Chelkie Becomes Michonne the Zombie Slayer - Reboot

[Chelkie]

After taking a bit of hiatus from Nerd Fitness, I’m back again and ready to rock another challenge. As I didn’t finish my Michonne challenge, I decided to tweek it a bit and have another go.

 

Michonne may not be a typical ranger, but she embodies the ideals of a ranger all the same. She’s great with a sword, constantly keeping ahead of the zombie swarm she treks across a lot of land, loyal to her group of survivors, and has a deep dark back story that makes you love her all the more. 

 

Run Mileage Towards Arctic Circle + 5 Sta

 

Running is vital to survival in a zombie apocalypse. If you can’t be mobile and fast, you’re a zombie snack. Michonne doesn’t have to run very often now, but when she does she doesn’t mess around. I’d like to build up my stamina so I can hope to survive like her…also, run the two half marathons I’ve signed up for this year.

 

Alright to further explain this goal. This is going to be my large overarching goal, and I expect it to take quite a few 6 week challenges to complete. The mission: Run the Distance from Anchorage to the Arctic Circle, which so happens to be 556 miles. I chose this particular journey because it’s something close to home that I could potentially do in real life, and also it really is quite a scenic trip. I’ve been to the Arctic Circle once a few years ago, and it’s cool to be able to say I’ve crossed it.

 

 I have a map of the entire journey, and plan to calculate my mileage every week and add a new marker to my map as to where I am. I also will post a picture of the surroundings at the place I’ve stopped each week, which for those of you who don’t know Alaska very well, will be mostly trees. Lots and lots of trees. Occasionally a river. Sometimes a moose.
 

We did something similar in Elementary school for the Iditarod, where we would move out little husky picture the amount of hours we read each week and whoever made it to Nome first won.  I won of course, book nerds FTW!

 

Here is my goal map: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/space_monkey287/Progress%20Pics/ArcticCircle.jpg

 

Also I’m not going to set a specific mileage goal for this challenge because I want to slowly get back into running, and if I set rigid goals I tend to psych myself out. Additionally, treadmills for heavy mileage suck.

 

 

Continue Side Splits Stretching/Master Side splits – Stretch Every Day +4 Dex

 

In my second challenge I got moderately close to hitting my full side splits, but I’d like to continue this goal until I can finish it. Here’s the progress I’ve made:

 

Start: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/space_monkey287/Progress%20Pics/20140107_203117.jpg

 

End of Last Challenge: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/space_monkey287/Progress%20Pics/20140224_1705061.jpg

 

Will grade myself on stretching every day, because when it comes to stretching, consistency is key.

 

Master a Bridge Kickover – Brownie Points If I Make It to A Back Walkover +4 Dex

 

I can’t think of anything applicable to Michonne for this one…except perhaps one day she could be in a situation where she needs to maneuver out of a situation, and bam she realizes a back walkover will be just the ticket. Probably not, but hey crazier things have happened on that show. Either way, I was in gymnastics for several years and I really miss it. Working on my splits last challenge made me realize how much fun it can be, and how rewarding it is. The back walkover may not be as showy as the backflip, but its graceful and it’s fun and will be an excellent starting move to remaster. I will set my goal at a bridge kickover, as six weeks is pretty short to master a skill that requires patience and daily flexibility practice.

 

Same as my stretching goal, practicing a bit every day is key.

 

Life Goal – Sketch One Design A Week +2 CHA (pretty clothes go towards my physical attractiveness right? )

 

I’m really interested in starting to sew and design my own clothes, as being a short girl petite girl means most of my clothing options suck. I’m almost 25 and I have to shop in the juniors section. Ripped jeans and crop tops don’t really scream professionalism.  Also I have bit eccentric taste, I like Victorian era fashion quite a lot. To help this goal along I’m going to start sketching up ideas for clothing and clothing modifications. I have a sewing machine and I used to sew with my mother when I was younger, but it’s been a really long time. I’m going to have to start again with baby steps (like trying to figure out how to thread the crazy contraption) but it’ll be nice to have some ideas planned out for sewing practice when I get there. 

 

Grading System: 

A 100-90%

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

 

83.33%

83.33%

Run Mileage Towards Arctic Circle - Add Some Mileage Every Week

 

89.79%

89.79%

Master a Bridge Kickover – Stretch/Practice Every Day

 

100%

100%

One Sketch A Week

 

89.79%

89.79%

Master the Side Splits - Stretch Every Day

[QuirkyDM]

Welcome back to the fold, Chelkie! I had feared we'd lost you to northern wastes and would someday uncover your frozen yet perfectly preserved corpse. Glad to hear you're fighting through.

