CQ Has a Dirty Weekend and a Thoroughly Muddy May

[Charlie_Quinn]

 

 

Around a year ago, after a little persuasion from a few people on here, I signed up for Rat Race Dirty Weekend. A 20 mile obstacle course race with some of the biggest, craziest obstacles you can imagine.

Worlds longest monkey bars, anyone?

 

Or how about an obstacle four shipping containers high followed by a slip and slide?

 

I can't believe that how quickly it's come around and that in less than 3 weeks I'll be attempting these nutty obstacles and so much more. Thankfully, I'm not running this race alone or competitively. I'll be doing a "fun" lap with the Mudstacle crew, who I'm certain will look after me and help me round this epic course. 

 

But because I'm a glutton for punishment, I'm not just doing Dirty Weekend in the next few weeks.

This is my schedule for April and May:

22nd April - W.A.R (OCR)

1st May - 10k trail run

5th May - Dirty Weekend

14th May - Nuclear Race 12km

21st May - Tough Mudder

 

So yeah, I've got events before and straight after the biggest run of my life. As @Maigahane has just said in her challenge, you don't have to be crazy to be a Ranger, but it certainly helps. 

 

Main Challenge Goal: Stay In One Piece, Don't Die

 

After a normal 10-12km OCR, I'm usually recovered in two or three days but I'm not sure what 20 miles of running, obstacles and an after party is going to do to me. I've got 7 days between Dirty Weekend and Nuclear Race, and Nuclear Race and Tough Mudder, so my main focus is recovery.

Foam Rolling: Minimum 10 minutes a day

Stretching: Warm ups before every activity. At least 10 minutes after an activity & mini stretches during the day

Recovery Runs: Go out for at least 2 miles at recovery pace within 2 days of an event

 

Other Goals: To be decided weekly

 

As I don't know how I'm going to feel after each event, I'm going to take each week in turn and set goals as needed each week. If I'm feeling capable, those goals might be running or strength training related.

If I'm completely destroyed, they'll be additional recovery goals such as yoga.

 

Bring on the Madness!

 

 

[Charlie_Quinn]

Week 0 Goals:

Race of the week: W.A.R (10km)

 

Goal 1: Strength Training

GtG (grease the groove) pull ups and push ups

Climbing

Goal 2: Running

Run twice (not including the race)

[Charlie_Quinn]

Week 1 Goals:

Strength Training:

1. Start doing some damn squats and deadlifts again!

2. Pay the entry fee! (GtG chin ups)

3. Do some damn climbing!

 

Running: 3 runs

 

Other stuff:

Dirty Weekend Prep

1. Go to camping shop & buy spare tent pegs and butane canister

2. Dig out sleeping bag and inflatable mattress from cupboard.

3. Blow up mattress to make sure it's actually still inflatable

4. Unroll sleeping bag and make sure it doesn't stink. Wash it if it does!

5. Make a packing list of stuff to take with me

[Charlie_Quinn]

Week 2 Goals (Taper Week):

 

Race of the Week:

DIRTY WEEKEND

 

Goal One: Complete 2 runs:

1. 10k race (Monday)

2. Mid-Week run - easy pace, about 4 miles.

 

Goal Two: Light Strength Training

1. GtG Chin ups - Stop if any discomfort in elbows or shoulders

2. EITHER:

2a. One strength session at lighter weights

or

2b. Climbing early in the week to allow hands time to recover

 

Goal Three: Mobility:

Yoga

Foam roll and stretch

 

Other Goals:

1. Finish packing list for weekend and get inflatable matress out and test it.

2. Pack for weekend

3. Cook meals to take with me for the night and morning before the race

4. Try not to completely freak out ! Use BuJo to organise to-do lists

[Charlie_Quinn]

Week 3 Goals:

 

Recovery:

Yoga: At least twice (30 mins or more)

Foam roll and stretch: at least 10 mins each day

 

Run:

Recovery Run: Tuesday / Regular Run: Thursday

 

Strength:

GtG chin-ups / Start GtG Push-ups

Strength Training Workout: Wednesday

 

Other Goals:

- Book appointment at doctors

- Print out documents for Nuclear Race

- Go Food Shopping

[Charlie_Quinn]

Week 4 Goals:

I only have 2 goals for week 4

 

GOAL 1: LISTEN TO MY BODY

Lots of rest

Stretch when needed

Very light activity (Gentle running, yoga)

 

GOAL 2: DON'T QUIT!!

