Absidey's Getting to the Point Challenge

[Samunwal]

Great goals, great plan, remind me not to do PvP with you- I look horrible in heels.

Coffee is very much a crutch for me.

Coffee is food group unto itself!!!!! At least for me. If you think it's a crutch and want to get rid of it, you'll have an easier time if you can find something to have the same effect. I like mine with cream and sugar, too, but use Sugar in the Raw. It's still sugar, but at least it's less processed than the white stuff. If I'm not using sugar, I've found that a nice single malt scotch helps bring out the coffee flavors, but that would probably be really counter-productive at work.

As for the kid getting up at night: [ATTACH=CONFIG]5463[/ATTACH]. Sorry- after 2 of the little critters, that's all I got.

[Kuiken]

Me too! I keep telling people about it, and they're just.. not. lol I'm going to do Workout A tomorrow and add a deadlift set after squats so I have firm numbers for my starting weights.

LOL-I know the feeling. I'm all pumped and my friends are like "you're doing what?".

I didn't go to the right store to get coconut milk, and I'm not sure I'm going to. I don't think I'm going to cut dairy. Right now I have half a cup of milk and sometimes 1 cup of Greek yogurt. On days I have yogurt, that's about 10% of my calorie total for the day. I think I can live with that. Cutting grains and sugar is the crux, I think, and the only reasons I have for NOT wanting to cut those things are more like excuses. I talked to my mom about it today, and, while she questioned how difficult it would be to maintain, was surprisingly very encouraging about giving it a try. Still working on the particulars, but I think I'll start out, like, 1 paleo meal a day, then 2, then only a couple meals a week off and see how that feels.

I've kept dairy as well-cheese is too magical a food to ignore. Just play with it and see what works for you; starting off with one meal and working up sounds like a fantastic (and realistic) plan!

Also-IT BEGINS!

[Absidey]

Great challenge!! I like your points system, I need to have a think about how I'm going to break my goals down for grading and you've given me a great example On dairy, I consider myself to be 80% paleo but I do indulge in some good quality cheese sometimes for snacks and I love my greek yoghurt to bits. But lately I have gotten into coconut milk, it's good stuff!

Good luck with the challenge!

Thanks! Feel free to borrow whatever you like. I have noticed a lot of the paleo followers make allowances for cheese, so I'm not feeling too guilty about milk. I don't care much about cheese, so I'm just making a trade. =)

Coffee is food group unto itself!!!!! At least for me. If you think it's a crutch and want to get rid of it, you'll have an easier time if you can find something to have the same effect. I like mine with cream and sugar, too, but use Sugar in the Raw. It's still sugar, but at least it's less processed than the white stuff. If I'm not using sugar, I've found that a nice single malt scotch helps bring out the coffee flavors, but that would probably be really counter-productive at work.

As for the kid getting up at night: [ATTACH=CONFIG]5463[/ATTACH]. Sorry- after 2 of the little critters, that's all I got.

Meh, my boss probably wouldn't be too surprised if I started spiking my morning coffee. I've been joking about the job driving me to hard licquor for months!

I used to drink tea every morning I wanted something hot, so I'm going to try to get back to that. I'll be weaning myself off sugar slowly, and there are teas I can drink "black," so that's good. Earl Grey requires cream and brown sugar, but I can reserve it as a treat.

Hah, I've seen that meme go around my facebook a few times. I've gotten used to the not sleeping in; we've been getting up before 7 for the last 2 years. But the up and down all night is just painful. It's why I've only got one! =D

LOL-I know the feeling. I'm all pumped and my friends are like "you're doing what?".

I've kept dairy as well-cheese is too magical a food to ignore. Just play with it and see what works for you; starting off with one meal and working up sounds like a fantastic (and realistic) plan!

Also-IT BEGINS!

I'm glad I'm not departing too far from the norm with dairy. Makes me feel less like I'm cheating and more like I'm making an acceptable alteration.

Your thread start is freaking awesome. I was choking on my not-laughing reading it at work.

