This time, Rhovaniel really does find the Dúnedain

[Rhovaniel]

“Die, Ranger scum!”

 Rhovaniel barely had time to turn towards the voice when its owner was bearing down on her, jaws open to reveal two rows of carious, dirty fangs sharpened into points, heading directly for her throat. With half a second to react, Rhovaniel flung herself forward, out of its path. Falling to her knees, she turned it into a roll and regained her feet. Her hands went to her hip but before she could pull her sword free the beast had turned and lunged at her again. Strong, muscular legs propelled it forward, the tail ending in a vicious barbed arrow, which it whipped at her as she dodged another neck strike. Black all over, in the fading light of the evening, it would have been hard to see, save for the thick reddish stripes, one each flank, that seemed to glow, and the eyes. Likes like fire.

 “The Emperor send you to do his dirty work?” Rhovaniel asked it, a film of sweat sprouting at her forehead. Having worked her sword free at last, she stood facing the beast, waiting, sizing it up. Cat-like, but clearly a demon of some form, at least as tall as a donkey, with none of the gentleness. It bared its teeth at her, and she caught a nose full of charred flesh.

“I take no orders, Ranger! I am Torrcat.”

 Her blank expression must have given her away, because the Torrcat gave an aggressive snarl and sprang at her again. Its front claws batted away her blade, the back paws crashing into her chest. Rhovaniel hit the dirt and stayed there for a long second, winded, until she felt the heat, and rolled. A thin line of flames erupted from its flared nostrils, engulfing the spot where she’d just been. Then it was on her again, pouncing. She sensed an energy to it, excitement. It’s a cat, and it thinks I’m a mouse, she realised. The thought hardened her resolve.

“Torrcat will feed on Ranger flesh,” it hissed. The front paws were on her chest, crushing her. It weighed a good ten kilos more than she did, and it was hard to get her breath. Not that she wanted to inhale too deeply, with it’s corpse-breath so close it made her stomach clench.

“No, Torrcat wont!” Rhovaniel grunted, swinging her right forearm up. Her elbow was still pinned to the ground, her sword knocked from her grasp, but the dagger that had gotten her out of hot water several times before was in her hand. It didn’t go deep, having only half her arm to use, but it was enough. Too hot blood spilled from the cut she’d made, burning her stomach, but Torrcat, unexpectedly in pain where it was on the verge of victory, gave such a roar it made Rhovaniel cringe to hear it. It leapt to the side, and Rhovaniel went with it, blocking out the pain and snatching up her sword. This time when the fangs came at her, she was ready. Feinting to the left, she swung on her heel, the hilt grasped firmly in both hands as she sliced down. The roar was more a scream this time. Blood, which she now saw was orange, the colour of flame, smoked as it hit the dirt, and Torrcat, it’s neck severed, followed, collapsing onto it’s front paws and staying there. Rhovaniel waited, but it didn’t move again. Only once she was sure it was dead did she let out the breath she’d held.

 

Inside, she was trembling, but outwardly, her hands were steady as she peeled off her leather jerkin and lifted her shirt, worried that the orange blood splattered across it had already darkened to black, to check the damage. Her abdomen was blotchy red, but no blistering. Yet. She sighed. She needed medicine. And, low on supplies, that meant she needed to get to a town. The guildhall was too far in the opposite direction, or she’d have gladly rested there for a night or two.

 Her inspection over, she snatched up several handfuls of grass to clean her sword before looking down at the body of the Torrcat. What was a Torrcat, anyway? She made a mental not to look it up, but then dismissed it from her mind. She had more pressing things to worry about. In the month or more since leaving the guildhall, she had made very little progress towards finding the Dúnedain. Not wasted the month, she reflected, and her newfound strength was going to be needed. But still. She needed to get a move on.

 Leaving the body were it lay, Rhovaniel shouldered her pack, now considerably lighter than it had been, and continued up the road she had been walking along before the attack. To anyone she met, she appeared just another traveller. Armed, and obviously a Ranger of some kind, but a traveller on her way none the less. Inside, her mind was spinning, wondering what the heck a Torrcat was, and what other monsters, unconnected to the Emperor, she’d encounter on her journey. It seemed the further she went from civilisation, and the longer the miles from the Empire seemed to get, the more things seemed to want to kill her. All the more reason to find the Dúnedain, she told herself. Sooner rather than later.  