 

Side Goal: Eat all the protein and drink all the water

[jonfirestar]

Yikes, your May is really One Step Beyond Whenever I feel daunted by the stuff I've put out for me over the next few weeks I'm just gonna come back here and look at the Dirty Weekend pics you've put in your intro... totally crazy.

 

 

[EricMN]

5 minutes ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

 

 

Around a year ago, after a little persuasion from a few people on here, I signed up for Rat Race Dirty Weekend. A 20 mile obstacle course race with some of the biggest, craziest obstacles you can imagine.

Worlds longest monkey bars, anyone?

Yes, please.

[Maigs]

24 minutes ago, jonfirestar said:

Yikes, your May is really One Step Beyond Whenever I feel daunted by the stuff I've put out for me over the next few weeks I'm just gonna come back here and look at the Dirty Weekend pics you've put in your intro... totally crazy.

 

Same. I feel nuts for doing ~10 miles of OCRs in the same day and CQ is doubling that in one race

[Charlie_Quinn]

51 minutes ago, jonfirestar said:

Yikes, your May is really One Step Beyond Whenever I feel daunted by the stuff I've put out for me over the next few weeks I'm just gonna come back here and look at the Dirty Weekend pics you've put in your intro... totally crazy.

 

 

 

I'll try and post some more then! There are so many crazy obstacle zones. There's even an Ewok village zone!

 

49 minutes ago, EricMN said:

Yes, please.

 

Next year, Master. 

 

26 minutes ago, Maigahane said:

Same. I feel nuts for doing ~10 miles of OCRs in the same day and CQ is doubling that in one race

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I've put my goals up for week 0. Nothing fancy, just a bit of running and strength training. I'm thinking that one way to fit strength training in with my running schedule - something I'm struggling to do - is to do a little each day, which is where the grease the grove pull ups and push ups come in. I think most of my strength training this challenge will be body-weight.

I'm cheating a little with the running as I did a 5 mile trail race yesterday, so half of that goal is done already! The race was a lovely run around woodlands in a country estate, which was really beautiful. The course had some short but sharp hills which meant it wasn't a PB breaking course, but I managed to finish in 50:48.

[Jarric]

You're totally mad, and I love it. Looking forward to hearing about all your races!

 

1 hour ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

Bring on the Madness!

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along for utter and sheer madness!

[jonfirestar]

1 hour ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

I'll try and post some more then! There are so many crazy obstacle zones. There's even an Ewok village zone!

Everything I see does two things. Fills me with terror, and makes me really want to do it! Crikey 20 miles tho!

[Charlie_Quinn]

15 hours ago, Jarric said:

You're totally mad, and I love it. Looking forward to hearing about all your races!

 

Thanks for the song, that was a great song to start my day off with.

 

13 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following along for utter and sheer madness!

 

Hey Tank. Welcome to the house of fun

 

13 hours ago, jonfirestar said:

Everything I see does two things. Fills me with terror, and makes me really want to do it! Crikey 20 miles tho!

 

Excellent. So I can expect to see you there next year then? Nerd Fitness does Dirty Weekend?

 

F.Y.I, you can do the Half Mucker which is 13 miles instead of 20.

[Charlie_Quinn]

Week 0 Day.....something something. Lets just call it Tuesday

 

Strength day yesterday. Lots of chin ups, some push ups - which I seem to have lost my mojo in. I haven't done any push ups in a few weeks and it's amazing how quickly you lose them - and then worked my shoulders and back.

Finished off the workout with a plank contest with Stu, which I won by closing my eyes and chanting "I am one with the force and the force is with me". It started as a joke, but then I realised it was actually working!

 

GtG Chin ups:

To help me grease the groove, I've attached a little paper sign over the pull up bar in my bathroom door that says "Entry Fee: One Pull Up" (OK, I should have said chin up, but lets not get picky). The rules are that I have to do at least one chin up when I need to go in the bathroom, I can do more, but they cannot be paid forward. So doing two in the morning doesn't mean a pass on one later. The only exception to the rule is night time trips to the bathroom.

I paid the fee three times last night and once this morning. Now I need to put a little chalk board next to the bathroom door so I can monitor my progress.

