Jarric - Ziggurat of the Dead

[Jarric]

Ziggurat of the Dead

 

So last challenge I had the idea of the Ziggurat of Goals, whereby I would only get points for each goal if I had completed the goals that underpin it. It's a ziggurat because that's a better fantasy word than 'pyramid' (and it's easier to draw it with steps!) It worked very well so I'm not changing much, but as this is the 10th anniversary necromancy challenge we now have the Ziggurat of the Dead. (Aside: This reminds me of the SilverClawShift campaign journal which was my first real introduction to the madness of D&D, has anyone read that? If you like crazy fantasy stories you should definitely check it out.)

 

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x--Extra Credit--x

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xxxxxxxxxxxxxx--Exercise--xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--Tooth Care--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--Hip Rehab--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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So that's the ziggurat. The observant amongst you will notice that there's an extra level to it this time round. Let's drill down into each goal:

 

Hip Rehab - 15XP

What: Do my stretches/exercises/foam rolling every day.

Why: My hip was hurting a lot at the start of last challenge, and it has significantly improved from a month of consistency on this goal. It's not fully healed yet though, so I need to keep up the good work. This is important for a lot of goals I have this year and to enjoy a lot of the things I enjoy (OCR, climbing, running, lifting, sitting down!)

How: I have a programme of 12 things per day. Aim to do a couple first thing in the morning, to get me off to a good start on a day. If I have stuff left in the evening, prioritise this goal over bedtime, but try not to need to!

 

Tooth Care - 10XP

What: Care for my teeth!

Why: Because I want to keep all my teeth for as long as possible without tooth pain, and avoid expensive dentist bills. Another goal from last challenge that showed a measurable improvement.

How: Brush in the morning with a manual brush, in the evening with an electric brush, and clean between my teeth/floss in the evening.

 

Exercise - 10XP

What: Exercise every day.

Why: Because I enjoy it, and I enjoy it more if I'm more consistent. Because I have goals this year that require me to be fit. And because I generally want to be a strong and healthy person.

How: There are no rules on what I have to do on what day, and anything of 20 minutes or over will count. With that said, I plan to do CrossFit MTTF, Run WSS, and boulder at least once per week. I also want to focus on not skipping my long runs, which I did too much last challenge.

 

Calories - 10XP

What: Count calories every day and stay under an average of 2,650.

Why: Because I gained some fat over December/Christmas, and I'd like to lose that. I'd also like to be in the best shape of my life for Comicon this year (not actually sure if I'm cosplaying yet, but it's a good mid-year point regardless). This is both an aesthetic thing, and a efficiency thing - it's easier to run carrying less weight, and to do things like muscle ups, rope climbs and bouldering.

How: Using My Fitness Pal, I'll aim for 5 days at 2,410kcal and 2 days at 3,250kcal. That allows for a night out drinking (the difference equates to 3.7 pints of Fosters, 3.5 pints of Guinness or 3 pints of Amstel, so with a bit of food planning I can happily go for 4 pints), or extra eating on long run day (it would give me 11 energy gels, or more likely a couple and a bit of extra food afterwards). I reserve the right to change the split of days in advance of the week, as long as the weekly average works.

 

Extra Credit - 5XP

What: Do 3 extra credit exercise sessions per week.

Why: To work on some weaknesses and some areas I don't otherwise cover.

How: I have three workouts I have planned for each week, which should only take around 10 minutes each:

• The Acrobat: Hangboarding practice, to improve my finger strength for climbing
• The Fighter: Pushups and pullups, to drill core movements that I would like to be better at when they come up
• The Bard: Bicep curls, tricep extensions and a core exercise, this is an exercise in pure vanity; whilst my goal to look great at Comicon is mostly about low body fat, it won't hurt to get bigger arms to match my growing shoulders.