[Rhovaniel]

I am Rhovaniel. And I seek to find the Dúnedain, to train with them and learn their ways. And this time, I won't fail. 

 

 

So, last challenge saw a lot of change in my personal life, and this one is about settling into that new routine, increasing my training so that I’m ready for the OCRs I have planned, especially W.A.R, which happens the day after this challenge ends. I have not yet run 10k in one go, and that needs to change. Also, I’m stealing Yeti’s goal of cold showers, because getting used to the cold can only be a good thing with the things I have planned. Not looking forward to it though.

 

Keep Breathing. That's the key. Breathe.

 

 

3 runs a week. One sprint, One long run and one 5k. (12 runs total)

 

What I’m hoping to do here is get my body ready for W.A.R. I’ve never run 10k before, and the last thing I want to do is get there and find I just can’t cut it. The sprints will just be the usual 20 minute set one on the treadmill, but I’ll make sure the settings are challenging me each time. The 5k… standard. Toying with the idea of parkrun for this. And the long one – is a psychological batte that I intend to win. It boils down the the ‘I don’t like running, and running for ages is boring’. But I know if I can get myself into the right headspace and start thinking about other stuff, then I absolutely can do distances. So, I’m going to start at 5 miles and slowly increase distance.

 

 

'Women of this country learned long ago: Those without swords can still die upon them'

 

 

Lifting 3 x week still. Will have to take me getting myself organised, but I can do it, so long as I take all I need with me so I can shower and change at the gym and then head to work. I am in the process of working out what programme this will follow. (12 lift days total)

 

 Push-ups, planks and negative/assisted pull ups must happen daily, except Sundays, allocated as full rest day to let my body recover. I don’t have a target for these, because I will just be trying to fit them around my new work schedule, but I’m making a spreadsheet to keep track of them. (24 days total)

 

 

This challenge is going to feature some daily more bodyweight work, because one thing I found frustrating was that during BreakPoint, the push ups and burpees were still pretty weak. But I do look forward to my lifting workouts, so they're staying. I'll make it work with the schedule...

 

'Po-Tay-Toes. Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew'

 

Macros planned and tracked every single day, because I don’t want any ‘variance day’ as an excuse to go off the rails. Instead, I will factor in a treat or two that fit in my macros across the week. No exceptions, no excuses. (28 days total)

 

Back tracking macros for this one. This time, I will plan them, eat to them and damn well crack this whole bad eating thing. It has consistently been the thing I’ve failed on most. No more. I’m in charge now, and I have OCRs to train for! 

 

 

"This will be the death of the Halflings!"

 

 

 

 

 Cold shower every day, 7^th one can be warm. (24 days total)

 

This is one I’m not going to like, but I got to do anyway. Cold showers, daily. I like @iatetheyeti 's ideas for doing it, so, as long as I have cold showers 6 days in a row, the 7^th can be a hot one. That is reward in itself.
  

 

 

 

[SkyGirl]

So excited to follow along!! You've got so much awesomeness going on!

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along again.

[Cheetah]

Following for cold showers.  I used to do Scottish showers, long ago during my vodka martini days.

 

[Elastigirl]

Awesome challenge!

[Maggie-Miau]

Eagerly following! You've got this!

[Rhovaniel]

10 hours ago, SkyGirl said:

So excited to follow along!! You've got so much awesomeness going on!

Thanks. I'm excited for this challenge to begin! 

 

9 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following along again.

Great to have you back!  

 

8 hours ago, Cheetah said:

Following for cold showers.  I used to do Scottish showers, long ago during my vodka martini days.

 

 Brr. Gotta say, I think this is the goal that's going to take the most willpower! Good to have you!

 

7 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

Awesome challenge!

Thanks!

 

7 hours ago, MiaulinTheCat said:

Eagerly following! You've got this!

Thank you, mellon nin. I can't wait to get started!

[Rhovaniel]

I'm not counting Zero Week as part of my challenge (mainly because I'm still in Spain) but I figure there's no harm in posting daily anyway. Helps keep the habit. 