[Kestrel Grey]

8 minutes ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

 

GtG Chin ups:

To help me grease the groove, I've attached a little paper sign over the pull up bar in my bathroom door that says "Entry Fee: One Pull Up" (OK, I should have said chin up, but lets not get picky). The rules are that I have to do at least one chin up when I need to go in the bathroom, I can do more, but they cannot be paid forward. So doing two in the morning doesn't mean a pass on one later. The only exception to the rule is night time trips to the bathroom.

I paid the fee three times last night and once this morning. Now I need to put a little chalk board next to the bathroom door so I can monitor my progress.

That is cruel and marvelous. Make sure to tell guests that the sign applies to them too.

[Mr_Willes]

Just now, Kestrel Grey said:

That is cruel and marvelous. Make sure to tell guests that the sign applies to them too.

 

And if unable to do a pullup a deadhang of x seconds (incrementing with x seconds every visit)

 

[Charlie_Quinn]

Just now, Kestrel Grey said:

That is cruel and marvelous. Make sure to tell guests that the sign applies to them too.

 

That's a good idea. What makes it even more fun is that Stu is a complete git and is trying to find ways to make go into the bathroom so I have to do a chin up. Of course, all his scheming will all come back and bite him in the ass when all these chin ups make me buff and I can kick his ass. 

 

4 minutes ago, mr_willes said:

 

And if unable to do a pullup a deadhang of x seconds (incrementing with x seconds every visit)

 

 

I like this. Also a good way to get rid of unwanted house guests!

[jonfirestar]

1 hour ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

Excellent. So I can expect to see you there next year then? Nerd Fitness does Dirty Weekend?

I'm gonna put in a tentative yes. I think this will be a nice long term goal to shoot for Having Tough Mudder on the horizon has really paid dividend for my training and fitness. So 20 mile ocr weekend 2018 hype!

 

2 hours ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

F.Y.I, you can do the Half Mucker which is 13 miles instead of 20.

Pah, if you're gonna go in you might as well go all in!

[Mr_Willes]

29 minutes ago, jonfirestar said:

I'm gonna put in a tentative yes.

 

So 20 mile ocr weekend 2018 hype!

 

Wicked! Me and a StrongViking friend have made commitment to also do the 2018 version! I even already have brought this up with the department of secretary at home, which is run by the ruthless headmistress, so far so good. I'm gonna keep reminding her a couple of times throughout the year so i can book early 2018!

[Charlie_Quinn]

3 hours ago, jonfirestar said:

Pah, if you're gonna go in you might as well go all in!

 

That's the spirit! Although, going 'all in' would probably entail doing the double. But we'll pretend that that doesn't exist.

 

3 hours ago, mr_willes said:

 

Wicked! Me and a StrongViking friend have made commitment to also do the 2018 version! I even already have brought this up with the department of secretary at home, which is run by the ruthless headmistress, so far so good. I'm gonna keep reminding her a couple of times throughout the year so i can book early 2018!

 

Awesome. I see a nice little team forming here. I'm not sure if this help sway things (not sure how old your little ones are or if you were planning this as a family trip) But they have a kids race on the day as well. Fun for all the family!

 

I've just found out they are changing the last obstacle at the race this year. They usually have that large shipping container climb / slip n slide obstacle as the last obstacle, but this year they've decided to put a bloody Travelator right before the finish line! I do like the Travelator - it makes you feel like you're on Gladiators - but after 20 miles? That's just mean.

[DJtrippyT]

Sweeeeeet challenge. Following, but not visiting your house unless I don't have to pee.

[EricMN]

2 hours ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

I've just found out they are changing the last obstacle at the race this year. They usually have that large shipping container climb / slip n slide obstacle as the last obstacle, but this year they've decided to put a bloody Travelator right before the finish line! I do like the Travelator - it makes you feel like you're on Gladiators - but after 20 miles? That's just mean.

That's evil. *jealous*

[jonfirestar]

3 hours ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

That's the spirit! Although, going 'all in' would probably entail doing the double. But we'll pretend that that doesn't exist.

hmmm yeah double. I'm just gonna point out the tag in your thread (which made me giggle when I saw it) "not dying" so yeah maybe we'll just forget we ever saw the double  

[deftona]

I am seriously questioning your sanity after everything you have planned! And that travelator! Channel your inner Wolf and you'll be fine

 

 

*In Scottish accent* 

 

CONTEEEEEENDERRRRRRRS READY! GLADIATORS READY! 3....2....1.... BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!