[Absidey]

All right, I'm officially done accomplishing things today, so here's my tally:

Week 1 Targets

Action: 1/10 pts

NRoL 1A - 1 pt

Diet: 1/10 pts

Tracked all the things - 1 pt

Ate a mini almonds snickers. I KNEW it wouldn't be as good as the regular kind, but I ate it anyway, and thought about how not as good it was the whole time. Meh. No point.

Mobility: 2/7 pts

Did 2 AMRAP tibia strengthening sets. 35x5 and 25x5. - 1 pt

Post Workout Stretch - 1 pt

Relax: 0/2 pts

I tried to close my eyes for 5 minutes at work, and then my email dinged. I managed maybe 20 seconds before I had to know what it said. Next time: close email. No points.

Edit: I FORGOT THE IMPORTANT PART!

So. Do I go to bed early and wake up at 5 to check out the WoW expansion in the AM or stay up until midnight?

[Samunwal]

1. Just turn off the email dinger, if not the whole day, at least while you're having your quiet time. Remember- it's YOUR freakin' time- how DARE the world interrupt!!!

2. Teas- two that I like a lot even without sugar are both Chinese: Lapsang Souchong (dried over a pine fire; really cool smoky flavor) and Pu-erh (fermented in a cave- kind of a musty after-taste, but like a good French Bordeaux and not in a bad way). I prefer to use loose tea instead of bags, and these two are probably easier to find that way. For cold tea at work as a nice substitute for sodas, my wife just sent me some Twinings Cold Brewed Ice Tea, and I'm trying one for the first time right now (lunch time here). It's Mixed Berries, and ain't bad. You just put the bag in cold water for a few minutes. Ingredients claim "natural cherry, blueberry, blackcurrant, raspberry and tea flavourings," but there is also the ever worrisome "other natural flavourings." You know, where they usually hide the crack and the plutonium.

[Absidey]

You know who isn't getting a point for no stupid food today?

The custom mirrors are too big, because the designer can't read a floor plan! Can we get new ones [from China] in 15 days?

Hey, your stepdad is trying to get our employee's FedEx clearance revoked so we'll lose our business!

Hey, the state may call you because the crazy lady I asked to find another daycare reported me for child abuse!

OMG, you ordered ALL the things? But we weren't sure about these ones, or these ones, or these ones, even though we wrote the specs and approved the purchase orders and paid the invoice in JUNE. They're in port in LA; can we just send them back?

I NOT EAT I NOT EAT I NOT EAT I NOT EAT x 10 to the twenty-second power.

All considered, I did pretty damn well today, and did not stress eat. However, I was lazy and ate a motley assortment of leftovers that was rather carb heavy. And one blueberry muffin, because blueberry muffins are my happy place.

[Thilde]

You know who isn't getting a point for no stupid food today?

The custom mirrors are too big, because the designer can't read a floor plan! Can we get new ones [from China] in 15 days?

Hey, your stepdad is trying to get our employee's FedEx clearance revoked so we'll lose our business!

Hey, the state may call you because the crazy lady I asked to find another daycare reported me for child abuse!

OMG, you ordered ALL the things? But we weren't sure about these ones, or these ones, or these ones, even though we wrote the specs and approved the purchase orders and paid the invoice in JUNE. They're in port in LA; can we just send them back?

I NOT EAT I NOT EAT I NOT EAT I NOT EAT x 10 to the twenty-second power.

All considered, I did pretty damn well today, and did not stress eat. However, I was lazy and ate a motley assortment of leftovers that was rather carb heavy. And one blueberry muffin, because blueberry muffins are my happy place.

Sister friend, I can TOTES RELATE to your day. (On my last one of those, which was appallingly recently, I downed half a bag of chocolate chips halfway through my work day.) You did AWESOME not stress eating.

And I'm pretty sure blueberry muffins actually ARE happy places. Like, in the Encyclopedia Brittanica, for the entry "happy place," there's no text, just a picture of a blueberry muffin.

Way to show this day who's boss.

[Absidey]

Sister friend, I can TOTES RELATE to your day. (On my last one of those, which was appallingly recently, I downed half a bag of chocolate chips halfway through my work day.) You did AWESOME not stress eating.