 

Are you restarting the Arctic circle walk? You got some miles in last challenge. Like you said, it's not like you want to get this all in during one challenge.

[Chelkie]

Haha no despite my best slacking efforts, and spring is claiming this frozen wasteland, so my corpse would be far easier to find. Hit a rough patch in my personal life and gave up a bit, I've been running 2x a week but not anything else. I was pleased to find I didn't lose very much if any flexibility in my splits during my hiatus though.

 

I'm not sure I ever really started the Arctic circle run to begin with. I've been putting in some mileage since I first started that challenge thread, but does it really count if I bailed?

[trendywendypdx]

I love the running to the Arctic Circle goal.  That is so cool.  It will definitely span a few challenges but that is just a super awesome goal.  Yeah!  I'll definitely be following along!

[Chelkie]

Haha yeah, it's going to take quite a bit of time...right now i'm running about 10 miles a week, which feels like throwing a teaspoon of water in dry lake bed. It should be fun though, I like having larger goals to work towards, keeps my eyes looking ahead instead of behind. I'll try to make my updates flashy keep the following along entertaining. 

[Chelkie]

I've realized that I really need to buy some sort of yoga mat or padding thing to lay down in my house for stretching daily. Hardwood floors are rough on the knees and tailbone! 

 

In other news, today Season 3 of Zombies Run released and i'm super excited to get off work and do my run now. They've change the layout and look of it, added more buildings, and i'm really curious about this whole choose your own path thing. Probably only for season 3 content, but we'll see.

[helloandie]

Wow, I love your run toward the arctic circle goal, that is amazing and creative. I downloaded the Zombies, Run app at one point and I liked it but for some reason I stopped using it. I think I'll have to check out this season 3 content!!

[trendywendypdx]

When I had hardwood floors, before I bought a yoga mat, I used a big pillow and that helped a lot.  Even a couple of quilts would probably make things better until you get a mat. 

[Chelkie]

Alright first monday morning update. So this week I did okay. Ish. I was pretty on point with my stretching, but I only got out running once. Unfortunately it was tax deadline last week, so my work was slammed, making me not get out of the office until 6 every night. This week though, i've made plans to go running 3 times. I might even be able to go outside! I've also found and modified an intermediate half marathon training schedule that i'm going to start following. Instead of like last summers half training where I just tried to run a little bit further every time, i'm actually going to try different run days. The schedule I found mixes easy runs, sprints, pace runs, tempo runs and long runs. Hopefully this bit of variety will help me improve my times. The goal for my first one in June is going to be 2hrs 3min, which is 10min faster than last years. If I can knock that out, then the goal for my August one will be 1hr 59min.

 

For the back walkover goal, after doing my stretching every day, I can say that I forgot how strenuous on your wrists it can be! The quilt idea actually helped a lot though to take some of the discomfort out of stretching on hard wood. 

 

I realized when I went to go start my sketch goal, that somehow I managed to misplace my sketch book in the move in December. I sketched a bit on printer paper, but it really just isn't the same, so I shall have to make a stop by the local art store this week to pick up a new one.

[QuirkyDM]

I'm glad you can get outside. I know my running vibes have been completely rejuvenated because of outdoor runs again. Adding variety in your runs should really help you along, I think. You made huge strides in your 5K speed over the winter that I think you'll kill the half marathons this year. Good luck!

[trendywendypdx]

Woohoo!  Good luck on Week 2!

[Chelkie]

I'm glad you can get outside. I know my running vibes have been completely rejuvenated because of outdoor runs again. Adding variety in your runs should really help you along, I think. You made huge strides in your 5K speed over the winter that I think you'll kill the half marathons this year. Good luck!

 

Yeah, there is something about the fresh air and the variety of the landscape that makes running outside so much easier. Pacing is more difficult, especially after you've run all winter on a stinky old treadmill that does that for you though. It's actually been a gloriously sunny spring in Alaska, so I weirdly need to buy some more lightweight running tops. Too hot in Alaska, when does that happen?!