 

Yesterday, shopping. M needed new trainers since his literally fell apart, and I bought a pre paid SIM for the router and used it up immediately downloading programmes to watch. I regret nothing . We got back and M headed for the beach, but despite the threat of a thunderstorm today, I chose to stay here. It was a long morning shopping (M initially thought we could maybe download what we wanted to watch using the centre's free wifi but it kept failing) and I just didn't have it in me to lie on the beach doing very little. The book I'm currently on is one my Mum bought me for my birthday. The Girl on the Train. It's... well, it's well written, and the story is engaging, but also depressing and made me feel somehow down. So, I'm thinking I'll leave off that one for a bit. I don't like any of the characters, either, but I think that's probably intentional on the author's part. I may switch to the Clive Cussler one I brought (one of many similar books I inherited when my grandparents passed, because I'm pretty much the only reader in the family.) 

 

 Sleep, however, was horrendous. I am exhausted. I went to bed around 10, I think, and just could. not. sleep. At all. My thoughts bounced all over the place and even when I attempted to rein them in and focus on breathing, playing on my phone for a little bit, counting sheep even, nothing worked. Got up after an eternity (actually about two hours but hey) to use the loo, back to bed.... nothing. I think I must have snatched a few hours here and there, but not much. I both look and feel zombie today. 

 

Today's plan then, is just to go for a walk, come home, watch some stuff I downloaded (mostly documentaries because I'm fun like that ) and continue filling out my macros lists. I haven't got set in stone macros for next week yet because I'm struggling to work out what to get for lunches since I'll be hitting the ground running and pressed for time. My flight lands at midday, shops close around 4pm, and I'm back at work for 9am the next day. So, I figure so long as I know what dinners I want to prep, and what snacks to get, I can figure out the lunches that fit with the macros I've got left when I actually go shopping. Breakfasts are easy. I miss my smoothies, so I'm good having those all week. 

[jonfirestar]

Following, of course for all your awesomeness. Lack of sleep is no joke, I really can relate at the moment Although I'm not sure if it's worse to be zombified at work or on Holiday. 

 

 

[Rhovaniel]

13 minutes ago, jonfirestar said:

Following, of course for all your awesomeness. Lack of sleep is no joke, I really can relate at the moment Although I'm not sure if it's worse to be zombified at work or on Holiday. 

 

 

I'd say work. At least here, I can take a nap during the day if exhaustion gets to me too much  

[jonfirestar]

9 minutes ago, Rhovaniel said:

I'd say work. At least here, I can take a nap during the day if exhaustion gets to me too much  

Yes, the ability to take a nap is a point for zombification on Holiday but I also loathe the need for sleep so I hate the idea of sleeping away my Holiday time. Although, honestly, it doesn't sound like you are enjoying yourself very much and just want it to be over   that does make me sad.

[Rhovaniel]

9 minutes ago, jonfirestar said:

Yes, the ability to take a nap is a point for zombification on Holiday but I also loathe the need for sleep so I hate the idea of sleeping away my Holiday time. Although, honestly, it doesn't sound like you are enjoying yourself very much and just want it to be over   that does make me sad.

Yeah. I'm trying to keep it from M, but I really cannot wait to be home. To be fair, I didn't have overwhelming levels of enthusiasm for this holiday to start with, especially since I've only just got the new job and I'm eager to really get started with that. But beaches are just not my thing, and apart from my little walk to the park, there is very, very little else to do. They're nice for a day or two, that's all. I infinitely prefer active holidays in the Lakes. That's not to say I don't enjoy down time or find it hard to relax, as some have accused me of before. It's just that everyone's idea of relaxation is different. And a beach ain't mine  

 

 We are at least going out to dinner tonight. M's cousin is in town for a few days so we're meeting up with them. It's a change from the norm, at least. 

[Mr_Willes]

Here mainly so I can keep focus on how to step up and following your example in doing so!

