Theophilus at the Hidden Temple

[theophilus]

Throwback time!

 

 

Round 1: The Moat

 

 

The first hurdle on the way to the temple is getting across the moat, and the first hurdle to fitness is eating well. I'm going to clean up my eating this week by cutting back on eating out and on booze (thanks to @Strickland5 for the inspiration on the booze front). I'll only eat out or drink if it's initiated by someone else. So, wife wants to grab lunch? Sure. But no lonely coffee and muffin on my way to class. Friend wants to grab drinks? Let's do it. But no flying solo for the 9pm beer with Netflix.

 

Round 2: The Steps of Knowledge

 

 

Ah, to sit at the steps of knowledge--enlightened, confident, in a baggy 90s-styled denim dress shirt.  In a somewhat druid-y twist to this challenge, I'm going to focus on mindfulness a bit. I downloaded  Headspace recently, but have been very wishy washy with  it. For the next five weeks, I'll use the app at least five days a week, for at  least five minutes per use.

 

Round 3:  The Temple Games

 

 

You can't get to the temple in the first place without the strength and dexterity of a... 9 year old?!  Guess that says something about the sorry state of my physical strength. I'm going to keep building on my bouldering routine to work on my strength.  This challenge, I'll go to the rock gym for an hour at least twice a week.

 

Round 4: The Temple Run

 

 

 

The holy grail, the piece de resistance, the quest of my childhood dreams: the temple run! So what if the show's been off the air for more than 2 decades? So what if I'm older than Kirk Frogg at this point? I'm running the temple! And I'm bringing a stricter training plan with me:

 

Mondays: Easy Run

Wednesdays: 20-30 mins speed work

Thursday: Easy Run

Saturdays: "Long" Run  (3 mi, 3 mi, 4 mi, 4 mi, 5 mi)

 

 

 

 

[theophilus]

I didn’t really do a week zero challenge this go-round, but physical activity the last few days has provided some good insights. 

 

First, I think I have a breathing problem I need to address. A few months back, I had a routine exercise test done with my heart doc. After the test they asked if I’d even been diagnosed with a respiratory condition or had a history of bronchospasms. I guess my breathing pattern was a bit off. Never followed up on that. Then, I went running with the Mrs. this past Friday and we were trying to have a conversation. I was having the hardest time talking, which I just chalked up to not being in great shape. But my wife remarked on my breathing pattern and encouraged me to get it checked out. So, yeah, I guess I gotta look into that. 

 

On a different note, I brought the family along to the rock gym Saturday morning. My wife climbs occasionally but the kids have never been. The youngest (5) wasn’t so into it, but mini-Theopilus 1.0 (7) took to it immediately. He’s not always been the most physically confident kid, so seeing him jump right in and scale a 40 ft wall was incredible. He’s already asking when he can go again. I think we may have a weekly routine in the making. 

[Quickie]

Man, rock gyms rock! 

No, seriously, this is a great opportunity for a weekly or monthly habit! Especially if you have your kid as a reminder.

 

Wishing you luck and following you on your journey!!

[theophilus]

Today was alright. I beat back the morning cobwebs to get out for a run. I haven’t done an early morning run in a while and it was nice to be out before the day started for most. I’ve also lost my earbuds, so I had to go music-less, which was way more enjoyable than I expected.

 

Rest of the day was a mixed bag. I didn’t eat breakfast before I left the house and didn’t pack a lunch, so I ended up buying food out. 

 

I had a dinner with a few future colleagues tonight, which meant a couple drinks. But it was social, so that fits with the challenge. 

[Xena]

On 9/14/2019 at 3:33 PM, theophilus said:

I'll only eat out or drink if it's initiated by someone else.

 

I like this way of structuring things.

 

Good job getting out to run, and also sounds like a good plan to have the breathing situation checked out.

[Quickie]

7 hours ago, theophilus said:

n a while and it was nice to be out before the day started for most. I’ve also lost my earbuds, so I had to go music-less, which was way more enjoyable than I expected.

 

That sounds awesome! I think for evening runs there is much going on in your head and you might want some music to keep those distractions away, but in the morning your mind is still calm and relaxed. 