 

Other Stuff

I'll be starting week 1 on Monday 17th February (challenges start on Mondays, fight me). There's a few events going on this challenge:

• Meeting an old friend for beers on Tuesday of week 1
• It's my birthday Tuesday of week 3
• I'm running Winter Nuts on Saturday of week 3 (aiming for 28km (~17.4 miles) and hoping not to get hypothermia - will be out for about 6 hours including 4 lake swims)
• Seeing a Metallica tribute band Friday of week 4
• Going out to celebrate my birthday (and watch all of the last day of the 6 Nations rugby in a pub) on Saturday of week 4

 

For zero week I will be trialling the above goals, but not tracking them. I'll also try and write my roadmap for the year (it's a bit late!) and re-read my oldest challenges. You can also expect lots of talk about D&D from the two live games I play in, and the play by post I'm in with @Starpuck, @Raxie and @Wild Wolf, and expertly DM'd by @DarK_RaideR.

[DarK_RaideR]

30 minutes ago, Jarric said:

expertly DM'd

 

Here and strongly inspired by that Ziggurat since last challenge, so much I'm probably using the concept to set up my own challenge too.

[Wild Wolf]

FIRST!!....Second. DR beat me to it by like 35 seconds....

 

 

31 minutes ago, Jarric said:

I also want to focus on not skipping my long runs, which I did too much last challenge.

 

What do you think was the reasoning for this? Boredom? I'll try and keep you accountable to this here and in our discord convo's  

 

Wolf

[Jarric]

33 minutes ago, DarK_RaideR said:

 

Here and strongly inspired by that Ziggurat since last challenge, so much I'm probably using the concept to set up my own challenge too.

 

Nope, you deserve it

 

Go for it, it worked well for me so I hope it does the same for you.

 

31 minutes ago, Wild Wolf said:

FIRST!!....Second. DR beat me to it by like 35 seconds....

 

 

 

What do you think was the reasoning for this? Boredom? I'll try and keep you accountable to this here and in our discord convo's  

 

Wolf

 

Honestly, it's planning. A long run is 2-3 hours of running time, but I also need to eat a decent amount of time beforehand and pack nutrition, water and clothes, and afterwards I have to stretch well, eat lots, and shower and change - it's basically half a day of commitment. That's fine, but I need to plan my weekend around it and often I fail to plan.

 

The extra accountability would be really helpful though, thank you Wolfman.

[Wild Wolf]

4 hours ago, Jarric said:

Honestly, it's planning. A long run is 2-3 hours of running time, but I also need to eat a decent amount of time beforehand and pack nutrition, water and clothes, and afterwards I have to stretch well, eat lots, and shower and change - it's basically half a day of commitment. That's fine, but I need to plan my weekend around it and often I fail to plan.

 

The extra accountability would be really helpful though, thank you Wolfman.

 

Yeah...I get that. As someone who plans (or tries to plan most everything) I can see how looking at the daunting task can make you skip it altogether. So, once a week is what you're shooting for? I'll help with the accountability as best as I can, my friend. Maybe have a reward for yourself if you can plan things out accordingly and that way you have something to work towards?

 

Wolf

[Buff Brogan]

i'm along for the ride. if you can influence/inspire DR, i gotta see what it's all about. 

[DarK_RaideR]

18 minutes ago, kzacher said:

i'm along for the ride. if you can influence/inspire DR, i gotta see what it's all about. 

 

[Buff Brogan]

2 minutes ago, DarK_RaideR said:

 

beyond jealous that i wasn't in this

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along.

[Jarric]

1 hour ago, Wild Wolf said:

 

Yeah...I get that. As someone who plans (or tries to plan most everything) I can see how looking at the daunting task can make you skip it altogether. So, once a week is what you're shooting for? I'll help with the accountability as best as I can, my friend. Maybe have a reward for yourself if you can plan things out accordingly and that way you have something to work towards?

 

Wolf

 

Yeah, part of it is it being daunting, part of it is just that I need to set that time aside. This week it'll need to be Saturday early afternoon.

 

I've never been very good at rewards, never came up with a system that worked for me. 

 

1 hour ago, kzacher said:

i'm along for the ride. if you can influence/inspire DR, i gotta see what it's all about. 

 

Nice to meet you man, if DR's excited to see you back here I'm sure we'll get along.

