Crypto's Cryptic Challenge (yes it's a silly title)

[cryptomancy]

So! Here is my first challenge!

 

A few years ago I made the decision to get in better shape, so I joined Weight Watchers and started taking fencing classes. I ended up losing a bunch of weight and having an incredible time fencing (I did fence saber competitively) but ended up getting laid off from my job in the middle of the dreaded "financial crisis" and couldn't afford the $40/month to WW and $90/month to my fencing club, and I just sort of freaked out. I "quit" fitness (what a stupid thing to say, but it's pretty much the truth) for awhile, while I focused on going back to school and finishing the music degree I started awhile back.

 

In the past year I've met a lot of my personal/school/career-related goals (over the course of the past year, I went from singing "baby arias" to recently being cast in a professional production of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" as the Queen of the Night...if you don't sing opera you probably wouldn't know, but that is a HUGE progression to make in a year and I'm ridiculously proud of it); but my (non-vocal) fitness has really suffered. I am still rather thin for an opera singer (though, contrary to stereotype, these days most opera singers are not fat. The body weight does tend to skew a bit higher simply because we need an instrument that can support our sound...it's like having an acoustic guitar versus an unplugged electric guitar) but my strength and stamina are horrible, and I'd love to have the energy to sing the very athletic (and huge) roles suited to my voice type! Additionally, as I start making money from my voice, I'd like to apply that money to getting back into fencing soon, and I'd rather not be the person at the club who doesn't give anyone a challenge!

 

tl;dr: I do ridiculous things like fencing and singing opera and I want better strength and stamina to do them more effectively.

 

 

So, here are my challenge quests...

 

QUEST THE FIRST!

To run thirty minutes per day three days a week.

I'm doing a C25K program right now (just started week 2 yesterday!) and it's completely unrealistic for me to say something stupid like I'm going to finish the whole thing before this six weeks is up, but I want to keep at it and make as much progress with running as I possibly can in this period. I will consider it a bonus if I don't have any hiccups and am actually completing week 7 at the end of the six week period, that's how out of shape I am.

 

QUEST THE SECOND!!

To do the beginner bodyweight circuit three days a week.

I can't even finish the circuit right now, I can only make it through two sets and I am so sore I can barely move, but if I keep at it three days a week I should have no problem by the end of the challenge and I should also be able to graduate to "grownup" pushups!

 

QUEST THE THIRD!!!

To eliminate sugary drinks.

I don't have a problem with soda, but I do have a HUGE problem with Kool-Aid (I know it's weird, but I am apparently an eight year old), and I want to be drinking water or unsweetened iced green tea only by the end of the challenge. Well, except for breakfast. I'm not including coffee in this because I think it's completely unrealistic for me to stop drinking sweet coffee and Kool-Aid at the same time, so we'll save that for another challenge.

 

And I know we aren't supposed to have side quests, but I'm adding this because it's something I need to do challenge or no challenge, and that's to get my quintet memorized for Flute. I have all my other music solidly in my repertoire, but I've not sung the full role before so I really need to get it together and have all the German translated and the part memorized so I can start working on it in earnest.

 

(please excuse the silly colors and bolding, they're mostly for my own reference...)

 

Anyway, nice to meet you all, and best wishes for the coming challenge!!!

 

(edited to add my photo...)

[DELETED]

Great goals. You can do it!

 

And huge congrats on being cast as the Queen of the Night! i'm not an expert on opera by any means, but I like to listen to it and the Queen of the Night Aria is one of my favorite pieces. (it might actually be the only piece I can identify in The Magic Flute.)

[TheHalfie]

 

 

Well, except for breakfast. I'm not including coffee in this because I think it's completely unrealistic for me to stop drinking sweet coffee and Kool-Aid at the same time, so we'll save that for another challenge.

Good on ya!! You have only so much willpower to go around, and I think giving yourself some leniency in one area will allow you to kick ass in other areas, like the running and the bodyweight. Cool beans!

[Meta]

C25K is a great beginner's program. I've gone about half-way through it before, but never finished. The running goal is a good one and it's great that you know yourself well enough to think you might not finish. Just don't sell yourself short!

 

I'm going to check out the beginner bodyweight circuit later in the challenge, so I'm excited to hear how it goes for you.

 

Augh, I don't know how you drink Kool-Aid! I loved it when I was young, but can't stand the sugary feeling it gives my mouth now. Sounds like a great thing to cut out!

