Not really looking forward to this long weekend

It's a short week - yay! I have done 2 x 20 minute sessions in the park - yay! I had my diabetic checkup today, and the doc is very happy indeed - yay! It's Easter this weekend - gulp!

I'm an eater. I like to stuff food in my face well after I'm full. I don't crave food, I just eat it when it's about. I don't have hankerings for things, I just swing open the fridge or pantry and consume. I can skip the chocolate, chippie and biscuit isles of the supermarket with ease, but if it lives in my kitchen, it's going to get gobbled.

Easter is my kind of holiday. I'm not religious, so for me it's all about the eggs! White chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, nutty, caramel, hollow and solid, I love 'em all! They live in my cupboard right now, and if given half a chance I'd consume the lot in a single sitting.

I know people who have Easter eggs that are over a year old, just rolling around in their desk drawer. They eat one of those small caramel eggs and are satiated. Or maybe they have two. I don't. I finish the pack.

It's not just chocolate eggs, I'd do it to a pack of Girl Guide biscuits too, dunking them one after the other into my coffee. A bag of chippies is never half eaten, it's opened, consumed and the empty packet is tossed in the trash. I have memories (pre-diabetic days) of opening a family-size pack of jet planes and scoffing them all while watching the telly. I always want another scoop of ice cream, a larger slice of pie, another sausage roll, the bigger muffin and extra helpings of whatever is going.

So, why am I not the size of a house? No idea frankly. My weight for the last decade has been between 105KG and 110KG. Even now, I have lost almost no weight since starting the 20 week challenge 7ish weeks ago. Not too surprising I guess seeing as how I haven't gained any weight being lazy or active in the past. The only time I have lost weight was back when I was diagnosed as a diabetic, and I was losing about half a kilo a day. Yea, that's rapid weight loss, and I don't recommend it, especially as it went on for several weeks!

When I pack my lunch in the morning, it's huge. It's not full of bad stuff - lots of proteins, salads, some fruit and nuts, maybe an egg or two, but it's a large amount of food, and it's usually gone before 3pm, sometimes it's gone by 1pm. 

Is it my mother fault? Did she force me to finish my dinner before I could go and play? Did I have to compete with my brother for a second helping or the bigger dessert? No, or at least I have no memory of it. Mum's not to blame.

Is it psychological? Does eating replace love? Do I feel prettier when I eat? Does it combat depression? Does it give me a secret thrill? No, it's just food.

Is it biological? Am I deficient in amylin? Do I have a high/fast metabolism that requires constant feeding? Do I have a second stomach? Well, maybe to points 1 & 2, but no to #3. Diabetics are often deficient in amylin (the bodies major satiety hormone) which may explain why I still want to eat when I'm full. And I'm rarely ever cold, even in the cooler winter months, which means a faster metabolism right? 

In reality, I have no idea. It could be some or all of the above, or none of it. But with Easter on the horizon, the fistfuls of nuts or fruit will be replaced with chocolate. Boiled eggs will be replaced with chocolate eggs. And I will want to consume all of the time because I won't get full, or happy, or satisfied until it's all gone. 

I wonder how many kilometres of hill walking I'd have to do to burn off a 6-pack of marshmallow eggs? I wonder if I could possibly burn the Easter calories off in the same weekend? Maybe I should head to the hills now? There are a lot of eggs out there, and only 4 days of the weekend to burn them off again!

Sigh. Wish me luck!

Sleeping in versus clambering hills

It was quite a few months ago, maybe even a year ago, that I last scaled the giddy heights of Bridle Path. Back then it was because Tracey was doing the 20 week challenge, and now it's me. It's a damn boring track. Long, steep and not much fun. Especially if you just head up from the gondola, ascend the 280m to Summit Road, cross over, drop down the 200m descent on the other side, then turn around and head back again.

As I said, a year ago I did this, and man it hurt for days afterwards. I hadn't done any walking for years before I took it on, and I discovered my calves big time. Today we planned to ascend to Summit Road, but then take a sidetrack along Wahareraupo Track which jutted out over Lyttelton and Governors Bay. According to my map, it didn't drop down as far as the southern side of the Bridle Path did, but had a sharp wee climb in it somewhere.

