Jarric's Super Six Week Level-Up Challenge Thingy!

[Jarric]

Jarric's Super Six Week Level-Up Challenge Thingy!

 

Ok, so I suck at titles. Anyway last challenge was a pretty decent success all round, so I'll be doing much of the same again, but with more running, more racing, more nerd meet ups, more weeks and more moreness!

 

Cool Things

This challenge I get to do a couple of cool things I'm really looking forward to. At the end of Week 0-II (which is the week after Week 0-I and before Week 1) I get to go to Ireland to run a Tough Mudder with the inimitable @DarK_RaideR. It's gonna be hard and great great fun and I'm seriously excited!

 

Then at the end of Week 3 I'm going to Barrel of Laps where I get to run in circles, carrying a beer barrel, and probably getting very drunk with the wonderful @Charlie_Quinn and @jonfirestar. That should be a massive laugh and I'm smiling just thinking about it.

 

 

Actions per Day

As with my last couple of challenges I'm running my Actions per Day format. Basically every good thing I do, every self-care action, good meal, workout, whatever, I get a point. The aim is to get as many points as possible and chain up potentially unlimited good things. Workouts are worth 5 points, and it's as simple as that.

 

Last two challenges I've said that a "perfect" week would average 20 points per day, so 140 for the week. A perfect challenge was then worth 50XP (half a level-up) and I get a percentage of that based on my percentage of a "perfect" score. Last week I proved I could exceed 140 points in a week, but I'm keeping it at that because this challenge is about doing loads of cool stuff and farming silly amounts of XP. Also, because it's 6 weeks instead of 4, I'll be awarding a proportion of 75XP rather than 50.

 

 

Budget Bonus

In addition to the normal actions per day I'm bringing back budgeting. Each week I take £80 spending money out of my account, and at the end of the week anything left goes in a jar which I will save to spend on... something. Probably something fitness related because that feels right.

 

To work this in to the challenge, I'm going to give myself a bonus point for finishing the week under budget, and then a bonus point for every full pound I finish under. This is gonna be a tough one but I really need to get my spending under control.

 

 

Running Bonus

I wasn't kidding about farming XP! In addition to the above, I'm going to give myself a bonus 15XP if I can hit a total running mileage of over 100 miles for the challenge. My current plan has me at 17 miles each week, which would come in at 102 in total, so this is definitely do-able. Tough Mudder and Barrel of Laps mileage will count towards this, so as long as I don't miss a run I could actually get there!

 

This is a pass/fail challenge, no apportioning XP if I get less than 100 miles - I'm still getting action points for every run anyway so that might be extracting the Michael.

 

 

Icebreaker

Finally, I like this thing so I'm bringing it back. It's good to get to know you lovely people better and it can lead to some fun conversations, so I'll be asking some random icebreaker questions (stolen from the internet) as we go through. So, without further ado:

 

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

 

For me, I think probably rabbit heart. I'm not too squeamish about eating organs and things but it's not often you get rabbit here let alone rabbit offal (this was during a camping trip when I was a Scout!). It was quite nice, but far to small to be worth doing really!

[jonfirestar]

33 minutes ago, Jarric said:

Then at the end of Week 3 I'm going to Barrel of Laps where I get to run in circles, carrying a beer barrel, and probably getting very drunk with the wonderful @Charlie_Quinn and @jonfirestar. That should be a massive laugh and I'm smiling just thinking about it.

 

Yeah! I can't wait for it. It's gonna be so awesome! 

 

35 minutes ago, Jarric said:

For me, I think probably rabbit heart. I'm not too squeamish about eating organs and things but it's not often you get rabbit here let alone rabbit offal (this was during a camping trip when I was a Scout!). It was quite nice, but far to small to be worth doing really!

I've eaten rabbit, of course, but I've never had rabbit heart. It's less than a mouthful though, right? I think heart is really underrated. One of my favourite things is stuffed lambs hearts. Yum  

 

I don't really know how to answer this. I don't really consider stuff like offal to be that weird, even stuff you don't see very often like sweetbreads or tripe. Although a lot of people I know find it weird that I'll eat that kind of thing, let alone enjoy it. I'm absolutely not squeamish when it comes to food so I'll try anything but I've not really had anything truly outlandish. Let me think... Ox cheeks are really good, so is tongue. Do they count? Steak tartare is weird to some people but also delicious  

 

 

[DarK_RaideR]

45 minutes ago, Jarric said:

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

Lamb/Pork/Chicken/Rabbit offal is nothing unusual round my parts, so I guess my answer would be the eyeballs off large grille fish. Use to love these treats as a kid.

