Jarric Rolls High

[Jarric]

Jarric Rolls High

 

I didn't run a challenge for the last challenge cycle, partially through lack of organisation and partially because I buggered off for a lovely week in Ireland right in the middle of it. Had a lovely time there, visited about a dozen old castles, abbeys and cathedrals, and saw a lot of the beautiful Irish countryside.

 

Since I've been back I've been watching a load of High Rollers and Critical Role, so why not have another D&D themed challenge?

 

Giant's Strength - 15XP

I've spent the last couple of weeks working on a new lifting plan for myself, and then promptly decided to scrap that and join my local Crossfit box instead! Went to see the place on Saturday and it seems really nice so I'm going to make the jump and try out a three month membership.

 

Week zero of this challenge will be the last heavy week in my lifting cycle, and week one will be deload week, each with a goal of two lifting sessions per week. After that I'll start Crossfit and the goal will be three sessions per week.

 

 

Hero's Feast - 10XP

Simple enough and a goal that's worked for me in the past. I know what real food is, so I'm going to eat that with two variances per week. A variance can be a course, but not a whole meal.

 

 

Attack of Opportunity - 10XP

I want to keep working on my pullups because they're cool and they're good for climbing and obstacle courses and all the things.

 

I struggle to get long pull-up sessions in, so I'm going to give "grease the groove" pull-ups a go. Inspired by one of @Charlie_Quinn's past challenges I've got my pull-up bar hung over my kitchen door, and I'll have to do a pull-up every time I want to go into the kitchen. I'll keep a note of how many I manage each day and report it here.

 

 

Prestidigitation - 10XP

Lovingly stolen from @DarK_RaideR's current battle log, before I sit down to watch TV of an evening I need to do something to improve my habitat - cleaning, tidying, hoovering, throwing stuff away etc.

 

 

Pencils and Paychecks - 5XP

This goal is so regular that I barely need to write it here, but I liked the name for a goal. £50 weekly budget, and I've got a jar for change left over at the end of the week.

 

 

 

The Main Quest

One of my main goals this year was to run in the OCR World Championship. I opted against running in the main event for a variety of reasons, one of which is that it means I get to run in the fun charity wave with @jonfirestar, @Rhovaniel and @Charlie_Quinn. Really looking forward to that, it's going to be a great event. And then two weeks after that I get to run Nuclear Fallout with these guys, and I get to see @iatetheyeti who's coming down too  .

 

[DarK_RaideR]

Interested to read you're giving Crossfit a go, it should help a lot with your pull-up goal and OC running in general. Following, of course. Good luck in your challenge.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along. I've heard a Ranger or two has dabbled in Crossfit, so you should be in good company  

[jonfirestar]

2 hours ago, Jarric said:

One of my main goals this year was to run in the OCR World Championship. I opted against running in the main event for a variety of reasons, one of which is that it means I get to run in the fun charity wave

I'd love to see you have a shot at the main course because you are one of the few people I know who I think would have a real shot at getting through the course and keeping your band! I can't say that I'm upset about you running the Sunday charity wave instead, mind  See you then, mate! 

[Salinger]

Have amazing fun this challenge, hope your Irish holiday was fabulous x

[starpuck]

Ooooh I love your goals and the titles you gave them!

Also so glad to see ya back here after your break!

 

So much excite!

 

[Jarric]

9 hours ago, DarK_RaideR said:

Interested to read you're giving Crossfit a go, it should help a lot with your pull-up goal and OC running in general. Following, of course. Good luck in your challenge.

 

Yeah, I certainly hope so. Really excited to give it a try. And thanks dude!

 

8 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following along. I've heard a Ranger or two has dabbled in Crossfit, so you should be in good company  

 

Really? I never would have though Crossfit would be a Ranger thing... Good to have you mate.

 

7 hours ago, jonfirestar said:

I'd love to see you have a shot at the main course because you are one of the few people I know who I think would have a real shot at getting through the course and keeping your band! I can't say that I'm upset about you running the Sunday charity wave instead, mind  See you then, mate! 

 

There's always next year man. I couldn't complete, or get close to completing, one of the obstacles at Nuclear, so I'm not as sure about whether I could keep my band now. This way will be more fun, and I'll know what to expect for next year.

 

6 hours ago, Salinger said:

Have amazing fun this challenge, hope your Irish holiday was fabulous x

 

Thank you! It was absolutely lovely.

 

4 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Ooooh I love your goals and the titles you gave them!

Also so glad to see ya back here after your break!

 

So much excite!

 

 

Thanks! I was planning to have gifs too, but time was short and my gif game has got week. Still, never too late to start in a totally cool and non-awkward way.

