2009

Ade wrote:1.Make some further progress towards a Bsc in Psychology.

2.Come to terms with my ailing physicality,and find ways to live with it.

3.Generally get my shit together and stop stumbling around in circles.

4.TRAIN.

Well,we're a third of the way through the year.Anyone got any progress to report?


me,i'm making progress on 2,3,and 4.......no1 has been ditched as i've headed off in a different direction,but that's progress for ya!

Brian S wrote:Nice thread.

1 - Complete fully kitted up Paras10 race in under 2 hours, and raise £1,000 minimum for Help the Heroes and Air Training Corps.

http://www.paras10.com/

2 - Pyramid a 24 kilo kettle bell snatch from 1 to 10, and then back to 1 again (totals to 50 reps each side) non stop.

3 - Have a chest size more than 10 inches bigger than my waist.

4 - Ensure none of my cops get any extra orifaces.

5 - Keep the family happy and safe, with my sons continuin to develop at the rate they have done so all their lives.

1 - Did half the distance with the 35lbs on, but it took more than half the time....

2 - Back injury making this difficult to progress. Plenty time though.

3 - Some improvement, but not on track.

4 - Still on track thankfully.

5 - Ditto!

Well, we're a few days away from the halfway mark gents...how's everyone getting along progress wise?

I've got one done which was the e-book for tattoo marketing and am days away from my new business launch.

Also, managed to fit in getting back to some personal training and have dropped ten pounds in the last month or so...trying for the six pack by my birthday in Oct

Nick

I guess i'm progressing.

Combat training is still a bit sporadic,but physical training is getting more and more regular.
...and,like you Nick,i've shed 10lbs in the last month or so.F**kin' long way off a six pack though,still looks like the whole keg!

Have also began to study toward a qualification in Counselling and Psychotherapy.

My days injured currently far outweigh those without. Right shoulder, back and/or achilles mostly. But I'm managing to train around them pretty well.

Those goals are beginning to look ambitious. I guess they'd be pretty shite if they didn't.

Great thread.

Nick Miles wrote:Hi everyone.

I have been away for a couple of weeks in the sun (great way to start the year) and have been reflecting over my year to come so this thread is very apt for me.

1) Quit smoking again ( slipped back into it last year)

2) Remain teetotal (quit drinking last september)

3) complete the midsummer munron at box hill in under 2.5 hours http://www.trionium.com/mm/, best I have done is 2h 40m

4) study the classical guitar and learn to site read music to at least Grade 3 standard. My wife bought me a lovely nylon strung for xmas and you have to play classical on it, sounds lovely

5) learn Moonlight Sonata on the guitar

6) I wish to learn Spanish to be able to get by in general conversation, just spent 2 weeks in the Dominican and want to go back, I have Michelle Thomas's course but will look at the Pimsleur

7) Keep my business afloat, it's pretty grim out there in Construction at the moment

Go to the Globe Theatre and see a Shakespeare play with my wife, ideally Macbeth

9) See an Opera with my wife.

10) train at least 3 times a week ( running, weights, don't matter what)

Ok, well this is where I am:

1) So far so good, haven't smoked since the 18th Jan

2) Haven't touched a drop of alcohol

3) Doing this next Saturday, depends on the weather, if its really hot, probably won't beat the time but quietly confident

4) Lessons going well after from a 2 month break for reasons that will come apparent shortly.

5)As above

6) Nothing at all on this

7) Still sailing away, been tough and it is quiet but we are still earning a few quid.

No chance, we seperated 3 months ago, didn't see it coming at all, go figure that one out, 25 years down the toilet.

9) As above

10) On average I train 5-6 times a week, 3 weights & 3 runs, found a cracking weighlifting gym that I have 24 hour access to. Am doing a 5 x 5 program for strength building as I have never done weights properly, I love it.

Nick

Nick,

Good stuff mate...congrats on the smoking and drinking especially. Let us know how you get on in the run. Shaving ten minutes off the run won't be easy but fingers crossed this end.

Nick

So much for quiet confidence, What a mare!

Hit halfway at a PB of 1h 15m and then it all went wrong and continued to get worse.

Leg cramps started at around 9 miles, first just little twinges, then developing into whole leg spasms, so continually having to stop & stretch, towards the end on the last steps couldn't bend legs and had to sort of hop/ drag & shuffle up them in between laying on the floor trying to stop the pain.

Lucky the camaraderie is great on the race and had a few helpful rivals give the legs a stretch including some rather attractive ladies (makes mental note to pretend cramps again when good looking women are around), Absolutely nothing I could do except dig in & get to the end.

Finally crossed the line in 2h 46m, I am pissed about it but thats running for you, sometimes it goes well, and other's its, well, shit!

Am really sore today but already planning next years strategy, I will beat 2.5 hours, just not sure how yet


They will be posting a vid up on youtube, will send link when up.


