Aeryn's Spring Challenge

[Aeryn]

I'm using "spring" as my theme this challenge. Spring - my favorite season; an elastic object used to store mechanical energy; to move forward or upward in a quick motion.

Goals:

1. Pistols and pull-ups - this goes with "moving upward in a quick motion." I'm working toward doing a real pull-up, and an unassisted pistol squat. This takes 3 bodyweight workouts a week. 2 STR, 2 DEX

2. Springs are stretchy. I am not, and I keep skipping stretching sessions. If I ever want to be able to hold an L-sit, my hamstrings are going to have to get looser. 3 stretching sessions a week. 2 CON, 2 DEX

3. 5-ball cascade - flowing like water from a spring. I can juggle 5 balls. Briefly. I want to make that much more stable and confident, and learn at least 1 5-ball trick. 3 juggling practices a week. Juggling club counts only if I actually work on 5-ball for more than the weekly competition. 3 DEX, 1 CHA

4. Spring cleaning - I have a lot of small house projects that I need to pay attention to - building the tv stand last challenge made me aware of the end table covered in random stuff in my living room, half my tools are still in the hall closet despite the fact that I have a perfectly good workshop in the basement, my bike needs a rack instead of getting in the way, the table in my studio is still covered in screenprinting materials from a project three months ago... Anyway, 6 areas cleared/organized or house projects done by end of challenge gets me 2 CHA and 1 CON.

Random non-scored goals that carry from previous challenges - still working on handstands, no more than 3 Cokes a week, swimming 3 times a week.

[OrangeJorwell]

I really like the theme!  I'm rooting for your pull-ups, having been there, and your pistol squats, being in the same boat as you right now (actually, I'm probably further from them than you are).  And I look forward to more juggling videos like last time.

[Wolverine]

SPRING.  I love themed challenges.  Video of juggling?

[BlackWidowEowyn]

SPRING.  I love themed challenges.  Video of juggling?

YES video pls  

also go get those pullups!! One day soon we will have them! (Pistol squats are fun too)

[Sea Level]

Wow, juggling. I don't know if I've seen a juggling goal in a challenge before. I can't juggle one ball, let alone 5! Looking forward to a video!

[JuiceeTarget]

Great challenge! I love that your goals are all actionable. 

I've tried five balls and haven't been able to get a full jug yet. I'll be interested to see how you do. And keep us updated on you handstand practice.

[sammiejune29]

I love the theme! Its so creative.

 

I love juggling but I never got past 3 balls. I remember when I was learning though the hardest thing was getting that 4th catch consistently, and then all of a sudden I was juggling. Such a great feeling.

[Aeryn]

I really like the theme!  I'm rooting for your pull-ups, having been there, and your pistol squats, being in the same boat as you right now (actually, I'm probably further from them than you are).  And I look forward to more juggling videos like last time.

SPRING.  I love themed challenges.  Video of juggling?

YES video pls

also go get those pullups!! One day soon we will have them! (Pistol squats are fun too)

Thanks! Themes make me happy - makes the challenge feel like a cohesive whole, rather than 4 unrelated things. And oh yes, there will definitely be video of the juggling. Woohoo for pull-up and pistol support - I need it!

 

Wow, juggling. I don't know if I've seen a juggling goal in a challenge before. I can't juggle one ball, let alone 5! Looking forward to a video!

I had a juggling goal during my second challenge, and it was really awesome for focusing me on a specific skill. There will definitely be video!

 

Great challenge! I love that your goals are all actionable. 

I've tried five balls and haven't been able to get a full jug yet. I'll be interested to see how you do. And keep us updated on you handstand practice.

Thanks - I figured out during my second challenge that I actually do better with routine goals (do X 3 times a week) instead of achievement goals (do X by the end of the challenge), since I'm actively bad at figuring out what I can achieve in 6 weeks!

 

I love the theme! Its so creative.

 

I love juggling but I never got past 3 balls. I remember when I was learning though the hardest thing was getting that 4th catch consistently, and then all of a sudden I was juggling. Such a great feeling.

Thanks! Yup, there's a plateau at 3 catches that's mostly mental, but very real - once you're past it, you tend to improve very rapidly! Adding balls gets exponentially harder, though - I'd like to be really stable with 5, but I don't know that I'm ever going to really focus on learning 6.

[drsloomis]

Love the goals, especially the juggling. I'm working my way up to five, so looking forward to seeing what "tricks" you come up with!

[Wolverine]

I'll give you bonus attribute points if you juggle something on fire.  This may or may not be an abuse of my power.

[Elastigirl]

I'll give you bonus attribute points if you juggle something on fire.  This may or may not be an abuse of my power.

Can she get points for juggling swords too? That would seem like a handy assasin trick!

 

Awesome goals! I'm sure the pull up is going to happen this challenge

[OrangeJorwell]

I'll give you bonus attribute points if you juggle something on fire.  This may or may not be an abuse of my power.

 

 

Can she get points for juggling swords too? That would seem like a handy assasin trick!

 

Awesome goals! I'm sure the pull up is going to happen this challenge

 

What about juggling flaming swords?

[Elastigirl]

What about juggling flaming swords?

oooh I'd share some of my points with you if you do that!

[Aeryn]

Love the goals, especially the juggling. I'm working my way up to five, so looking forward to seeing what "tricks" you come up with!

Hey, another juggler! Awesome! Yeah, I'm thinking there are a few possibilities - something as straightforward as one over the top, or more complicated like a three-up flash, or some of the simpler site swaps - 7562 looks possible.

