Chelkie Battles the Jormag & the Black Hole

[Chelkie]

Living in Alaska I have to battle the Jormag and Black Hole every winter. Starting late October the giant ice dragon sweeps over covering everything in snow and ice and making a lot of the activities I like to do impossible, or at least significantly more difficult. Also the giant sucking black hole of a season starts where the sun is down when I go to work, and is gone again by the time I get out. The cold and the lack of light makes me want to hibernate like a bear. Hiking, trail running and swimming are replaced by snuggling in my down comforter and playing Guild Wars 2 or WoW. I’d like to stop this vicious cycle of hibernation weight…Bears, you can keep it!  

 

Main Quest: Be a stronger healthier more confident version of myself all year long. Also looking great naked would be a bonus.

 

Specific Goals:

 

1.       Improve my 5k time from a 10/min mile to an 8/min mile + 1 to DEX

 

I’ve been running a lot this year, finished my first half marathon in October (got 2hrs 13min, yay!) but switching to running on the treadmill has been bad for my morale. I just can’t stand to run more than 3ish miles before I get so bored I have to stop. I’d like to continue to run more half marathons in the spring when the races start up again, but right now distance is a no go for me.  So I’ve decided for the first part of the winter I’d like to just focus on my 5k time, as this will help my overall half marathon time, perhaps not as much as distance running, but it’s better than quitting cold turkey.  After a few months I’ll try to ramp back up into distance running to get me ready for race season. The plan is to run 2-3 days a week.

 

2.       Strength Training 3x/Week +1 STR

 

I had to change this goal after the first week. Started as a goal to improve my weights at group Power class, but due to conflicting schedules and my general need for independence, I started my own strength training routine. Trying to do it 3x a week, but this I think will continue to be an ever evolving goal as I learn more about the strange and foreign realm of the weights room. 

 

 

3.       Do extra core exercises 3 days a week + 1 CHA (I'll be far more charismatic with sexy abs?)

 

This one also started as a supplement to a lacking Group Power class curriculum, but now I just do more ab work than normal on my own after my regular strength training program. Being able to run in just a sports bra without having my stomach a jigglin and a swayin is one of my main priorities, and i'm attacking it here and in the kitchen. 

 

Life Goal:

 

1.       Save $2000.00 to put towards my first house down payment. +1 WIS

 

I’m currently saving up to buy my very first townhouse, and it is turning out to be quite a journey! After a trip to a loan officer I’ve managed to come up with a pretty solid plan to get me into a house by next summer, but I’m going to really need to focus. In 6 weeks I need to have 2 grand more safely nestled away in my savings account, and you know what, I think I just might do it.

 

Though all my goals for this challenge are fitness related, I’m still going to be watching what I eat and monitoring my weight/body fat/how sexy I look in the mirror, for my overall goal of looking badass naked.

 

Starting Stats:

Height: 5’2â€

Age: 24 (Both not really a changeable stats, but included for informational purposes)

Weight: 114.8

Waist: 26.5in

Hips: 33.5

Upper Arm: 10in

Upper Thigh: 20.5in

Body Fat: 23% - (Measured by gyms electrode system, so this number is relatively suspect)

 

After much debate I decided to post my starting photo to motivate myself. I figured what the hey, everyone on the interwebs already has access to my fb which has bikini pictures in it, so what difference is it to post one on a fitness site.  It's a bikini shot, so i'm providing a link to it instead of posting it directly to NF. Probably not work safe unless your allowed to look at swim suited people...

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/space_monkey287/Progress%20Pics/20131109_092008-1.png

 

Starting Weights:

Legs - 45lbs

Chest - 45lbs

Back/Shoulders - 35lbs

Triceps/Biceps - 20/30lbs

 

Motivation:  I want to be able to run faster half marathons, I have a dream of collecting awesome finishers medals from all over the US. Also I want my confidence back. Every day I come upon situations where I knew if I were more confident, felt better about myself ect, I would succeed where i'm currently failing. Sure, how you look on the outside isn't everything, but to me it's something I can control, and if I can control it, why the heck aren't I?

 

I saw someone else's post that had these progress bars as their grading system, and I loved it! Whoever that was out there, you are a genius and I hope you don't mind if I use it too. 

Grading System: 

 

A 100-90%

B 89-80%
C 79-70%
D 69-60% 
F 59% -below

 

91.65%

91.65%

Take 2 Minutes Off 5K Time - 20sec/Week

 

 

83.31%

83.31%

Strength Training Program 3x/week

 

 

83.31%

83.31%

3 Core Exercise Sessions a Week

 

 

100%

100%

Money Saved for House Downpayment

 

 

 

Thanks for reading, and wish me luck!