 

1 hour ago, DarK_RaideR said:

 

 

Good times man! Must have a drink together again sometime soon.

 

13 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following along.

 

Good to have you man.

 

======

 

Unrelated to anything, I drew a thing:

 

 

[Jarric]

Week Zero's going pretty well. I've got some DOMS in my lower back thanks to a 100kg squat on Monday (new 3RM which equals my previous 1RM, which I'm very happy about, but it was more squatmorning than squat!), and 63 deadlift reps on Tuesday in the WOD (only 80kg, but it's still a lot of reps!).

 

Calories have been under the low goal of 2,410, so I think that can work. And I managed to make a crab risotto with clotted cream on Monday and had WW's homemade chicken soup yesterday, so I'm definitely not deprived of good food.

 

Tonight is snooker which will mean having a few beers, so we'll see how the high goal of 3,250 works today.

 

This morning I ran, only 4 miles as it's a deload week. All felt pretty tough with my sore back, but I got it done so all good.

[Charlie_Quinn]

"only" 80 kgs. There's no "only" about that weight at that many reps! 

 

Where do you get all your recipes from? You always seem to be eating delicious meals. I need to switch up my mid week meals a bit as they're starting to get a little boring.

[Buff Brogan]

running with DOMS, especially in the back/legs is hell. i'd have been lucky to run 1 mile. 

[starpuck]

Here here here!  Tagged in.  Followed.  

Watch for traps!

[Rurik Harrgath]

I just love this theme so much.

 

[deftona]

On 2/11/2020 at 12:49 PM, Jarric said:

I'd also like to be in the best shape of my life for Comicon this year (not actually sure if I'm cosplaying yet, but it's a good mid-year point regardless)

 

Oh but Jarric you must. 

 

Following anyway. But... you know, dress up pls. 

[Jarric]

21 hours ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

"only" 80 kgs. There's no "only" about that weight at that many reps! 

 

Where do you get all your recipes from? You always seem to be eating delicious meals. I need to switch up my mid week meals a bit as they're starting to get a little boring.

 

A lot of them are from the Gousto recipe boxes we get. It's not a cheap way to eat so we only do one box (three meals) each month, but we've been doing it for a few years now so we've built up a decent repertoire. And of course cooking them the second time is much cheaper with supermarket ingredients instead of the ones they deliver.

 

I could barely boil an egg before we started getting them, and it's forced me to cook and try new things as the selection always changes, so I really recommend it.

 

You can actually get all the recipes on the Gousto website without signing up: https://www.gousto.co.uk/cookbook. If you do decide to sign up you can use the code NICK20722 and get 50% off the first box (and I get £15 off my next one!)

 

21 hours ago, kzacher said:

running with DOMS, especially in the back/legs is hell. i'd have been lucky to run 1 mile. 

 

Yeah, it wasn't ideal, I'm glad it was a short run!

 

16 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Here here here!  Tagged in.  Followed.  

Watch for traps!

 

Will do! Though I have a wisdom penalty and disadvantage on perception so...

 

8 hours ago, Rurik Harrgath said:

I just love this theme so much.

 

 

Thanks man! I must go back to that game sometime...

 

1 hour ago, deftona said:

 

Oh but Jarric you must. 

 

Following anyway. But... you know, dress up pls. 

 

I'll send this to WW and see if that helps persuade her (because I have no hope of putting together a good costume alone!)

[Jarric]

Yesterday was a pretty good day. I managed to stay in the higher calorie target just barely, including sacrificing my evening glass of milk for an extra half of Guinness.

 

Dinner was slow-cooked gammon with homemade chips and baked beans, not flash but it was very easy. WW's a florist so she's working some late nights this week leading up to Valentine's Day (which she lovingly refers to as VD). So I cut extra chips for her, did the washing up while mine cooked, ate and rushed off to snooker.

 

Snooker was a really fun night, despite the fact that I played like a moron. Good to have a few beers and chill out with the team.

 

It was only when I got home that I realised I hadn't done any of my stretches. I decided to go to bed instead, which isn't good and I probably wouldn't have done if it wasn't zero week. A lesson to be more prepared here.