 

Good luck on the challenge! You have some smart goals!

 

 

(please excuse the silly colors and bolding, they're mostly for my own reference...)

It also helps others to read your post, so no need to apologize!

[Omega v1.1]

I do ridiculous things like fencing and singing opera

 

Fencing and singing opera are two very cool abilities to have but being able to do both is an awesome combination. You should definitely try singing at your opponent the next time you have a bout or skirmish or whatever is the correct technical term for locking swords.

 

 

 

QUEST THE THIRD!!!

To eliminate sugary drinks.

I don't have a problem with soda, but I do have a HUGE problem with Kool-Aid (I know it's weird, but I am apparently an eight year old), and I want to be drinking water or unsweetened iced green tea only by the end of the challenge. Well, except for breakfast. I'm not including coffee in this because I think it's completely unrealistic for me to stop drinking sweet coffee and Kool-Aid at the same time, so we'll save that for another challenge.

 

What you'll find after a couple of weeks is that you really go off of the taste of sugary drinks and on the rare occasion you have them, your teeth will feel all nasty and skuzzy. There is something amazingly refreshing about just plain old ice cold water and you never know, you might find yourself getting bored of sweet coffee if you develop a taste for green tea. I recommend treating yourself and parting with the cash to buy some good quality loose leaf and a fancy all in one cup and infuser such as this beauty- maybe as a reward to yourself after the challenge if you smash your goals.

 

Anyway, good luck with your challenge!

[alphamisery]

C25k is an amazing program. I went through it in May and it's crazy cool the difference it makes once you really get into. Might I suggest signing up for a 5k at or near the end of it? That way you've put like $10/$15 in and (at least for me) have a bit more motivation to keep going.

 

And our programs do sound very similar! Nothing like a bit of endurance building and strength training to get the fat flying and the muscles...throbbing with girlish power?

 

Can't wait to see more of your journey, you crazy opera singing fencer. So cool.

[lizpirate]

Very cool!  I used to sing opera in undergrad--it's a work out in and of itself.  Congrats on the part.

 

Good luck with your quest.  I completed a C25K program (Zombies, Run! 5K) a couple of months ago and it made a HUGE difference in my stamina.

[cryptomancy]

HUGE thank you to everyone for your comments! So encouraging.

And now it's reply bomb time because I can't sleep because I'm literally that excited about my run in the morning ;p

Great goals. You can do it!

 

And huge congrats on being cast as the Queen of the Night! i'm not an expert on opera by any means, but I like to listen to it and the Queen of the Night Aria is one of my favorite pieces. (it might actually be the only piece I can identify in The Magic Flute.)

 

Thank you! It's very exciting for me because QOTN was the role I heard as a little girl that made me seriously want to start singing. I'm sure you'd know other pieces from the show, they're quite catchy (especially the Papapapapagena! duet) and I think it's one where people don't really know exactly how familiar they are with it and oh dear I'm rambling. I really have to be careful with that. Mozart has a tendency to bring out my most rambly side!

 

C25K is a great beginner's program. I've gone about half-way through it before, but never finished. The running goal is a good one and it's great that you know yourself well enough to think you might not finish. Just don't sell yourself short!

 

...

 

Augh, I don't know how you drink Kool-Aid! I loved it when I was young, but can't stand the sugary feeling it gives my mouth now. Sounds like a great thing to cut out!

 

 

I'm on a 9-week C25K so I suppose there is a chance I could finish it, if I skip rest days somewhere in there, but I'm definitely trying to be realistic. I have a history of setting ridonkulous goals for myself and then failing spectacularly. Also, I know intellectually that Kool-Aid is gross, but I am just such a sugar addict and it's really like the closest I can come to just snorting baking sugar up my nose like cocaine, which you have to admit is much worse! You're welcome for that amazing imagery, by the way.

 

Fencing and singing opera are two very cool abilities to have but being able to do both is an awesome combination. You should definitely try singing at your opponent the next time you have a bout or skirmish or whatever is the correct technical term for locking swords.

 

 

What you'll find after a couple of weeks is that you really go off of the taste of sugary drinks and on the rare occasion you have them, your teeth will feel all nasty and skuzzy. There is something amazingly refreshing about just plain old ice cold water and you never know, you might find yourself getting bored of sweet coffee if you develop a taste for green tea. I recommend treating yourself and parting with the cash to buy some good quality loose leaf and a fancy all in one cup and infuser such as this beauty- maybe as a reward to yourself after the challenge if you smash your goals.