[Nodoze]

great post! will def be following !

[QuirkyDM]

That's a strong running goal- and it's how I'm tackling my running through the winter, too. I took out my weekend long runs and I'm focusing purely on my 5K speed. I'm doing a 3x running per week, consisting of stride training intervals, fartleks through Zombies, Run! and then an easy run on the weekend. I'll be interested to see how your running comes along. Good luck!

[Super Destroyer]

Good luck, Chelkie!  Sounds like a good plan.  Persevere!

[Chelkie]

That's a strong running goal- and it's how I'm tackling my running through the winter, too. I took out my weekend long runs and I'm focusing purely on my 5K speed. I'm doing a 3x running per week, consisting of stride training intervals, fartleks through Zombies, Run! and then an easy run on the weekend. I'll be interested to see how your running comes along. Good luck!

 

Thank you! It's good to know i'm not the only one struggling with running in the winter, I just hope it doesn't hurt my time too much. I'd like to run a sub 2hr half this year, so i'm going to have to really kick my butt into gear when spring hits. I actually also use the Zombies, Run! App. I'm almost through the first season, and it's a great motivator. Every time I think about running now I think, "I need more wrenches!"

[QuirkyDM]

I am always thinking about more wrenches, too! But my supplies hoard is slowly dwindling as well- I'm thinking I'll be competing for both before much longer. I'm about 10 missions in on Season 2. (including side missions) Before you go on to season 2, I recommend doing the race missions. There's no zombie chases, but besides getting a bunch of supplies, they add to the story moving forward.

 

Your speed goals should line up perfectly with running a sub 2hr half marathon. I like to use McMillian's running calculator as a guide to know how my runs would stack up against one another. Your 8 min. mile pace should give you the leg strength and speed so when you start spring training, you can focus more on endurance.

[Chelkie]

I read on the blog they have that season 1 missions only give 1 wrench and the first pass through season 2 missions give 3, so it would make sense if later on it gets more even. Looking forward to hitting season 2, just so it doesn't take 3 missions just to expand my base walls! Haha, I actually already did all the race missions. I wanted to use the 20k race mission for my half marathon, so I ran the other two leading up to it the week before. I almost like the format of the race missions more than the regular ones, the fact that it just plays over your music makes it less abrupt. Though I tend to listen to dubstep as I run, so there isn't much lyric interference. 

 

That's actually an awesome calculator, thank you for the link! Good news too, I love when everything falls into place nicely. I've been doing a lot of squats/lunges ect because i've heard it also helps your run speed/keeps you from getting injured as much, do you find this is the case as well?

[QuirkyDM]

I had to look up what dubstep was - I don't know if that makes me more of a nerd or less of one because I didn't know what that was. No one ever accuses me of having cool musical tastes. My playlist is focused on 90bpm so I can control my turnover rate. Especially at the start of a run where my legs think they're faster than they actually are.

 

I liked how the race narrative overlaid with the music as well. The story gets spread over the run a little more naturally instead of relying on how long your songs are.

 

I've read the same about cross training as you, but I don't have much evidence to back it up. I've always ran some, but it's only within the last two years that I've picked it up. (thank you Zombies, Run!) I've pretty much always done something else: karate, circuit classes and now weights. I've never had any running issues. Well, maybe that is evidence that it works.

[Chelkie]

I've heard that picking music with certain beats per minute is helpful for pacing, but I really just enjoy listening to something that is energetic and makes me happy. Usually I zone out when running so much I hardly listen to my music, especially if i'm trail running and need to really pay attention to where my feet are going, and making sure I don't run headfirst into a bull moose. 

 

You know I thought it went by how long your songs are too, but i've actually had it cut my songs off midway to play the story pieces. This might be because it's not unheard of to have a 10 minute dubstep song, but I was surprised. 

 

Ha, well let us hope! I do weight lifting, rock climbing and swimming a lot but I still tend to have problems with my feet/ankles when I run for distance. Fingers crossed doing more specific leg strengthening exercises will help mitigate that.

 

Also, your Quest post was quite amusing, and i've started to follow you. (That sounds a bit creepy...)

[StealingCovert]

Only creepy if it wasn't on NF lol KEEP AT IT!!! you already seem to have a grasp on running and fitness. Run a faster half marathon that is a super bad ass statement It hurts my sides to think half marathon. Good luck you will do great!

 

It would be creepy even for NF to say I hope you look good naked??? But if it is what you are pursing then DO IT!  

[Chelkie]

Haha true, thanks! Yeah, i'm not new to fitness, but I find it hard to maintain motivation during the winter months. Especially my running a half marathon goal...evil treadmills. 

