came back with a new direction for my goals where I warped to World 2, which I defeated in a Boss Fight slaying some mighty big goals. On to World 3 to continue to level up my life! Challenge Lesson "Don't Give in to Hate": From Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (emphasis mine): Yoda: Stopped they must be; on this all depends. Only a fully trained Jedi Knight, with the Force as his ally, will conquer Vader and his Emperor. If you end your training now - if you choose the quick and easy path as Vader did - you will become an agent of evil. Obi-Wan: Patience. Luke: And sacrifice Han and Leia? Yoda: If you honor what they fight for? Yes. Obi-Wan: If you choose to face Vader, you will do it alone. I cannot interfere. Luke: I understand. R2? Fire up the converters. Obi-Wan: Luke! Don't give in to hate. That leads to the Dark Side. Yoda: Strong is Vader. Mind what you have learned. Save you it can. Luke: I will. And I'll return, I promise. It is my personal opinion that "hate" is a strong word. I believe that to be true. If you say you dislike something, then you are conveying just your interest level in it. If you say you hate something, then you are conveying much more. You are saying that you will not tolerate it either. You are drawing a clear line in the sand. For Jedi in Star Wars, that line is like the edge of the Dark Side. Drawing it divides you from the Light Side. The only way back is to cross it removing your hate. There is a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr relating to this thinking which I use often: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that." To remove hate, you must show love, compassion, caring, thoughtfulness, and understanding. This is exactly what Luke does to defeat the Emperor, turning Darth Vader back to the light side to defend his son. The best way to show love, compassion, caring, thoughtfulness, and understanding is to learn about the other side. In the real world, hate is caused by ignorance. If you do not know and understand something which you dislike, then your dislike of it can turn to hate when you are forced to tolerate it. Your dislike boils and boils as you are continually subjected to it making you more and more uncomfortable for reasons that you just do not understand. When you see something for what it is, know it and understand it, then even if you dislike it, you learn to tolerate it, to manage it, to avoid it. I hated rap music when I was young. I didn't get the attraction or connection people had to it. I didn't understand the lyrics. I didn't understand the meaning and motives behind the music. It confused me and made me uncomfortable to listen to it. After growing up, learning about different cultures, meeting people who like rap music, listening to the words and understanding their meanings, I can say that there is rap music I like and listen to and rap music I dislike and avoid, but no rap music I hate. Educating yourself in other cultures is a powerful ally in the real world. When I feel anger towards something, when I find I dislike something and wish not to tolerate it, I respond by getting to know and understand it. I define questions and seek answers instead boundaries and conflict. Hate leads to the Dark Side. Knowledge leads to the Light Side. Side note: I'm almost through the World 1 lessons. Level 18 was the last one I didn't write a strong lesson on, so after that one, I'll be visiting new quotes and lessons. I feel that there is not strong material to pull from The Force Awakens or Rogue One for Jedi lessons (since no Jedi speak in either movie), but there is still useful lessons to write about, which unlike the original and prequel trilogies, has hardly been written about anywhere. After The Last Jedi hits theaters, I'll probably wait a couple challenges before I delve into the lessons to give readers time to view and digest. No need to spoil anything, right? My Main Quest and Mission: My mission is to be the best Jedi I can be. My main quest is always to enhance my overall health, fitness, and knowledge to be prepared for whatever challenges life could throw at me. As a Jedi, I need to be able to help people, whether that is a life threatening situation or just a charitable one. There is no boss level in Jedi training, there is only tomorrow. World 3 Level 6 Challenge: FITNESS: Cardio: Speed and Stamina - 500 min total, 120 weekly. DEX +1, STA +2 Exercise: Lifting and Bodyweight - 300 min total, 80 weekly. STR +1 Flexibility: Stretching and Physical Therapy - 400 min total, 100 weekly. STR +1, DEX +1 Karate: Training and Practice - 600 min total, 150 weekly. STR +1, DEX +1, STA +1 DIET: Weight Control - Lose 1 lb by end of challenge. Never weigh more than 155.4 lbs. Complete measurements before or during Week 1 and again during or after Week 4. Watch portions and make healthy choices for 24 of 28 days. Track "fasting" after dinner nightly. I'm looking to continue to cut down on snacking and desserts after dinner. I need to ensure I have a calorie deficit or I won't continue to lose weight. CON +2 LIFE: Get Stuff Done - Complete (or dedicate at least one hour to) 210 Tasks or Projects, with at least 55 each week, from any of the following areas (minimum for challenge): Toastmasters Communication Practice (6), Toastmasters Leadership Practice (8), Toastmasters Speech and Training Development (8), Mentoring (6), Charity Work (2), Jedi Training (8), Self Preservation (16), Reading (16), Church Work (14), Job Work (10), Business Projects (8), Dishes (18), Laundry (18), Cleaning/Dusting/Vacuuming (18), Other Chores (18), Yard Work (8), Animal Care (24), Home Renovation (4), Auto Maintenance (4), Family Activities (8), Adventuring (6). WIS +2, CHA +2 INCENTIVES! Working hard for CASH! ($183 carried over) REWARD 1: For each week I complete 60 or more tasks, I will put aside $10 to spend how I see fit. I only beat 60 once last challenge, so this will be tough to earn. CONSEQUENCE 1: For any week where I complete less than 55 tasks, I will give up $10 of saved cash. REWARD 2: $5 for each Business Project hour. NEED TO GET MY EXTRA-LIFE PROJECT RUNNING! CONSQUENCE 2: Lose $10 for each week without a Business Project hour. REWARD 3: $1 for each hour working on Jedi Training lessons. CONSQUENCE 3: Lose $5 for each week without working on a Jedi Training lesson. REWARD 4: $1 for each night of fasting after dinner. Fruits and veggies allowed in small quantities, but no dessert or snacking. CONSQUENCE 4: Lose $5 for each day without fasting. Lose $5 for eating more than 2 slices of pizza in any meal. REWARD 5: $1 for each day with a small, healthy lunch. CONSQUENCE: Lose $5 for each day without a small, healthy lunch. BONUSES: $5 for each Home Renovation and Auto Maintenance task. $5 for 10 or more sprints in one workout. (once a week only) $5 for running more than 3.5 miles in a workout. $5 for running below an 8 minute mile. (once a week only) $10 for running below a 7 minute mile. (once a week only) $5 for running 3 miles in less than 30 minutes. (once a week only) PUNISHMENT: Lose $10 each day with weight above 155.4 lbs. TIME FOR SERIOUS BUSINESS!

At the end of August, hubby and I went up to the Apostle Islands for a long weekend. We haven’t had a vacation in probably 7 years - so this was a major event for us after dealing with a lot of life changes, deaths in the family, and putting down our old dog. Trip photos really only show the first day since it rained for the rest of the trip. One of the best parts of the trip, as you can see from the photo album, was the cruise around all of the Apostles, including sidling up to the island sea caves (vs. the mainland caves outside of Bayfield). It’s a three-hour cruise (weather permitting), and so we talked to a few other people who were near us, including a couple who are long-distance bicyclists and who were making a 2-week tour around the whole of Lake Superior. Naturally, we swapped stories of canoeing and kayaking trips and my various foot races and had a good time. One of the cyclists shares a birthday with me (she’s three years younger), and so it felt like a really special trip. After the cruise was done and we’re getting off the boat, one of the cyclists stopped to say goodbye and asked what my next adventure was going to be. I really was dumbfounded for a moment. I was tempted to say that all of my adventures - now that I’m 57 - were now well behind me. But I just couldn’t. For one thing, the guy (named JOE STILLER) could be Ben Stiller’s brother, if Ben Stiller had a brother (I looked!!!), and I felt like it was the end of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, but he was saying “Ok, that was fun, now what are we going to do next?” When I got home, I found that I couldn’t shrug off that question: “What is your next adventure?” I kept coming up with excuses why I couldn’t have any more adventures (I’m unemployed … I’m married …. I’m too old ….. I’m too overweight …. etc.), but the question has just not let me go. What’s your next adventure?? And what is really standing in your way?? In fact, there’s been a lot of managing small goals and just plain survival over the past decade, but I’m coming to a point where I don’t really have much in front of me. I really have NO goals at all right now. And that’s scary. But it is also freeing. So, really, this challenge is about some self care and a respawn. Back in the day (1998 - 2005), as I was part of creating the Jedi Realist movement, I was in great shape. Every day, I was inspired by the goal of being as much of a Jedi as is possible in real life. I trained hard, meditated, studied all of the different ways that we can improve and increase our effectiveness and help others, and I taught both online and in real life. Then the online community tore itself apart, and I lost a lot of myself. With that goal gone its memory sullied, I have drifted. I’m not sure that I can get what I was back, but maybe I can find a new way by taking up the training I used to do and teach at the Temple of the Jedi. (Current spreadsheet) May the Force be with us!

I'm just going to put this here for a moment: Challenge Spreadsheet.