GoodDoug: Enemy of the Corruptor Act 2 - Hammer time

[JuiceeTarget]

GoodDoug the half ogre looked back at the town of Cliffbridge. It had only been a week since he and some members of the other guilds had saved the town from a horde of undead and the necromancer leading them. Through the fight, he learned that there were more necromancers, and they were led by a being know as the Corruptor. Earlier that day, the Ranger Guild Leader had sent him on his task, "Keep heading North. We believe there is another necromancer overseeing the corruption of the grains being sent South. Move fast, fight when it makes sense and run when it makes sense. Getting a clean food supply before winter is paramount."

 

He had overextended himself on this last mission, his fights had left him exhausted. He was stronger than when he had started, but he felt he could have done better if he had paced himself a bit. He would fight the undead when it made sense, not just because he saw a bunch of shamblers on the horizon. He had moved with some speed last time, but this time speed would be a focus. He also needed to steer clear of the tainted grains, they could sicken him and lead him into being a zombie. Not something he really wanted to list on his accomplishments.

 

Flush with the success and lessons of his last assignment from the guild leader, he forged on.

 

==

 

Eat healthy

This time I am focusing mostly on eating Primally. That means no grains or legumes for the most part. I will allow for cheats, especially on Mondays when I am in the office. An A is 85% compliance as defined in The Primal Blueprint. Judged by avoiding non-Primal foods. Con +4

 

Stay strong

Rather than focus on amount lifted (which was pretty cool last time) I want to focus on doing two strength workouts each week. Mixing in body weight as well as barbells and dumbbells. I want to make sure I don't do one workout, and then have to rest for a week before I feel okay to do another. I overdid it by a little bit last time. I worry that this time I'll underdo it, but I need to experiment to find the right mix. Also, I'm moving to the second phase of my lifting program for theses 6 weeks, heavier weights for fewer reps. I need to stay safe, but still push myself. Two weight workouts a week minimum for an A. Str +3 Sta +2

 

Run far

I was bummed I didn't have a running goal last time. So this time, I'm running. I had brought running back into my routine last half of last challenge. Now I am going to count miles. Minimum of 7 miles per week for an A. A side goal of running 10K is appropriate as well. Dex +3 Sta +1

 

Side goal- get graceful

I've been feeling decidedly ungraceful lately. Uncomfortable moving in any way but running and lifting. I am creating a side goal of being graceful, this will include dancing when nobody's watching and getting back into balance poses. I hope to spend 10 minutes 3 times per week dancing alone in my house and 5 minutes 3 times per week doing headstand, handstand and crow practice. Dex +1 Cha +1

 

One other slightly related side goal- keep up with and comment in others' challenge threads. I enjoy it, but can't find time unless I make it a priority. So consider yourselves warned, I will be watching you!

[starpuck]

Heeey GoodDoug!

 

I'd been scouring the forum to see if you had a thread up yet... and for just the reason you mentioned in your side goal.  I too enjoy following others threads and wanted to make a point of following yours this time too.

 

Love the goals.    Love love love!   I get all cranky pants when someone tells me that they are 'sore all the time' from their workouts and that you get used to the pain.  Ugh!   I tried that route once and it was so awful I'd always end up quitting.    I think I've found a working solution this go around because I am shrinking in inches, showing gains in reps/distance/time, and best of all, NOT SORE ALL THE TIME.   Sometimes I get a pleasant ache here or there, but I've never had to skip a work out because of still being completely broken from the last.    So I'm anxious to watch you also find the balance you are after.   I know you will! 

 

Subbed for subby goodness!

[JuiceeTarget]

Thanks Starpuck, it's good to know I'm heading the right direction.

[Mel The Hangry]

Love your goals, can't wait to see you progress as well as how your story continues.

[alienjenn]

it was very difficult for me to find the right mix of workouts... it seems like I can go 10 times a month or so... and works out to about 2 times every other week and 3 times every other week.... 

 

 

that whole moving between workouts thing is very important to me

[Aeryn]

Nice challenge goals! I like the dancing one - that sounds fun. Looking forward to seeing how this goes!

[JessOfAllTrades]

Love the last goal. And all of your other ones as well, but the getting graceful one seems new and fun. 

[afflictionreckoning]

I have light goals too to avoid overdoing it. My biggest thing for this challenge is to make time and form habits. Sometimes that's better than trying to do too much and getting overwhelmed or getting injured! Best of luck!

[starpuck]

I have light goals too to avoid overdoing it. My biggest thing for this challenge is to make time and form habits. Sometimes that's better than trying to do too much and getting overwhelmed or getting injured! Best of luck!

 

My goals have stayed largely the same since March.   Still on the hunt ...  (haha, oh god, the words, they are forcing me to do this...)

 

~~ Be vewwy quiet ....   I'm hunting haaaabits.   ~~

 

Tis a good approach.

[emptyknight]

Good to see you again GoodDoug!  Subbing to follow and see how you do!

 

The mental image of a half-ogre pirouetting around a house is awesome.

[JBReclaim]

Love the RP lol. I attempted to go Paleo for the last few weeks and it killed me. Cutting off grains, legumes, dairy etc was just too much. I will be cutting back on grain foods though. I'll make sure to keep checking in on your thread. Good luck!

[JuiceeTarget]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all of your comments and support.

