BlimeyCharlie's First Challenge

[Charlie_Quinn]

OK, here we go with my first challenge.

 

Main Quest

To get strong enough to complete Tough Mudder. 

As I mentioned in my introduction, I've done TM before, but I wasn't strong and I really struggled. This time, I want to smash it.

 

Quest 1 

To do at least 1 chin up

 

Quest 2 

Do strength training at the gym 3-4 times a week

 

Quest 3 

Run at least twice a week.

Edit - I'm aiming to do a 3 mile run by the end of the 6 weeks. I can currently do about 2 miles

 

Edit

Grading - I'm going to give myself points for every workout. I'm giving running more points as I enjoy that less and I'm hoping that will give me the motivation!

 

Strength training = 5 points

 

Running = 10 points

 

I love collecting trophies when playing games, so I going to award myself a 'trophy' at the end of the challenge!

Gold trophy = 140-160+points

Silver trophy = 100-120 points

Bronze trophy - 80-100 points

 

I hope I'm doing this right and didn't miss anything!

[T2sarahconnor]

Welcome to the Rebellion!

 

I hope I'm doing this right and didn't miss anything!

You can't do anything wrong here. Your first post here has already set you up for success!

I would take a look at the Level 1 Mini Quest for this week to help you tweak your goals. http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/51484-mini-quest-1-time-to-get-smart/

With running, strength training and chin ups as your goals I am sure you will see some Rangers and Scouts introduce themselves. We just like to say hi, answer questions and direct you to people that have similar goals as you!

If you have any questions let me know!

Good luck!

[blkhole24601]

Whoa, Tough Mudder. I have friends who do that every year. It looks like so much fun, but I know I don't have the upper body strength (YET!!) required for some of the things you need to do for it. Best of luck to you!!

[Charlie_Quinn]

I would take a look at the Level 1 Mini Quest for this week to help you tweak your goals. http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/51484-mini-quest-1-time-to-get-smart/

 

Thanks for this. After reading the Mini Quest 1 I think I'm going to tweak my 3rd Quest. Instead of running twice a week, I'm going to change it to run 3 miles. I can currently do about 2 miles without stopping so I think that's a reasonable goal and a lot easier to track.

 

Whoa, Tough Mudder. I have friends who do that every year. It looks like so much fun, but I know I don't have the upper body strength (YET!!) required for some of the things you need to do for it. Best of luck to you!!

 

Thanks! My husband has done it 3 times now and is collecting the different coloured headbands. He wants to do 10 Tough Mudders in total! It is a lot of fun, but its really tough. I didn't have a lot of upper body strength the last time I did it and had to skip a lot of obstacles. Hopefully I won't have to do that this time. I'm not doing it till May next year so plenty of time to do lots of chin ups!

[Charlie_Quinn]

OK first week update. I only signed up on Friday so technically not my first full week on the challenge but still....

 

Since last Monday I've done 4 sessions of strength training. I tend to do upper body one session and lower the next so I'm not hurting all over the next day! I'm slowly increasing the weights I'm using. I've not had the guts to go use the squat rack yet so I'm doing goblet squats at the moment. 

 

Went on the treadmill on Saturday and did 2 miles without stopping, fairly happy with that.

 

I've been going to the gym first thing in the morning before work but this morning I could not get myself out of bed. I'm really not a morning person but the last week I've been forcing myself to get up at 5am to get to the gym and been really proud of myself for doing it. So I'm really annoyed at myself for being lazy today. I've brought my gym kit to work so I'm going to go straight from work. 

 

Chin ups... hmmmm. Still a long way to go on that one.

[T2sarahconnor]

Everyone deserves to sleep in once and awhile. You might like working out after work better!

[Charlie_Quinn]

Before work just fits in with my day better. I don't mind going after work (although the gym is packed then) but I don't get to the gym till 7 (if I'm lucky) and then I'm not home till nearly 9.

 

I absolutely HATE getting up at 5am, but it's better than getting home, eating then going straight to bed! I'm trying to get myself in the habit of getting up early while it's still light that early in the morning. Once winter comes, it's going to be much harder to crawl out of that nice warm bed!

