QuirkyDM deploys against the Kaiju

[QuirkyDM]

"Sir, reporting as requested."

"At ease, QuirkyDM. You're being activated. We have sensed an impending Kaiju breach. You're going to take care of it."

Yes, sir. I'll deploy immed-"

"Easy, son. This ain't no cakewalk. You gotta prepare first. Train hard, get ready. Then you go in."

"OK, sir. But shouldn't I be out there now for when the Kaiju surfaces? Why are we waiting until it hits the cities?"

"You'll be there right when it pops. It's not coming out until July 26th."

"Wow, you can predict the date? And so far in advance!? That's great. Now we're in a 24 hour window."

"Kaiju breach will be at 10am EST."

"Fantastic, so we'll be on the lookout for where the breach occurs an-"

"Here's the exact location you'll need to be at."

"Alright, well, I'll be prepared for anything. Whether it's category 1 or 5-"

"It's a category 3, the Beast."

"OK, well fire breathing or flying, I'll be rea-."

"Intelligence says it's going to resemble this Category 3, encountered a year ago. Here's videos of it and the likely challenges you'll face."

"... With all this information, these Kaiju don't seem as scary as they used to.."

"Son, we're not in the business of failing around here. We expect the same out of you. Don't take this lightly"

"Yes, sir. Looks like all the hard work is already done."

"Think again, soldier. Your hard work is just beginning."

 

 

 

 

Kaiju isn't just a big monster- it's a BEAST! And that's what I'm getting ready for. Specifically:

 

I'm signed up for two Spartan Beasts this year. And I want to kill them. Plus I signed up for the Elite heat in the Bad Ass Dash and I want to make a good enough showing so I feel like I belong with the Elites.

 

I'm just starting my OCR season. I finished MudHero last week. The upcoming race schedule is:

- June 29, Spartan Sprint

- July 19, Bad Ass Dash

- July 27, Spartan Beast

- September 20, Spartan Beast in Vermont

 

Strangely enough, my training is getting more specific, yet it feels more relaxed. I still plan to hit the gym 2x per week on top of all this, but it's more like normal exercise and not necessity for the race, so I'm not including it in the goals.

 

 

Main Quest- Prepare for the BEAST

In fact, with 2 beasts, I need to be double prepared!

 

 

 

Goal 1: Run for the hills!

- At least 3 runs per week.

- At least one hill training run per week.

- One long run per week. (exception is July long weekend when I'll be camping)

My current long run distance of 25K is long enough distance wise. I'm going to lengthen it in time by making it more difficult. (add hills, carry heavy objects part way, do crawls, stop for a set of exercises or whatever else I feel like)

(+3 STA, +1 STR)

A: All runs done

B: Missed 1 long run and/or 3 runs

C: Missed 2 long runs and/or 6 runs

D: Missed 3 long runs and/or 9 runs

 

 

Goal 2: PLP

I've started PLP. I'll need that upper body strength. I'm on 11 right now. (started at 1) My only time allowed to miss is 1-2 days before any race to ensure I'm rested up. I should be up to 50 by the end of the challenge.

(+1 STA, +3 STR)

A: 50 PLP

B: 45 PLP

C: 40 PLP

D: 35 PLP

 

Goal 3: Mad Skillz

Time to do specific Spartan training. I am going to practice each of the following skills at least once each week.

- rope climb

- spear throw

- weighted carries

- atlas carry

- crawl

- traverse wall

- wall climb

- balance beam

- log hop

- monkey bars

(+1 STR, +3 DEX, +1 STA)

A: All skills practiced

B: Missed 5 skill practices

C: Missed 10 skill practices

D: Missed 15 skill practices

 

 

Life Quest: Take care of the outdoors.

Specifically, taking care of the yard. We just had some new lawn put in last year and planted new seed this year to try and fill in the rest. Weather permitting, I'll be out 3x per week, even if for only 10 minutes. Weeding, (I hate weeds) killing ants, (I hate ants) watering, (I hate wat... wait) mowing, whipper snippering, fertilizing, setting up yard decorations, taking care of the camper, setting up our new hose reels, etc.

And if there's nothing to do, I can spend time enjoying the yard, which is the ultimate goal.