 

I lifted today- I am trying to lift on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The previous 6 weeks was my build up phase, so 3-4 sets of 10 reps - most times I should have done 3, but ended up doing 4 to make my numbers go up... but didn't seem to make my strength go up. This next 6 weeks is the strength phase, 4 sets of 5 reps for most lifts, heavier than before. But this time, I'm not going to failure, I'm pushing until I feel good and worked out.

 

So, today focused on squats... 185# x 5reps 4 sets. I also did bench press and bent over dumbbell rows (push and pull for the win) Nice part is that it only takes half an hour including warm-up. We'll see how I feel tomorrow to know if I've overdone it again or this was right. It will take some experimentation to get it right, I think.

 

I'm off to do some balance and dancing while the house is empty.

[thekatisalie]

Love your write up. Cheering you along on your running goal! 7 miles a week ain't so bad, right?

[Wirilome]

Awesome goals! Can't wait to see your progress.

[virlomi]

Your goals look great! Good luck!

[Eirlys]

I love the idea of dancing when no-one is looking

What kind of dancing do you like?

And hooray for running, too! Do you have a time in mind for the 10k or is it a case of finishing it will be more than sufficient?

[JuiceeTarget]

Thanks guys-

For dancing, I am letting iTunes Shuffle figure out what kind of music it wants me to dance to. For the 10k, as long as I finish it near 1 hour, I will be happy. I expect to do better than that, but not getting to crazy about that for this goal. The hard part will be finding a time to do it.

 

I did a 5k this morning, kinda light so I don't overdo it after lifting yesterday.

 

I feel good. But these challenges always feel really good the first week

[TankGrrl]

I'm feeling the first first week high too ;-)

 

Let's keep it going this time!

[starpuck]

Hee, I was just talking to myself this morning about wishing I could take the 'first week gang-buster motivation' and bottle it for the other 5 weeks. 

 

We'll just have to rely on good old fashion forum support and cheering on.

[alienjenn]

Hee, I was just talking to myself this morning about wishing I could take the 'first week gang-buster motivation' and bottle it for the other 5 weeks. 

 

We'll just have to rely on good old fashion forum support and cheering on.

 

 

I also wish I could bottle that energy found in young children.... like mine... who run around and never need to sit... 

[JuiceeTarget]

Quick update, lifted yesterday and ran this morning. Did about 50/50 on the food yesterday... not terrible, but not great. Otherwise, this is turning out to be a good week.

[alienjenn]

good weeks make me happy

[Eboncat]

Good weeks are good.  Love your goals.  I have this mental image of an ogre dancing around in a tutu - like the hippos in Fantasia. (sorry!)

 

Good luck this challenge!

[JuiceeTarget]

Your mental image may not be far off the mark. I will neither confirm nor deny the presence of a tutu during my dancing.

[JuiceeTarget]

GoodDoug moved along at a good stride. He was feeling good, he always felt good at the beginning of a new mission, anything seemed possible at the beginning. It helped that he had a good start, the few groups of undead he had met so far were no match for him and his hammer. It felt like the hammer was lashing out on its own, finding joy in the good work they were doing destroying the zombies.

 

The Scouts had gone ahead, looking for more of the Necormancers. GoodDoug was hoping to meet with his Scout contact soon, he felt he was just moving without making real progress yet. He would need word of the roads ahead to be able to make a difference.

 

Running gave him time to reflect on his mission, he was chasing down an enemy they only knew as the Corruptor. His minions, the Necromancers are creating legions of undead and have tainted the food supply of the North with some sort of wasting plague that ended with the infected becoming zombies. The necromancers had also shown themselves able to corrupt exceptional people into what he called Brutes. Hulking undead made entirely of muscle with slightly more smarts than the average zombie. 

 

GoodDoug slowed as he saw something ahead just off the road. As he approached, he saw a Scout he knew. He didn't know his name but had been a part of the battle at Cliffbridge. He looked uninjured but sick.

 

"GoodDoug, look out, I'm infected." 

GoodDoug ignored the warning and approached, "What happened?"

"One of the necromancers caught me. His zombies held me down while he injected something into me. I can feel it changing me. He left me here, I think he knew I'd be found by someone, by you. Run away, I'm afraid of what I might do."

 

GoodDoug weighed his options. He wasn't sure he could get help in time, but he was going to try. "Lets make you more comfortable."

 

"No, please kill me. I don't want to become that which I am fighting against, please."

 

GoodDoug wouldn't consider it, but somehow, his hand found the handle of the hammer and hefted it.

 

The scout vomited loudly, and then stopped moving. While the half-ogre watched the body turned grey and then struggled to stand up. The scout was gone, all that was left was a zombie. 

 

GoodDoug did not share the hammer's joy at ending this zombie.

 

 

=== 

 

Eat healthy

Not terrible, but could have been better. My 4 year old had her Birthday this weekend and we had cake! "Chocolate Cake!" I had a few slip ups, but otherwise did well. I'm calling it a B.

 

Stay strong

Did my two weight workouts this week, did squats, bench press and some accessory exercises I had neglected last challenge because I was focussing on numbers. Don't get me wrong, chasing the numbers was good for me, but now I need to do what will make me better. A for the week

 

Run far

I got in two and a half runs this week, brought me to just above 7 miles. My wife got sick over the weekend, so out planned runs just didn't happen. I still got out there and did what I said I would do, so A for the week.

 

Sidequest - get graceful

I did do some dancing and yoga this week. I feel better for it, but I think the reason I don't feel as graceful is that my flexibility is down. I'm going to keep doing what I said initially, but I think I might change to do more stretchy things.

 

 

The story is getting interesting!