And I'm pretty sure blueberry muffins actually ARE happy places. Like, in the Encyclopedia Brittanica, for the entry "happy place," there's no text, just a picture of a blueberry muffin.

Way to show this day who's boss.

Thank you =) But I'm not gonna lie: if I'd HAD a bag of chocolate chips, they would have been in deep trouble. I do okay when one job or the other gets stessful, but when both are being crappy, I go a little [a lot] crazy.

Here is yesterday's tally:

Week 1 Targets

Action: 1/10 pts

Diet: 2/10 pts

Tracked all the things - 1 pt

Mobility: 2/7 pts

Relax: 0/2 pts

I'll make a little bit back tonight at the rock wall gym. I'm trying not to get nervous. I've only gone once before, and I was scared, but it didn't stop me. I am determined to chip away at my fear of heights, so it will stop holding me back. I just need to remember: climbing is fun; I'm excited, not scared. (Pretend until it's true, right?)

We might have a third with us tonight, so we'll be able to get some decent pictures. For some added climbing fun, try it sometime: while belaying, fish a phone out of your sports bra, turn it on, get it pointed, take the picture, and don't forget to take up the slack in the rope while you do it. My avatar is the clearest photo of the bunch, and the ones I took of my friend are even worse!

[CyningaDena]

Abs, you are teh awesome.

I just need to remember: climbing is fun; I'm excited, not scared. (Pretend until it's true, right?)

When the fair comes to town, I go on all the high, twirly, slingshotty rides that scare the shit out of me. They're exciting because they're scary. Those two things don't have to be mutually exclusive -- part of the reason it's a blast is because you're constantly riding the edge of your fear and conquering it. You can doo eet!

[Samunwal]

Abs, you are teh awesome.

When the fair comes to town, I go on all the high, twirly, slingshotty rides that scare the shit out of me. They're exciting because they're scary. Those two things don't have to be mutually exclusive -- part of the reason it's a blast is because you're constantly riding the edge of your fear and conquering it. You can doo eet!

Gotta go with CD on this one. I do the same thing on my mountain bike as he does with the fair, hitting some trails with some really hairy sections and forcing msyself to go over those hills. Gotta learn to ride the fear like a wave- once you do that, there's nothing that can stop you. Can't do that pretending not to be scared. You have to accept that some stuff IS real scary, then just keep operating in spite of the fear; remember FIDO (Frak It, Drive On). Use the fear to keep your senses on edge, your reactions sharp, your adrenalin up. And some scary things are still fun- like mountain biking and rock climbing.

And I suggest stress "head bumping" to replace the eating. Do some push ups or something in the office to take the edge off the moment, then get in a climb or a bike ride or something after to get back to center (I'm lucky- mountain bike trails are near enough to the house I can go get in a quick 10 miles of "stress tree bouncing" after a bad day at work).

[Absidey]

I'm not sure we're talking about the same kind of fear here. For things like public speaking or some roller coasters, I can use fear or nervousness as a kind of fuel, but heights are in a whole other class. I can't handle straight up and drop rides, and I think I'd rather be shot than ride The Titan at Six Flags again. From what I've read and been told, training myself to not be afraid IS the way to take care of it. I'm supposed to get somewhere mildly scary, then concentrate on being still and calm, and controlling my breath and my thoughts.

I practice not being afraid with little stuff (rock climbing), and while I do get the adrenaline and excitement of pushing through my fear, the object is to eventually replace the fear pattern, so that when I try something big (to me), my mind has another path to follow and I don't end up clinging by my fingernails to something while I cry and hyperventilate. Right now, it doesn't matter how determined I am; it just makes it so that I'll get far enough in that I'm well and truly stuck by the time I panic. And I have panicked in some very uncomfortable situations, like the time I crawled along this with 30 angry teenagers walking behind me, yelling for me to hurry it up:

Or the time I ripped the seat of my jeans and had my ass in a stranger's face for 10 minutes while he patiently helped me off a rock I was stuck to. (No pictures of that one.)

