Polgara19 Goes Theme-Free

[Polgara19]

Hello again lovely rangers,

 

I have been starting new challenges, and then falling off the boards as life gets busy.  So this time, I'm going to simplify things, and go theme free.  Hopefully this will keep me posting later in the challenge by making it easier!

 

So, the things.

 

Running.

 

Keep running, 3 times a week.

 

After my 10K last challenge, I had some foot problems, so I backed off completely.  I have picked it back up, but am still easing back into it.  So, the challenge is simple.  Run.  Not too much or too far.

 

Domestic Rangering

 

Meal plan and shop.  Do it, it makes life easier.

 

I have some other things I would like to do, bodyweight, stretching, foam rolling, but I am trying to keep this super simple and laziness-proof.  So I'm going to leave it here.  

 

Please, leave me lots of fun pictures and gifs to keep me coming back!!  I need you Rangers, you're my only hope!

 

 

(Yes, we showed the kids Star Wars for the first time this weekend, why do you ask?)

[Polgara19]

So far this week, I have done pretty well. 

 

I ran 2k on Monday night (to and from a board meeting), and then ran 3K on Tuesday.  I am now extremely sore, but hope to run again either tonight or tomorrow and then again on the weekend.  I am slowly working my way through the Zombies, Run! 20K Abel race, and am anxious to get back to the main storyline (mostly due to wanting to get caught up and to get more materials for my base!).

 

Didn't exactly meal plan, but did so some shopping after the kids were in bed on Tuesday night.  Ick.  Was horrible to go when I just wanted to relax with Netflix, but I did it.  And I was able to make dinner no problem last night, so I guess it was worth it.

 

So that brings us up to today!

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Gif to order:

[Polgara19]

7 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Gif to order:

 

 

Yay!  Thanks Tank!  Stay on target!!

 

Feet hurt today after someone called in sick today so had to take over someone else's stuff unexpectedly.  All day on my feet, and I wore the wrong shoes (new ones I'm still breaking in).  Additionally, so shenanigans with new childcare arrangements means that I just want to sit on the couch.  Instead, I will be making tuna melts for the fam shortly, and then will be off to Math Night at kiddos school.  Will no doubt clear 10 000 steps, but no run.  Maybe tomorrow.

 

Has anyone tried the Fitbit Alta, am feeling the grabby hands....

[tishnicden]

Following along. I have the same issues with falling off towards the end.

 

[obax]

Following along again, cheering you on!!

[Maigs]

16 hours ago, Polgara19 said:

Has anyone tried the Fitbit Alta, am feeling the grabby hands....

I got the Alta last month after having the Charge for a year. I love the Alta but I didn't realize until after I got it that it doesn't track stairs like the Charge which was a little disappointing. But it can differentiate between some exercises (running, walking, outdoor biking, etc) and does well except it only occasionally tracks strength training as "Sports". It defaults to reading vertically so when you hold your wrist in front of you it reads top to bottom but you can change it to read horizontally which I like better. I thought I'd the hourly reminders to move but ended up turning them off because they were just annoying me, YMMV. Overall I love it though and the only times it's not on my wrist is when it's charging and when I shower

[Polgara19]

Thanks Maigahane, that's good to know!

 

Week 0, Day 5

 

Got up and went for a run.  Was very slow and short as I am still trying to ease back into things without overtraining.  So, 3.4km in 31min.  

 

We are now also officially out of meat, fruit, eggs, and a number of other things.  So clearly shopping hasn't happened recently.  Children beginning to starve - no grapes....

 

 

[Polgara19]

Week 0 Day 6

 

Had a lazy morning, then walked with my eldest 30 min up to a restaurant for lunch.  Had a salad and fries, and enjoyed both thoroughly!  This afternoon, I ran while the kids biked to the park, and then carried on.  All together, it came up to over 4k, but I was stopping a lot for them, and then had to stop at the park both ways.  Oh well, better than nothing!