Nick

Nick,

The link to the trionium won't open up...is it right or is there a typo?

Bummer about the cramps but it sounds like you were on track till they hit. Better find out what caused them (I'm betting diet).

I know what you mean about finding a way to do it though. The MS Society does a fifty mile charity walk over here done over three days. I didn't have three days so a mate an I opted to do it in one.

We got 40 of it completed and then couldn't find the organizers to tell us where the 3rd leg was (they couldn't have been more disinterested funnily enough) so we binned it at about 2am. I'm not going to rest easy until I do the whole 50 in one day though.

Nick

Nick

Yeah sorry typo


http://www.trionium.com/mm/

I am thinking diet too, considering I did 11.5 miles up there two weeks ago and flew it without any problems, just working out what I did wrong.


Nick

It might not be what you ate but rather what you didn't. I know one cause of cramping is lack of potassium which is found in bananas. One of my students is a mad keen triathalon freak...I'll ask him next time I talk with him

Nick

Yeah thanks, that would be great, I have had one person say to me lack of calcium can cause it, one said i just overdid it, I find that hard to believe going on training performance so anything you could find out would be good.

TBH, It has really bugged me all day and as I know the course well, I am going to have another crack at it later this year on my own, just to see what happens, thats my OCD coming out now

Finally , there is a link to the fly through of the route on the trionium page, just wish it seemed that quick when you ran it.


Nick

Haven't spoken to Brian (my student...not the one that ponces about on here ) but I did find this...

Dear Steve,

The cramping could be due to a few different factors. First of all it could be a lack of electrolytes. The first thing I would ask is if your marathons have been in warmer weather, or if you feel you sweat excessively. If you answer yes, I believe it is a lack of sodium that could cause cramping. Gatorade does contain some sodium, but it may not be enough, especially if you sweat a lot. Or if you are taking in more fluids than you usually would on a training run, you could need some extra sodium. A solution might be to try Powergel instead of GU, since it has 4 times the sodium content. Or take a salt tablet.

Secondly, the cramping could be due to nervous tension and deteriorating form. Often, when a runner is nervous he or she will carry his or her arms extremely high, near the arm pits or the face, causing breathing to be high in the chest and the strides to be bouncy, burning extra energy. Later in the race this could cause soreness everywhere, and further deterioration of form, like leaning forward and hunching the back. Remember, arms should be carried at a 90 degree angle and your shoulders should be loose and relaxed. If possible do a series of short sprints before getting in the starting coral to relieve some tension. Also, do not try to sprint around anyone at the beginning of the race, even in huge races where it can take 5 miles to get up to speed, be patient and relaxed.

I hope that covers everything!

Seems that excessive heat causes it and drinking too much water can do it as well (this dilutes the sodium in the body...better to drink only about 1/3 of what you sweat out)

This jibes very much with what I did in the Legion. Temps in Djibouti would get into the high 120s in the Salt Lakes in summer and I used to love running during the hottest part of the day (during the siesta)...I never experienced any problems and I hardly drank anything (during the day and during the run)

Nick

Peter wrote:1. To get fit again after a year of illness. I'm still deciding on specific targets for this but a sprint distance triathlon is intriguing me and I'd like to get some disco muscle back

2. Get a house of my own as my ex-wife has mine and I'm living in a rental until I can pay her off.

3. Build my business to the point where I can let go and take more holidays (I have specifics for this but I won't bore you with them).

4. Attend "Jimmy Fireblades Wheelie School"

5. Learn to speak Dutch.
I have been struggling sporadically with this for a while so its time I got off my butt and learn't properly.

6. Pass my RYA Day Skipper exam.

7. Get to the point where I can play at least a couple of tunes on my banjo without gawking at the sheet music. I'm sad aren't I

1. I'm a bit behind on this as the illness affected me for longer than I was expecting but I have started training again. Not much more than getting back into the groove training at the moment and a few runs and a cycle ride. Feeling good though.

2. The ex has been scuppering the house sale but I have a new estate agent going this weekend who claims to understand this sort of situation. The ex is not a happy bunny about it and it is becoming nasty.

3. The business isn't setting the world on fire at the moment but is ticking over nicely considering the current climate. I recently had a weeks sailing off Kefalonia, have a holiday booked next month and one in August. I've just had a lovely weekend away with my girlfriend too. The upside is I am far far happier and relaxed so teh work goes better than when I just spent far too much time there.

4. Haven't done this yet as my mate I am doing it with started a new job as prison officer and his shifts and family commitments have blocked us. We have just booked the camp site for next years Isle of Man TT though.

5. Not much progress here I'm afraid.

6. Done, Passed the exam on the holiday I mentioned in 3.

7. I haven't touched the banjo in months. My trouble is I like to play very early in the morning and acoustic intsruments aren't everyones favorite at 5am. I may switch to the guitar as I can practice on an electric with headphones.