 

[Kestrel Grey]

Following!

 

16 hours ago, Jarric said:

 

Attack of Opportunity - 10XP

I want to keep working on my pullups because they're cool and they're good for climbing and obstacle courses and all the things.

 

I struggle to get long pull-up sessions in, so I'm going to give "grease the groove" pull-ups a go. Inspired by one of @Charlie_Quinn's past challenges I've got my pull-up bar hung over my kitchen door, and I'll have to do a pull-up every time I want to go into the kitchen. I'll keep a note of how many I manage each day and report it here.

 

Make sure to steal her strategy of having a partner frequently put random things you need into the kitchen too.

 

[jonfirestar]

10 hours ago, Jarric said:

There's always next year man. I couldn't complete, or get close to completing, one of the obstacles at Nuclear, so I'm not as sure about whether I could keep my band now. This way will be more fun, and I'll know what to expect for next year.

 

 

The only thing that I can figure it might have been was the low rig? Otherwise I haven't encountered much at Nuclear that I'd expect to give you too many problems. But yes this'll be heaps more fun and I fully intend on running the full thing next year. Depending on how quickly I can whip myself into shape over the Winter I might even try my hand at qualifying. 

[Jarric]

7 hours ago, Kestrel Grey said:

Following!

 

 

Make sure to steal her strategy of having a partner frequently put random things you need into the kitchen too.

 

 

Hii! Yeah, I have no doubt that this will happen living with WW.

 

 

2 hours ago, jonfirestar said:

 

The only thing that I can figure it might have been was the low rig? Otherwise I haven't encountered much at Nuclear that I'd expect to give you too many problems. But yes this'll be heaps more fun and I fully intend on running the full thing next year. Depending on how quickly I can whip myself into shape over the Winter I might even try my hand at qualifying. 

 

Actually no, they had up an obstacle that's a load of spokes that go up and down over an "A" frame, and you had to go over it by holding rings and hooking the rings on to each spoke (I hope that makes sense). I've done similar obstacles before but the spacing on these was massive and I just had no hope. I think it may well have been one of the trial obstacles for the world champs given that it was the last event there before them.

[Jarric]

W1D1 - Monday

Giant's Strength - Lifted! (1/2 for week)

Hero's Feast - 1 variance (1/2 for week)

Attack of Opportunity - 2 pullups (2 for week)

Prestidigitation - Nothing (0 minutes cleaning for week)

Pencils and Paychecks - £42/£50 remaining

 

So I lifted yesterday morning. Plan was to work up to max reps at 60kg (~132#) on bench, but the guy who was spotting me gave me some assistance on the last couple of reps so whilst I hit 5 reps I don't really know how much of that was me  . He did then persuade me to go up to 70kg (~154#), and assisted on all of the reps, so I at least got a good workout. After that I was supposed to be working up to 85kg (~187#) for squats, and I got there but chickened out after 2 reps as I wasn't feeling solid enough. Still, it was hard work and I was tired afterwards so I guess it's done something.

 

In the evening I was at hopalong's house for dinner, and he made pizza so that used up a variance early on. Snooker in the evening and a generally chilled out, silly night was had.

 

I did forget to do my gtg pullups in the morning (in my defence I hadn't posted the challenge at that point) and I wasn't at home in the evening, so I only got in 2! Hopefully that's the lowest it'll get all challenge.

[jonfirestar]

1 hour ago, Jarric said:

 

Actually no, they had up an obstacle that's a load of spokes that go up and down over an "A" frame, and you had to go over it by holding rings and hooking the rings on to each spoke (I hope that makes sense).

I think I know what you mean. It sounds completely impossible to me! 

 

1 hour ago, Jarric said:

So I lifted yesterday morning. Plan was to work up to max reps at 60kg (~132#) on bench, but the guy who was spotting me gave me some assistance on the last couple of reps so whilst I hit 5 reps I don't really know how much of that was me  . He did then persuade me to go up to 70kg (~154#), and assisted on all of the reps, so I at least got a good workout. After that I was supposed to be working up to 85kg (~187#) for squats, and I got there but chickened out after 2 reps as I wasn't feeling solid enough. Still, it was hard work and I was tired afterwards so I guess it's done something.

 

That sounds like one heck of a workout. Well done man! 

[DarK_RaideR]

1 hour ago, Jarric said:

Actually no, they had up an obstacle that's a load of spokes that go up and down over an "A" frame, and you had to go over it by holding rings and hooking the rings on to each spoke (I hope that makes sense).

Well that sounds familiar...

[Jarric]

8 hours ago, jonfirestar said:

That sounds like one heck of a workout. Well done man! 

