Jarric's search for Cain

[Jarric]

Hi all, first challenge with the Rangers. Excited to be here!

 

Had a bit of a mixed bag last month (link in my signature if you're interested) so doing some more of the same, and a couple of new bits as well.

 

My Quest

To be fitter, stonger, healthier and to look better naked.

 

Challenges

Swim More, Swim Better (15XP) - Did exactly this in the last challenge and failed miserably. Also haven't been swimming since the last challenge. So I'm upping the XP and trying again. Swim at least 3 mornings per week before work, with at least one drill day (bonus 5XP for 5 times a week on at least two weeks).

 

Get Hiking (10XP) Going for a hike across Dartmoor on the last weekend of the month so I want to get back in hiking practice. Two long walks over the course of the challenge (10 miles plus)

 

Parle plus en français (15XP) - Didn't do badly on this last month, but I want to get it perfect this month. Switching to a weekly goal rather than a daily goal to give myself some leeway in case fate intercedes with my progress. 350XP on Duolingo each week.

 

Take care of your teeth! (10XP) - It seems ridiculous as a 27 year old man that I can't do this reliably, but for some reason I avoid brushing my teeth all too often. Simply brush teeth twice per day every day for this challenge. Does not have to be morning and night; can be any time (but must be a meal or sleep between each time).

 

Keep track (10XP) - I ran into a few problems with the last challenge in not remembering if I had completed things, so this challenge is to complete my battle log every day for the duration of the challenge. Exception allowed for end of month hike if I can't get on the internet.

 

No compromises (10XP) - I have the above challenges, the ranger mini-challenge and a PVP to do this month. These must be done in addition to my normal Gym routine (at least 2x per week) and badminton routine (as often as it can be booked in with my partner), and not at expense of them.

 

 

 

The hike at the end of the month will be day 1 of this: http://www.carfreewalks.org/walks/75/dartmoor_north_to_south, and then we're thinking of heading east to Haytor and getting picked up from there as we're staying in that area afterwards. Also, Haytor is awesome, and I want to climb it again: 

 

Still quite new to this, so comments, criticisms and advice always welcome.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along.

[fleaball]

Woo!

[BarbarianBassBro]

Finally, there it is  Following

[Hilary_W]

Looks like an awesome hike at the end of a great month. Following for sure.

[redimagination]

Going to follow along - I like the look of your goals!

 

also, the teeth thing. I had an issue with this up until quite recently. But I felt my teeth getting worse and since then I have made sure that I brush my teeth before bed no matter how tired I am.

[lilbichy]

That hike looks beautiful! Welcome to the Rangers!  =)  Awesome set of goals!

[BreakingThru]

Good goals!  I'm following.

[Jarric]

Thanks for following along all. Got up this morning, brushed my teeth and went swimming. Lets do this!

[BreakingThru]

Day one, check!

[liz1729]

Nice to see your challenge is up and I've enjoyed looking through your battle log too. I'm considering starting one too. 

[Jarric]

4 minutes ago, liz1729 said:

Nice to see your challenge is up and I've enjoyed looking through your battle log too. I'm considering starting one too. 

 

Thank you! I'm quite enjoying the battle log, should help me remember whether I'm making my goals anyway.

[Keldream Nebula]

Happy Challenge! 

 

Thanks for visiting, I'll be following along on this challenge again  

 

Good luck!! 

[Jarric]

Thanks for the support everyone!

 

Third day of swimming done today, so I've made it for week one! Gonna aim for 5 days now. On track with the rest of it too, and the mini and PVP *smug face*.

 

It occurs to me I could do with some rewards if I actually meet some of my goals this month, so I'm going with:

 

Swimming goal: Buy new goggles if completed. I have prescription goggles but the prescription's out of date and the anti-fog coating's worn out. They're surprisingly cheap, but I've been procrastinating about buying some.

 

French goal: Subscribe to a weekly French magazine or newspaper if I complete this. No idea what yet so suggestions are welcome. Something that's relatively light reading preferred.

[BreakingThru]

Good day three!  I'm going to check out your battle log.  Sounds like a good idea.

[Hilary_W]

Those sound like great rewards.  A little extra something-something for all your hard work.

[Jarric]

8 hours ago, BreakingThru said:

Good day three!  I'm going to check out your battle log.  Sounds like a good idea.

 

Cheers man!

 

7 hours ago, Hilary_W said:

Those sound like great rewards.  A little extra something-something for all your hard work.

 

Yeah, a little incentive can't hurt can it?

[IslandGirl_Becks]

I just saw that you have Parle en Français in your goals list. Subb'd!

[Rurik Harrgath]

Looks like some seriously beautiful scenery you're intended to hike.  I hope you take more pictures!

[fleaball]

The only French papers I know are Le Figaro and Le Monde but they're probably not the most fun to read. Is there an Alliance Francaise near you? The one in Boston has a ton of magazines and such, so if there's something similar nearby you could go browse for ideas?

[Jarric]

19 hours ago, IslandGirl_Becks said:

I just saw that you have Parle en Français in your goals list. Subb'd!

Thank you! Will check out your challenge soon!

 

16 hours ago, Rurik Harrgath said:

Looks like some seriously beautiful scenery you're intended to hike.  I hope you take more pictures!

Definitely will do - I'll stick them up here when I'm back. (That one I pinched off Google though, I'll be lucky if the weather's that clear for me!)

 

10 hours ago, fleaball said:

The only French papers I know are Le Figaro and Le Monde but they're probably not the most fun to read. Is there an Alliance Francaise near you? The one in Boston has a ton of magazines and such, so if there's something similar nearby you could go browse for ideas?

I don't know if we have them in England to be honest. I'll look into it, thanks  

[fleaball]

Womp, I always assume people are from the US. AF is global though so there's probably still some in major cities. Ooh, or you could lurk at a university library if there's one near you to see if they have subscriptions. (Assuming you can get in without an ID.)

[Jarric]

Missed the gym today.

 

Stayed at work late for no reason; didn't really get anything done just couldn't bring myself to get ready and leave. Actually got changed for the gym, then called the Mrs (looking for an excuse not to go) and she asked me to come straight home as she'd started cooking.

 

Properly disappointed in myself.;

[fleaball]

I wouldn't dwell on it too much. We all have off days. It sounds like you were resisting the gym pretty hard though. Can you think of anything that might have prompted it?

[IslandGirl_Becks]

 

Missed the gym today.

 

Stayed at work late for no reason; didn't really get anything done just couldn't bring myself to get ready and leave. Actually got changed for the gym, then called the Mrs (looking for an excuse not to go) and she asked me to come straight home as she'd started cooking.

 

Properly disappointed in myself.;

 

Hey, I'm drifting the same direction today. Some days your body is just insisting on a rest day, or maybe its your brain being sluggish on your body's behalf. In any case, I second @fleaball. Don't beat yourself up, figure out what started it, and set safeguards to keep it from becoming a habit.