Does UH60guy dream of electric sheep?

[UH60guy]

"I need ya, Deck. This is a bad one, the worst yet. I need the old blade runner, I need your magic."

 

 

I’ve been into other things for quite some time. I’ve been doing challenges with the Rangers, but now everything’s changing. I have a baby due to be born any day now, and relying on my routines is not likely to be an option. I need to be more flexible, adaptable, energetic- I’ll run with the Assassins this time out. This challenge will be all about breaking out of my routine rut, plus being adaptable to get in workouts between the newborn baby requirements. What can an old blade runner do here?

 

Bryant: They jumped a shuttle off-world, killed the crew and passengers. We found the shuttle drifting off the coast two weeks ago, so we know they're around.

Deckard: Embarrassing.

Bryant: No sir. Not embarrassing, because no one's ever going to find out they're down here. 'Cause you're gonna spot 'em and you're gonna air 'em out!

Deckard: I don't work here anymore. Give it to Holden. He's good.

Bryant: I did. He can breathe okay, as long as nobody unplugs him.

 

Four Nexus-6 replicants on the loose. A challenging six weeks to track them down. Leon. Zhora. Pris. Roy. Their names glide easily enough off the tongue, but I know it will take everything I’ve got to retire them. Each will take a different approach and all of my wits. I’ll need to prepare ahead of time for each encounter too. Create a different workout plan ahead of time for each week, consisting of different exercises, to use when time is available. Resist the complacency and repetition that’s been my detractor!

 

Not only will they require a different approach, I’ll need to adapt to the terrain as well. Who knows where I’ll encounter them? I will do a bodyweight workout in at least three different locations each week, involving a run to that location if possible.

 

Before I can begin my investigation, I need to figure out what I’m up against. The Tyrell Corporation can give me some insight

 

Tyrell: More human than human is our motto.

 

It’s going to be a tough hunt. I’ll need all my strength to confront the replicants. I will need to be able to do 10 pull ups in one set, and 100 pushups in two sets, separated by no more than one minute.

 

A little later, one of the replicants paid Tyrell a visit too.

Roy Batty: It's not an easy thing to meet your maker.

Tyrell: What can he do for you?

Roy Batty: Can the maker repair what he makes?

 

An interesting question, to say the least. I’m going to be a father now, so I have to keep my daughter safe. I can’t necessarily “repair†biology myself, though I can take some steps to keep everyone safe and sane. I’ll need to make sure everything is secure on the homefront as well to keep them from getting to me through my family. I’ll need to do at least one chore around the house every day to help out the wite, not counting the baby stuff.

 

And, all of this will support my long-term objective. I’m moving in April, and taking a new assignment in the Army. Switching from the role of a helicopter pilot to a guy on the ground will require me to be in top physical shape at that time. I’ll also need to arrive sane, so I’ll need to take care of the family and new baby girl leading up to it. Finances will need to be in order too, in order to buy/sell houses.

My motivation? I have to set up a safe and secure home from my new daughter. She’ll be born any day now (due date: Nov 2), and it’s all for her right now.

(Picture to be inserted when baby is born)

 

tl;dr.

In summary,

Plan ahead and do a different theme each week. WIS:2, CON:1

Workout in 3 different places each week, run to them where possible. STA:2, DEX:2.

Do 10 pull ups in one set, 100 pushups in two. STR:3, STA:2.

Do a chore around the house every day. CHA:2, CON:1.

[darkfoxx]

Fantastic goals and storytelling this time around. You've got this!

[starpuck]

I always love your stuff UH60.  Consider yourself followed.   

[UH60guy]

Before I get going on this challenge, I thought I'd share a realization I just had. As I was entering my latest Halloween 10K results into my Athlinks.com profile, I realized that was my 10th race. I hadn't realized how far I've come in that time until I looked at it all just now.

 

Putting that in perspective:

As of October 2012, I had never run in any race in my life. I'd only run farther than 8 miles one single time in my life. At the end of October 2012, I signed up for my first 10 miler in December based on a friend's recommendation. Then, seeing that there was a local half marathon in six days, I signed up for that on a whim. My latest training run was 6 miles- I figured I was halfway there, but at least this time out I'd have support and water along the run route.

 

I ran my first race ever, the half marathon, on November 3, 2012 and finished in 1:58:04. I started out just kinda running aimlessly around the pack, but settled in with the 9:00 mile pace crew. After that race, I was hooked. I signed up for a full marathon in four months, again under the pretense that "I was already half way trained."

 

I ran a bunch of half marathons in the area for the next year, and the entire racing series by J&A racing. In that one year since November 3 2012, I've run 10 races: One full marathon, four half marathons, a ten miler, a 14k, a 10k, an 8k (the day before the full marathon), and a 5k. That's a lot to accomplish in a year, when I had never done anything like it before.

 

Just thought I'd share this as a testament to the fact you can do what you put your mind (and money) to. On one hand, having the goal in sight, the mark on the calendar of a race, gave me an objective to my previously aimless running. It made the training fun. And, signing up and paying for the runs well in advance ensured I was already committed financially before I could think of backing out!