 

Anyway, good luck with your challenge!

Damn, that is a wicked nice mug! I think I'll definitely try tea instead of coffee at least a few times a week and see if I can switch over. I hope you're right about the cravings for sugar-water... and thanks for the kind words and the luck. We typically just call them matches, but some do say bout. I like skirmish though, I think I'll use that one at the club.

 

C25k is an amazing program. I went through it in May and it's crazy cool the difference it makes once you really get into. Might I suggest signing up for a 5k at or near the end of it? That way you've put like $10/$15 in and (at least for me) have a bit more motivation to keep going.

 

And our programs do sound very similar! Nothing like a bit of endurance building and strength training to get the fat flying and the muscles...throbbing with girlish power?

 

Can't wait to see more of your journey, you crazy opera singing fencer. So cool.

I'm actually signed up for a 5k in two weeks, hahaha! I signed up because a friend wanted to do it, I know I won't be able to run the whole thing but even crossing the finish line will feel like a great accomplishment. Definitely looking forward to hearing more from you too!!

 

Very cool!  I used to sing opera in undergrad--it's a work out in and of itself.  Congrats on the part.

 

Good luck with your quest.  I completed a C25K program (Zombies, Run! 5K) a couple of months ago and it made a HUGE difference in my stamina.

I hear the Zombies Run! C25K is quite different from the Cool Running one or whoever it was that made it up originally. It sounds like fun though, my friend is doing it and said the other day that the story was so good it made her cry while she was running!! And yeah, opera--especially extensive coloratura, like I'm doing for this role--is such a workout! I definitely think that being super conscious of my breath has helped me in running. Do you find the same thing? I'm curious, because I only have one other singer friend who runs, and she says the same thing...

[DELETED]

Thank you! It's very exciting for me because QOTN was the role I heard as a little girl that made me seriously want to start singing. I'm sure you'd know other pieces from the show, they're quite catchy (especially the Papapapapagena! duet) and I think it's one where people don't really know exactly how familiar they are with it and oh dear I'm rambling. I really have to be careful with that. Mozart has a tendency to bring out my most rambly side!

 

 

That's so funny, because the aria is the piece I heard as a kid that got me listening to opera! I saw some 7 year old girl singing it in some small talent show on tv and I thought it was the coolest song ever. If I was less stage-frighty, I might have pursued singing in my life.  There was another girl in that talent show who yodeled... There might also be yodeling on my ipod. I will not confirm or deny.

 

Ha I don't mind rambling. I love listening to people talk about what they are passionate about. It's sort of infectious.  I probably do know other pieces. I think I more meant it was the only piece that I knew by name and which work it was from and who composed it, etc. I know so many classical pieces by ear, but couldn't tell you exactly what it is if my life depended on it. I figure the composers would forgive me since they wrote it to be listened to and enjoyed. 

[wideeyed]

::opens head notebook, adds "fencing," because that would be SO. FREAKING. AWESOME.

 

Good goals

[cryptomancy]

That's so funny, because the aria is the piece I heard as a kid that got me listening to opera! I saw some 7 year old girl singing it in some small talent show on tv and I thought it was the coolest song ever. If I was less stage-frighty, I might have pursued singing in my life.  There was another girl in that talent show who yodeled... There might also be yodeling on my ipod. I will not confirm or deny.

 

Ha I don't mind rambling. I love listening to people talk about what they are passionate about. It's sort of infectious.  I probably do know other pieces. I think I more meant it was the only piece that I knew by name and which work it was from and who composed it, etc. I know so many classical pieces by ear, but couldn't tell you exactly what it is if my life depended on it. I figure the composers would forgive me since they wrote it to be listened to and enjoyed. 

I definitely think they would! Well, except for Handel, he was quite the 18th century fame ho, hahaha! Learning about his operas has been quite hilarious, he used to self-plagiarize all the time so that he could release more operas and make more money... can't say I blame him, he did live in an era in which musicians were treated more like indentured servants than artists...

 

And I definitely understand not knowing classical pieces by name, I look up names to things all the time so instead of just saying "that depressing tenor aria from I Pagliacci" I can say "Vesti la giubba" so my colleagues don't make fun of me...and then they all say "oh you mean the depressing tenor aria from I Pagliacci?" 

 

::opens head notebook, adds "fencing," because that would be SO. FREAKING. AWESOME.