So, using the best preparation possible - a bottle of wine and chocolate cake and ice cream the night before, then a lateish night to bed - I awoke to my alarm and the sound of rain pounding on the roof. And it was dark. Summer was gone! Much procrastination and hoping for cancellation didn't pay off, and at 7:30 we were heading to the hills, and I was trying to convince myself it would all be worthwhile, I'd enjoy it more than a sleep in, it would be more satisfying than a hot coffee and a newspaper. 

At the foot of the hill it was cold and windy, but drying out and the skies were clearing. There were just three of us today (and Austin) with sickness or other lame excuses keeping the others tucked up in bed, and we struck out for the top of the hill. It was nowhere near as bad as the previous time, and once on top, we headed along the Wahareraupo track, to a couple of awesome lookout points with gray, but magnificent views of the harbor and hillsides.

After taking in the views, we followed the track around the western side, then up the vertical path to the ridge of the spur we'd been tracking along. Then it was mostly downhill back to Summit Road, and down Bridle Path to the car.

On the way up I had noticed some people on the track that kicks off half way up Bridle path and heads up quite sharply to Castle Rock. I saw a different group heading up on my way down. So, I'm now trying to convince Tracey that next time we do a Bridle walk, we head up there! An even bigger challenge!!

Normalish transmissions resume next week. Last weeks sessions in the park will be replicated this week, as well as a better diet (maybe) and more km's on the bike. We're approaching the halfway point of the 20 weeks, so it might be time to step it up another gear! 

Crippling self and colleagues

I did four of those 20min sessions last week, and felt I deserved a weekend off. Thankfully, I had plenty of work to do, so spent most of it hunched over my laptop smashing the keys randomly.

Tracey had organised for some of her clients to do the annual City 2 Surf walk/run that weekend, and I was roped in as courier, chef and welcoming committee on the Sunday. What I envisaged as being a relaxing snooze on a blanket in the park while waiting for them to arrive turned out to be a 2 part session that left me aching for days afterwards. I had 2 x chilly bins loaded with food and drink, and a large bag filled with tarps and blankets and more. Sadly, the closest I could get a park was quite a distance away, and combined with a long-cut, a mis-direction and a wandering about aimlessly, I was carring those damn bags for 2.3km! My shoulders were aching and I was beat. I almost gave up on a couple of occasions, ready to throw it all on to the ground where I was and damn them all! But, I managed to set up camp and quaffed coffee till they all arrived, ate, drank and then we were heading off again. This time I had 2 helpers to carry the bags, but within 500m they were complaining about weight, so I was a gentleman and left them and the bags at the side of the road and jogged off to the car. It was still about 1.5km away, so I was determined to jog the whole way, and I did. Sweet. For the rest of the day, and all of Monday, my shoulders were in pain, reminding me that an exercise session doesn't have to be planned, and incidental exercise is sometimes harder than planned stuff.

This week we have been back in the park, but with company this time. Several people from my office had registered interest in the lunchtime sessions, so were ready to rock over on Tuesday. Well, one pulled out because she had meetings all week long, and another had massive blisters on his feet from the City 2 Surf, and another forgot (pregnant, so shrinking brain at fault). So session one was just 3 of us, and it went really well. It was similar to sessions I did the week before, but different again. All of us were exhausted, but happy, at the end of the session and still keen to return the next day. 

That next day was today. Both of yesterdays companions were complaining about soreness, and underperforming in netball or jogging after work that day. A sure sign they had been working hard. Tracey was most pleased. Today we were four and did lots of jogging/running, boxing (which I can already feel in my arms!) and cards. Yes, the dreaded deck came out again with jumping, squatting, lunging, running and pushing options dealt out with no compassion at all. Finishing off with a prone hold was cruel, but it's kinda nice that when they were over you don't have far to fall. I felt this session was a little easier than yesterday (I may have got lucky with the cards) but it sure wasn't a stroll through the tulips.

Tomorrow is a rest day, possibly a morning session or a shin-test jog for me. Hopefully no upper-body action as my arms may not recover from today. 

Ahhh, that's what they are talking about

Tracey's clients often mention soreness of their muscles on the days following their sessions with her. I have not experienced this after any of the sessions we've done, much to her extreme disappointment. It could be because I'm super fit and an exercise machine - highly unlikely.  Or it could be because I also ride to work & back, thereby keeping my muscles moving and fresh - plausible, but really? Or it could be because I don't push myself hard enough in the sessions to get to that DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) stage - but I do try, honest!

