GK ups the pace

[GodzillaKong]

Another month, another challenge. I'm excited. 

 

 

Zero Week

I'm scheduled to finish my Couch 2 5K this week, although it's really more a Couch 2 30 minutes. My first run is this afternoon and I'll hopefully get up to that 30 minute mark. 

 

1. Get that 5k.

Pretty obvious 1st challenge, and no real explanation needed. 

 

1a. 5k in under 35 minutes 

I don't want to assume anything, but I'm hoping that I'll manage to get up to 5k before the end of the challenge. I think i can do it in a time of around 40 minutes, based on my current pace. I'd like to get that under 35 minutes. 

 

2. Incorporate upper body workouts 

I've been finishing off my runs with KB swings, figure 8s, goblet squats and a few other things. I'm going to try and use my non running days to do some upper body work: press ups, KB Halos, rows. 

 

3. Cut out the bad snacks

I’ve done a better job of making my snacks healthier during the day, lots of fruit. But evenings i sometimes have a bag of crisps. Need to try and develop some better self discipline. 

 

4. Get back to reading and writing. 

Working from home has, for me, been great. I have more time to myself and my work and mental health is better. But one of the downsides is that since lockdown began is I've not done any reading or writing: I used to do it on my commute. Without that, I've not got around to readjusting my schedule. That'll hopefully change. 

 

5. Battlestar Galactica 

The BBC have started showing it again. A perfect excuse to watch it again. Can I get my wife to watch it? Probably not, but I'll try. 

 

[Big_Show]

Good challenges!  I noticed my reading went down wildly when I stopped getting the train to work too.

[Harriet]

Let us know how the 5k goes. Also, what are you writing?

[GodzillaKong]

4 hours ago, Harriet said:

Let us know how the 5k goes. Also, what are you writing?

 

I've got a couple of stories at various stages (none beyond 'halfway through first draft' and a few where I'm just kicking ideas about on paper). 2 Post apocalyptic dystopias and something I'd like to think will become a more hopeful sci-fi. They're ideas I've had in my head for a while (years, now i think about it) and I decided just before Christmas I may as well start writing them down. 

[GodzillaKong]

5 hours ago, Big_Show said:

Good challenges!  I noticed my reading went down wildly when I stopped getting the train to work too.

 

It's not just a train thing either: My mum mentioned that she's lost all appetite for reading these last few months and she's retired and absolutely tears through books usually. 

[Stronkey Kong]

I can't pass on following another Kong who writes challenge.

[Scaly Freak]

18 hours ago, GodzillaKong said:

 

2 Post apocalyptic dystopias and something I'd like to think will become a more hopeful sci-fi. They're ideas I've had in my head for a while (years, now i think about it) and I decided just before Christmas I may as well start writing them down. 

 

A quick read-through of the NaNoWriMo forums makes it seem like everyone started having ideas for post-apocalyptic stories right after they started quarantine... nice to see someone capable of coming up with that on their own, without the help of a pandemic 😛 

[GodzillaKong]

9 minutes ago, Scaly Freak said:

 

A quick read-through of the NaNoWriMo forums makes it seem like everyone started having ideas for post-apocalyptic stories right after they started quarantine... nice to see someone capable of coming up with that on their own, without the help of a pandemic 😛 

 

I think if anything the pandemic is responsible for me not writing the stories. Bad enough living in a world going down the pan without writing about it as well! 😄 

[Scaly Freak]

2 hours ago, GodzillaKong said:

 

I think if anything the pandemic is responsible for me not writing the stories. Bad enough living in a world going down the pan without writing about it as well! 😄 

 

I agree! I have had a sort-of post-apocalypse idea for a while now, but it seems very bad taste to start plotting out a story about how a virus has made Earth uninhabitable for this year's NaNo... 

[KB Girl]

Lurking! 

 

4 hours ago, Scaly Freak said:

 

I agree! I have had a sort-of post-apocalypse idea for a while now, but it seems very bad taste to start plotting out a story about how a virus has made Earth uninhabitable for this year's NaNo... 

I don't know, depends on how hopeful it is

 

[GodzillaKong]

Zero Week update 

 

I completed the programme! 

 

 

So obviously I'm happy about that (although more tired than happy), but also i ran about 120 metres more on Wednesday and today than i did on Monday. Jobs not done yet, but a good milestone nonetheless. 

 

I've started doing some upper body stuff too. Nothing too much at the moment, but one of the things I'm doing is https://hundredpushups.com

 

Along with my actual weight, my struggle to do pushups is an indicator of how unfit I've become over the last decade or more. Not saying i could ever knock them out like a marine or anything, but i used to be able to do 10 easily. Now... Sheesh. I think this will do a good job. 

 

Finally, and most excitingly, I'm watching BSG again and I've managed to convince my wife to watch it and she's enjoying it! 

 

 

[GodzillaKong]

Today's run: 4.3km in 34 minutes. Again thats a rough estimate as for some reason the app i was using decided not to measure distance. Which is annoying. I did get a call halfway through, so that night be something to do with it.  Nevermind. i am pleased with myself. 

[GodzillaKong]

Bit by bit I'm running further, quicker. Yesterday's run: 4.6km in 35.10

[Scaly Freak]

8 hours ago, GodzillaKong said:

Bit by bit I'm running further, quicker. Yesterday's run: 4.6km in 35.10

 

I'm now imagining an XP bar over your head slowly filling up as you run.

[GodzillaKong]

I did it!! 

 

5k in 39 minutes and 57 seconds.

 

 

Man, that 3 seconds under 40 minutes makes a lot of difference.

 

I am in equal parts delighted and exhausted. Can't even bring myself to do my other exercises, but i think i can miss them just one day. 

[Big_Show]

Well done on completing the programme!

[GodzillaKong]

3 hours ago, Big_Show said:

Well done on completing the programme!

 

Thanks man. 

[GodzillaKong]

 

I have now run 5k 4 times, getting a little quicker every time. Managed to get down to 39:29 yesterday. All is going wel... 

 

 

Uh oh... 

 

 

I've done my back in this morning. As with last year, it was something utterly inconsequential. Then it was leaning over as i shaved, today i was bending over to empty the dishwasher. I think that's the end of any exercise for at least the remainder of the week, if not longer. 

[Scaly Freak]

4 hours ago, GodzillaKong said:

I've done my back in this morning. As with last year, it was something utterly inconsequential. Then it was leaning over as i shaved, today i was bending over to empty the dishwasher. I think that's the end of any exercise for at least the remainder of the week, if not longer. 

 

This sounds both painful and very frustrating. I hope it gets better soon!

[GodzillaKong]

It's been just over a week since I've done my back in. It's been a lot better since that first day but still giving me problems. If i manage to get another run in before the end of the challenge I'll be happy, but I'm going to have to work my way back up to where i managed to get to. Bummer. 

[KB Girl]

That sucks.. any idea what might be the underlying cause?

[GodzillaKong]

23 hours ago, KB Girl said:

That sucks.. any idea what might be the underlying cause?

 

I'd imagine a mixture of bad posture and being overweight. Both times I've hurt it it's been doing something utterly inconsequential. It could just be 'one of those things' or just getting older. 

 

The good news is I've been pain free all weekend. I'm going to give it another few days but then I'll try to get back to running. 

[KB Girl]

Maybe some strength training would help? Keeping fingers crossed it stays pain free from now on.