 

Good luck on your quest too!

[Chelkie]

Well Week 1 has started off pretty good, made it to my Group Power class and was trying to figure out the weight system they have. I think I might have to adjust my goal a bit for this one though. Apparently the new sleeker weights are 1lb heavier than their bulkier counterparts, and i'm getting to the point where i'm going to need to switch over to get all the weights to fit on my bar. So 10lb becomes 11lb 5lb becomes 6lbs...ect. So perhaps i'll change my goal to switching weight sets next week, followed by one small plate on each side each week following. 

 

Also, I did my first extra core workout! Got home and wasn't a lazy bum, went downstairs and knocked out an extra 15min of core. I wasn't super thrilled with the workout video I was following, so I think i'll look around some more for something better. 

 

Looking forward to running tomorrow, my bf just finished season 1 in Zombies, Run! and he's dying to talk about the explosive ending, but i'm still 4 episodes away. I'd better get my butt running, the longer I wait the more time he has to let the ending slip!

 

Also I took some before pictures, I might post them. It was good for my morale to see how far i've come already though. 

[QuirkyDM]

Yeah, but that never ends. Because then you'll be in season 2 and I can say that so far, it's worth doing! Better hide the iPhone/Android until you get a good lead on him in missions.

[Chelkie]

Yeah I know...the problem is that we often go to the gym together, so it's hard to get a jump on him. I'm going to have to sneak to the gym for a second run every day this week just to catch up!

 

So do you have any idea if they are planning on making a season 3 anytime soon? I know they just finished season 2, but they've amassed quite a cult following which is I bet is clamoring for more already. 

[QuirkyDM]

Two zombie runs a day? I don't think I could handle that. I like to push hard on the runs and every so often, the mission makes me sprint more than I'm expecting and I'm dead by the end. Well, exhausted, anyway.

 

I'm pretty sure they are planning season 3, but I don't know any details. I've just started scratching season 2 so I won't need it for quite a while. (10 missions down) If they just throw out a few new goodies like their air drop mode and Hallowe'en missions, I expect they can keep going for a while without needing a new season for a while.

[Chelkie]

Yeah, I probably can't either. I definitely can't handle running every day, it makes for feet/ankle injuries galore. Ha! Zombie chase joke, excellent.

 

I just saw the airdrop mode, it looks awesome. It's rather unfortunate they released it right as winter hit, and I no longer can run outside with gps. Have you tried it yet, is it fun? Considering how long it's taken me to get through season 1 though your probably right, and season 1 doesn't even have supply/extra missions. Is season 2 different than season 1 in anything besides storyline?

 

I think it would be really sweet if they expanded the mini game though, building my base is fun but I can see it getting pretty old. 

[QuirkyDM]

I haven't tried airdrop mode yet. I'm worried about spoilers that would ruin season 2, so I'll likely wait until I'm done to make sure.

 

For season 2, as you go through the missions, you get new buildings available to you depending on how far you have gone. So the mini game gets more variety. Between missions, you may get attacked and have to spend supplies to repair your base or live with the lower defense rating. Similarly, some residents may give you an extra supply. If there is more to it than that, I haven't encountered it yet. It would be cool if certain buildings or population levels opened up extra missions. Maybe they do, I don't really know. It's a thrill to buy those new buildings, but if they actually do anything to affect the game, I can't say.

 

In season 1, there were supply missions that are basically just radio modes. In season 2, there are side quests you can go on or ignore as you see fit. If you go on the side quest, it will look unlock further missions down that path until you finish the entire side quest. I've done one side quest so far and it was fun.

[Chelkie]

Good point, I guess it's a good thing they released air drop at the beginning of winter after all. 

 

How far you've gone in the story line or distance wise? I've seen my base getting attacked before, had repair the front gate once, do you have to repair other things as well? 

 

I think it would be really cool if they opened up different characters from the story line at your base, or you could work on your own character. I guess that's why i'm so interested in Rising Heroes. I would kill for a beta key. 

 

Oh I didn't realize the side quests were connected, I wonder if they are all part of a continuous story line too, or just separate one mission extras. 

 

I'm glad I found someone to nerd out with about Zombies, Run! I've been curious about a lot of things that I haven't been able to find answers to online. 

[Chelkie]

Also for those following my progress i've finally finished updating my starting post, think i've squared everything away that I had left open. Fixed my weight goal/added my starting weights, added my attribute points per goal and uploaded a picture. Posting pictures of yourself online, scary business, I sucked it up though. Now all that's left is to follow through!

[RukimiRC]

Wow, I always complain about the winter and darkness here in Chicago.  Next time I do that I'll think "There are people who still go to the gym in Alaska, no excuse!"

