Erick the Red: Get Fit to Fight (2)

[Erick the Red]

Multi-Challenge Life Quest:

 

“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is today.â€

 

 at Gulf Wars in March 2015.

 

I have been working on this in my battle log since February 2014, but it is time to bring this goal out into the open.

 

Specific quests for this six-week challenge:

 

1. On your feet, soldier! 

Twenty-eight miles per week cumulative walking and/or running per day, tracked through smartphone pedometer and GPS app.  Try to keep the four miles per day average, with the understanding that some long runs will put it over and some busy days will put it under.  Long-term, I am looking to complete the 353 miles from my house to the Gulf Wars site betewen now and the end of January 2015.

 

2. Is that food "in-period"?  

There are occasional discussions in the SCA (the medieval re-creation group that I play with) about whether a particular itm of clothing or armor or what-have-you is accurate to the time period that you are simulating.  For my diet, I am just using this concept as to guide rather than a straitjacket.  This will translate to something like paleo plus some breads. If something similar to the food in question could reasonably be found on the plate of a 10th century Scandinavian, then it is acceptable.  Ham, chicken, or even turkey is in.  Occasional berries or fruit are all right, even if the particular fruit may not have been available to a Viking raider.  Candy however is right out.

 

3. Hold the shield wall!

I need to do more resistance training to keep myself in shape.  Over the winter I can expect fewer group practices with sword and shield.  That shouldn't meant that come spring I can't hold my shield in place for at least a couple of minutes.  Resistance training at least three times per week, at least twenty minutes each time.  I will be doing a lot of traditional bodyweight exercises (pushups, squats) but will also do some exercises to strengthen my shoulders' strength-endurance.

 

I will be reporting in on each of these quests at least once per week, and usually every day.

[Xena]

Glad you are back with the challenges Erick! Love the pictures.

[Raxie]

Good to see you back in the challenges! I really like the "in period" food idea it's pretty cool. Good luck!

Sent by TARDIS delivery service. Apologies for typos caused by interactions with the time vortex.

[Erick the Red]

Good to see you back in the challenges! I really like the "in period" food idea it's pretty cool. Good luck!

 

Thanks. "In period" mostly will help me avoid the candy, cookies, and treats that surround me at the office this time of year.  That and leftover Haloween candy.  We don't have a lot of bread at the house anyway, so that will continue to be a "sometimes food".

[Erick the Red]

Glad you are back with the challenges Erick! Love the pictures.

 

Thank you.  Glad to be back.  Soon there should be slightly less of me back, at least if this challenge works out the way I have planned.

[elinox]

You've got some good goals this challenge, although they seem pretty hard to me! Good luck!

[CourtnieMarie]

hey!

 

Thanks. "In period" mostly will help me avoid the candy, cookies, and treats that surround me at the office this time of year.  That and leftover Haloween candy.  We don't have a lot of bread at the house anyway, so that will continue to be a "sometimes food".

 

that is perfect! what a great way to avoid the excess without so much constraint.

 

Thank you.  Glad to be back.  Soon there should be slightly less of me back, at least if this challenge works out the way I have planned.

 

haha!

[Erick the Red]

You've got some good goals this challenge, although they seem pretty hard to me! Good luck!

 

Thanks.  Everyone is in a different place.  Right now my place is weaker and fatter than it was about six months ago, and I have finally decided to do something about it.

 

that is perfect! what a great way to avoid the excess without so much constraint.

 

I hope so.

[Erick the Red]

Day 1, Monday, 10 Nov

1. On your feet: over four miles, at least half during my kid's evening karate class.  When it actually gts colder this will become problematic, but it is a good time for now.

 

2. Food:

Breakfast cottage cheese

Lunch some dried fruit (raisins, prunes) and almonds

Dinner chicken in barbeque sauce, steamed broccolli, peas, and a few home-made biscuits with butter

Avioded two bowls of candy and some chocolate cake at the office, and probably some fast food on the way home from work

 

3. No resistance training (yet)

 

I'm going to need to break out some winter clothes if I do more walking outside in the evening.

[CourtnieMarie]

it's definitely getting cold out there! however, it's also hard for me to justify $100 "cold-weather" pants or tops.