 

Good goals

Do it! It's so much fun! Very hard at first but once you get used to it nothing beats it!!!

[cryptomancy]

So, Day 1!

 

I spent the last week sort of mentally preparing myself for the challenge and starting to get into the habit of working out daily. Last week is the first week I have exercised 6 days a week, literally ever. But I did it! I also didn't drink any Kool-Aid and only had sweet coffee three days of the week. The rest of the time I had unsweetened white tea. It's not the same, but it is nice enough I suppose.

 

Today was a strength training day (I'm not going to be super strict about which I do on which day, as long as they aren't consecutive, but I tend to do strength training Mon, Wed, Fri; and running Tues, Thurs, Sat, because I like running more and it's harder to make myself get out of bed for strength training on Saturday). I managed to get through all the reps in the Beginner Bodyweight Circuit today, but I still could only do two sets. I think that judging by the quick progress I made last week though, I should probably be up to the full three sets next week. I'm still doing knee pushups, but I'm not really too ashamed of it, I can just keep working on that until I'm doing the real thing.

 

Thanks everyone for the support you've given already! Definitely looking forward to the challenge and seeing you all meet your goals!! Don't worry I won't update every day, I think I'm going to try and keep it to once a week, unless something crazy happens or I need help.

 

Edit to add: I weighed in this morning at 146, which is a whopping 3 pounds down from last week. Wow. All from just moving daily and eating a bit cleaner, but there were definitely a few gimme days in there. I'm not paying a huge amount of attention to my diet this challenge aside from the sugary drink thing, but I do find that when I exercise it makes me want to eat cleaner. I've been eating tons and tons of fruit, which I love because I am a bit of a sugar addict and it's a healthier and less draining way to get sugar than crazy desserts. I'm not going to track my measurements because I'm terrible and measuring myself and making my husband do it just seems annoying, but I am taking photos weekly, wearing the same thing so I can track my progress. I'll wait until the end of the challenge to post any of those, though, because I think that there isn't going to be a tremendous lot of difference week to week but hopefully there will be at the end of six!

[Omega v1.1]

I'm still doing knee pushups, but I'm not really too ashamed of it, I can just keep working on that until I'm doing the real thing.

 

Don't be ashamed- I've been doing morning exercises for a few months now and I'm just progressing onto knee push-ups. I've found that the way to do them without looking girly (apologies to all the girls) is to not wear pink leg warmers whilst you're doing them.

 

Also, it helps if you listen to Slayer at the same time too.

 

 

Well done on the 3 pounds down!

[cryptomancy]

Okay, already breaking my "one update per week" rule, but it's the first week so I'm just SUPER ENTHUSIASTIC!!! haha...

 

Today was a running day, and I really did NOT want to get out of bed. I forced myself, but I ended up hitting the pavement about 15 minutes late and it did actually mess with the rhythm of the day a bit. I just don't like running when the sun is high in the sky, and the difference between 7:30 and 8:00 is surprisingly huge. When I got home I did some youtube yoga just for fun (I can't believe I'm actually calling physical activity "fun") and to get my fitocracy points over 200 for the day. Fitocracy is so ridiculously addictive, I have no idea why I let my account languish for so long (I actually got in on beta so I have my real name for my username on there, and I just let it sit for ages). I'm thinking about going to my apartment's pool this afternoon and just swimming/floating/flailing around, because it's been awhile since I've seriously swum (is that a word?) but it seems like a nice thing to do. Again, why do I actually consider physical activity fun? It's like I don't even know myself anymore

 

Don't be ashamed- I've been doing morning exercises for a few months now and I'm just progressing onto knee push-ups. I've found that the way to do them without looking girly (apologies to all the girls) is to not wear pink leg warmers whilst you're doing them.

 

Also, it helps if you listen to Slayer at the same time too.

 

 

Well done on the 3 pounds down!

 

Thank you so much!!! yeah knee pushups aren't necessarily wimpy, I just feel like I should be better at them, but that's the kind of thinking that leads to failure so I'll just be happy with the progress I am making! But I can't give up my pink legwarmers. They are the source of my power!

[Eluial]

Hey, knee push ups FTW. I think next week I'm going to start throwing in a real pushup once per circuit, but I'm still doing the knee pushups myself. No shame!

[cryptomancy]

Hey, knee push ups FTW. I think next week I'm going to start throwing in a real pushup once per circuit, but I'm still doing the knee pushups myself. No shame!

