Erick the Red: Step by Step

[Erick the Red]

I'm coming off of a pretty successful challenge at the beginning of the year, but that is in part because I made my goals super simple and not terribly difficult.  I wanted to build a couple solid daily habits, and since I have kept them up without reporting here every day over the last week I suppose that means I'm on the right track so far.

 

So this challenge I am keeping the same format, just adding another daily habit.

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I am trying to get ready for longer hikes in the next few months.  Last challenge I usually did between 1.5-2.5 miles each day.  I can usually make time right after work.  I've been wearing a 20-pound weighted pack (with something like these inside) a couple times per week as well, to get used to that.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  I'm working out of Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata.  Volume 1 is called Familia Romana.  I have read up through chapter 26 of 35, but in those last chapters my comprehension is very poor.  I've started going back to the earlier chapters and doing more exercises in a notebook, writing a lot more than I had been the first few times through.

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.   This is the new one.  I need to work on these two aspects of physical fitness that I have let slide during the recent months of lock-downs.  I'm planning to alternate between a circuit of mostly body-weight exercises and other activities to get more mobile and active.

[Erick the Red]

14 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 1.54 miles in 26:56 minutes.  It was cold and windy.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  I've read along as I watched some videos of readings from a LLPSI supplement called Colloquia Personarum (something like "people's conversations").  The goal is lots of Comprehensible Input (CI).

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.   I worked on a quarterstaff solo form, shown here.  I really like the book The Art and Science of Staff Fighting by Joe Varady, and I have worked on getting some basic techniques down over the past couple years.  One more thing I need to get into the habit of consistent practice.

[Aquarii]

I used a very similar approach to yours to build up to my current list of challenge goals. I started with just a few that I tried to get solid and have slowly added on additional challenges over time. It feels like a slow process sometimes, but I have found it is a lot more successful than trying to jump into a bunch of things at once and feeling overwhelmed.

[Erick the Red]

Monday, 15 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 1.30 miles in 17:02 minutes.  It was raining, right above freezing, and windy.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  I worked on writing out two pages of exercises from LLPSI chapter 2, found here,

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.   I found a video to work with to practice the staff some more.  I have a heavy oak staff that I use for these practices, and by the end of the class I could feel the weight in my hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders.

[Erick the Red]

Tuesday, 16 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 1.24 miles in 17:21 minutes.  It was snowing, well below freezing, and windy.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  I worked on writing out more exercises from LLPSI chapter 2, found here.  I also listened to some companion stories that go along with the chapter.

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  I did a repeating circuit of push-ups, 20-pound kettle-bell rows, and body-weight squats ("push, pull, legs" being my bare minimum total-body routine).  I did some more staff work too, since it was fun.

[Sylvaa]

I just want to let you know that every time I see your challenge title, my mind goes to New Kids on the Block and now I am singing daily. It's amazing, but my kids think I've lost it.

 

Popping in to say that it is awesome to see how you are taking this slowly and steadily. 

[Erick the Red]

On 2/17/2021 at 8:10 AM, Sylvaa said:

I just want to let you know that every time I see your challenge title, my mind goes to New Kids on the Block and now I am singing daily. It's amazing, but my kids think I've lost it.

 

Popping in to say that it is awesome to see how you are taking this slowly and steadily. 

 

I had intended the title to be on-a-journey themed, and no so boy-bandy, but that's good too.

 

Thanks.

 

Wednesday, 17 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 1.62 miles in 28:24 minutes.   Below freezing, but noting falling on my head this time.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  I finished the exercises from LLPSI chapter 2, worked through chapter 3, and started the exercises for that one too.

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  I had plans, but then in the evening we had a freak snowstorm and I spent an hour slogging through four inches of snow, helping to make snowmen, and even some legitimate snow shoveling, which is a once-in-a-decade event here.

[Erick the Red]

Thursday, 18 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 1.21 miles in 18:33 minutes. 

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  More exercises from LLPSI chapter 3.

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  Staff drills.

[Erick the Red]

Friday, 19 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 1.60 miles in 26:05 minutes.  Just above freezing, and not as wet as yesterday.  I haven't been wearing my weighted pack because it is hard to wear with my winter coat.  Poor excuse, but there it is.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  Even more exercises from LLPSI chapter 3.

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  Circuit with body-weight squats, pushups, and 20-pound kettle-bell rows (each side).  Three rounds.  Followed by following along with this video, "How To Use Your Jo Staff #1".  My sticks are either too long or two short to do exactly what he is showing, but that's OK.  I learned some things, and I was able to be a little more active and on my feet that I have been.

[Erick the Red]

Saturday, 20 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 2.11 miles in 38:31 minutes.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  Took a break from written exercises, read through the first part of LLPSI chapter 11 about body parts.

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  Legs a little sore from yesterday, which I normally avoid but I don't mind this time since I really need to start doing more strength training.  Today I followed along with an online bo staff martial arts class, mostly ways to get better at handling the staff on different planes (in front, to the side, behind) and how that translates to better shoulder, arm, and wrist flexibility and strength. 

[Bellethiel]

Glad to see you're keeping at it well! 👏😊
The way things are going, I can't wait for your reply to be in Latin one of these days! 😄

Quote

I had plans, but then in the evening we had a freak snowstorm and I spent an hour slogging through four inches of snow, helping to make snowmen, and even some legitimate snow shoveling, which is a once-in-a-decade event here.

As we often have snow here, I can only tell you that I do believe that playing in it and rummaging threw it for some time can sometimes contribute to mobility and even strength, so I guess you made your goal anyways. And had lots of fun probably. Glad to hear it! 😊

[Erick the Red]

Sunday, 21 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 1.12 miles in 23:36 minutes.  Slower because I was walking with family, but I had my pack and 20-pound ruck plate this time.  I wanted to go hiking in the hills this upcoming weekend, but it looks lie rain Friday and Saturday.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  More exercises out of LLPSI, Ch 3.