 

Following your progress!  Good luck. 

[QuirkyDM]

How far you've gone in the story line or distance wise? I've seen my base getting attacked before, had repair the front gate once, do you have to repair other things as well? 

 

I think it would be really cool if they opened up different characters from the story line at your base, or you could work on your own character. I guess that's why i'm so interested in Rising Heroes. I would kill for a beta key. 

 

Oh I didn't realize the side quests were connected, I wonder if they are all part of a continuous story line too, or just separate one mission extras. 

 

I'm glad I found someone to nerd out with about Zombies, Run! I've been curious about a lot of things that I haven't been able to find answers to online. 

I hear you. I'm the only one I know who's running Zombies. My brother started doing the 5K Zombie training, but only got 6 weeks in, so he's never even got to the good stuff!

 

I've only ever repaired the front gate. I think Rising Heroes sounds great! I tried Fitocracy once, but never got into it. Without the theme, it felt more about logging workouts. I want some dragon slaying action to go with it.

 

It sounds like the side quests are just that. They're not connected to the overall story arc. But they are inserted at specific points in the game so if you just follow the normal progression the app gives you, you'll hit them all. They're like a mini series.

 

I'm 6 missions in to Season 2, plus a 4 episode side quest. I don't know about distance wise. It's usually anywhere from 5-7km per mission depending on how long that run is.

[Chelkie]

Wow, I always complain about the winter and darkness here in Chicago.  Next time I do that I'll think "There are people who still go to the gym in Alaska, no excuse!"

 

Following your progress!  Good luck. 

 

Haha that's great! Actually a load of people go to the gym in the winter here, at least until skiing and snowboarding season starts, then it clears out a bit.  Alaska is full of outdoorsy and exercise freaks and I just sort of tag along for the ride.

[Chelkie]

I hear you. I'm the only one I know who's running Zombies. My brother started doing the 5K Zombie training, but only got 6 weeks in, so he's never even got to the good stuff!

 

I've only ever repaired the front gate. I think Rising Heroes sounds great! I tried Fitocracy once, but never got into it. Without the theme, it felt more about logging workouts. I want some dragon slaying action to go with it.

 

It sounds like the side quests are just that. They're not connected to the overall story arc. But they are inserted at specific points in the game so if you just follow the normal progression the app gives you, you'll hit them all. They're like a mini series.

 

I'm 6 missions in to Season 2, plus a 4 episode side quest. I don't know about distance wise. It's usually anywhere from 5-7km per mission depending on how long that run is.

 

I feel the same about Fitocracy, I have the app and the leveling was a novel idea for about a week and then I was like...there's nothing more? Really? I'm actually really surprised there aren't more fitness games like Rising Heroes sounds like its going to be. I would work out all the time if a game like WoW implemented some sort of reward system for working out. I'm the kind of person that loves MMO's because of the goal = reward system. Accomplishing things, even if it's as little as getting a new piece of gear for my character is highly addicting. Of course being more fit is also super addicting, so with their powers combined...

 

Sweet, now i'm really excited for season 2! You've definitely reignited my desire to keep going with it, even if it has to be on a treadmill. I actually ran my 5k yesterday at a 9:40/mile pace and it wasn't so bad, the one thing that can be said about those hamster wheels of doom is that they make pacing really easy. 

[sylph]

Hi! :waves:

 

I agree with what you said in my thread--we seem to have relatively similar starting stats (though I'm older than you by almost 10 years). We're also a bit inverse: you've got some running history while I mostly hate anything cardio related and you're (if I'm reading correctly) a relative newbie to the weight lifting world, while I've been hitting the weights pretty regularly for the past few years. Kind of cool, really.

 

AND I can join in on the Zombies, Run discussion, albeit from very far behind--I'll be doing season 1, mission 3 tonight.

 

So--yeah! Keep on working hard up there in the frozen north. We just got our first snowfall (just a dusting) this week, but nothing compared to what y'all are going through already, I'm sure.

[Chelkie]

Definitely a newbie to weight lifting! That's pretty fantastic actually, it means I can pick your brain for all sorts of good weight lifting information. I'm at the point where I feel like i'm doing everything completely wrong and that the people in the gym are like "Uhhh is she falling over or doing a squat, I can't tell." 

 

I'm curious to see how your going to like Zombies, Run when you get further in. Are you already dying for more wrenches like Quirky and I?

 

It actually didn't snow until last week here, it was a really really late first snow this year. Was around in the 20's for the past month though, which is even worse. I'll take the relatively warm snowy winter over the bitterly cold -20 degree and no snow weather.