I will probably try the same thing, as far as "real" pushups! I think I'll be ready soon but I do so love my knee pushups!

 

Also, on a slightly unrelated note, I've decided to start making my own podcasts for the Couch to 5K, so if that interests anyone besides me, you can find my week 3 podcast here! ^^ I'll try and do these every week so I can have some nice nerd-friendly music. Try not to be horrified by my awful speaking voice of overuse of the word "okay"...This week's playlist is:

 

1. she - coloris

2. the Seatbelts - What Planet Is This?!? (Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack)

3. Operation Ivy - Sound System

4. MC Frontalot ft. Brad Sucks - Livin' at the Corner of Dude and Catastrophe

5. Ozomatli - Magnolia Soul

6. Pomplamoose - September

7. Freezepop - Pop Music Is Not a Crime (Mustin Mix)

8. The Polish Ambassador - Regulate (Warren G ft. Nate Dogg)

 

Anyway I have no idea if anyone other than me is interested in this I just made it for me and figured I would share it. Yes, I'm saying "good job!" to myself. DON'T JUDGE ME!!!

[Serenpidus]

A fellow fencer! I am intrigued that you fenced Sabre - often that's the anarchic side of the fencing world (in case you're interested, I prefer sabre, far more exciting and way trickier - we have right of way rules AND it's very fast!).

 

May I make a few suggestions for your running if you intend to return to fencing? It will also help your flute, as it will help your lung capacity. For your running sessions, it might make it more interesting to progress to intervals.

 

Like running as fast as you can for 15 seconds, and jog another 15 seconds, or something like that. This is beneficial for the quick movements one needs in sabre fencing, and it increases the efficiency of your lungs - awww yeah! It is also more effective than a straght run for weight loss.

 

I am looking forward to you completing your challenge

[Der Kreiger Konig]

This thread has SLAYER! and swordfighting..... Awesome.

 

Also, good luck with your goals!

[cryptomancy]

A fellow fencer! I am intrigued that you fenced Sabre - often that's the anarchic side of the fencing world (in case you're interested, I prefer sabre, far more exciting and way trickier - we have right of way rules AND it's very fast!).

 

May I make a few suggestions for your running if you intend to return to fencing? It will also help your flute, as it will help your lung capacity. For your running sessions, it might make it more interesting to progress to intervals.

 

Like running as fast as you can for 15 seconds, and jog another 15 seconds, or something like that. This is beneficial for the quick movements one needs in sabre fencing, and it increases the efficiency of your lungs - awww yeah! It is also more effective than a straght run for weight loss.

 

I am looking forward to you completing your challenge

Yayyyy another fencer!!! Yes, I love sabre best, because of the trickiness/speed of it as well. Thank you for the running tips, I will definitely put these into practice when I get going a bit better! I definitely want to get back into fencing but right now I just feel like I'm a giant mess. But I'm supapsyched to meet another fencer!! I actually was thinking of starting back up in foil but not sure I want to buy the new mask/lame/weapon/glove yeahhhhh that's a lot of equipment also you just reminded me why I love sabre.

 

This thread has SLAYER! and swordfighting..... Awesome.

 

Also, good luck with your goals!

Yes, I truly have the most metal thread in the Lvl 1 section hahaha And thank you!!!

[GoodDoug]

Great goals and congrats on Queen of the Night. I love The Magic Flute.

 

Your goals are doable and will keep you from making excuses. I can't wait to see how you do.

[Angerona]

Congrats on the Queen of the Night role! I recently got my degree in music education and am a mezzo myself so I can't imagine singing that part! Fencing sounds really fun exercise. I look forward to seeing you crush your goals this challenge! 

[NinjaManMat]

Wow! Cryptomacy, so much awesomeness in your thread!  Opera, fencing and working out?  What more does someone really need?

You've been doing a lot of preperation in preparing yourself for this challenge: that is so cool.  It looks like it's working for you since your day 1 seemed to go well.  How have you been feeling since then?  Glad to hear you're cutting back on the sugar drinks.  How are things looking for tomorrows challenge?

 

Keep up the good work and congratulations on bounching back and even more for pushing on to acheive what you have.  The best part is that in 6 weeks you'll have one more thing to add to your accomplishments:  FINISHING YOUR FIRST CHALLENGE!

God speed and may the force be with you.

[cryptomancy]

Great goals and congrats on Queen of the Night. I love The Magic Flute.

 

Your goals are doable and will keep you from making excuses. I can't wait to see how you do.