(+2 WIS, +1 CON)

A: Amazing yard!

B: Missed 3 days

C: Missed 6 days

D: Missed 9 days

 

Sidequest: The Buck Furpees! Paradox

I have no intention of doing any burpees during my races. Buck Furpees! The best way to make sure that happens is to be in good shape. The best way to get in good shape is ... lots of burpees! Crap.

- set of 30 burpees per day

- two sets on Saturday and Sunday

- Like PLP, I'm allowed to skip this 1-2 days pre-race to make sure I'm fully rested.

(+2 STR, +2 STA)

A: Buck Furpees 100%!

B: Missed 4 days

C: Missed 8 days

D: Missed 12 days

 

Come on, Kaiju, let's see what you've got.

Aroooo!!!

[tenaciousglee]

um, wow.

 

Love the goals.

 

When you get through this, the Beast doesn't stand a chance.

[sylph]

Hah! Found you. Looks awesome as always.

[redpuma]

Hi! I'm doing the Spartan Sprint in September, and am excited to find someone who's got one coming up! Subbing

[Phayze]

This looks like one of those "conditioning is king" challenges, and I love it! Subbing to get inspired to take conditioning more seriously.

That beast doesn't stand a chance!

[Xena]

Awesome! Can't wait to hear about your races.

[Chris56Ryan]

Oh wow thats so cool. I'm keeping an eye out for tips on improving myself for some similar events.

[Epsilonx2]

Fantastic goals as usual. You're going to bring that beast DOWN!

[Elder]

Two BEASTS?!  That's awesome.  I've done a few sprints and have upped it to a Super this September.  Hopefully a Beast sometime next year.  

 

Love the goals, you will kill the beasts as long as you stick with the goals.  

 

I need to start incorporating more burpees...but at a later date.  I am shit at the spear throw so any shared techniques would be cool!

 

Looking forward to seeing how things play out this challenge.  

[AverageJoe]

I'm eagerly awaiting to see the awesomeness that will be displayed during your OCRs.  BTW you know you're hardcore when you start talking about not just one race but an entire SEASON of OCRs

[Paisley]

subbing - am amazed at how much you have on your plate - so impressive. will be following to see how it all goes.

[QuirkyDM]

Whew, you take the weekend off from NF and the challenge forums explode! Well, it is the start of a new challenge, so what do you expect? But it's bi-zay!

 

 

um, wow.

 

Love the goals.

 

When you get through this, the Beast doesn't stand a chance.

Thanks. You and I can rock the PLP together this time through.

 

Hah! Found you. Looks awesome as always.

Right back at ya. Nerds looking out for each other since level 1!

 

Hi! I'm doing the Spartan Sprint in September, and am excited to find someone who's got one coming up! Subbing

Hey, redpuma! Welcome aboard. Heck, welcome to the rebellion!

 

This looks like one of those "conditioning is king" challenges, and I love it! Subbing to get inspired to take conditioning more seriously.

That beast doesn't stand a chance!

That's the plan. I'm wondering if by the end, doing 30 burpees will hurt less, or if I just won't care about the pain anymore?

 

Awesome! Can't wait to hear about your races.

Thanks- I can't wait to run them.

 

Oh wow thats so cool. I'm keeping an eye out for tips on improving myself for some similar events.

Well, I've only done 3 OCRs so far, so I am far, far from an expert. But I'm sure I'll have lots of "don't do this stories" by the end.

 

Fantastic goals as usual. You're going to bring that beast DOWN!

Heck ya!

 

I'm eagerly awaiting to see the awesomeness that will be displayed during your OCRs.  BTW you know you're hardcore when you start talking about not just one race but an entire SEASON of OCRs

Heh. I figured after this year, I don't need to say "I've done a few OCRs". I can say "I do OCRs".

 

subbing - am amazed at how much you have on your plate - so impressive. will be following to see how it all goes.

Thanks. It seems doable right now. We'll see what happens in 6 weeks.

 

Two BEASTS?!  That's awesome.  I've done a few sprints and have upped it to a Super this September.  Hopefully a Beast sometime next year.  

 

Love the goals, you will kill the beasts as long as you stick with the goals.  