 

Cheers dude! Your Monday workout was more intense I think though.

 

8 hours ago, DarK_RaideR said:

Well that sounds familiar...

 

Yeah, just like the one we ran in Ireland, except that the rungs were at least twice as far apart. You would have had no problem - I seem to remember you skipped half of the rungs anyway!

[DarK_RaideR]

9 hours ago, Jarric said:

Yeah, just like the one we ran in Ireland, except that the rungs were at least twice as far apart. You would have had no problem - I seem to remember you skipped half of the rungs anyway!

It's all about swinging wide and maintaining momentum. Remember what happened when I didn't, at the last obstacle. Also, that OCR addicts group hasn't been around for a while, but I'm pretty certain @Charlie_Quinn and @EricMN can give you all the advice needed to train for any obstacle and tackle it on race day.

[jonfirestar]

13 hours ago, Jarric said:

Cheers dude! Your Monday workout was more intense I think though.

I don't know, man! It's all relative. My weights were higher because I am stronger but I never went to actual failure. Especially on the bench because I had no spotter. I think yours was more intense. 

 

 

[Jarric]

W1D2 - Tuesday

Giant's Strength - N/A (1/2 for week)

Hero's Feast - No variances (1/2 for week)

Attack of Opportunity - 9 pullups (11 for week)

Prestidigitation - Nothing (0 minutes cleaning for week)

Pencils and Paychecks - £39/£50 remaining

 

Yesterday was a running day. I hit snooze in the morning and was slightly short on time, and by the end my left hip an groin were really tight and a bit painful, so the planned 5 easy miles plus 5 sprints became 5 easy miles only.

 

In the evening we had a really fun D&D session fighting our way out of the haunted house we were trapped in through a flock of undead crows, slaughtering a barghest and bickering with each other quite a lot! D&D night means I come home, cook, and leave so no housework done, but I did have to go in the kitchen a bit at least to get some pull-ups

[Charlie_Quinn]

Following!

 

On 10/16/2018 at 12:55 PM, Jarric said:

Actually no, they had up an obstacle that's a load of spokes that go up and down over an "A" frame, and you had to go over it by holding rings and hooking the rings on to each spoke (I hope that makes sense). I've done similar obstacles before but the spacing on these was massive and I just had no hope. I think it may well have been one of the trial obstacles for the world champs given that it was the last event there before them.

 

Ninja rings! Yeah, the one at Blast was insanely hard this year. I can do them when the pegs are closer together but I didn't have the reach for the one at Blast. It's all about momentum and using your hips to swing yourself to each peg, just like the hang tough rings. But yeah, that one was a bit mental. 

 

I agree with Jon, I think you would very easily qualify for OCRWC next year and would do really well on the long and short course.

[Jarric]

21 hours ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

I agree with Jon, I think you would very easily qualify for OCRWC next year and would do really well on the long and short course.

 

Flatterer  . Seriously I need to be running a lot faster by next year if I want a shot at qualifying. With some training I think it would be possible for me to complete the course with my band though.

[Jarric]

W1D3 - Wednesday

Giant's Strength - N/A (1/2 for week)

Hero's Feast - No variances (1/2 for week)

Attack of Opportunity - 7 pullups (18 for week)

Prestidigitation - Put the washing away when I got home (15 minutes cleaning for week)

Pencils and Paychecks - £38/£50 remaining

 

Running really short on time today so a very brief update:

• Slept in yesterday so didn't swim. I was worried about not swimming now that I'm leaving the leisure centre in favour of Crossfit, but honestly I probably don't go even every other week, and when I do go it's not for that long, so it's probably fine.
• Managed to get the washing put away before doing the washing up and heading out for snooker. I won, and we won 4-1, which was nice.
• This morning I went out for what should have been a 6 mile run, but after 3 miles my left hip/groin/quad was so tight that I gave it up as a bad job. Leaves me a bit worried for racing at the weekend now :s 

[starpuck]

Your D&D night sounds fun!     Also probably a good idea to cut the run short if there was a nagging pain showing up.   Listening to your body always trumps pushing through for sake of completion.   Took me a long time to learn that, but the more I do it, the more I feel my body respects me back in turn and progress is maintained!

 

[deftona]

Following! Your challenges always make me wanna play snooker...

 

 

[DarK_RaideR]

32 minutes ago, deftona said:

Following! Your challenges always make me wanna play snooker...

Indeed, though I wouldn't dream of having a good enough aim for snooker. 10/10 would still spend a beer-filled evening with (and lose to) Jarric.

[Xena]

How's the hip feeling? Hope it's ok after a little rest.

[Salinger]

Hope all is good Jarric x