Yay! Thank you! It's quite a humbling and exciting role to be singing, and I'm very excited about it. And I'm jazzed after finishing my first official week in the challenge and staying on task. Thanks for the support!!!

 

Congrats on the Queen of the Night role! I recently got my degree in music education and am a mezzo myself so I can't imagine singing that part! Fencing sounds really fun exercise. I look forward to seeing you crush your goals this challenge! 

Oh but I can't imagine singing mezzo so we are in the same boat! I dream of singing the trouser roles and getting to play the villains...I would LOVE to sing Cherubino or the Witch in Hansel und Gretel! ^^ I think that's why I like QOTN so much, it's one of very few chances I get as a soprano to sing a villain part!

 

Wow! Cryptomacy, so much awesomeness in your thread!  Opera, fencing and working out?  What more does someone really need?

You've been doing a lot of preperation in preparing yourself for this challenge: that is so cool.  It looks like it's working for you since your day 1 seemed to go well.  How have you been feeling since then?  Glad to hear you're cutting back on the sugar drinks.  How are things looking for tomorrows challenge?

 

Keep up the good work and congratulations on bounching back and even more for pushing on to acheive what you have.  The best part is that in 6 weeks you'll have one more thing to add to your accomplishments:  FINISHING YOUR FIRST CHALLENGE!

God speed and may the force be with you.

Yay! Thank you for the kind words and the support! I'm definitely enjoying this challenge period so far (though I've only finished one week, must keep enthusiasm high!) and yes, opera, fencing, and fitness are all wonderful things! They are indeed the things that keep my life happy, and I definitely appreciate your well wishes!!!

 

Thanks everyone for leaving notes and support in my thread, you have no idea how much it means to me! I had such a great first week and I'm ready for my day of rest tomorrow and then back in the game hardcore on Monday. One question, if anyone knows...one of my knees is quite swollen after running the Color Run today. It doesn't hurt at all really, just pressure from the swelling and of course a bit of stiffness (probably also from the swelling). I can't stress enough that there is literally no pain at all, but I'm wondering...is it safe to keep running on this knee or should I try and find some lower-impact exercise? I really love running but I also don't want to screw it up so bad that I can't run at all. I'm going to get an ace bandage for it tomorrow and try and keep it iced and elevated when I'm not using it, but is there anything else I should do? I really would prefer to not lose any workout days because I'm just now starting to see a difference in my body (stamina and performance-wise, that is, after running for 3 weeks and strength training for 2) and I am loving these changes I'm feeling. I really don't want to lose them.

[Omega v1.1]

One question, if anyone knows...one of my knees is quite swollen after running the Color Run today. It doesn't hurt at all really, just pressure from the swelling and of course a bit of stiffness (probably also from the swelling). I can't stress enough that there is literally no pain at all, but I'm wondering...is it safe to keep running on this knee or should I try and find some lower-impact exercise? I really love running but I also don't want to screw it up so bad that I can't run at all. I'm going to get an ace bandage for it tomorrow and try and keep it iced and elevated when I'm not using it, but is there anything else I should do? I really would prefer to not lose any workout days because I'm just now starting to see a difference in my body (stamina and performance-wise, that is, after running for 3 weeks and strength training for 2) and I am loving these changes I'm feeling. I really don't want to lose them.

Running injuries can always be problematic especially as runners seem to get this bizarre notion into their heads that they should run through the pain. My advice would be to keep icing it until the swelling has gone down and then try running on it again but without pushing yourself too hard. If at any point it starts getting painful, STOP immediately. Don't try to be brave or a hero and fight your way through it as you'll only end up making it worse. Then, at the earliest opportunity get it looked at by a doctor and then take as much rest and time out as they tell you. It may well screw up your challenge but you'll be up on your feet and running again a look quicker than if you start prematurely and really mess your knee up.

 

The benefit of doing running and strength training is though that if you are having problems with your legs, you can still exercise by carrying on with the strength training but focusing on other parts of your body. Well done for the rest of the first week, it sounds like you're doing really well.

[Eluial]

Well for running, there's pain and then there's pain. If you are experiencing joint, bone or tendon pain, yes, you need to stop now and wait for it to fully heal. But sometimes your muscles will protest longer runs. Giving up as soon as it hurts means you won't improve. Just like in weight training, you do the highest weight you can? Same with running. "Run through the pain" can be misleading, but it is indeed good advice for certain values of pain.