 

I need to start incorporating more burpees...but at a later date.  I am shit at the spear throw so any shared techniques would be cool!

 

Looking forward to seeing how things play out this challenge.  

Well, after I signed up for the first beast, I thought "What do I do for my next challenging endeavour?" So I signed up for the one at Spartan HQ, figuring it's got to be course to do!

 

As for spear throw, I used this video to learn how. Iron Edge has a bunch of neat videos to help with spartan obstacles. I found their rope climb video to be the most helpful of all the ones I've seen, too.

 

I didn't do the supplementary exercises, just focused on technique. For practice, I unscrewed a broom handle from my push broom and took aim at the tree in the backyard. The handle is about the right size, but it's not as hefty as the ones I used in the race last year. I think a shovel handle would likely be closer to the right weight. But my technique was good enough to make sure I didn't do any burpees at the spear throw.

 

[AverageJoe]

OOOOOOHHHH I so want to go throw a spear now!!  Throwing pointy things is so much fun.  Darts, knives, axes, Bat-a-rangs (yes I have bat-a-rangs!)  Have not had opportunity to throw a spear...Yet!

[Phytomancer]

This sounds like a great challenge!

[AgentsSka]

Jealous of that July Beast....

 

I'm liking your goals.  Mine are going to have a similar flair over the next couple of challenges.

 

Get after it!

[Chris56Ryan]

Ha I only have one under my belt and already a don't do this which was drop down from too high ended up in physio for a few months.

Sent from my nokia 3210

[Elder]

As for spear throw, I used this video to learn how. Iron Edge has a bunch of neat videos to help with spartan obstacles. I found their rope climb video to be the most helpful of all the ones I've seen, too.

 

I didn't do the supplementary exercises, just focused on technique. For practice, I unscrewed a broom handle from my push broom and took aim at the tree in the backyard. The handle is about the right size, but it's not as hefty as the ones I used in the race last year. I think a shovel handle would likely be closer to the right weight. But my technique was good enough to make sure I didn't do any burpees at the spear throw.

 

 

Thanks, I will definitely be using the video for practice.  

[QuirkyDM]

OK, I want to get an update in here sometime, too.

 

Pre-challenge- Saturday morning was a 25km run or 2.5 hours, whichever came first. I added my PLP workout and 2 sets of 30 burpees during the run to make it a little tougher. Due to the undergrowth exploding over the last few weeks, I missed some turns, got lost and ended up back home after only 2 hours and 20km. So I did my skills circuit instead.

 

Monkey bars: blue handles to the 2 wheels and around the red bars on the right. And then back.

 

40m crawl. (You don't really need to see a picture of grass, do you?) And then traverse wall;

 

8' wall- this swing set is 8' tall. I know that if I can get on this, I can handle any 8' walls thrown at me- inverted or otherwise. (I can't get it to NOT show upside down! Annoying!)

 

Rope climb in my front yard:

 

And then for extra work, we went to a Y kids event nearby and I got to do this:

 

(this is me racing against my daughter she beat me by the tips of her fingertips to the bell at the top)

 

 

Today I did PLP (day 14) and the same skills circuit, plus some spear throw and balance work on the 4x4 bordering the kids playground. So that's 7 of my skills already practiced this week.

[Maledictus]

subbed.  Looking forward to hearing about beasts..

[ShadowLion]

Saturday's workout - way cool! Great that you've got the youngster going on fitness like that, too!

[Chris56Ryan]

Ha looks like some great fun, nice one

Sent from my nokia 3210

[Anamal]

Looks amazing! The beast was so much fun this year, just long enough to make you suffer, not so long as to make you want to quit.

 

Maybe we'll see each other in Vermont!

 

Also for training the inverted wall, traverse wall, etc practice keeping your hips into the wall, that is where your center of mass rests and if you let your hips drift away from the wall you're forcing your arms to work much harder as your own body weight pulls you off. Remember to stand on your legs! This sounds silly, but climbing is really about the legs. Your arms will fatigue much faster than your legs will, and yet most men don't believe me when I say this. Often women are better climbers because we lack upper body strength and need to be smarter about how we tackle a route, where as men just try and pull them selves up with their arms and end up exhausted.

