C_Q: "Why don't we just wait here for a little while.....see what happens?"

[Charlie_Quinn]

It's winter. It's cold, it's dark, and it's slightly depressing.

That sounds like the setting of one of the best horror movies ever made.

 

 

Welcome to my horror themed challenge! Happy New Year everyone! 

 

My challenge goals remain the same as the last few challenges - running, strength and nutrition - with most of the emphasis on running. My long runs haven't been very long recently, so I'll be slowly increasing my distance on my long runs each week, with an aim of doing a long run of at least 12 miles by the end of February.

 

1. "Mac wants a flamethrower!"

 

- Run 3 times a week (Wednesday, Friday, and a long run on Sunday)

Pretty straight forward really. I just need to get out and run, regardless of how cold and miserable it is.

- Make 2 of my long runs hard trail runs

I don't have a lot of interesting trails nearby so I have to travel to get to the good places. Because of this, I can't do this every week. As my marathon in July is a trail run with lots of elevation, I need to start logging some miles on the tough trails.

 

2. “No tears please, it’s a waste of good suffering.”

 

- Attend British Military Fitness (BMF) once a week (Tuesday)

BMF is a bootcamp style class that's run by ex service men and women. I started it last month and I absolutely love it. It's all done outside so it's damn cold and sometimes wet and muddy too. But I love the group setting as it really pushes me to do more than I would on my own.

- Bouldering once a week OR lifting if unable to boulder (Thursday)

I love bouldering, but it's not always possible to get to the climbing gym every week. So if I can't get there, I'll sub this with a lifting session.

- Do additional push up and pull up sets twice a week

BMF classes tend to involve a lot of push ups and I really suck at them. So I want to work on these outside of class so I'm not struggling to complete the circuits during the session.
 

3. "I will not be threatened by a walking meat loaf!"

 

- Plan meals weekly

I don't do a meal plan and this results in me making up dinners on the spot, which might not be as healthy as they could be. I'll meal plan for the following week on a Thursday or Friday and then I can go buy what I need from the supermarket so I don't have to do any top up shops mid-week

- Have one meat free day a week

When meal planning, I want to make one day a week a meat free day. This will mean making a vegetable based meal, not a cheese and pasta meal!

- No more than two treats a week

I've done this for the last few challenges and I've found it really helpful to control my snacking at work. 

 

I'll be starting this challenge from Jan 1st, but I'll log any activity here until then. In the mean time, stay safe and warm everyone.

[Mr_Willes]

a running we will go

a running we will go

heigh ho, the dairy-o,

a running we will go!

 

But why, why for god sakes, the cold, i hatez the cold... (and doesn't even get that cold around our parts!)

 

Still don't want to miss this!

[Wild Wolf]

Following! Yay for Horror themes  

 

49 minutes ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

Bouldering once a week OR lifting if unable to boulder (Thursday)

I love bouldering, but it's not always possible to get to the climbing gym every week. So if I can't get there, I'll sub this with a lifting session.

 

You know I love this goal!

 

 

Wolf

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along again to watch you beast your way through life.

[Maigs]

Following for some running motivation

[Cheetah]

Following!

[Koaladle]

 

I'll be lurking.

[jonfirestar]

Following along! 

[iatetheyeti]

Oh I am so very much here for this!

 

[EricMN]

My Mud sistah.

[Kestrel Grey]

Following!

16 hours ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

It's winter. It's cold, it's dark, and it's slightly depressing.

That sounds like the setting of one of the best horror movies ever made.

 

- Run 3 times a week (Wednesday, Friday, and a long run on Sunday)

Pretty straight forward really. I just need to get out and run, regardless of how cold and miserable it is.

 

 

You are one tough woman.

[Charlie_Quinn]

20 hours ago, Mr_Willes said:

a running we will go

a running we will go

heigh ho, the dairy-o,

a running we will go!

 

But why, why for god sakes, the cold, i hatez the cold... (and doesn't even get that cold around our parts!)

 

Still don't want to miss this!

 

This is coming from a guy that did a 10km race in the snow. 

 

20 hours ago, Wild Wolf said:

Following! Yay for Horror themes  

 

 

You know I love this goal!

