Jarric - Back in the Saddle

[Jarric]

Back in the Saddle

 

Apparently my last forum post was 22nd June. That's 6 weeks I've been away, damn!

 

Work has been busy, particularly in the last couple of weeks, but I didn't realise it'd been this long since I logged in. I think I got a bit overwhelmed by things, but that's ok, I don't think I've really lost anything as a result. I have missed you guys though, like, a lot.

 

Last week I went back to Crossfit (though our gym has actually cancelled its affiliation with Crossfit I'll keep calling it that for convenience), and so this is a great time to start re-building a routine. Hopefully I should be able to work some more sensible hours than I have been, and also spare the brain power to think about things that aren't work, so we should be all good!

 

For this challenge I'll be going to Crossfit 4-5 times per week, and probably bouldering once per week. Those won't be challenge goals, because they just happen, so I need to focus on the stuff that won't happen otherwise. I'm also going to trust that I'll stretch after exercise and/or when I have time - we'll see how that goes and I'll try and report on it. Here we go...

 

Running - 15XP

Run 4 times each week according to my running plan. I might have a race at the end of week 5 if it goes ahead, so keeping my fingers crossed for that as I've spent the last 6 months training towards it! This is a goal because as my weekends get busier and my weekend evenings get boozier there's a temptation to skip runs (I am in fact skipping a run whilst writing this).

 

I'm currently running to and from Crossfit a couple of days per week, but if I don't get on with that I might switch to a mid-week run of about 8 miles, and then I'll be doing 3 sessions per week but the same mileage. We'll see how it goes; total mileage is more important than precise structure.

 

Hangboarding - 10XP

Hangboard twice per week. I've done quite a lot of hangboarding over the summer and got a lot better at it, and I think that's helped me return to bouldering without having lost too much ability. I don't want to lose that ability just because I'm now going bouldering, as I can only climb once per week most weeks, so lets keep it going. Planning to do this immediately after Crossfit providing the session hasn't been too tough on my grip.

 

Splitting - 10XP

Split stretches once per week. I don't think I'll ever actually be able to get the splits, but this seems to help with the issues in my hips and generally being more flexible in these positions can't be a bad thing.

 

Rolling - 10XP

Foam roll my legs at least 3 times per week. This is another thing that really helps with my hip issues, so I need to do it. Generally expecting it to be in front of the TV of an evening, when I've got evenings free from playing D&D or doing other stuff.

 

Brushing - 10XP

Brush my teeth twice per day, and clean between them once per day. I've learned over the years that whether or not I brush my teeth is an indicator of the kind of place I'm in mentally. If I'm stressed or depressed I don't brush, and when I feel good and in control I do. I'm not entirely sure what to do with this information, or whether I can reverse the cause and effect to feel more in control of my life by brushing my teeth, but I don't want them all to fall out so it's a reasonable goal anyway. 

 

Drawing - 10XP

Draw stuff 4 times per week. I've started doing actual drawing lessons from Draw A Box, and I'm also just drawing stuff for fun. I find it quite good for clearing my head, and quite relaxing, so I think being consistent with this would help me mentally. It will hopefully also make me better at drawing stuff! No set requirement of when I do this, or whether I do lessons or just random stuff, this goal is purely about doing the thing.

 

So that's that! A couple of housekeeping bits:

• Challenge start tomorrow, and challenge weeks run Monday to Sunday. Honestly, what kind of maniac starts their week on a Sunday
• Weights and measures may be in metric or UK imperial, or both, but they're unlikely to be in US imperial. They'll almost never be Russian imperial (as much as I love funts and poods), probably.
• Due to the rule of threes, it would be more satisfying if I had a third thing here. But I don't.

[deftona]

Here to support the "Jarric's teeths don't fall out" mission, and it's a shame about the lack of funts. 

[Jarric]

3 minutes ago, deftona said:

Here to support the "Jarric's teeths don't fall out" mission, and it's a shame about the lack of funts. 

 

Thanks for the support! Sorry about the funts, I'll see what I can do.

[WhiteGhost]

46 minutes ago, Jarric said:

Due to the rule of threes, it would be more satisfying if I had a third thing here. But I don't

You could. Just change it to:

 

46 minutes ago, Jarric said:

Due to the rule of threes, this is the third thing. Don't ask, it just is.

See how easy that was.

[Kestrel Grey]

58 minutes ago, Jarric said:

 

• Weights and measures may be in metric or UK imperial, or both, but they're unlikely to be in US imperial. They'll almost never be Russian imperial (as much as I love funts and poods), probably.

This sent me down the rabbit hole of figuring out what UK Imperial was.  I came across this helpful chart.

 

[iatetheyeti]

 

43 minutes ago, Kestrel Grey said:

This sent me down the rabbit hole of figuring out what UK Imperial was.  I came across this helpful chart.

 

 

...this is simultaneously horrifying and fascinating.