[jonfirestar]

9 minutes ago, Rhovaniel said:

Yeah. I'm trying to keep it from M, but I really cannot wait to be home. To be fair, I didn't have overwhelming levels of enthusiasm for this holiday to start with, especially since I've only just got the new job and I'm eager to really get started with that. But beaches are just not my thing, and apart from my little walk to the park, there is very, very little else to do. They're nice for a day or two, that's all. I infinitely prefer active holidays in the Lakes. That's not to say I don't enjoy down time or find it hard to relax, as some have accused me of before. It's just that everyone's idea of relaxation is different. And a beach ain't mine  

Yeah I get it. You should consider making your own set of plans when you've got a holiday like this coming up. I know doing things by yourself in a strange place is scary but it's worth doing for the sake of your own enjoyment. I've no interest with sitting on a beach so when we've got something like that in the pipeline  I'll do the beach  for a day or two and then I've my own set of plans to go with.

[Rhovaniel]

18 minutes ago, mr_willes said:

Here mainly so I can keep focus on how to step up and following your example in doing so!

Well damn. I guess now I really do have to stick to my goals  

 

13 minutes ago, jonfirestar said:

Yeah I get it. You should consider making your own set of plans when you've got a holiday like this coming up. I know doing things by yourself in a strange place is scary but it's worth doing for the sake of your own enjoyment. I've no interest with sitting on a beach so when we've got something like that in the pipeline  I'll do the beach  for a day or two and then I've my own set of plans to go with.

I have tried in the past, but it's difficult since I don't drive over here. I mean, I have enough issues on English roads . In previous years, I've dragged M off to visit a castle or two, and we've tried a theme park an hour or so away, but none of those felt like repeat visit kind of places. I think, though, that next year we may well be taking separate holidays. In any case, I go home way before M. He usually takes a month out here, and won't be coming back till early September. 

[jonfirestar]

1 minute ago, Rhovaniel said:

I have tried in the past, but it's difficult since I don't drive over here. I mean, I have enough issues on English roads

Maybe once you've got a bit more confidence behind the wheel you won't be so intimidated by it. You've only been driving for a few weeks, really.

[Charlie_Quinn]

Of course I'm following my future OCR teammate! 

[Novaurora]

15 hours ago, Rhovaniel said:

 

 

 

This meme illustrates me just thinking about all the running you're about to do.  Love the LOTR theme!!

15 hours ago, Rhovaniel said:

 

3 runs a week. One sprint, One long run and one 5k. (12 runs total)

 

my immediate thought was "5k is a long run"    

 

Good luck with your challenge!  Following because maybe I'll be inspired to run. ha!

[Rhovaniel]

36 minutes ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

Of course I'm following my future OCR teammate! 

Good to see you!

9 minutes ago, Stribs said:

This meme illustrates me just thinking about all the running you're about to do.  Love the LOTR theme!!

 

my immediate thought was "5k is a long run"    

 

Good luck with your challenge!  Following because maybe I'll be inspired to run. ha!

Aha, yeah 5k isn't that short... but I have a lot coming up in my schedule that's going to make 5k look like child's play. I'm hoping all this running is going to make me inspired to run lol. 

 

 

 

So... I just realised, although I somehow knew it, that this challenge begins properly on Saturday. I'm so confused, I thought they started Sundays... ah well. It should only really affect the macros goal, since Saturday I'll be here and Sunday I'll be travelling. Ugh. *palm face*. Alright, so I start the challenge on Hard Mode. Fine. I'll just tackle the oliphaunt head on, shall I?  

It just means that, so long as we don't eat out that last night, I just need to work out a basic meal plan for that day and get the best estimates I can. I think so long as I google typical macros in any given thing, then even without a set of scales I can make a decent go at tracking Saturday. And Sunday... harder, but I'll manage. Probably by entering food as I go, and hopefully I can keep on track that way  

 

[Cheetah]

1 hour ago, Rhovaniel said:

Good to see you!

Aha, yeah 5k isn't that short... but I have a lot coming up in my schedule that's going to make 5k look like child's play. I'm hoping all this running is going to make me inspired to run lol. 

 

 

 

So... I just realised, although I somehow knew it, that this challenge begins properly on Saturday. I'm so confused, I thought they started Sundays... ah well. It should only really affect the macros goal, since Saturday I'll be here and Sunday I'll be travelling. Ugh. *palm face*. Alright, so I start the challenge on Hard Mode. Fine. I'll just tackle the oliphaunt head on, shall I?  