 

At least I have a good alarm clock. As soon as the sun's up, my cat treads all over my face demanding food!

[TyrantLizard]

Just popping in to say I'm going to follow your challenge. I'm sure in time we will both be doing all the chinups and pullups! Just have to keep plugging.

[Teros]

 

Quest 1

To do at least 1 chin up

 

Quest 2 

Do strength training at the gym 3-4 times a week

 

Quest 3 

Run at least twice a week.

 

 

Chin ups... hmmmm. Still a long way to go on that one.

 

What helps immensely with goals is making sure there's a detailed plan. 'a chin up' is an end result. What are you doing to get there during the next 6 weeks?  For example, pull-ups are moreso about back strength than arm strength; so to train for that for 6 weeks; I would do incline rows or bent-over barbell rows.

 

Also, is there a way to grade the other 2 goals? Besides that, it looks good. I wish you luck.

[Charlie_Quinn]

What helps immensely with goals is making sure there's a detailed plan. 'a chin up' is an end result. What are you doing to get there during the next 6 weeks?  For example, pull-ups are moreso about back strength than arm strength; so to train for that for 6 weeks; I would do incline rows or bent-over barbell rows.

 

Also, is there a way to grade the other 2 goals? Besides that, it looks good. I wish you luck.

 

I'm doing bent over dumbbell rows in the gym. I've managed to work my way up to 10kg in the last month or so. I want to do incline body weight rows but I've not found anywhere I can do them! Need to investigate some playgrounds!

 

I didn't even think about grading, I was going for a more pass / fail approach. Will have to think about this.

[T2sarahconnor]

Grading just helps you be totally objective when doing weekly recaps. Check out some other peoples threads that have similar goals to see what they have done.

You are doing great. Keep up the good work.

[Liubochka]

Lol, my cats do that too! Except sometimes they don't even wait for the sun to come up before stepping on my head!!

[Charlie_Quinn]

Phew, it's been a busy few days at work and on top of that I've been fighting off a cold for the last few days. I've managed to get to the gym twice though so not too bad. Not managed a run this week. I planned to yesterday but I was exhausted by the time I got home and went to bed at 9:30! Feeling a lot better today and the cold seems to have disappeared. 

 

Grading just helps you be totally objective when doing weekly recaps. Check out some other peoples threads that have similar goals to see what they have done.

You are doing great. Keep up the good work.

 

 Thanks T2sarahconnor. I've edited my initial challenge post to include a grading system. I'm up to 40 points so far!

 

 

Quest 3 

Run at least twice a week.

Edit - I'm aiming to do a 3 mile run by the end of the 6 weeks. I can currently do about 2 miles

 

Edit

Grading - I'm going to give myself points for every workout. I'm giving running more points as I enjoy that less and I'm hoping that will give me the motivation!

 

Strength training = 5 points

 

Running = 10 points

 

I love collecting trophies when playing games, so I going to award myself a 'trophy' at the end of the challenge!

Gold trophy = 140-160+points

Silver trophy = 100-120 points

Bronze trophy - 80-100 points

[Teros]

Good that you're feeling back to normal. How are things?

[TyrantLizard]

I was sick earlier this week too. Boo! Glad to hear you're feeling better.

 

Are you using a specific program or approach for running, btw? I know there are some structured ones out there - I'm doing the Zombies Run C25K program, and I know some people have programs that involve interval sprints, etc. Or do you just go for a run regularly and try to go further/faster each time? Do you track your runs using GPS? I'm a nerd about stuff like that.

[Charlie_Quinn]

Good that you're feeling back to normal. How are things?

 

I'm feeling good thanks, had a good week last week. Gym for strength training 3 times last week and quite a good 2.5 mile run. Start of this week has been good too, gym last night and going for a run tonight. Hoping to go a little bit further this time. 

 

 

I was sick earlier this week too. Boo! Glad to hear you're feeling better.

 

Are you using a specific program or approach for running, btw? I know there are some structured ones out there - I'm doing the Zombies Run C25K program, and I know some people have programs that involve interval sprints, etc. Or do you just go for a run regularly and try to go further/faster each time? Do you track your runs using GPS? I'm a nerd about stuff like that.