 

Tonight I'll probably be eating the same thing and eating it alone again, unless I can be bothered to do the gammon with pasta and cheese sauce. I've also agreed to play pool to help a friend's team out, but I'm hoping to get away from that early.

[deftona]

3 minutes ago, Jarric said:

including sacrificing my evening glass of milk for an extra half of Guinness.

 

[Rurik Harrgath]

5 hours ago, Jarric said:

Thanks man! I must go back to that game sometime...

 

4 is coming. 

[starpuck]

10 hours ago, deftona said:

Oh but Jarric you must. 

 

Following anyway. But... you know, dress up pls. 

 

I seriously wanna fly to this con you're attending if you are dressing up.  >.>   I've been meaning to see across the pond for years now.

[Charlie_Quinn]

22 hours ago, Jarric said:

A lot of them are from the Gousto recipe boxes we get. It's not a cheap way to eat so we only do one box (three meals) each month, but we've been doing it for a few years now so we've built up a decent repertoire. And of course cooking them the second time is much cheaper with supermarket ingredients instead of the ones they deliver.

 

I could barely boil an egg before we started getting them, and it's forced me to cook and try new things as the selection always changes, so I really recommend it.

 

You can actually get all the recipes on the Gousto website without signing up: https://www.gousto.co.uk/cookbook. If you do decide to sign up you can use the code NICK20722 and get 50% off the first box (and I get £15 off my next one!)

 

Oh cool, thanks! I'll have a look at their site and I might try one of their boxes to change things up a bit. 

[Jarric]

23 hours ago, deftona said:

 

 

Looks like a reasonable approach to me!

 

18 hours ago, Rurik Harrgath said:

 

4 is coming. 

 

I know! Now I just need to work out when I'll find time to play it...

 

15 hours ago, Starpuck said:

 

I seriously wanna fly to this con you're attending if you are dressing up.  >.>   I've been meaning to see across the pond for years now.

 

I mean, whether or not I dress up you should definitely come and visit!

 

1 hour ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

 

Oh cool, thanks! I'll have a look at their site and I might try one of their boxes to change things up a bit. 

 

Yeah, give it a go. Despite being a fairly expensive meal, I really do recommend them.

[Jarric]

I don't often do a zero week, let alone one where I trial my goals, so it's been interesting to try things out and try and learn from them before the challenge proper starts.

 

Yesterday I went over my calories. I made gammon and pea pasta with cheese sauce, ate it, and then put it into my phone to find out I was over. So what I need to do is either track the recipe before I make it or (probably more likely as I was making this up as I went along) track it once I've made it and before I split it into portions. I could have just made this a three portion meal and it would have worked out totally fine.

 

I did manage to save it by not drinking at pool and skipping my evening glass of milk again, so I finished at 2,479/2,410 calories for the day. Good thing it's zero week!

 

Crossfit is going well, this morning was a 9 minute AMRAP or 3 power cleans, 6 lunges and 9 burpees over bar. I warmed up to 50kg on the cleans but didn't try any lunges at that weight, and man they felt heavy!

[Buff Brogan]

59 minutes ago, Jarric said:

I don't often do a zero week, let alone one where I trial my goals, so it's been interesting to try things out and try and learn from them before the challenge proper starts.

 

Yesterday I went over my calories. I made gammon and pea pasta with cheese sauce, ate it, and then put it into my phone to find out I was over. So what I need to do is either track the recipe before I make it or (probably more likely as I was making this up as I went along) track it once I've made it and before I split it into portions. I could have just made this a three portion meal and it would have worked out totally fine.

 

I did manage to save it by not drinking at pool and skipping my evening glass of milk again, so I finished at 2,479/2,410 calories for the day. Good thing it's zero week!

 

Crossfit is going well, this morning was a 9 minute AMRAP or 3 power cleans, 6 lunges and 9 burpees over bar. I warmed up to 50kg on the cleans but didn't try any lunges at that weight, and man they felt heavy!

sounds like a rough workout. 

good thing about test runs/week zero... there's no grade