 

[starpuck]

11 hours ago, Jarric said:

Challenge start tomorrow, and challenge weeks run Monday to Sunday. Honestly, what kind of maniac starts their week on a Sunday

Couldn't agree more!

 

Hey Fellow vanished for weeks person!

I too am reconnecting!

 

Let's do this!

[Jarric]

16 hours ago, WhiteGhost said:

You could. Just change it to:

 

See how easy that was.

 

I like that

 

16 hours ago, Kestrel Grey said:

This sent me down the rabbit hole of figuring out what UK Imperial was.  I came across this helpful chart.

 

 

That is a thing of beauty . I'm genuinely shocked that a fathom is only 2 yards though.

 

From my point of view the main differences between UK and US Imperial are: we use stone (14lbs) to weigh people, our tons are heavier, our pints and gallons are bigger, and our fluid oz are smaller. Lengths are generally the same, though I sometimes talk in chains and furlongs (that's not a British thing, that's a me being weird thing)

 

15 hours ago, iatetheyeti said:

 

 

...this is simultaneously horrifying and fascinating.

 

 

Well hello there! *waves*

 

5 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Couldn't agree more!

 

Hey Fellow vanished for weeks person!

I too am reconnecting!

 

Let's do this!

 

Yes, let's stick around here together! Always good to have you alongside.

[Jarric]

Day 1

So far so good (which really should be the case 15.5 hours into a new challenge), teeth were brushed this morning, I did a little bit of hangboarding after Crossift, and a bit of drawing at lunch.

 

Crossfit was good, our workout was AMRAP 12': 6 (3 each side) D-ball to shoulder, 12 (6 each side) strict kettlebell press. It's the first time I've used a d-ball, so I'm not sure how my form was, but I don't feel crippled yet. Used a 40kg (~88#) ball, a 16kg (~35#, and in fact ~1 pood) kettlebell, and managed 5 rounds exactly.

 

Hangboarding was pretty tough after that, and also probably due to me going climbing yesterday. I did a set on the top of the board - 7 x 7 seconds on/7s off, a set on the 25mm holds - 4 x 5s on/5s off, and two sets on the 25mm holds with a black resistance band - both 5 x 7s on/7s off. I should normally be able to do everything without a band, but I figured it's better to do a bit more work even if I have to reduce the weight to do it.

 

Work is so much better already than it was last week, though I'm going to need to be really on it to try and catch up with the fallout of the last couple of weeks.

 

Drawing was a Draw A Box exercise, which isn't terribly exciting but hopefully will make me better in the long run.

 

Tonight I'll be chilling out and watching Crit Role when it goes up on YouTube, and doing some foam rolling. Tomorrow I'll run to Crossfit, and have D&D in the evening.

[Terra]

Happy Day 1 - So excited to see you back and posting.  

[JuiceeTarget]

Glad you are back, following along!

[fearless 2.0]

your goals are pretty advanced!!! respect, dude!

*a former crossfit girl is very impressed your body lets you do such cool stuff*

 

hobbles off to do PT exercises.....hahahahahaha

[Cheetah]

I had to google hangboarding, but now that I have I think I might have to do it.  What sort of boards do you hang from?

 

Happy Challenge!

[Jarric]

23 hours ago, Terra said:

Happy Day 1 - So excited to see you back and posting.  

 

Thank you! Good to see you Terra  

 

21 hours ago, GoodDoug said:

Glad you are back, following along!

 

Thanks man, good to have you along

 

21 hours ago, fearless 2.0 said:

your goals are pretty advanced!!! respect, dude!

*a former crossfit girl is very impressed your body lets you do such cool stuff*

 

hobbles off to do PT exercises.....hahahahahaha

 

Thanks! 😊

 

18 hours ago, Cheetah said:

I had to google hangboarding, but now that I have I think I might have to do it.  What sort of boards do you hang from?

 

Happy Challenge!

 

I've got one of these:

 

 

The main reason I got it is that I rent my house and can't drill holes in the walls to fit a normal hangboard, whereas I can hang that off a doorway pullup bar. It's a little harder to use as it's free swinging, but after a couple of years (of owning it, and a few months of real consistent use) I'm slowly getting somewhere with it!

[Jarric]

Week 1 Day 1 stats

Running: 0/4

Hangboarding: 1/4

Splitting: 0/1

Rolling: 1/3

Brushing: 1/7

Drawing: 1/4

 

*    *    *

 

Last night I cooked a stir fry with leftover roast pork for dinner, and it turned out pretty well. Did my foam rolling in front of Crit Role and went to bed slightly late (only 22:30, but still later than planned). Teeth were done, so that's one day down!

 

This morning I got up at 05:45 and ran to Crossfit. The main part of the session was pause front squats, building to a heavy triple. I capped out at 70kg (~154#), with a 3 second pause at the bottom that felt like an eternity.

 

The workout was 3 rounds for time of 100m row and 10 wall balls. I finished in a very slow 4:16, because I stuck at wall balls but still decided to do the 12kg Rx weight. Only the second slowest in the class, so that's something!