 

 

Wolf

 

Damn, that guy is gooood. Good to have you here my friend!

 

20 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following along again to watch you beast your way through life.

 

 

19 hours ago, Maigahane said:

Following for some running motivation

 

19 hours ago, Cheetah said:

Following!

 

Good to have you both here.

 

17 hours ago, Koaladle said:

 

I'll be lurking.

 

 

All these horror gifs is making me want to have a horror movie marathon

 

12 hours ago, jonfirestar said:

Following along! 

Hey Jon! I hope you had a lovely Christmas.

 

11 hours ago, iatetheyeti said:

Oh I am so very much here for this!

 

 

Pinhead still freaks me out. Welcome!

 

9 hours ago, EricMN said:

My Mud sistah.

 

How are you doing my mud brother? Excited for the new year race season to start?

 

5 hours ago, Kestrel Grey said:

Following!

 

You are one tough woman.

 

Thanks! It's not nearly as cold as most places this time of year though. I'm just a wimp when it comes to the cold!

[Emerald Eagle]

I don't particularly like horror movies (they give me nightmares) but I'll be following along. I am thankful it doesn't snow Down Under (unless you specifically go looking for it).

[Mr_Willes]

1 hour ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

This is coming from a guy that did a 10km race in the snow. 

 

It was the URBAN trail run, half of it was through buildings!

 

Still, you got me, didn't expect that answer, all i can think of when someone mention the cold is those agonizing cold showers Wolfie made me do....

[Salinger]

Awesome theme, you know i love ALL THE HORROR!!!!

 

You will do amazing CQ, you are one of, if not THE, strongest woman i know. And you inspire me to do better. SO thanks for that i will follow you and cheer you on as we go. 

 

x

[iatetheyeti]

2 hours ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

Pinhead still freaks me out. Welcome!

 

Not gonna lie, I absolutely love the Hellraiser films. They're actually ridiculous, and only get more so as they go on, but I enjoy them regardless.

 

...I think I'm gonna have to do a Hellraiser marathon at some point soon, it's been a while!

[PrincessMononoke]

Following! I don't really watch horror movies. So I don't get any of the movie references, Except stranger things. I want a Eleven ;).  lol but I love your goals! Now take em down. 

 

[Charlie_Quinn]

4 hours ago, EmeraldEagle said:

I don't particularly like horror movies (they give me nightmares) but I'll be following along. I am thankful it doesn't snow Down Under (unless you specifically go looking for it).

 

Hi there. I LOVE horror movies, but it's hard to find good horror movies anymore. I love to re-watch the classics though. I may have to watch American Werewolf in London this weekend.

We don't get a lot of snow here either. We got a bit mid December and then earlier this week we had a small flurry, but the rain soon got rid of any that snow that settled.

 

4 hours ago, Mr_Willes said:

 

It was the URBAN trail run, half of it was through buildings!

 

Still, you got me, didn't expect that answer, all i can think of when someone mention the cold is those agonizing cold showers Wolfie made me do....

 

How could I forget the cold showers

 

3 hours ago, Salinger said:

Awesome theme, you know i love ALL THE HORROR!!!!

 

You will do amazing CQ, you are one of, if not THE, strongest woman i know. And you inspire me to do better. SO thanks for that i will follow you and cheer you on as we go. 

 

x

 

I forgot you were a big horror fan. When we eventually get to meet up (it's gonna happen some day) we've got to have a horror night. 

Aw thanks Sal. You're the best!

 

2 hours ago, iatetheyeti said:

 

Not gonna lie, I absolutely love the Hellraiser films. They're actually ridiculous, and only get more so as they go on, but I enjoy them regardless.

 

...I think I'm gonna have to do a Hellraiser marathon at some point soon, it's been a while!

 

I only remember the first Hellraiser. I'm sure I've seen some of the later ones, but I can't remember them. Maybe they were too ridiculous to stick in my mind! I do enjoy a 'so bad it's good' horror movie, though. 

 

2 hours ago, PrincessMononoke said:

Following! I don't really watch horror movies. So I don't get any of the movie references, Except stranger things. I want a Eleven ;).  lol but I love your goals! Now take em down. 