 

I think the variety will really help too, one because apparently sprints are great for building leg muscle, and two because it can get tedious to just run long runs every day. I'm most interested about the tempo runs, they sound quite complicated. I should probably be okay if I run with the Nike App because you can set it to give you verbal distance and pace information, but the art of gradually upping your pace to a peak outside will probably take a bit of practice. 

[Chelkie]

So I feel like technology really needs to step up it's game when it comes to running accessories. The way it is now I'd need to run with a wheelbarrow just to bring all the gadgets. My idea: Make a smartphone watch, an actual one, one that doesn't need another large phone device within a few hundred feet. Then add bluetooth that will connect with the heart rate monitor in my sports bra and communicate that info to an app on the smart watch. Also the blue tooth can be used to communicate with cordless headphones so that I can listen to music and get pace cues. An app that would let me unlock my car with my smartwatch would be excellent too, no more bulky electronic key in my nonexistent women's running gear pockets. To put icing on the cake if it could shoot laser beams that would vaporize bears, bull moose and molesters that would be perfect.

 

Alright people, tell all your eccentric rich billionare or tech savvy friends to invent this and I will be the happiest woman alive.

[QuirkyDM]

To put icing on the cake if it could shoot laser beams that would vaporize bears, bull moose and molesters that would be perfect.

 

I say we start from this base model for the vaporizing capabilities and start adding features.

[Chelkie]

I say we start from this base model for the vaporizing capabilities and start adding features.

 

Transformers smartwatch? So in!

[trendywendypdx]

I think they make watch bands for the ipod Nano which might accomplish most of what you were after.  You know, except for the laser beams part.

[Chelkie]

Haha well I think Quirky has got me covered on the laser beams side of things. I really just need a smart phone that I can run with. I have a Galaxy S4 now and I lovelovelove it EXCEPT when i'm running. The thing is like a brick tied to my arm, takes up my entire bicep. Running outside, especially in Alaska I really can't be without it though. If I were to trip and break a leg or get into a scuffle with some wildlife, no one would find my body for ages. Right now I can get a heart rate monitor that would connect to my phone, but again it's so huge and tied to my arm that I can't easily look at it for pace info. If I got a heart monitor and or nano watch in addition to it, i'd probably be like that guy from Lady in the Water and just have one ridiculous beefy arm.

[trendywendypdx]

Well, duh.  You did say you needed a smartphone.  I glossed over that part   We better get to inventing then!

[QuirkyDM]

How do you carry your water when you go on long runs? Either a belt or a camelback should give you a place to clip your smart phone or even a pocket to place it in. It's easier to get used to than you think.

[Chelkie]

Well, duh.  You did say you needed a smartphone.  I glossed over that part   We better get to inventing then!

 

Haha yeah, i'm counting on you guys! I've been working on a teleporter for years now, still no dice though, i'm just really not qualified to engineer.

 

How do you carry your water when you go on long runs? Either a belt or a camelback should give you a place to clip your smart phone or even a pocket to place it in. It's easier to get used to than you think.

 

I actually go sans water for my outdoor runs. I tried running with my camelback once but the jostling of the water inside it was pretty annoying. I considered maybe a belt, but I really don't go on that long of runs yet, usually i'm not dying of thirst until the very end. I probably should start to consider it more though, it can't be good for my body not to get any liquids. 

[Chelkie]

So today i'm going to try out a tempo run for the first time. There seems to be a bit of disagreement online as to what that really means though. The two main schools of thought i've seen are it's a long warm up followed by a couple miles of running at your race pace speed then a cooldown, and the other is that it's a long warm up followed by a gradual increase to your 10k speed where you peak for about a minute then go into a cooldown.

 

Any idea which is correct/most beneficial? 

[Xena]

I know what you mean about the gadgets. Funny that one of the best things about running is that it can be very simple and low-tech.

[Phayze]

Yeah, yeah, running, fitness, whatever. Let's see some of those design sketches!

[Chelkie]

You actually want to see my sketches? Haha okay, I could probably scan them. I have a tablet that I used to draw a lot with, but I fell out of doing that a bit, maybe I should do them in photoshop vs paper. 

[QuirkyDM]

Coming in late, but how'd the tempo run go? I've read that a tempo run is a "comfortably hard" run that you do a consistent pace at. I thought you were doing a program from your Nike app? I'm surprised the Nike app doesn't spell out what it wants you to do.

 

And +1 on seeing the sketches. Extra talents are cool.