 

Thanks! Glad you are feeling better too. I always seem to get ill when I'm in training for something! Luckily it wasn't too bad this time (hope that sentence doesn't come back to bite me in the ass!)

 

I'm just going out for casual runs at the moment, not following a training plan. I probably will when I start doing more miles. I used to be able to do 6-8 miles on a training run and really regret not keeping it up. 

 

I've got a Garmin watch to track my miles. I used to use Zombies! Run! but all of a sudden the app started screwing up and haven't tried it since. Must check for an update for it. I used to have the zombie noises playing in the background. That was a great way to freak yourself out on a cold dark night!

[T2sarahconnor]

Outstanding! Keep up the good work. I love the casual running! No running is casual for me!

[Charlie_Quinn]

So I went for a run this evening. Got home later than usual and had a crappy afternoon so I was already in a bit of a mood. I headed out the door and the very second I stepped outside, the rain started. I thought, no big deal, I don't mind a bit of rain. Then the heavens opened, and a little rain turned into a lot of rain. And wind.

 

I could have stopped, I could have turned back and given up but I kept going. Not only did I do 2 miles without having to take a walk break, I did my 2nd mile in 10 mins. My usual 1 mile time is 11:30. I'm stupidly happy with that!

 

I was soaked through but I didn't care, I was finishing this damn run! I did 2.61 miles in the end and despite looking like a drowned rat, I felt great!

 

GET IN!!!

[blkhole24601]

Awesome job, and so much braver than me! I've turned away from starting a run the second I felt a drop of rain on my nose in the past. ;;; BRAVO, that is seriously amazing what you did!

[TyrantLizard]

Congrats on the run! Maybe rain running should be a new training approach. I can just picture it...you're having coffee with some friends, a storm rolls in, and you start to get all fidgety. Before you know it you're making an excuse to leave and running all the way home  ;-)

[Charlie_Quinn]

TyrantLizard, that's a great idea! Can I do it while at work as well? "Sorry, I can't take that call, it's started raining, bye!"

 

Slight issue, I live in England, I'd never stop running!! 

[Charlie_Quinn]

So, we're over the hump of week 3 now! I'm so glad I started this challenge, it's really kept me motivated. 

 

Had a rest day yesterday, went to bed nice and early and was at the gym at 5:45 this morning. This weeks mini challenge was about being brave, so I decided to finally have a go at doing barbell squats in the half squat rack. I've been too nervous to use it as I really had no idea where to start so; typical nerd, I watched loads of YouTube videos yesterday and decided f*@k it, lets give it a go!

 

I'm only using the bar for now (want to make sure I'm doing them right first) but even with just the bar, holy crap on a cracker! I think I'm going to feel that tomorrow! 

[TyrantLizard]

You'd be the fittest woman in England. I remember when I was in Nottingham visiting a friend and it rained for 9 days straight, heh. At least up in Scotland (where I was living at the time) I was in an area where it usually only rained for 3-4 days in a row at most.

 

Congrats on the squats! The back squat is one of my favourite lifts. With good form it is such a killer workout - in a good way! Stick with the bar until you're sure your form is solid and you're getting good depth, and then add weight slowly. It's really easy (for people like me who are sometimes more ambitious than wise) to add weight too soon and you end up doing the exercise with crappy form because you don't have the core/back muscles to support the proper form under the increased weight. You end up doing a crappy squat, getting a crappy workout, and risking injury. No fun!

[Charlie_Quinn]

It's finally Friday! 

 

So tired today so didn't make it to the gym this morning. Spent 4 hours in Ikea after work planning a kitchen. I never, ever what to have to do that again. Didn't get home till midnight because of roadworks. 

 

On the plus side, my legs aren't aching as much as I thought they would. What do ya know, that stretching after exercise thing works ! 

 

TyrantLizard, I know I'm going to have to restrain myself from going crazy and putting a load of weight on the bar. Have a habit of trying too much too soon and then hurting myself. I did enjoy doing the back squat and actually can't wait to do it again. It's one of those exercises that you feel like a bad-ass doing!

[TyrantLizard]

Let's make a pact. Add 5 pounds at a time, and verify (with merciless standards of quality!) that our form is good before adding more.