It just means that, so long as we don't eat out that last night, I just need to work out a basic meal plan for that day and get the best estimates I can. I think so long as I google typical macros in any given thing, then even without a set of scales I can make a decent go at tracking Saturday. And Sunday... harder, but I'll manage. Probably by entering food as I go, and hopefully I can keep on track that way  

 

 

Good job having a plan!

[jonfirestar]

1 hour ago, Rhovaniel said:

So... I just realised, although I somehow knew it, that this challenge begins properly on Saturday. I'm so confused, I thought they started Sundays... ah well. It should only really affect the macros goal, since Saturday I'll be here and Sunday I'll be travelling. Ugh. *palm face*. Alright, so I start the challenge on Hard Mode. Fine. I'll just tackle the oliphaunt head on, shall I?  

It just means that, so long as we don't eat out that last night, I just need to work out a basic meal plan for that day and get the best estimates I can. I think so long as I google typical macros in any given thing, then even without a set of scales I can make a decent go at tracking Saturday. And Sunday... harder, but I'll manage. Probably by entering food as I go, and hopefully I can keep on track that way  

 

 

It's your challenge. Start it on the day you want. Don't cause yourself any additional grief by thinking you need to start the very last day of your holiday!

[starpuck]

  3 Lifts a week, 3 Runs a week got me into one of my happiest places physically.   I wish I could get back to that, but I just don't have any running goals and don't actually enjoy it.  :/   Perhaps it's time I find some other cardio-ish thing!  Dancing?  Sword Lightsaber Fighting?   Hmm yes.

 

Nice solid goals.   Sticking around so I can mooch some of this awesome grit and determination!

[Rhovaniel]

3 hours ago, jonfirestar said:

 

 

It's your challenge. Start it on the day you want. Don't cause yourself any additional grief by thinking you need to start the very last day of your holiday!

I did think of that, and then thought it would be too much like giving myself a pass... but then, so long as I ended the challenge later, it should balance out? Hmm. It does make sense to start on Monday. That way, W.A.R can count as my long run of the final week without me having to worry about over-training... damn. I was all ready to tackle the first few days of macros like:

 

 

Common sense prevails (as much as the masochist in me thinks 'ah what the heck, I can do it!) and my challenge, goal wise, will start Monday. 

[Rhovaniel]

3 hours ago, Starpuck said:

  3 Lifts a week, 3 Runs a week got me into one of my happiest places physically.   I wish I could get back to that, but I just don't have any running goals and don't actually enjoy it.  :/   Perhaps it's time I find some other cardio-ish thing!  Dancing?  Sword Lightsaber Fighting?   Hmm yes.

 

Nice solid goals.   Sticking around so I can mooch some of this awesome grit and determination!

Hey, good to see you! And if running isn't your thing (if I wasn't constantly signing up to stuff like BreakPoint and OCRs it wouldn't be mine either) then you should absolutely find something that you do enjoy! Cycling, rowing machines, even hiking or rucking!

 

So, this is the most exercise I'll have done consistently in pretty much ever, so I'm hoping that planning it out in a schedule will help. Those of you that do balance heavy training schedules, would you mind looking over what I'm proposing for Week One and see if it's feasible? Thinking particularly of @jonfirestar and @Charlie_Quinn here. 

 

Monday: NF Academy Gym A (Goblet squats, elevated push ups, one arm dumbbell row and farmers walks). 

Tuesday: 5k run (to be completed before or after work, preferably before)

Wednesday: NF Academy Gym B (Goblet lunges, Dumbell OHP, assisted chin up, planks, wall slide), Box Fit (maybe), Yoga (definitely)

Thursday: Sprint Intervals (20 minutes, I think there's 8 sprint segments in total. After work probably), yoga (because I'm gonna need the recovery stretching...)

Friday: Long run (before or after work. Probably after)

Saturday: Gym! Lift all the things!

Sunday: Rest Day. 

 

I logged into the Academy for the first time in months and though I quit doing the workouts because I was itching to try deadlifts and bench presses and back squats, I have dumbbells, a pull up bar and will soon be investing in a resistance band. So, I can work out at home and it takes the pressure off to race through the workout and then get ready to drive to work.