My goal is to get to the point I can hike to Mooney Falls. I think it's about 16-18 miles one-way, so I'm not there yet athletically either. Right now it makes my stomach hurt to look at this picture of part of the trail:

All that, and my climbing partner cancelled, because she overdid it on her bike this week, and her knee isn't taking weight so well. I want to get Bobby to go with me this weekend, but he's not keen on leaving Katie in playcare to do it. We'll see.

And as a reward reading all that crap, here's a pic of Mooney Falls, one of the more awesome places in the US.

[Absidey]

1. Just turn off the email dinger, if not the whole day, at least while you're having your quiet time. Remember- it's YOUR freakin' time- how DARE the world interrupt!!!

I would have, if I'd thought about it. Next time I will.

2. Teas- two that I like a lot even without sugar are both Chinese: Lapsang Souchong (dried over a pine fire; really cool smoky flavor) and Pu-erh (fermented in a cave- kind of a musty after-taste, but like a good French Bordeaux and not in a bad way). I prefer to use loose tea instead of bags, and these two are probably easier to find that way. For cold tea at work as a nice substitute for sodas, my wife just sent me some Twinings Cold Brewed Ice Tea, and I'm trying one for the first time right now (lunch time here). It's Mixed Berries, and ain't bad. You just put the bag in cold water for a few minutes. Ingredients claim "natural cherry, blueberry, blackcurrant, raspberry and tea flavourings," but there is also the ever worrisome "other natural flavourings." You know, where they usually hide the crack and the plutonium.

Mmmm, I love exploring teas. I'll have to try the cold brew with crack and plutonium. I've lost the taste for the Lipton cold brew. I didn't know anyone else had hopped on that bandwagon though, yay!

And I suggest stress "head bumping" to replace the eating. Do some push ups or something in the office to take the edge off the moment, then get in a climb or a bike ride or something after to get back to center (I'm lucky- mountain bike trails are near enough to the house I can go get in a quick 10 miles of "stress tree bouncing" after a bad day at work).

I actually really like this method, and had a decent bodyweight rotation I'd cycle through as needed. I'd do 30-60 seconds of something an hour or more apart, and it really helped me keep focused and not so grumpy with everyone. But my manager said it was distracting him and, "We're too busy for that shit anyway," and that was that. =( That's why I'm venturing into meditation - If I don't do something, I'm going to boil over and have a screaming tantrum standing on my desk.

And my update for the day:

Since I didn't go to the rock wall gym, I went and did my lifting routine. I was pretty hardcore trying to think of a way to put it off, but I gave myself a stern talking to instead, and got it done.

Week 1 Targets

Action: 2/10 pts

NRoL - 1 pt

Diet: 3/10 pts

Tracked all the things - 1 pt

Mobility: 4/7 pts

40x5 and 35x5. Staggered around a bit when I was done, but I'm making something happen: there's a muscle there now when I flex! OMG! You know it's bad when you can't see a muscle on the leanest part of your leanest limb, but now I can, and OMG! I don't know how much more I should do before I try running, but I think at least a couple more weeks. - pt

Post workout stretch - 1 pt

Relax: 1/2 pts

I'm going to meditate before bed tonight. Not awarding the point until tomorrow, though, just in case I fall asleep. (I figure it doesn't count if I fall asleep.)

(Edited to add my point.)

[Samunwal]

I'm not sure we're talking about the same kind of fear here. For things like public speaking or some roller coasters, I can use fear or nervousness as a kind of fuel, but heights are in a whole other class. .... I practice not being afraid with little stuff (rock climbing), and while I do get the adrenaline and excitement of pushing through my fear, the object is to eventually replace the fear pattern, so that when I try something big (to me), my mind has another path to follow and I don't end up clinging by my fingernails to something while I cry and hyperventilate.

We're saying almost the same thing. You will never get past FEELING fear- you need to train to work IN SPITE of it. You learn that even though something looks scary (hell, a 500 foot cliff IS scary) you learn you can handle it and the fear becomes manageable. I've given thousands of briefings and am pretty good at it, but I still get nervous standing up to speak in front of a group of Boy Scouts. Every time I jumped out of an airplane, seeing the ground 2500 feet below was always about enough to make me pee myself, but it got easier to go out the door because I worked through it, and we had trained for it starting with a 50 foot tower and a sort of zip line- exactly the kind of stuff you're doing with the rock climbing. You will develop a new fear pattern - just as you said - one that leads to the proper action and not to pants wetting and fetal positions.