I'll give you bonus attribute points if you juggle something on fire. This may or may not be an abuse of my power.

Ooh, I'll totally take those points - juggling torches is a ton of fun. I don't own any, but I've borrowed them from friends before, and it's just awesome.

What about juggling flaming swords?

Now we're getting into things I haven't tried. How do you set a sword on fire, anyway?

[Cameron]

That's awesome, juggling has always seemed like witchcraft to me, I have no idea how people do it! Good luck!

[sammiejune29]

Now we're getting into things I haven't tried. How do you set a sword on fire, anyway?

Setting swords on fire is a piece of cake if you are Thoros Of Myr (awesome points to anyone who get the reference)

[Emissary2Ornj]

Following! I've got a stretching aspect tacked on one of my challenges, too - it's just too easy to slack on it! But my body always thanks me when I do it, so.... 

[Happienumber]

SPRING.  I love themed challenges.  Video of juggling?

 

 

Themed challenges FTW. Great goals! Definitely videos of juggling. I love your juggling videos. 

 Now we're getting into things I haven't tried. How do you set a sword on fire, anyway?

 

 

Soak it in alcohol?

[Elastigirl]

Hey, another juggler! Awesome! Yeah, I'm thinking there are a few possibilities - something as straightforward as one over the top, or more complicated like a three-up flash, or some of the simpler site swaps - 7562 looks possible.

Ooh, I'll totally take those points - juggling torches is a ton of fun. I don't own any, but I've borrowed them from friends before, and it's just awesome.

Now we're getting into things I haven't tried. How do you set a sword on fire, anyway?

Google magic has an answer for everything:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoYgmdi5ep0

[Hiraedd]

Juggling, fire swords, and Aeryn awesomeness: this thread has it all

 

Those are some pretty sweet goals, but I think you're missing a stat point in your allocations....

 

And did someone say juggling video for our viewing pleasure?  I hope so!

[Crazyhawaiian21]

Great theme, I looked to yours for inspiration to tie goals together.  As a juggler you can sneak into events as an entertainer. 

 

Juggling four flaming swords with your target in front of you and a small crowd gathered around to watch your skills.  In a flash you whiz a flechette into your victims throat without missing a beat.  The crowd of onlookers fails to notice one of their own slowly slump to the ground, still fixated on the twirling blades or doom.  Dramatically dropping the swords you point to the man next to the fallen body and yell,"ASSASSIN!" As the mob grabs the dazed onlooker you quietly collect your gear as they beat him senseless and drag him off to the magistrate.

 

Another one bites the dust! (no lightbringer though)

[Devyn]

I love your theme! Your challenges are always so imaginative. I look forward to seeing how you "spring" forward.  I am especially interested in the spring cleaning part since I might accidentally "borrow" your ideas.

[Aeryn]

Following! I've got a stretching aspect tacked on one of my challenges, too - it's just too easy to slack on it! But my body always thanks me when I do it, so.... 

Yup - it's so good for me when I do it, but I find it so boring that it's the first thing I skip. But not for the next six weeks!

 

Themed challenges FTW. Great goals! Definitely videos of juggling. I love your juggling videos. 

 

Soak it in alcohol?

Thanks! And yeah, that could work. I'm having mental images of little flaming drops of liquid flying off the end of it, though... wicks exist for a reason.

 

Google magic has an answer for everything:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoYgmdi5ep0

Of COURSE someone has figured this out, and put a tutorial on YouTube. I love the internet!

 

Juggling, fire swords, and Aeryn awesomeness: this thread has it all

 

Those are some pretty sweet goals, but I think you're missing a stat point in your allocations....

 

And did someone say juggling video for our viewing pleasure?  I hope so!

Thanks! And yup, I can't count, it seems. I'll go back and fix that now... oops. And yes, there will definitely be juggling video!

 

Great theme, I looked to yours for inspiration to tie goals together.  As a juggler you can sneak into events as an entertainer. 

 

Juggling four flaming swords with your target in front of you and a small crowd gathered around to watch your skills.  In a flash you whiz a flechette into your victims throat without missing a beat.  The crowd of onlookers fails to notice one of their own slowly slump to the ground, still fixated on the twirling blades or doom.  Dramatically dropping the swords you point to the man next to the fallen body and yell,"ASSASSIN!" As the mob grabs the dazed onlooker you quietly collect your gear as they beat him senseless and drag him off to the magistrate.

 

Another one bites the dust! (no lightbringer though)

I love that you just totally wrote RP for me! You're awesome.

 

I love your theme! Your challenges are always so imaginative. I look forward to seeing how you "spring" forward.  I am especially interested in the spring cleaning part since I might accidentally "borrow" your ideas.

Thanks! You're welcome to "borrow" whatever inspires you.

[Aeryn]

Workout this morning:

 

Flexed arm hang (sec): 40/18/12

Negative pull-ups: 4/4/4

 

Ring support - 1 sec/ 5 sec/ 5 sec Discovered that how far apart the rings are makes a huge difference - if they're further out than my shoulders, I can't do the support hold at all. Wow.

 

Circuit:

Hanging leg raises: 10/10/10

Bodyweight rows: 8/8/8

one-leg calf raises: 10/10/10

pushups: 10/10/10

pistol squat leg extensions, 10 sec hold: 2/2/2

doorway assisted pistols: 4/4/4

hollow hold (sec): 60,15, 10/60,10,10/ 60,10

[CaraStarbuck]

Love the goals, love the theme. Best of luck! Pull ups and pistols still elude me, so I'll be following your thread for inspiration! Go get 'em. And I second/third/whatever the motion for juggling flaming swords!