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  I did staff drills.  Lots of thrusts and strikes, starting to introduce legwork like a step (hardly a lunge) to go with some of the strikes.

 

13 hours ago, Bellethiel said:

I can't wait for your reply to be in Latin one of these days!

 

Hodie est dies tui.  Gratias!  (Today is your day.  Thanks!)

 

Lingua latina scribere possum, sed non bene.  (I can write in Latin, just not well.)

 

 

[Erick the Red]

Monday, 22 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 2.20 miles in 41:47 minutes. I had my pack and 20-pound ruck plate.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  More exercises out of LLPSI, Ch 3.

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  Same staff drills as the other day.  My shoulders are feeling it.

[Erick the Red]

Tuesday, 23 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 1.40 miles in 25:21 minutes.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  Finished the exercises out of LLPSI, Ch 3.

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  Circuit with bodyweight squats, overhead press with kettlebell, and bent-over row with kettlebell.

[Erick the Red]

Wednesday, 24 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 1.64 miles in 30:04 minutes with a weighted pack.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  Read through LLPSI Ch. 4, as I listened to it read. 

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  Staff exercises.

[Erick the Red]

Thursday, 25 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 1.23 miles in 22:02 minutes according to the Runkeeper app.  I woke up this morning with sore calf muscles, so this was intended to be a lighter day.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  Did the first few sets of exercises for LLPSI Ch. 4. 

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  I tried out the NerdFitness Beginner Kettlebell Workout.  It was more well-rounded than what I had been doing.  I like the halo exercise for shoulder mobility.  I have been doing so many body-weight squats that when I add even the 20-lb kettlebell I was surprised at the increased difficulty.  

[Erick the Red]

Friday, 26 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   Very rainy day, and my jacket is water-resistant rather than water-proof.  I walked 1.00 miles in 16:26 minutes according to the Runkeeper app.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  Did more sets of exercises for LLPSI Ch. 4. 

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  More staff exercises with a YouTube video.

[Erick the Red]

Saturday, 27 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked with my weighted pack, but I forgot to turn on my tracker app.  About 1.5 miles, starting to warm up again.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  Completed the exercises for LLPSI Ch. 4. 

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  Another round of the NerdFitness beginner's kettlebell circuit. 

[Erick the Red]

Sunday, 28 Feb 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 1.20 miles in 21:14.  A little late than I had wanted, and the sun was going down.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  I started reading LLPSI Ch 5. 

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  I worked with my heavy staff through a series of "wrist twist" exercises, spins to build proprioception as well as hand and shoulder strength, and finally a series of thrusts and strikes from both sides.  

[Erick the Red]

Monday, 1 March 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I have had some issues with the tracking app.  I walked in the afternoon after work, about 1.5 miles.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  I read more from LLPSI Ch 5.  I'm trying to work out the little things that he is teaching, like how each of the pronouns work, so I'm reading it slower than I have previously. 

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  I received a new toy in the mail, a 50-inch long oak staff called a "jo".  It is about as tall as a regular walking stick you might take on a hike, for good reason.  I went through a lot of the same exercises I had done the previous day, but without knocking into my desk or dresser.

[Erick the Red]

Tuesday, 2 March 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 1.62 miles in 29:14.  No weighted pack, just my heavy coat and in a light rain.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  I read the rest of LLPSI Ch 5.

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.  I am trying something different today and working on flexibility.  I sit way too much.  I need to keep at it though to make any real progress.

[Erick the Red]

Wednesday, 3 March 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 1.46 miles in 17:38.  Again no weighted pack;  I just forgot.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  I started the exercises for LLPSI Ch 5.

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.   More stick practice, this time with a medium sized staff 50 inches (about 1.3 m) long.  This is walking-stick size, and the exercises went through using the stick for basic self defense moves to get away from bad dogs or people.

[Erick the Red]

Thursday, 4 March 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 2.53 miles in 42:23.  I wore the 20-pound ruck sack this time.  Good practice.  I hope to get out to the mountains this weekend.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  I worked more exercises for LLPSI Ch 5.

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.   Stretching today, which feels like cheating a little.  But (1) I have never been able to touch my toes and (2) my occasional sciatica lower back pain is connected to lack of mobility and the only effective treatment has been targeted stretching.

[Sylvaa]

12 hours ago, Erick the Red said:

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.   Stretching today, which feels like cheating a little.  But (1) I have never been able to touch my toes and (2) my occasional sciatica lower back pain is connected to lack of mobility and the only effective treatment has been targeted stretching.

 

Stretching totally counts! I also deal with sciatica issues (although, more regularly than occasional) and regular stretching / yoga has been one of the ways I've been able to keep flare ups at bay. It is super important. 

[Erick the Red]

Friday, 5 March 2021

 

1. Hike outside at least one mile per day.   I walked 1.19 miles in 22:03, in my hiking shoes I bought a little while ago during the last challenge.  I am going hiking tomorrow with a few friends.  Probably seven miles round trip, with some steep slopes on the way back out.  I just don't want to be last.

 

2. Studying or doing exercises from my Latin language textbooks for fifteen minutes.  I worked a couple more exercises for LLPSI Ch 5, but I was too easily distracted so not as much progress as other days.  And I learned that I in fact don't know my pronouns nearly as well as I had thought.

 

3. Strength or mobility work for fifteen minutes.   I did staff drills today, with both the 6-foot staff as well as the new medium-sized 4-foot one.  Mostly just to get the body moving.  I am forever surprised at how weak my shoulders are.