 

Following, obviously. See you at the Mudder!

[fleaball]

Yaaaay new challenge. 

 

Icebreaker: I see your rabbit heart and raise you chicken hearts. Also a camel burger. Frog legs looked the weirdest though. 

[Salinger]

Hey, will be around to watch you smash your goals and have fun

 

I havent really eaten any thing strange at all hahah definitely not as crazy as rabbit heart! Im so boring x

[Jarric]

10 minutes ago, jonfirestar said:

 

Yeah! I can't wait for it. It's gonna be so awesome! 

 

I've eaten rabbit, of course, but I've never had rabbit heart. It's less than a mouthful though, right? I think heart is really underrated. One of my favourite things is stuffed lambs hearts. Yum  

 

I don't really know how to answer this. I don't really consider stuff like offal to be that weird, even stuff you don't see very often like sweetbreads or tripe. Although a lot of people I know find it weird that I'll eat that kind of thing, let alone enjoy it. I'm absolutely not squeamish when it comes to food so I'll try anything but I've not really had anything truly outlandish. Let me think... Ox cheeks are really good, so is tongue. Do they count? Steak tartare is weird to some people but also delicious  

 

 

 

Much less than a mouthful, yeah! I do like a good stuffed lamb heart though, that's excellent. Also the only heart I've seen in the supermarket now I think of it - I don't know why that is.

 

Ox cheek's pretty unusual yeah. Think I've had sliced ox tongue as same which meat though. I don't understand the squeamish thing with offal either to be honest, I'll try anything once.

 

8 minutes ago, DarK_RaideR said:

Lamb/Pork/Chicken/Rabbit offal is nothing unusual round my parts, so I guess my answer would be the eyeballs off large grille fish. Use to love these treats as a kid.

 

Following, obviously. See you at the Mudder!

 

Eyeballs? I've never had that! What are they like?

 

7 minutes ago, fleaball said:

Yaaaay new challenge. 

 

Icebreaker: I see your rabbit heart and raise you chicken hearts. Also a camel burger. Frog legs looked the weirdest though. 

 

Yaaaay!

 

Sounds interesting. I didn't even know camel meat was eaten to be honest. I've had horse...

 

10 minutes ago, Salinger said:

Hey, will be around to watch you smash your goals and have fun

 

I havent really eaten any thing strange at all hahah definitely not as crazy as rabbit heart! Im so boring x

 

Thanks! Good to have you.

[jonfirestar]

6 minutes ago, Jarric said:

Much less than a mouthful, yeah! I do like a good stuffed lamb heart though, that's excellent. Also the only heart I've seen in the supermarket now I think of it - I don't know why that is.

 

Ox cheek's pretty unusual yeah. Think I've had sliced ox tongue as same which meat though. I don't understand the squeamish thing with offal either to be honest, I'll try anything once.

Yeah lambs hearts are pretty much the only ones you see in the supermarket these days. My Dad (who was a butcher) loves tongue and would bring it home often. It's kind of weird when cooked whole because you've got to peel it. Thinking about it, though, I've also eaten pigs trotters and, believe it or not, they are kind of amazing. But weirdness sort of depends on the audience too because I've eaten jellied eels and it entirely depends on who you talk to with how weird that is  

 

 

[fleaball]

31 minutes ago, Jarric said:

Sounds interesting. I didn't even know camel meat was eaten to be honest. I've had horse...

I didn't either. When I was in Morocco I saw a camel head hung at at least one butcher's stall, but the only place I saw it on the menu was at a restaurant run by British expats, so who knows.  I kinda wanted to try horse when I was in France but I never saw it on a menu, only in stores. And I wasn't going to attempt it myself. 

[RhiaWolfe]

Sounds like you've got some exciting stuff going on! Woot! Following!

 

Icebreaker: Hmm... squirrel hearts? Rabbit hearts? I don't know that I'd call those weird, because I ate those as a kid and didn't realize it wasn't a normal thing. lol. 

 

Probably takoyaki. That tasted weird to me. 

[deftona]

Following! 

 

1 hour ago, Jarric said:

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

 

Dog biscuits

 

1 hour ago, DarK_RaideR said:

Use to love these treats as a kid.

 

I don't think that word means what you think it means. 

[DarK_RaideR]

5 minutes ago, deftona said:

I don't think that word means what you think it means. 

I'm using it on purpose, it was considered a special thing to eat and I really loved it back then. It's hard to describe the texture though, kinda like gnawing semi-dried gum off a tiny stone (because obviously you don't eat the jelly bit and there's a little part at the core you spit out) but yummier than it sounds when you read it.