 

I really need to find access to a rope to climb too. I know the UB will have a few probably and I don't want to waste time/energy doing burpees.

[drunkensnake]

Sweet Pacific Rim themed challenge (the movie that made your inner 10 year old's head explode) good work so far, I love rock climbing, I just wish I had more time to do it

[Elastigirl]

Can't wait to hear how the Beast go-impressive.Love the skills go and all the fun stuff.

[QuirkyDM]

This sounds like a great challenge!

Thanks! It fits in perfect with our Mario Kart Bodyweight challenge.

 

Jealous of that July Beast....

 

I'm liking your goals.  Mine are going to have a similar flair over the next couple of challenges.

 

Get after it!

Yeah, we have a lot of overlap in our goals this time around. Gonna kick some burpee butt!

 

subbed.  Looking forward to hearing about beasts..

After salivating over your threads for the last 4 challenges, I'll finally get to return the favor.

 

Ha looks like some great fun, nice one

Sent from my nokia 3210

Yeah. Once they said the adults could try these, too, I was all over it.

 

Saturday's workout - way cool! Great that you've got the youngster going on fitness like that, too!

We try, we try. The Y Kids! program is one of the most awesome programs kids can take. It's a free 8 session course where they teach them about exercise and nutrition, show them how to use all the equipment in the weight room and then give them a 1 year free membership. Plus, they're allowed to actually use the weight room, whereas normally they'd need to be at least 14 to do that. (she's only 11) I think every kid should take this.

 

Looks amazing! The beast was so much fun this year, just long enough to make you suffer, not so long as to make you want to quit.

 

Maybe we'll see each other in Vermont!

 

Also for training the inverted wall, traverse wall, etc practice keeping your hips into the wall, that is where your center of mass rests and if you let your hips drift away from the wall you're forcing your arms to work much harder as your own body weight pulls you off. Remember to stand on your legs! This sounds silly, but climbing is really about the legs. Your arms will fatigue much faster than your legs will, and yet most men don't believe me when I say this. Often women are better climbers because we lack upper body strength and need to be smarter about how we tackle a route, where as men just try and pull them selves up with their arms and end up exhausted.

 

I really need to find access to a rope to climb too. I know the UB will have a few probably and I don't want to waste time/energy doing burpees.

A meetup in Vermont would be great. That makes at least 3 of us that I know heading there. (AgentsSka is the other) I'm hoping we'll all have some good war stories when it's all said and done.

 

I've read that before on the traverse wall, too, so I make a big effort to turn my feet and push into the wall with my hips. It might not look like it on the pictures, but I was working myself over the projection.

 

For my rope climb, I went to a local marina shop so I could get some nice thick rope. (the Home Depot stuff is way too thin) I tied it on a nice high branch and now I can climb anytime!

 

Sweet Pacific Rim themed challenge (the movie that made your inner 10 year old's head explode) good work so far, I love rock climbing, I just wish I had more time to do it

And my actual 8 year old's head. He avoids a lot of movies he thinks will be too scary, but he was all over Pacific Rim.

 

 

Can't wait to hear how the Beast go-impressive.Love the skills go and all the fun stuff.

Yeah- it's great to be faster and stronger- but it's lots of fun to do something cool and fun with those muscles. That's why I love the OCRs.

 

 

Wednesday Update:

I did a quick 15 minutes of yard work yesterday. This included scattering powder on the 3 ant hills threatening my yard. I put some on there Sunday and I'm going to keep doing it every two days until the ants leave/die or I finally give in and declare ants as the official rulers of Earth.

 

Hit the gym today for pull ups and deadlifts then finished off with day 16 of PLP. Pull ups are broken into 3 sets now. (6,5,5) I still do lunges and push ups in one set. (i'm not sure I'll ever need to break them up)

 

At lunch I did a hills loop with my manager with some nice trails thrown in. He's a slightly faster runner than I am, but we're pretty close. We really pushed each other on the run. (no slacking off when someone else is there to push the pace) 7.75km at 5min/km pace, which is an awesome pace for me on hills and trails. I have to remember that effort level for the Sprint at the end of the month because it's about perfect.