I actually really like this method, and had a decent bodyweight rotation I'd cycle through as needed. I'd do 30-60 seconds of something an hour or more apart, and it really helped me keep focused and not so grumpy with everyone. But my manager said it was distracting him and, "We're too busy for that shit anyway," and that was that. =( That's why I'm venturing into meditation - If I don't do something, I'm going to boil over and have a screaming tantrum standing on my desk.

Ahh, you have that species of boss known to biologists as Anuscranium Maximus. Best management book I've ever read is "The Dilbert Principle," and its main advice for managers is "Thou Shalt Not Hassle." Pity if you gave this guy a copy his response would probably be "Ehh, I don't have time to read anything to get better, and besides I'm already a really good manager. Didn't I get you to stop that silly wastage of 8 minutes a day exercising (that was in fact making you more productive)?"

Great work on the goals, and thanks for the Mooney Falls reward pic. Where are the falls?

[Kuiken]

Thank you =) I just need to remember: climbing is fun; I'm excited, not scared. (Pretend until it's true, right?)

IT IS! When I climbed way back in the day, I was also trying to overcome my fear of heights and what worked best for me was to just fall off the wall from time to time (letting my ground partner know first of course). I know I'm going to lose my grip at some point, so rather practice falling (starting low and going up higher eventually) instead of getting into a tough spot and freaking out because I'm stuck. Plus climbing for me felt better because I was in control and I could focus my eyes on the wall (up close instead of the ground) and lose myself concentrating on my hand and foot placement. Roller coasters I have no control over and they scare the bejekers out of me.

If you ever get down about it though, just go back and look at that "bridge" and realize that you made it over that thing! Forget the angry teenagers (they're all pumped up on hormones and have no sense of their own mortality)-you totally crossed it and lived to tell the tale! I think I would have wet myself just looking at it.

And MAJOR CONGRATS on being able to see muscles! WOOT!

[Absidey]

We're saying almost the same thing. You will never get past FEELING fear-

Okay, so some of what you said was vaguely comforting, but not so much this one. I can accept being afraid of "normal" stuff that makes sense to be afraid of, but shit, man, I get shaky climbing over a chest-high wall other people are vaulting over without slowing down. I really, really hope that I can get to a point that scaling a 10' plank wall isn't scary to me.

Ahh, you have that species of boss known to biologists as Anuscranium Maximus. Best management book I've ever read is "The Dilbert Principle," and its main advice for managers is "Thou Shalt Not Hassle." Pity if you gave this guy a copy his response would probably be "Ehh, I don't have time to read anything to get better, and besides I'm already a really good manager. Didn't I get you to stop that silly wastage of 8 minutes a day exercising (that was in fact making you more productive)?"

Yes. >.< In his defense, he's a project manager, not a people manager, and I am his only peon.

Great work on the goals, and thanks for the Mooney Falls reward pic. Where are the falls?

All right, let's see if I can get all the words right. Mooney Falls is on the Havasupai Trail, which starts at Hualapai Hilltop and ends at the Havasu Rapids of the Colorado River. There are some other really awesome waterfalls on the trail as well, including Havasu Falls and Beaver Falls. It's at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, in Arizona. It's a bit longer than I guessed, too: 18 miles to the first waterfall, but the whole trail is over 30 miles. Some of my cousins did an overnight trip through it this summer, and it shot to the top of my bucket list.

IT IS! When I climbed way back in the day, I was also trying to overcome my fear of heights and what worked best for me was to just fall off the wall from time to time (letting my ground partner know first of course). I know I'm going to lose my grip at some point, so rather practice falling (starting low and going up higher eventually) instead of getting into a tough spot and freaking out because I'm stuck. Plus climbing for me felt better because I was in control and I could focus my eyes on the wall (up close instead of the ground) and lose myself concentrating on my hand and foot placement. Roller coasters I have no control over and they scare the bejekers out of me.