 

also, nice food! hopefully big portions tho - looks like so little typed out!

[Erick the Red]

also, nice food! hopefully big portions tho - looks like so little typed out!

 

It felt small.  I need to plan out my food better -- right now I don't have enough good food in the house.

 

Day 2, Tuesday, 11 Nov

1. On your feet: over five miles, ran for three miles and worked around the house trimming bushes.

 

2. Food:

Breakfast two eggs with a litttle cheddar cheese and onion, cooked in butter

Lunch beef smokes sausage and a few biscuits from the other day

Dinner baked salmon, steamed green beans, and red and yellow bell peppers.

Under 1500 calories of food, and withthe running this put me at under 1200 net calories.  Too low, and I felt hungry by late in  the evening, but I didn't really have any other appropriate food to eat.  I will need to recify this situation posthaste.

 

3. Traditional pushups, narrow-grip chinups, and bodyweight squats, three sets for each.  The last set of the chinups was pitiful, but I am out of practice, so nowhere from here but up.  Also a lot of time pushing around electric hedge trimmers above my head, so pretty good practical shoulder training.

 

You think he wouldn't mind the haircut so much, but it turns out that it was a lot of work on a ladder.

[Erick the Red]

Day 3, Wednesday, 12 Nov

1. On your feet: four miles, busy at work with no chance for walk breaks so I did a lot of walking afte rI got home.  Except that it was cold outside, so I did a lot of pacing.  I felt like a tiger in its cage.  Rawr.

 

2. Food:

Breakfast greek yogurt and raspberries

Snack lemon poppy seed scones (supplied by an older lady at the office who didn't want to eat them all)

Lunch beef smokes sausage and green beans

Snack lemon poppy seed scones (finished the container since a pretty younger co-worker didn't want to eat them all either)

Dinner bottom round steak, raw baby carrots, raw sugar snap peas

Snack homemade pumpkin cranberry muffins, milk

While keeping the letter of the law, I am confident that I broke the spirit.  But after a hungry day yesterday, I think I am even.  Just stay on track from now on.

 

3. No resistance training. 1/3.  Plan for Thursday and Saturday.

 

Finally, out of my cage.

[CourtnieMarie]

before I saw your comment at the end, I was going to say what a much better looking food day! plus homemade pumpkin cran muffins? sounds awesome.

[Erick the Red]

before I saw your comment at the end, I was going to say what a much better looking food day! plus homemade pumpkin cran muffins? sounds awesome.

 

I ate the scones and the muffins for dumb reasons (social pressure, it was late and I was thirsty/hungry) rather than according to a greater plan. We eat a lot of pumpkin-based foods (I make pretty decent pumpkin pancakes) and they can be good. 

[Chris56Ryan]

Great challenge so far, you're really cranking out the miles. I can't commiserate too much with the cold problem since I really enjoy running in the cold and hate the heat for it.

The food seems great to me so far maybe better if those treats were spread over the days instead of all in one but I'm sure it evens out.

Sent from my arse pocket!

[Erick the Red]

Great challenge so far, you're really cranking out the miles. I can't commiserate too much with the cold problem since I really enjoy running in the cold and hate the heat for it.

 

I live in one of the warmest, moistest places in the United States.  Running in humid heat is dangerous to me.

But the thought of going outside at night to walk around the block a few times, as temperatures drop to near freezing...that is not much better.

 

Day 4, Thursday, 13 Nov

1. On your feet: four and a half miles, was able to get up and walk around a couple times at work and did a lot of cleaning at the house in the evening.

 

2. Food:

Breakfast four scrambled eggs with cheese

Lunch leftover steak and baby carrots

Dinner slow-cooker chicken in salsa with green peppers and onion, steamed broccoli, sugar snap peas

Snack most of two mandarin oranges (clementines), shared some with the toddler

 

Myfitnesspal says that all added up to 1250 calories.

 

3. No resistance training (again). 1/3 for the week. Got busy around the house cleaning and folding laundry until it was after 8:30 and too late.  Plan for resistance training Friday at home and Saturday on the field at Castle Wars.

 

Had frost on my car windows this morning.  Winter is coming, even in the South.