 

I have planned to run early on thursday and this motivated me even more do do it. Thanks! 

[theophilus]

15 hours ago, Quickie said:

 

I think for evening runs there is much going on in your head and you might want some music to keep those distractions away, but in the morning your mind is still calm and relaxed. 

 

 

It’s so very true. If I can avoid hopping on my phone when I first wake up AND I go on a run in the morning, I feel like I have so much more clarity of mind. And it carries through the rest of the day too!

[theophilus]

Tuesday 9.17.19

 

I slept like garbage last night so my plan to hit the rock gym early went belly up. Otherwise it was a good day. Didn’t eat out solo at all, and didn’t have any booze. Almost forgot about the mindfulness piece, but snuck it in before the day was out. Now early to bed to be well rested for a morning run tomorrow. 

[theophilus]

Let’s get caught up:

 

Food/Drinking: I’ve done pretty well on this so far this week. Aside from a beer I had tonight, I’ve been hitting my goal. But I’ve had more occasions than I expected for eating out and drinking with others, so I’m not sure it’s having the desired effect. I may look to impose some other structures next week too. 

 

Running: I’ve done two runs so far this week, both “easy” runs. Schedule is off, but I’m going to try to get speedwork and a long run in the next two days. 

 

Climbing: Went today. Bouldering is closed for a competition, so I did top rope instead. I haven’t done that for a while. It was a nice change of pace and helped me work on endurance. Going to take Little Theophilus again tomorrow. 

 

Mindfulness: I’ve done three sessions so far. Two to go!

 

 

[Sloth the Enduring]

Hah. Nice gif and a good start to the challenge.

[Xena]

On 9/20/2019 at 8:35 PM, theophilus said:

But I’ve had more occasions than I expected for eating out and drinking with others, so I’m not sure it’s having the desired effect.

Does sound fun though :-)

 

hope you guys have fun at the climbing gym!

[theophilus]

Only thing I added to my week after the last update was another trip to the rock gym. 

 

Littlest was laid up with croup Saturday morning so that killed my running chances. He’s fine now, though, so that’s good! Then Sunday I had the boys solo, so I missed another chance at running. 

 

Had a couple beers Saturday night and missed out on mindfulness this weekend too. 

 

Here’s to a week two reset!

[Xena]

On 9/23/2019 at 10:01 PM, theophilus said:

Here’s to a week two reset!

 

I'm with you on that my friend! Get out there and run this week!

 

Good that the little one is better.

[theophilus]

Been slacking with the updates but I’ve been doing alright otherwise. 

 

Last week, I got all four of my runs in. Not only that, but doing so put me over 25 miles for the month of September. It’s still a long way from where I want to be, but it’s my most miles in a single month in quite some time. Pumped about that!

 

I only made it to the rock gym once last week. The weekend got out of hand, so I wasn’t able to make time to do it. Still, every visit it feels like I’m getting stronger and better. 

 

Totally slacked on the mindfulness part last week. I spent some time journaling, though. And I think that might be a more effective way to work through some of the stuff I hoped to accomplish through mindfulness. 

 

Stuck to my alcohol goal last week too. I think it’s resulting in less overall consumption. I went to the Red Sox game Sunday, and having a couple beers there felt a lot better than the a random beer here and there throughout the week. 

 

Have some one room for improvement on the eating out piece. That’s been a really hard habit to break. 

[Sloth the Enduring]

Eating out and not drinking are both boss battles. Good luck.

[Xena]

2 hours ago, theophilus said:

Been slacking with the updates but I’ve been doing alright otherwise. 

 

What you actually do is more important than posting.

Unless you are posting cute cat pictures. That is still very important.

 

[theophilus]

3 hours ago, Xena said:

 

What you actually do is more important than posting.

Unless you are posting cute cat pictures. That is still very important.

 

 

Very important indeed. 

 

[theophilus]

I was laid up with a cold for a good part of last week, so a lot of things slipped, but there were a couple decent victories hidden in the mess:

 

I did a bit better on the eating out front. We’ve actually cut back quite a bit how much we’re eating out as a family as well, so that’s been great. My vice right now is the morning coffee + muffin routine. I think I’m gonna brainstorm some good “on the go” breakfasts to avoid the temptation. 