 

Had horse in France, kinda tasted like prosciutto. Have tried pastrami, even the one made out of camel and it was awesome.

 

P.S. on the subject of offals, check this out

[Shello]

So many exciting things going on this challenge!  

 

As for strange foods my contribution will have to be in the combinations of foods that I've eaten..  Like bologna, peanut butter, and cheese sandwiches, or peanut butter, banana, raisin, and mini marshmallows sandwiches.  

[deftona]

5 minutes ago, DarK_RaideR said:

I'm using it on purpose, it was considered a special thing to eat and I really loved it back then. It's hard to describe the texture though, kinda like gnawing semi-dried gum off a tiny stone (because obviously you don't eat the jelly bit and there's a little part at the core you spit out) but yummier than it sounds when you read it.

 

Ok, you're not making it sound good but I'd trust your judgement and try it.

 

I have never had to think what gnawing semi-dried gum off a stone would be like before so thank you for expanding my horizons tonight. 

[Jarric]

1 hour ago, jonfirestar said:

Yeah lambs hearts are pretty much the only ones you see in the supermarket these days. My Dad (who was a butcher) loves tongue and would bring it home often. It's kind of weird when cooked whole because you've got to peel it. Thinking about it, though, I've also eaten pigs trotters and, believe it or not, they are kind of amazing. But weirdness sort of depends on the audience too because I've eaten jellied eels and it entirely depends on who you talk to with how weird that is  

 

 

 

I can't imagine eating trotters, because in my head they don't have any meat on them. For that matter I can't imagine peeling a whole tongue.

 

1 hour ago, fleaball said:

I didn't either. When I was in Morocco I saw a camel head hung at at least one butcher's stall, but the only place I saw it on the menu was at a restaurant run by British expats, so who knows.  I kinda wanted to try horse when I was in France but I never saw it on a menu, only in stores. And I wasn't going to attempt it myself. 

 

Yeah, I wouldn't have the slightest clue how best to cook it. When I had it it was a burger van in Holland - very nice though.

 

1 hour ago, RhiaWolfe said:

Sounds like you've got some exciting stuff going on! Woot! Following!

 

Icebreaker: Hmm... squirrel hearts? Rabbit hearts? I don't know that I'd call those weird, because I ate those as a kid and didn't realize it wasn't a normal thing. lol. 

 

Probably takoyaki. That tasted weird to me. 

 

Fair enough. I've never had squirrel, they don't look to have much meat on them though?

 

I had to Google takoyaki.

 

1 hour ago, deftona said:

Following! 

 

 

Dog biscuits

 

 

I don't think that word means what you think it means. 

 

Dog biscuits on purpose or...?

 

Thinking about it I did have dog chocolate once. I was about 15 and I thought maybe they'd just taste like cheap chocolate buttons. They did not.

 

58 minutes ago, DarK_RaideR said:

I'm using it on purpose, it was considered a special thing to eat and I really loved it back then. It's hard to describe the texture though, kinda like gnawing semi-dried gum off a tiny stone (because obviously you don't eat the jelly bit and there's a little part at the core you spit out) but yummier than it sounds when you read it.

 

Had horse in France, kinda tasted like prosciutto. Have tried pastrami, even the one made out of camel and it was awesome.

 

P.S. on the subject of offals, check this out

 

Oo, that sounds good. Like a good offal sausage - yes please.

 

52 minutes ago, LadyShello said:

So many exciting things going on this challenge!  

 

As for strange foods my contribution will have to be in the combinations of foods that I've eaten..  Like bologna, peanut butter, and cheese sandwiches, or peanut butter, banana, raisin, and mini marshmallows sandwiches.  

 

The key question - were those any good? I can sort of see the second one working somehow.

[Rhovaniel]

Wow, reading all these makes my contribution very unexciting. I had octopus at a Spanish restaurant with the other half's family (who are Spanish and insisted that it was delicious). Eeew. I'll try anything once but I barely managed to swallow it. All gritty and chewy and blurgh. Far too fish-like for me (I'm not the greatest fan of fish). 

[Charlie_Quinn]

I'm so excited for BoL, as I'm now calling it, because I'm lazy.  Are you camping the whole weekend or just the Saturday? 

 

16 hours ago, Jarric said:

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

 

I had zebra at one of those exotic steak restaurants. Actually, I'm going to rephrase that. I ordered zebra, and I'm guessing I ate zebra; but a few months after visiting the restaurant was closed down and taken to court for passing off horse meat as other exotic meats. So I could have eaten horse.