All in all I haven't done much of what I originally intended but so far I am enjoying my life and the future looks pretty good.

Nick Miles wrote:Nick

Yeah sorry typo


http://www.trionium.com/mm/

I am thinking diet too, considering I did 11.5 miles up there two weeks ago and flew it without any problems, just working out what I did wrong.


Nick

You probably peaked too early.I often used to do this when running marathons and my legs felt like lead in the race.A hard run at race distance a couple of weeks before the event is probably a bit too much as at that stage you should be tapering.Even runners like Paula Radcliffe taper a couple of weeks before a hard race.

Putrid wrote:
You probably peaked too early.

Story of my life, you been talking to my ex

Putrid wrote:
I often used to do this when running marathons and my legs felt like lead in the race.A hard run at race distance a couple of weeks before the event is probably a bit too much as at that stage you should be tapering.Even runners like Paula Radcliffe taper a couple of weeks before a hard race.

That is a possibility, this was my first serious event since last year, at least I have learnt a few things from this one, the DOMS have really kicked in today, am going to suffer at work, thanks for the tips.


Nick

1. Get my full shodan at the daigaku summer school - DONE -

2. Land a method air, and a nose grab, snowboarding - DONE -

3. Ride two new mountains - didnt manage it - still rode 5 mountains, hopefully add some new peaks when season kicks off again this winter

4. Grade in Brazillian Ju-Jitsu - this is the next focus for MA training after getting the shodan done... hopefully enter a couple of white belt tournaments this year.

5. Pass the B.C. driving test - progressing... long waiting list for the test though

6. Get a pay rise and/or more holiday time - not worked on this - got a few extra days to go back to the UK ofr the grading mind...

7. Find a M.A. club that I can spar hard at - got one day a week where i can do this - stilll looking for more, but its a start

8. Go to a specialist and get my knee sorted out, and actually follow the rehab properly. - started physio - following rehab - looking into seeing amore qualified knee specialist

9. Plan for 3 months travelling in 2010 - planning is moving forward - looks more like 2 months south pacific, south east asia, africa

10. save monet for 3 months travelling in 2010 - saved up 2/3 of what is needed - still 6 months of saving to go

Congrats on the Shodan mate...awesome. If you got it with Gav you know it's been earned.

I got a bunch of pics on FB from Layla...are you in any I wonder?

Nick

1. Get my full shodan at the daigaku summer school - DONE
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This could be a great thread,everyone write down what they hope to achieve in the next 6 months/year ?





Oh, ok, don't then .

Blackshield wrote:

2. Land a method air, and a nose grab, snowboarding - DONE -

Nice one! What's next on your tricklist?

cheers Nick - yes, getting the shodan under Gavin was a must, I wouldnt have felt satisfied getting it anywhere else... Haven't seen the pictures from Laila yet, I will take a look and see if I am in any.

Hi Ade - I think next on the list is to clean up those two tricks - expecially the method - I managed to pull them off, but not with any great style, and I would like to be able to hit some bigger jumps and pull them off - but after that I am going to start trying to learn some spins - grab 180's first - then maybe a 360... but that will be a longer endeavour I think

Hi lads I just seen this thread the other week so I was to late to join in at the beginning of the year so I have some to complete by christmas...

1) Be at least 2/3 of the way through the first draft of my book. I'm about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way through so I'd like to be working on the climaxtic bit on the end and know where it's heading by the end of the year.

2) be in some of sort of training... so far this year my training has consisted only of swimming cycling weights/cross fit and the like so I need a martial art to start training in at least 2 or 3 times a week so I need to start looking harder

3) made some sort of career move... in this climate I don't think it realistic to expect to have a new job by the end of this year but I want to be in the application process for at least 3 worth while jobs.

4) Sort my finances out.. to be in the position where I can comfortably afford to save $75 a month

5) Take a blacksmithing course.

6) Become conversational in Portuguese again


Lets see how many of those happen

September 23rd is coming up...that's 100 days till the end of the year. I always use this as a marker for the sprint to the end. (So many people ease up towards the end of the year as holidays approach)...

So...how much can you get done towards the goals you listed earlier on this year in these last 100 days?

I'm signing the letter of intent on my commercial lease this afternoon to open my new tattoo studio and the cash flow that will result (once the biz is open) will help me towards knocking out several of the goals.

Brian...good result regarding the Para 10...you came damned close to the under 2 hour mark...how much did the fund raising amount to?

Nick

We're currently over £1,300 and counting, so that target has been exceeded.

www.justgiving.com/brian-sheeran

Shame about missing the two hours though. Mind you, with some issues to deal with I'm counting myself fortunate I made it in under the 3 hours allowed!

Got lots of work to do re the KB (not on target at all) and the chest/waist differential. Like you say, 100 days to go.....

Congrats on the beating of the intended target money wise...great stuff.

You thinking of doing it again next year and trying to shave four minutes off the time?

Nick