 

Then I ran home, giving me slightly over 4 miles running today in total.

 

Tonight I will do some drawing and/or some foam rolling in front of the rest of Crit Role. I don't have a D&D game tonight it turns out, so that frees me up a bit.

 

*    *    *

 

Sidebar: yesterday I weighed in at 11 stone 12 (166# or ~75.3kg), and today at 11 stone 11. This is the heaviest I've been since some time in February, having consistently lost weight until the end of May and then slowly gone back up. I'm going to try and weigh myself daily for a bit and see if I can turn it around again by sheer force of will - if that fails I'll go back to tracking calories again.

 

*    *    *

 

Tomorrow I'm playing snooker with Hopalong after work, so I need to make the most of my time this evening and I won't be able to make up goals tomorrow.

[iatetheyeti]

38 minutes ago, Jarric said:

I've got one of these:

 

 

The main reason I got it is that I rent my house and can't drill holes in the walls to fit a normal hangboard, whereas I can hang that off a doorway pullup bar. It's a little harder to use as it's free swinging, but after a couple of years (of owning it, and a few months of real consistent use) I'm slowly getting somewhere with it!

 

Think I'll have to get myself one of these. Technically I am allowed to drill holes in the walls, but I don't really trust the walls. This new place has been built and converted very haphazardly. I've had some issues making curtain rails stay put, never mind something that's supposed to take my weight!

 

[Jarric]

55 minutes ago, iatetheyeti said:

 

Think I'll have to get myself one of these. Technically I am allowed to drill holes in the walls, but I don't really trust the walls. This new place has been built and converted very haphazardly. I've had some issues making curtain rails stay put, never mind something that's supposed to take my weight!

 

 

It's really good actually. Would work on a tree branch or something like that too if you wanted to take it outside. I will say that I couldn't use it at all when I got it, so I needed some resistance bands to slowly build up before I could use the holds unassisted (for the board I have the deepest holds are 25mm, which isn't a lot, and that's bugger than their standard board).

[iatetheyeti]

28 minutes ago, Jarric said:

 

It's really good actually. Would work on a tree branch or something like that too if you wanted to take it outside. I will say that I couldn't use it at all when I got it, so I needed some resistance bands to slowly build up before I could use the holds unassisted (for the board I have the deepest holds are 25mm, which isn't a lot, and that's bugger than their standard board).

 

And just like that it's on my list. I don't expect to be able to use it when I do eventually get it though! The resistance band idea is noted also

 

[starpuck]

Nice Day 1.

I am always so impressed [read: floored] by you running TO your workout, then running HOME from it.  

[Jarric]

19 hours ago, iatetheyeti said:

 

And just like that it's on my list. I don't expect to be able to use it when I do eventually get it though! The resistance band idea is noted also

 

 

Awesome! Let me know how you get on with it when you get one.

 

17 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Nice Day 1.

I am always so impressed [read: floored] by you running TO your workout, then running HOME from it.  

 

Ah, it's only a couple of miles each way, it's fiiiine.

 

(Ok, maybe I'm a little mad)

[Jarric]

Week 1 Day 2 stats

Running: 1/4

Hangboarding: 1/2

Splitting: 0/1

Rolling: 1/3

Brushing: 2/7

Drawing: 2/4

 

Yesterday evening WW cooked a hipster meal of fried halloumi with honey roast spiced carrot and quinoa - it was bloody lovely.

 

After dinner I finished off a drawing of Nott the Brave from Critical Role I've been working on. There's a few bits I'd change if I did it again, but in the interest of sharing stuff:

 

 

Also did some stretching in front of the TV, but no foam rolling so nothing for that goal. Teeth were done before bed.

 

*    *    *

 

This morning Crossfit was 5-7 rounds for quality of 2 muscle ups and 100ft farmers' carry. I managed to get 3 muscle ups! Didn't string more than one together at any point, but super happy that I even got those ones  .

 

For the farmers' carry I worked up to 114kg (~251#) - 57kg (~125#) in each hand . Then we did some cable pull downs and some single arm rows - I just did that and didn't really track the weight.

 

*   *   *

 

Work today has been quiet, which makes a nice change. Trying to blitz through as much stuff as possible before everything goes mad again; wish me luck!

 

Tonight is snooker so not a lot of goal completing time, tomorrow morning I'll run to Crossfit, and tomorrow night I actually do have D&D. Which reminds me, I think my character still needs to buy some more gear.

[starpuck]

Lovely update!   That picture is great.   Foreshortening is freaking tough.  I hate it!! 

 

[WhiteGhost]

13 hours ago, Jarric said:

I managed to get 3 muscle ups!

Sweet!  That is a serious accomplishment

[fearless 2.0]

59 minutes ago, WhiteGhost said:

Sweet!  That is a serious accomplishment

+1

[DarK_RaideR]

*Pheelie voice*

Hellooooo....