Raptron Is Consistent Part I

[raptron]

The priority and focus of the following 8 weeks will be on preparing for the GORUCK tough challenge we're doing for @RisenPhoenix's 30th birthday on November 11. My strength is there but my endurance and conditioning is woeful, so I'll need this time to get my butt in gear. I anticipate the colder temperature to make this a lot more mentally grueling for me so my body better be as ready as possible to keep the loads lighter. I'll still get some gymnastics in and may continue lifting heavy, but only if it means I can still manage the other workouts I've slated for myself. 

 

Goal 1. Condition

• 10 conditioning sessions this challenge (mostly should be taken from the prep workouts and should have cardio components)

Goal 2. Ruck

• 6 stadium runs, hikes, or weighted walks that are at least 3 miles

Goal 3. Diaphragmatic Breathing

• 16 diaphragmatic breathing sessions

Goal 4. Clean

• 20 days with at least one counter cleared before bed

 

The other two goals -- breathing and cleaning -- are not directly related to that particular physical challenge, but will help me overall. I've got some hip/back/pelvic floor dysfunction that diaphragmatic breathing is purported to help with so there is no harm in trying it out. And a clean kitchen makes a happier cook, so I am focusing on making the space nicer/more accessible to remove barriers to cooking when I am tired or otherwise not feeling it. 

Let's kick it~ Here's some crazy gymnastics shit just to remind you of my true passions with this suspiciously ranger-like challenge.  

 

[Mad Hatter]

Oh good that you're reminding us you're still an assassin but wearing ranger disguise.  

 

What sort of breathing exercises are you doing?

[Stronkey Kong]

[raptron]

53 minutes ago, Mad Hatter said:

Oh good that you're reminding us you're still an assassin but wearing ranger disguise.  

 

What sort of breathing exercises are you doing?

Mostly just guided ones I find on YouTube for now. I am really, really, really bad at it, so it is a lot of just lying on my back and trying to breathe into the right places or sitting up and doing the same. I figure I should really figure out these basics before getting fancy. 

[Jonesy]

I'm interested to see how your breathing sessions go and am ready to cheer you on! 

[RisenPhoenix]

I dawns on me that since I drove down, I should have packed bricks to walk around with at Camp. 

 

I I missed a prime opportunity. 

[karinajean]

Consistently, what?! Also YO THAT GYMNAST MAGICALLY CHANGED DIRECTIONS HOW EVEN.

Sent from my iPhone while riding a unicorn through the cosmos.

[RogueLibrarian]

Goruck challenge sounds fun! Go go go. Ruck ruck ruck. That's fun to say. Ruck.

[raptron]

12 hours ago, karinajean said:

Consistently, what?! Also YO THAT GYMNAST MAGICALLY CHANGED DIRECTIONS HOW EVEN.

Sent from my iPhone while riding a unicorn through the cosmos.

RIGHT?! It's called an onodi and I really want to learn oneeee. Though most just take off of two feet rather than one. 

Day 0.2

Lifted last night, but apparently wasn't all there because I actually failed on a squat for the first time since my return to lifting in April. My quads felt kind of shredded and everything was still pretty sluggish. Perhaps I am not quite yet fully recovered from donating blood! 

 

Squat

5 x 45#

5 x 95#

5 x 135#

5 x 165#

3 x 185#

2 x 3 x 205#

2 x 205# w/F on third rep (It was a no safeties bail that went just fine! I've practiced it before but never actually had to do it.)

 

OHP

5 x 45#

5 x 55#

5 x 65#

3 x 75#

2 x 2 x 75#

 

Deadlift

5 x 45#

5 x 95#

5 x 135#

3 x 185#

2 x 2 x 215#

1 x 215#

 

Conditioning workout: 1 minute of triangle push-ups, 1 minute of squats, 2 minutes of step-ups, 3 minutes jogging, 1 minute of military press, 1 minute lunges, 1 minute push-ups, 3 minutes jogging, 1 minute of push press, 1 minute of burpees, and 5 minutes of jogging for 20 total minutes. Super sweaty, super tired muscles, but overall it wasn't the WORST. 

(not counting yet but just put below for formatting

Condition: 0/10

Ruck: 0/6

Breathing: 0/16

Clean: 0/20 )

 

Brought my bricks to work and am planning to walk home today with them (~2.75 miles). I am not sure what else though. Maybe I could do the yoga class today before walking home. Probably not going to practice tomorrow but instead going to do some kind of running (probably sprints?), shower at the work gym, and head out to watch Drag Race All Stars 2. Friday night = lifting and conditioning with my gym buddy who has been doing circuits forever and I always mock him for it. I finally relented and said I would join in. Saturday is practice. Sunday morning, my friend are running a Rugged Maniac, which I 100% only signed up for because there is a trampoline on the course.  

[imjustarogue]

15 hours ago, karinajean said:

Consistently, what?! Also YO THAT GYMNAST MAGICALLY CHANGED DIRECTIONS HOW EVEN.