 

Good on the drinking front this week. I had multiple social events this week where I had a couple beers, but I didn’t do any solo drinking, so that’s a win. 

 

Running really took a hit with my cough. Only got out once this week (today). BUT, I did a full four miles, which is a distance I haven’t hit in at least a year. Hooray for progress!

 

Likewise with rock climbing this week: didn’t go as often as I’d hoped (once) but it was a really productive visit. For those familiar with the lingo, I’ve been doing VBs, V0s, and V1s so far. But this week I successfully sent a V2 and made it about halfway up another V2. So great to have tangible signs of progress. 

[Xena]

6 minutes ago, theophilus said:

the morning coffee + muffin routine.

ohhh I struggle with this one. Once I break the cycle, I'm good, but it is a completely vicious cycle for me.

 

7 minutes ago, theophilus said:

Running really took a hit with my cough. Only got out once this week (today). BUT, I did a full four miles, which is a distance I haven’t hit in at least a year. Hooray for progress!

Great! Sounds like you have rebounded pretty quickly.

 

8 minutes ago, theophilus said:

didn’t go as often as I’d hoped (once) but it was a really productive visit. For those familiar with the lingo, I’ve been doing VBs, V0s, and V1s so far. But this week I successfully sent a V2 and made it about halfway up another V2.

I don't know anything about rock climbing (have been to a climbing gym a few times, but I think the climbs were rated on a different scale...like 5.x-6.x). There are lots of people around here who are into climbing @Charlie_Quinn is one of them, and she could probably point toward a few others....I think @Jarric too (?). They both also torture themselves with running and OCRs.

 

[Jarric]

11 hours ago, Xena said:

I don't know anything about rock climbing (have been to a climbing gym a few times, but I think the climbs were rated on a different scale...like 5.x-6.x). There are lots of people around here who are into climbing @Charlie_Quinn is one of them, and she could probably point toward a few others....I think @Jarric too (?). They both also torture themselves with running and OCRs

 

Torture? What do you mean torture? It's all good fun.

 

The trouble with climbing is that there's so many different grading systems. For bouldering you have V grades, Font bouldering grades and British Tech grades. If you were climbing 5.x-6.x that's probably US trad climbing grades rather than bouldering grades - it's all quite confusing!

 

Also, hi @theophilus, nice to meet a fellow runner/climber!

[theophilus]

9 hours ago, Jarric said:

 

Torture? What do you mean torture? It's all good fun.

 

The trouble with climbing is that there's so many different grading systems. For bouldering you have V grades, Font bouldering grades and British Tech grades. If you were climbing 5.x-6.x that's probably US trad climbing grades rather than bouldering grades - it's all quite confusing!

 

Also, hi @theophilus, nice to meet a fellow runner/climber!

 

Hi @Jarric! Nice to meet another NF climber. I’m still a total novice, but am loving every minute of it. (And thanks for making the connection @Xena!)

 

I’ve found myself really into bouldering, hence the V ratings. Do you typically boulder or rope climb?

[Xena]

Got it! I've wanted to try more bouldering. Our gym is far enough away to make it quite a hassle, but maybe I'll make the effort again this fall.

[Jarric]

10 hours ago, theophilus said:

I’ve found myself really into bouldering, hence the V ratings. Do you typically boulder or rope climb?

 

I usually boulder - I like the simplicity of just being able to get step on the wall and go without messing around with ropes.

 

Sounds like you're doing pretty well if you're a novice and climbing V2's already, well done!

[theophilus]

13 hours ago, Jarric said:

 

I usually boulder - I like the simplicity of just being able to get step on the wall and go without messing around with ropes.

 

Sounds like you're doing pretty well if you're a novice and climbing V2's already, well done!

 

Thanks!

 

I feel the exact same way. I enjoy rope climbing when I do it. But there’s something about the minimalism and also being able to be alone in my head without a partner when I boulder that really appeals to me.