 

This pig sure seems happy to start and stop...

 

This has been my philosophy for running this week, been running to and from things.  This means that I haven't gone very far, but I've run on days I otherwise wouldn't have been able to, which is a good thing!

 

 

[Polgara19]

Week 0 Day 7

 

Pretty good week overall.  I'm pleased I have gotten back into running.  

 

Mon: 1.15+1.19 km (to/from board meeting)

Tues: 3.68 km

Fri: 3.4 km

Sat: 4.09 km (in 3 segments to/from park, 2k around park)

 

Total: 13.51km

 

Not a huge weekly total, but significant.  I would be worried that I had jumped back into it too quickly, but Runkeeper congratulated me on my longest running total week, meaning I was going quite slowly...

 

 

I have in the past fallen off the wagon due to not having enough time to get out for 30 min, but this week I just did more shorter runs.  As well as runs where I know I will be stopping frequently (like with two children biking).  Something to think about going forward.

 

Now, for this week, I am not working tomorrow, so I will be meal planning and shopping for the week tomorrow morning.  

 

I also hope to do 3-4 runs, aiming for a total of 15km

 

Current plan (subject to change)

Mon: 4km

Tues: 2km

Thurs: 4km

Sun: 5km

 

I wouldn't have chosen to run Mon/Tues in an ideal world, but I think it will work best with my work schedule this week.

 

Anyway, we'll see how it goes!

[Polgara19]

Week 1 Day 1

 

Got up and went for a 3k run in 20some minutes (too lazy to check).  Slowly working my way through the 20K Abel race.  Can't quite believe I have to do it again for the New Canton perspective....

 

Also went shopping this morning and purchased many meats.  Then prepped Pioneer Woman's chicken spaghetti for dinner.  Not super healthy, but tasty, and a nice treat.  Let's see if the kiddos eat it...

 

 

My sister suggested we run a triathlon this summer, and while I'm not entirely sure when we are going to do it since we both have crazy schedules and live 5+ hrs apart, it's something to keep in mind.  Since we don't know what triathlon we are going to do, I also don't exactly know what kind of training I'm going to need, but I did some reading about triathlon training and am now very scared of transitions!  I'm also scared of being the only n00b without a wetsuit...

 

Jeremy in a wetsuit!!!!

 

 

[Rurik Harrgath]

You rang?

 

[starpuck]

You begin with a Star Wars gif, and ask for gifs and pics for your thread?  When I am doing a Star Wars themed challenge?    Clearly the Force is at work here.

 

 

 

[Polgara19]

Yay!!  More gif's for my thread!!

 

 

Week 1 Day 2

 

Went for my second run this week.  Ran about 3km in 30min again.  Nice and slow so I don't hurt anything.  I finally finished the 20k Abel race though!!!  AAaaagh!!!  

 

 

Also did the next mission on my list since I am desperate for some materials to work on my base.  With the training missions, the Virtual Race, the season 1 race missions, and my foot, I haven't collected any materials in a LOOONG time.  So, I did the next mission and discovered a pile of zoms.  OooOOoo... interesting!

 

 

I'll be working for the rest of the week - in fact will hopefully be achieving one of my work goals tomorrow!! #crossesfingers

 

Hope everyone else is doing well!

 

[SaltyDragon]

Love how you're getting in the opportunistic short runs based around your daily activities. I think you'll find that frequent short runs go a long ways when it comes to improving overall running fitness. Do it every day if you can!

 

[starpuck]

On 5/9/2016 at 1:24 PM, Polgara19 said:

 

My sister suggested we run a triathlon this summer, and while I'm not entirely sure when we are going to do it since we both have crazy schedules and live 5+ hrs apart, it's something to keep in mind.  Since we don't know what triathlon we are going to do, I also don't exactly know what kind of training I'm going to need, but I did some reading about triathlon training and am now very scared of transitions!  I'm also scared of being the only n00b without a wetsuit...