 

How far I've come:

 

10/26/13: Wicked 10K, 49:32 (7:58 pace, in Halloween costume)

10/6/13: Crawlin' Crab Half Marathon, 1:50:34 (8:26 pace)

9/1/13: Rock N Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon, 1:53:46 (8:41 pace but ran with a friend)

5/19/13: Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon, 1:44:42 (7:59 pace)

3/17/13: Shamrock Marathon, 3:49:07 (8:44 pace)

3/16/13: Shamrock 8K, 43:29 (8:44 pace: 8K back to back with marathon was the "Whale challenge")

2/9/13: Virginia is for Lovers 14K, 1:07:39 (7:46 pace)

1/1/13: Hair of the Dog 5K, 22:51 (7:21 pace, and finished #3 in my age group!)
12/8/12: Surf N Santa 10 miler, 1:25:45 (8:34 pace)

11/3/12: Virginia Running Festival Half Marathon, 1:58:04 (9:00 pace)

[darkfoxx]

That is amazeballs! 

[tenaciousglee]

Good luck! I'm excited to see how this goes for you as a new father. I think planning the week out in advance will help a ton.

[idealistinfire]

So cool!  Thanks for the inspiration!

[UH60guy]

The baby was born Saturday! 7 lbs 2.5 oz. will post pic and dig into this challenge when we're discharged from the hospital. It's a good coincidence the challenge starts the same day we leave here- the 11th. New beginnings all around.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk.

[tenaciousglee]

Congrats, man! The prep is over, let the fun begin!

[idealistinfire]

Congratulations!!!! 

[darkfoxx]

Congratulations!!!

[starpuck]

Awwww what a cutie!  And that's saying a lot from me because bebe's terrify me and stuff!     Congratulations pal!   Best wishes and good luck!

[UH60guy]

Omg I'm really in a land where time has no meaning. Had no idea it was Wednesday and I hadn't written out my plan for the week.

All are in sets of four, bonus fifth set if I'm feeling it!

This weeks plan:

Workout 1- find a pull up bar.

Pull ups (5-8 per set)

Push ups (20 per set)

Lunges (10-15 per set)

Mountain climbers (15 4-count reps)

Workout 2- find parallel bars

Dips (8-10)

Leg raises (8-10)

Squats (20-25)

Chin ups if possible. If not, body weight rows on the parallel bars.

Workout 3- around the house

Decline push-ups (10-15)

One arm rows with a suitcase (10)

Step ups (10)

Planks (1 min)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk, sorry for short choppy sentences!

[starpuck]

 

Omg I'm really in a land where time has no meaning.

 

Mwuahahaha, you have a baby now.      Baby + time = Does not compute!      My sister in law, after her second born hit about four years old (and he's a hyper little monkey) and her eldest was seven, once said, "Oh you know, I haven't slept in about ... seven years."  

 

Mad props to you parents out there.   Takes some wicked stamina and motivation - but you have proven you are chock full of that stuff UH!    How's the little one doing?   You guys are probably ridiculously in love already eh?

[Ba'sini'on]

It's interesting, your baby looks cuter than my nephew. I know that sounds mean but seriously, he looks like he's pissed off all the time! Looks exactly like a little pissed off Gordon Ramsay but without the forehead wrinkles.

 

You reason to get fit is awesome, there ought to be more parents like you!

[UH60guy]

I did make it out on Saturday to do the parallel bars routine. However with family in the house I find myself reluctant to do the exercises around the house. It's weird, I know- I'm fine working out in front of others at the gym, but then again that's a space specifically for that purpose. I always get the weird feeling like I'm being watched or doing something I shouldn't be doing when I try at home.

So, first week, made the plans, definitely helped out around the house every day, but only executed one workout. I'll try again this week and see how it goes. The baby wakes up about every two hours so I'm on a short leash and unpredictable schedule!

This weeks plan will be the same last week since I didn't do it then. Instead of the parallel bar routine, I will make one day a run of five or six miles.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk, sorry for short choppy sentences!

[starpuck]

You're in the midst of a major change in life routines UH.   Don't be hard on yourself.   Keeping even some focus on your goals and plans, around all the new responsibilities and unplanned this's and that's is more than most can do!  

 

Do what you can, when you can.   You'll be just fine.

[UH60guy]

Ho-lee crap I've slacked. At home I've been in this weird world without time. Everything revolves around diapers and feeding. Family is there constantly to ostensibly help, but I find I can't just be myself or do what I feel I need to do. Having house guests constantly means I have to devote my attention to them, rather than playing with the baby, cleaning up, doing chores, exercising, watching TV with the wife, or any number of things. Don't get me wrong, I love them, but it's hard enough with just one new 4-week-old roommate, nevermind a rotating supply of them.

 

I haven't done anything at the house for exercise. This challenge might have been too much with such a big lifestyle change at the same time. I'm gonna have to chalk this one up as a failed attempt and get serious on the next one. I guess that's what, four weeks missed? I can at least try hard for the last two and see how it goes.

 

I've gotten back to work now, so I can start getting into some semblance of a routine. I even made it to the gym this week and paid for it in muscle soreness. I have a 10-mile race this Saturday (Surf-n-Santa in Virginia Beach) but haven't run since the last post on 19 November. This should be interesting.

[darkfoxx]

They warn you that babies will 'change everything' but you don't really realize how much they'll jack your entire schedule up until they're here - with the entourage of helpers. 

 

4 weeks in the baby netherland isn't bad - now that you have a regular schedule, things will be a litter easier going. Good luck on the race this weekend - that's craziness!