Sent from my iPhone while riding a unicorn through the cosmos.

I watched it like 5 times and still can't see her switch direction! Like she starts facing one way, ends facing the other, with magical flippity-flips in the middle!!  o.o

[dancezwithkittehz]

OH HAIIIIIII! <3 you and following as always.

 

And shhhhhhhhhhhhhh run-y conditiony thingies are just as allowed here. I WILL HIKE ALL THE HIKES AND STILL BE NINJA-SASSIN RARRRRR.

 

Also, that cool flippy video thing. MAGIC!

[Elennare]

2 hours ago, black_daquiri said:

I watched it like 5 times and still can't see her switch direction! Like she starts facing one way, ends facing the other, with magical flippity-flips in the middle!!  o.o

I'm pretty sure there's a half turn with the second flip.  She does it so quick though.  It's crazy!

 

Sounds like a good challenge.  Consistency is so hard to get down.  It's my current boss fight, and I think I need to go grind more XP before I can beat it.

 

Is the GORUCK thing a race or something?  Or are you just going to go for a long walk carrying bricks?

[RogueLibrarian]

7 minutes ago, Elennare said:

Or are you just going to go for a long walk carrying bricks?

 

I hope it's this one because that'd be pretty funny.

[raptron]

It's the overnight, 10-12 hour one, though I can't imagine it'd actually be under 12 hours. Team-work challenges, lots of bodyweight PT (usually with your backpack on), carrying people, carrying logs, running around, doing embarrassing things in cold water, rolling in mud and goose shit, etc. 

[RogueLibrarian]

I just died watching that.

[Elennare]

Wow.  Good luck!

[Jonesy]

That looks insane...incredible but insane!

[raptron]

I thought it sounded completely insane before I did my first one too, but while it was pretty physically grueling, it was also pretty fun! Even if I couldn't move my body very well the next few days... that's what self-medicating with tequila is for.  

 

Day 0.3

Went to yoga after work. It was a nice session of twists, hip openers, and hamstring stretches. My legs still felt pretty toast from the workout the night before, so the yoga class was more than welcome. Then I loaded up with my bag and walked home in about 40-45 minutes for the ~2.75 miles with my 4 bricks and other things in my bag. I've nicknamed my highlighter pink ruck "Rizzo" because the bag is a pink lady and a badass bitch who doesn't take shit from anyone.  

 

I've also taken one of the laptop stands from the office closet and am playing with alternating standing and sitting at work. So far I've liked that standing makes me fidget more and feel more comfortable taking a stretch than when I am sitting down. 

 

Unrelated note, but I think I already have some plans on every single weekend from now until December 10th. FALL IS BUSY, Y'ALL. O_O

[Jonesy]

54 minutes ago, raptron said:

I've nicknamed my highlighter pink ruck "Rizzo" because the bag is a pink lady and a badass bitch who doesn't take shit from anyone.  

 

Haha that's a great name for it!

[tourennatrix]

Totally jealous of your sit/stand desk solution. <3

[bigm141414]

*blinks* 

 

Here for the ruck training. There really should be a nerd pokemon goRuck weekend. Just sayin' 

 

Carry on! 

[raptron]

14 hours ago, bigm141414 said:

*blinks* 

 

Here for the ruck training. There really should be a nerd pokemon goRuck weekend. Just sayin' 

 

Carry on! 

A wild bigm appears! And yes, there should beeee! 

 

Day 0.4

Forgot my running shoes. Oopssss. Read in the park before going to the bar for Drag Race All Stars 2 which fucking slayed me. Best episode of the entire show. Hands down. I am lying rotting in my sarcophagus because I am literally dead. 

 

Lifting and conditioning tonight! Practice tomorrow AM and some Fluff Festival (http://www.flufffestival.com/) action afterwards, but then I'll likely try to get into bed early because we have the race at 9:30 AM about 2 hours away in Western MA, so that is going to be an early morning on Sunday.

[dancezwithkittehz]

19 hours ago, bigm141414 said:

*blinks* 

 

Here for the ruck training. There really should be a nerd pokemon goRuck weekend. Just sayin' 

 

Carry on! 

 

!!!!!! He lives!!!!!!!!

 

 

[Suzaqu]

It took me a sadly long amount of time to figure out where the flip is in that awesome cool trick. 

 

So happy to hear you're watching the current season of RPDR! So dang good! The whole season has been and this episode was perfection!

[Nymeria]

I'm here!  The conditioning and endurance stuff doesn't exactly sound like much fun, but the results will be so good for you.

 

On September 20, 2016 at 4:30 PM, raptron said:

Mostly just guided ones I find on YouTube for now. I am really, really, really bad at it, so it is a lot of just lying on my back and trying to breathe into the right places or sitting up and doing the same. I figure I should really figure out these basics before getting fancy. 

 

I'm really curious about how well this works for you.  I'm also really, really, really bad at any sort of meditation or guided breathing, so if you can find any videos or techniques that make you feel less awful at them, please send them my way.  I need all the help I can get.