 

Jeremy in a wetsuit!!!!

 

 

 

 

Hey girl!  We can do this together!  My friend DID talk me into a triathalon this summer!   June 12th in fact, OH GOD IT'S A MONTH AWAY!!!    For us, it's a sprint distance.   1/2 mile swim, 13 mile bike, 3.1mile run.   And I too, will not be wearing a wetsuit thingamabob.    And yup.  Transition wha?      I'm just going to treat it like a line change... I'm used to those, right?

 

 

 

[Polgara19]

9 hours ago, SaltyDragon said:

Love how you're getting in the opportunistic short runs based around your daily activities. I think you'll find that frequent short runs go a long ways when it comes to improving overall running fitness. Do it every day if you can!

 

 

Thanks!  I'm feeling much less serious about it.  Trying not to worry about my run logs not really reflecting my process, as long as I'm running, it doesn't matter!

 

 

6 hours ago, Starpuck said:

 

 

Hey girl!  We can do this together!  My friend DID talk me into a triathalon this summer!   June 12th in fact, OH GOD IT'S A MONTH AWAY!!!    For us, it's a sprint distance.   1/2 mile swim, 13 mile bike, 3.1mile run.   And I too, will not be wearing a wetsuit thingamabob.    And yup.  Transition wha?      I'm just going to treat it like a line change... I'm used to those, right?

 

 

 

 

 

Line change!!

 

I'm so excited you're doing a triathlon too!  What sort of training have you been doing so far?  Any swimming?  

 

 

Week 1 Day 3

 

Today is nominally a rest day.  Which means I have so far done 11 000 steps at work, and am off to a book launch with a friend this evening.  My feet hurt (not in a bad way, just in a tired way).

 

Making chicken stew with dumplings for dinner - one of the kids favourites.  Youngest fell asleep and nanny let her sleep for an hour, so am extra glad I'm going to a book launch since bedtime is liable to be a three ring circus!

 

Off!

[starpuck]

Wow!  11k steps on a rest day!?   (Glad you're not on my Fitbit friend list.... lessee, 4:30 here and I haven't cracked 3k!) 

 

OMG CUTE KITTEH - and no, no swimming.   I swam in the ocean in Oct.    And I don't swim well.  I can do the regular stroke, but I can't put my face in the water... so I keep my head up.  Ah well!    I'll just doggy paddle if I have to.

 

 

[obax]

Looks like you're off to a pretty good start. I like the idea of running during otherwise daily happenings, seems like a great way to get it in without having to dedicated yourself to a 'run time'.

 

Also, wow triathalon! I've had friends try to convince me to do a wee one in the past, but that lion cub gif pretty much sums up my swimming ability, so I've never let myself be swayed. I might be less disinclined if I did have a wetsuit, they give you a bit of buoyancy, so it might make me feel less drowny and more swimmy...

[Polgara19]

Yeah, not the most rested of rest days. I work so much on my feet that I haven't figured out how to run on days that I work.

I am home now after the book launch (a fantastic affair) and my phone says I've done 15 000 steps. My calves and ankles concur.

Where's that foam roller?

In other news, I had a fantastic almond croissant and my life is now complete.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SaltyDragon]

6 hours ago, Polgara19 said:

Yeah, not the most rested of rest days. I work so much on my feet that I haven't figured out how to run on days that I work.

I am home now after the book launch (a fantastic affair) and my phone says I've done 15 000 steps. My calves and ankles concur.

Where's that foam roller?

 

I used to have jobs that kept me on my feet 12+ hrs a day, so I know the feeling. Not to suggest you don't already know this, but having the right shoes are really important. For me, Dansko clogs made a huge difference in my overall quality of life.

 

6 hours ago, Polgara19 said:

In other news, I had a fantastic almond croissant and my life is now complete.

 

Funny how that can work, sometimes. 'Nuff said.