[deftona]

8 minutes ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

Actually, I'm going to rephrase that. I ordered zebra, and I'm guessing I ate zebra; but a few months after visiting the restaurant was closed down and taken to court for passing off horse meat as other exotic meats. So I could have eaten horse.

 

I think given the news that came out a few years ago, we've all eaten our fair share of horse.

[Salinger]

i have to admit, this thread is making me feel a little sick haha

[Jarric]

58 minutes ago, Rhovaniel said:

Wow, reading all these makes my contribution very unexciting. I had octopus at a Spanish restaurant with the other half's family (who are Spanish and insisted that it was delicious). Eeew. I'll try anything once but I barely managed to swallow it. All gritty and chewy and blurgh. Far too fish-like for me (I'm not the greatest fan of fish). 

 

That's still interesting! I've had squid (calamari) but never octopus. I'm not big into fish either, but other seafood like prawns, calamari etc. I'm fine with.

 

56 minutes ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

I'm so excited for BoL, as I'm now calling it, because I'm lazy.  Are you camping the whole weekend or just the Saturday? 

 

 

I had zebra at one of those exotic steak restaurants. Actually, I'm going to rephrase that. I ordered zebra, and I'm guessing I ate zebra; but a few months after visiting the restaurant was closed down and taken to court for passing off horse meat as other exotic meats. So I could have eaten horse.

 

Me too! Because of the way the web address looks (barreloflaps) a few of my friends have taken to calling it Flappy Barrels

 

47 minutes ago, deftona said:

 

I think given the news that came out a few years ago, we've all eaten our fair share of horse.

 

Probably a fair shout!

 

16 minutes ago, Salinger said:

i have to admit, this thread is making me feel a little sick haha

 

Excellent, my work here is done!

[Jarric]

Update - Monday - W0-I D1

Hit the gym yesterday morning for Bench. It's the end of the 8s wave which means I was going for a top set of 8+ reps at 55kg. I managed 3  . Guess that's what lack of consistency does for you. I've had to fiddle the numbers a bit for the 5s phase so that the formula doesn't subtract a load of weight, so I'm hopeful with work I'll get back on track over that period.

 

Otherwise a very good day. Was always going to be high scoring as I gave points for posting a new challenge, making a new tracker in my journal and wrapping last month's challenge on top of all the normal stuff. What went really well was a chain of stuff I avoided for the day: I bought no food or drink, drank no soda, had no caffeine after 4pm, consumed no processed food, consumed no alcohol and was on time all day. I've set these things up to chain up - you can see that if I bought a coke on my way home from work I would have scratched off 3 points in one drink! It's a pretty good incentive.

 

Budget Bonus - Spent £1 on some eggs from work (my manager keeps chickens) and chucked £2 into a collection for a colleague who's about to have a baby, so £77 remaining for the week.

 

Running Bonus - Rest Day; Nailed It

[Rhovaniel]

15 minutes ago, Jarric said:

That's still interesting! I've had squid (calamari) but never octopus. I'm not big into fish either, but other seafood like prawns, calamari etc. I'm fine with.

Yeah, calamari is actually quite nice (especially battered, friend and sprinkled with lemon juice) and I eat prawns, cod, salmon... but anything too well, fishy, and I just feel sick. I can't even stomach fish pie...

 

[Shello]

15 hours ago, Jarric said:

 

The key question - were those any good? I can sort of see the second one working somehow.

The sandwich with marshmallows and raisins wasn't good enough to repeat but wasn't revolting either.  I quite liked the peanut butter, cheese, and bologna sandwich although now I can't stand bologna.  Now I'd rather have a peanut butter and potato chip sandwich. Mmm. 

[Wild Wolf]

Awesome stuff going on around here, Jarric! All the horse meat! And ALL the follows  

 

 

Ummmm.,....as far as weirdest/strangest thing I've eaten...Chocolate covered crickets. Actually not that bad lol. It woulda been better had it been dark chocolate, though.

 

Wolf

[RhiaWolfe]

17 hours ago, Jarric said:

 

Fair enough. I've never had squirrel, they don't look to have much meat on them though?

 

 

Not really, and it's pretty tough. We would call it "squirrel jerky". lol

[starpuck]

Here to follow my favorite 'Cross-Ponder'!  

 

I haven't eaten too much in the way of weird things.    I do like to try local things when I travel.   So, mountain trout in Colorado.    Salmon in Alaska (I didn't like salmon until I had real, fresh, salmon.)   Elk in Colorado.    Wild Boar in Texas.   All of those things were yummy.