I can do really, really fast roller coasters, as long as they're not too high: if I run out of breath to scream with before we're at the bottom of the drop, I'm unhappy. I actually like the loopy, lots of twists and turns kind. Even the ones that go backwards are fun. But I cut my palms with my nails on the super high drop one at Six Flags, and I felt like a needed two shots and a cat to cuddle after I got off of it.

If you ever get down about it though, just go back and look at that "bridge" and realize that you made it over that thing! Forget the angry teenagers (they're all pumped up on hormones and have no sense of their own mortality)-you totally crossed it and lived to tell the tale! I think I would have wet myself just looking at it.

I might, next time I'm up there. It's about 1400 miles from where I live now.

And MAJOR CONGRATS on being able to see muscles! WOOT!

=D thanks

_______

And I get my point for meditation last night. It's a lot harder to do with someone in the room getting ready for bed, but the goal is to make the effort; I didn't expect to be good at it right away. Soo +1 relax point.

[Absidey]

I'm pooped, so fast daily summary..

Week 1 Targets

Action: 3/10 pts

Had a factory tour today: soooo much walking. 1 pt.

Diet: 5/10 pts

Tracked all the things - 1 pt

Ate nothing stupid - 1 pt

Mobility: 4/7 pts

Relax: 1/2 pts

[CyningaDena]

lol...Rushdie has a line in one of his stories that sums up basically every teenage twit: "I was fifteen then and bursting with unemployed cock, and it meant I could say things like that right into people's faces."

Come on, Abs, you can make it! More action!

[Absidey]

Come on, Abs, you can make it! More action!

Yah, I'm going to need something good this weekend. I was counting on the 2 pts from rock climbing. =/

Slightly more successful meditation last night. I finally managed to make one of Sambie's lotuses, too, and am feeling ridiculously pleased by an ugly wad of flower-suggestive paper.

[Absidey]

Since I messed up and made my achievement this week partially dependent on someone else, Imma give myself a chance to make it up. I'm going to do something I generally make any and all excuses to avoid: run. OH, how I despise it! It's what I've been working towards with that arcane little tibia flex thingie, though, and I've made some progress there.

Saturday morning, I'm going to do my lifting workout, then head over to the treadmills for a quick 5K. And then I'm going to roar with bestial triumph and.... okay maybe not. But for the combo workout and sucking it up, I'll get 3 points. Hopefully I won't also collapse into a gelatinous ball and shoot of the back of the treadmill.

[Samunwal]

I really, really hope that I can get to a point that scaling a 10' plank wall isn't scary to me.

Don't worry- you will. Just keep training for it- the key is to get to the point you know what to do and then do it automatically in that situation. Like the time I was taking a whiz outside when the mortar round came overhead- I ducked automatically and without thinking before I truly realized what was going on, and still managed to avoid peeing on myself. I am still so proud of that moment.

Yes. >.< In his defense, he's a project manager, not a people manager, and I am his only peon.

So, you don't need a voodoo doll? My older makes them to order (kinda makes me nervous, too).

lol...Rushdie has a line in one of his stories that sums up basically every teenage twit: "I was fifteen then and bursting with unemployed cock, and it meant I could say things like that right into people's faces."

Come on, Abs, you can make it! More action!

You can quote RUSHDIE?!?!? I AM impressed!

Saturday morning, I'm going to do my lifting workout, then head over to the treadmills for a quick 5K. And then I'm going to roar with bestial triumph and.... okay maybe not.

No! ROAR, roar away! Release the savage yawp! Can't tell you how many times I've scared the crap out of other mountain bikers on a trail when I clean a hill that's been kicking my ass and let one rip. It's so satisfying to vent that feeling. And you'll have earned it. Probably get priority on the treadmill next time, too.

[Kuiken]

lol...Rushdie has a line in one of his stories that sums up basically every teenage twit: "I was fifteen then and bursting with unemployed cock, and it meant I could say things like that right into people's faces."