[Polgara19]

On May 12, 2016 at 4:27 AM, SaltyDragon said:

 

I used to have jobs that kept me on my feet 12+ hrs a day, so I know the feeling. Not to suggest you don't already know this, but having the right shoes are really important. For me, Dansko clogs made a huge difference in my overall quality of life.

 

 

Yeah, I actually bought new work shoes recently since my old ones fell apart.  I have to buy shoes very carefully because I have extremely narrow feet and always end up with blisters (as in, a new pair that fits will give me blisters and then I will develop a callus).  Despite thinking and trying carefully, the new shoes make the joints in my big toe hurt.  I don't know whether they are being compressed somehow?  Anyways, on days when I have a long day I've been wearing my running shoes, but they don't look very professional.  Would hate to buy yet another new pair, but I might have to.

 

Week 1 Day 4/5

 

Yesterday was another rest day as I worked a lot.  And I intended to get a run in this morning.  However, I still felt a bit sore when I woke up, so I begged off.  Might try and go later this evening though.

 

Not much else to say.

 

[starpuck]

I share your feet woes hurdle.   I will pay extra money to buy shoes from places that let me return them after 30 days because, really, what does five minutes in a store prove?    Sadly, I have wide feet and other issues (my big toe joints also hurt if there is ANY kind of heel, like ... even 3/4" heel... it's nuts!) but let me know if you find a good quality brand in a variety of woe-specific set ups!

 

I also approve (and followed suit today) in the, "I am sore, aching, exhasuted - so will take a walk instead of a run" planning.    Listening to the body, oh yeah oh yeah.  

[Polgara19]

On May 13, 2016 at 2:23 PM, Starpuck said:

I share your feet woes hurdle.   I will pay extra money to buy shoes from places that let me return them after 30 days because, really, what does five minutes in a store prove?    Sadly, I have wide feet and other issues (my big toe joints also hurt if there is ANY kind of heel, like ... even 3/4" heel... it's nuts!) but let me know if you find a good quality brand in a variety of woe-specific set ups!

 

I also approve (and followed suit today) in the, "I am sore, aching, exhasuted - so will take a walk instead of a run" planning.    Listening to the body, oh yeah oh yeah.  

 

 

There are places that will let you return shoes after 30 days??!  Where is this magic kingdom???

 

I actually did go for a run Friday, but it was in the evening, and it was cut short due to kid shenanigans.

 

Week 1 Day 5 end

 

Went for a run after dinner.  Ran 3.65km in 28:22.  My times are not really reflective of my running though.  I am trying to be much less concerned about the time/distance, and just doing things properly.  So, I actually did some lunges and squats in the middle of my run.  However, I then got a text from the husband asking if I could come home to help with bedtime (elder spog was pitching a fit).

 

 

Week 1 Day 6

 

Yesterday was wild.  I feel like I was hardly home at all.  First, I worked all morning.  Then, I got home, scarfed some lunch, and took both children and myself for haircuts!!  Then home just long enough for bathroom, and took elder sprog to a birthday party.  While she partied, I went Bulk Barn (oops) and Canadian Tire.  Then home for the very end of Eurovision and some dinner.

 

Whew.

 

Then I just wanted to lay on the couch.

 

So I watched the next episode of Arrow, and went to bed.

 

 

 

 

Today will be a quieter day.  Will have to decide whether to go for a run after totalling up my current mileage.

 

 

 

 

[starpuck]

Brooks (the mfg) is good about returns and has a satisfaction guaranteed promise.    I've returned Brooks through their website no problem.  I've also had luck with my awesome little running store with the same.    R.E.I is great for old returns as well.      Sadly, I've yet to find a place for adult-workplace shoes that does this, and that's what I could use the most.

 

Nice job on your Friday run.   I am with ya on the not obsessing so I know how it tricksy that can be.  Good job!!!

And here's hoping for a quiet Sunday!