 

 

Hi! Thanks for following. Eleven is awesome. I really enjoyed Stranger Things. I'm glad it's getting another season, although apparently we'll have to wait till 2019 for it. 

[Charlie_Quinn]

Not had a lot going on in the last few days. Been working from home, but there hasn't been a lot to do. Because I've got to stay near the laptop and phone, I've basically been sitting on my butt watching TV and mindlessly snacking. There is still a lot of Christmas food and drink around the house and I've been trying to offload it so I don't eat it all! The drink is getting kept though. I'm not giving away Sailor Jerry's rum to anyone! The will power was non-existent yesterday and I ate a stack of chocolate coins. I felt sick all night thanks to that binge and ended up curled up in a ball on the sofa all night with a belly ache. At least they're gone now so they can't hurt me anymore. But I did manage to get a lot of housework done today at least. All the boxes from Christmas have been dismantled ready for recycling, the rubbish has been emptied, the laundry is done and I just need to do a quick vacuum.

 

Exercise should be better from today. In a little while, Stu and I are going to do a bodyweight workout together (not like that) and then later, we're going to chill out and watch a few episodes of Black Mirror season 4. I love this series so much. But we'll just watch a couple, because tomorrow we're planning on taking a drive up to Ashridge estate to so a 6 mile run together. It'll be a tough 6 miles over hilly trails, with a hike up Ivinghoe Beacon at the mid-way point.

Spoiler

This is Ivinghoe Beacon

 

 

This will be good practice for next weekends 6 mile cross country run that I forgot all about. I got the email info for it this morning and the email said "warning: this is a tough course". So that's nice. I guess.

[Rhovaniel]

25 minutes ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

In a little while, Stu and I are going to do a bodyweight workout together (not like that)

My mind didn't even go there, until yours did...

 

Following to watch you smash it  

[Mr_Willes]

21 minutes ago, Rhovaniel said:

My mind didn't even go there, until yours did...

 

Following to watch you smash it  

 

Oow there's gonna be a live stream?

 

[Charlie_Quinn]

33 minutes ago, Rhovaniel said:

My mind didn't even go there, until yours did...

 

Following to watch you smash it  

 

You know who I blame for all the innuendos?

This guy:

9 minutes ago, Mr_Willes said:

 

Oow there's gonna be a live stream?

 

 

But don't ever change, my friend.

[Mr_Willes]

34 minutes ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

But don't ever change, my friend.

 

[Charlie_Quinn]

Week Zero - Friday and Saturday

 

 

It's been a good few days. Friday's at home workout with Stu got a bit out of hand. We decided to do push up pyramids; one of you does one rep then the other person does one, you then do two and then do two and so on until you get to eight and then you work your way back down to one.  We did a few sets of these. When I couldn't do anymore push ups - even on my knees - I subbed in burpees instead. It was brutal! Both of us have spent today complaining about how much our arms hurt. 

 

Today we headed over to Ashridge and did our 6 mile run. I'm really impressed with how Stu did. He hasn't done 6 miles in a long time and he managed to run nearly all of it (there were some sections we were forced to walk as it was really slick with mud) and he got a third of the way up the beacon before having to walk. I did about the same, which was good considering I walked all of the ascent last time. I'm feeling good about my 6 mile XC race next week now.  It was also really really windy today. Standing on top of the beacon, you could lean into the wind and it would hold you up. It was pretty cool and I wish I'd got a picture of me doing it.

 

I'm all prepped for my nutrition goal for next week. I wrote a meal plan and broke it down into items we needed from the supermarket. We then went food shopping and stuck to the list. Not only did we walk out of there with everything we needed and no junk, we got food shopping done in under 30 minutes. Win, win!

 

Only 1 more day of 2017! I'm so hyped for 2018 to begin! 

[iatetheyeti]

1 hour ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

We decided to do push up pyramids; one of you does one rep then the other person does one, you then do two and then do two and so on until you get to eight and then you work your way back down to one.  We did a few sets of these. When I couldn't do anymore push ups - even on my knees - I subbed in burpees instead. It was brutal!

 

Might have to pinch this for future use, burpees and all!

 

Sounds like a good run, unless the wind was a head wind? I imagine that would have been fairly rough if it was!