EXACTLY. Damn-now I need to go reread my Rushdie books. Oh shucks

Since I messed up and made my achievement this week partially dependent on someone else, Imma give myself a chance to make it up. I'm going to do something I generally make any and all excuses to avoid: run. OH, how I despise it! It's what I've been working towards with that arcane little tibia flex thingie, though, and I've made some progress there.

Saturday morning, I'm going to do my lifting workout, then head over to the treadmills for a quick 5K. And then I'm going to roar with bestial triumph and.... okay maybe not. But for the combo workout and sucking it up, I'll get 3 points. Hopefully I won't also collapse into a gelatinous ball and shoot of the back of the treadmill.

DOOOOOO IT!!! And take pictures if you do end up a splat on the wall. Or maybe have someone else take pictures as gelatinous balls can't really hold a camera. Also bring a spatula along just in case.

Bestial roars are TOTALLY acceptable if you manage weights and a 5km back to back! Don't let the gym security guards tell you otherwise!

[Absidey]

Don't worry- you will. Just keep training for it- the key is to get to the point you know what to do and then do it automatically in that situation. Like the time I was taking a whiz outside when the mortar round came overhead- I ducked automatically and without thinking before I truly realized what was going on, and still managed to avoid peeing on myself. I am still so proud of that moment.

I don't know how to respond to that... Well done? I'm sorry? Perhaps a bit of both.

No! ROAR, roar away! Release the savage yawp! Can't tell you how many times I've scared the crap out of other mountain bikers on a trail when I clean a hill that's been kicking my ass and let one rip. It's so satisfying to vent that feeling. And you'll have earned it. Probably get priority on the treadmill next time, too.

Bestial roars are TOTALLY acceptable if you manage weights and a 5km back to back! Don't let the gym security guards tell you otherwise!

I didn't roar, I'm sorry. I did do the combo workout and managed! 57:13. lol. I am so slow. But I feel pretty good about it. My last 5K time was over 90 minutes, though it was also an obstacle course, and I got stuck on top of walls three times. (Thus began rock wall training.) I ran intervals all through it, and, though I could have walked the whole thing at 3mph in only slightly more time.. whatevs. I'm slow. I did it anyway, and I ran, and that will freaking do.

Just realized I forgot to update points on Friday, and I was really, really perplexed why my spreadsheet had different totals.

Week 1 Targets

Action: 7/10 pts

9/28 Hollowbody practice and allowing offspring to play monkey to my jungle gym - 1 pt

9/29 NRoL - 1 pt

9/29 The second longest 5K evaaaaar - 2 pts

Diet: 8/10 pts

9/28 Tracked all the things - 1 pt

9/29 Tracked all the things - 1 pt

9/29 Ate nothing stupid - 1 pt (On Friday, I was so bad, my friend asked if I was PMSing. Mmmph.)

Mobility: 5/7 pts

9/29 Post Workout Stretch - 1 pt

Relax: 2/2 pts

[Absidey]

PS - I've decided that if I get 90% of my points overall, I can go to my favorite (pricey) salon and have my hair highlighted and colored and cut. If I don't, box and cheap cut.

[CyningaDena]

Awesome work, Abs! It looks like, if you were coming at it fresh, you would totally kick my ass in a 5K. I'm sort of at the stage where time doesn't make a lick of difference. Did we finish? Did we run at some point in there? Are we sweating? Mission accomplished. I still tell my friends (who are triathletes and marathon runners and generally fit as all hell) that I went for "a run," and they just give me a thumbs-up and ask how it went. Eventually, we'll be fracking awesome at it. In the meantime, I'm totally cool with just working really stinking hard for it.

Are you figuring that the week ends on Sunday since the challenge opened on Monday? You are sooooo close to getting 100% in every area for the week! Shoot for the gold, Abs!! You've got this one!

[Samunwal]

I don't know how to respond to that... Well done? I'm sorry? Perhaps a bit of both.

Sorry- that one really was TMI, wasn't it? Sometimes the filters just don't work.... But the point is that with enough training, no matter what the situation, your reactions will take over and you'll do the right thing at the right time. YOu're determined, you're training hard, you'll get there.