[CourtnieMarie]

that dinner looks awesome! also sharing those clementines with the babe sounds like the cutest things ever

get your resistance training in! i gotta do mine tonight too

[Chris56Ryan]

Ha I'm in Ireland so we don't really get heat. It's the bad wind and rain is the problem here. Hopefully you'll get around to your resistance work soon and maybe figure out the food so you're eating enough for the benefit.

Sent from my arse pocket!

[Erick the Red]

that dinner looks awesome! also sharing those clementines with the babe sounds like the cutest things ever

get your resistance training in! i gotta do mine tonight too

 

He is a terrible moocher.  He doesn't speak yet, but he signs, so he will walk up to you and pull out the puppy-dog eyes and rub his hand across his stomach for "please".

[Xena]

[oromendur]

Aha, you do have a challenge up! How could I not follow another SCA Viking?

 

Subbing for Gulf Wars awesomeness -- I've only been once -- and all your good Viking energy. 

 

Good luck in Week 2!

[Erick the Red]

Ha I'm in Ireland so we don't really get heat. It's the bad wind and rain is the problem here. Hopefully you'll get around to your resistance work soon and maybe figure out the food so you're eating enough for the benefit.

 

Wind and rain will shortly be an issue here to in the US Southeast.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

Thanks.  It was fun.  More details below.

 

Aha, you do have a challenge up! How could I not follow another SCA Viking?

 

Subbing for Gulf Wars awesomeness -- I've only been once -- and all your good Viking energy. 

 

Good luck in Week 2!

 

Once beats my "nonce".  I'm jealous.  Thanks for stopping by.  Hope to live up to your expectations.

[Erick the Red]

Day 5, Friday, 14 Nov

1. On your feet: four miles.

 

2. Food:

Breakfast greek yohurt, raspberries

Lunch 3 hardboiled eggs, masjed with some yellow mustartd.  Banana.  2 medium mandarin oranges.

Dinner 3 scrambled eggs with cheese over a couple sliced of ham, topped with tomato salsa.  Raw baby carrots, sugar snap peas. 

Snack Large slice of apple pie

Myfitnesspal says that all added up to 1750 calories.

 

3. Resistance training 2/3 for the week. Mostly shoulder work throwing little kids in the air.

[Erick the Red]

Day 6, Saturday, 15 Nov

1. On your feet: Counting minimum of five miles.  Tracked two and a half miles on the pedometer app in the late PM and evening, plus four hours of walking and running on my feet on the battlefield.

 

2. Food:

Breakfast two breadrolls and some almonds during the early morning drive to event site.

Snack one mandarin orange

Lunch/dinner four breadroll sandwiches with slices of ham and cheddar cheese.

Myfitnesspal says that all added up to 1650 calories.

 

3. Resistance training 3/3 for the week. Very active day, in armor and holding up shield and (wooden rattan) sword.  

 

Split into two teams throughout the day, a little less than one hundred people per side.  There were field battles, bridge battles, a strange game of "Game of Thrones" inspired "Capture the Dragon's Egg", and battles both defending and attacking a wood-frame "castle".

 

Had as much fun as I ever have (while standing up).

 

Learned a lot about combined arms, where the sword-and-shield defenders (like me) would protect the more offensively oriented spearmen and archers.

 

Took a lot of spear shots to the head (when my shield was too low), and a few to the lower stomach (when my shield was too high).  Both areas well protected, so actually came out with fewer bruises than after a regular local weekly practice.  Worst one came from where I was suicide-charging a shield wall to break it open and, along with the expected sword blows to the head, got "spanked" on the left flank as I passed through their line.  Let's just say that area was less padded. 

 

Pictures from other events, to give an idea of what was going on.

 

 

 

[Erick the Red]

Day 7, Sunday, 16 Nov

1. On your feet: Three miles.  A lot of sitting at church meetings and visiting people's homes. 

 

2. Food:

Breakfast some ham and cheese slices and a banana.

Lunch some leftover meatloaf

Dinner beet/cabbage/beef borscht soup, homemake breadsticks

Myfitnesspal says that all added up to 1400 calories.

 

3. Resistance training still 3/3 for the week.