However, yesterday my calves were almost locked solid with DOMS. They still hurt today, but more of a dull ache than the pain of yesterday. Why? Not sure, but it has to be the 3 x sessions in a row in the park earlier this week. I also have a bit of soreness and tiredness in my upper body. Not as bad as the legs were, but noticeable. I have run up hills (kinda) and pumped iron (or lead) and skipped and lunged and crunched at home, but these park sessions, they are a new thing altogether... I hurt after them. My body is telling me that yes, you are working hard.

To be sure that she is actually killing me in the right way, we're having another session today. That will make 4 sessions in a week. I'm just hoping to survive, especially as we'll be joined by Glenn who is a baton wielding shift-worker (guess the profession!) and 10x as fit as I am, so my competitive streak will be well engaged just to keep up with him. 

If this is my last post, let it be known that I did have fun, and even though I died doing these drop and give me 20 sessions with Tracey, I still highly recommend them. After all, seeing others in similar pain for the 20 minutes is like a soothing balm when you're going through it yourself. The session starts in an hour, I'll make a note here if I make it back. Wish me luck, and strength!

[Edit @ 2PM]

I survived! Glenn took it in his stride, as expected, but I managed to knock off #4 for the week. Phew. No helicopter rescue required :)

It ain't no walk in the park

Tracey is planning on doing lunchtime intensive session in the park. In just 20 minutes she can work you harder than an hour in the gym could match. A warm-up brisk walk or jog to get there, 20 minutes of hard out, relentless activities, then a jog/stagger back to the office. Nice, compact, fun.

Today we had the 3rd session in 3 days. Each day has been completely different, like some kind of power-circuit devised by Satan herself.

As previously reported, Monday was tough. The seconds crawled by, but the 20 minutes flew by.

Tuesday was a little harder. The sun was shining hot and heavy and water/hydration was on my mind. I jogged there and arrived with sore shins, which pained me throughout the session, and I ended up with very sore calves at the end of it all. A quick jog back to the office didn't ease the soreness and I knew that they had worked hard this time.

Today, day 3 of 3, 3 in a row, bad news comes in 3's, 3's company, we did it again. Today we were joined by Amanda, my willing accomplice in vertical shortcuts, who had no idea what she had got herself in for. Also, today it was a roaring southerly, bitterly cold rain and grey skies. As I waited at the lights to go into the park I had to convince myself this was the right thing to do as my hands were going numb in the cold. I knew soon I'd be warm. And how right I was!

Due to the wetness, we sheltered under the trees and did more running/lunging/stepping this time, keeping a good safe distance from the wet ground. Amanda did bloody well. I would have told her at the time, but I was puffing and panting so hard my lungs were otherwise occupied and speech was not possible. We slaved away for 20 minutes, leaping and lunging and stepping all over the place, and ended with some standing jumps (hoops shots) and another 20 minutes had passed.

Verdict? 3 sessions in a row is very painful. Mentally I can cope, but physically I think I'm pushing the limits... These sessions are intense, fast and afterwards you know you've been working hard. I love them. Not sure if we'll get another one in this week, but have 3 planned for next week with several others from my office along for the experience. They have no idea what they have agreed to!

Now I feel like I'm being pushed, exercised, tested and working hard. Mentally, these sessions are doing more for me than an hour of weights, or a bike ride, or a hill walk, or anything else I've done so far. Highly recommended.

Fun in the park

Today was the first of what I hope will be many more session in the park.

One of the goals of DropAndGiveMe20 is to do power-session for 20min in the park for small groups at lunchtime. I was the guinea pig today, putting my body on the line to further Tracey's desires to make grown men cry. The concept is simple, get there, do 20 minutes of hard exercises and then go away again. With a different routine each time, and a hard task master in control, these will be short and tough, but fun. 

Was it fun? Well, kinda. As I have said before, I like the unexpected, I like the circuits, I like the constantly changing activities, even if it does start to get hard. Very, very hard. At the end of 20mins, having run, crabbed, stepped, sprinted, lunged and jumped my way through a myriad of activities, I was spent. Completely exhausted. Perfect.

It was so good in fact, that I think I would go every day. With a different grab-bag of tasks each time, some fun and games, plus sunshine and fresh air away from the office, this could easily be my new daily activity.

So I hope these do become more regular, and I intend to attend as many as I can. You can too!

Twin Peaks? Lady Humps?

Ahhh, the weekend. The birds chirp as the sun gently rises on a calm and still day. You can hear gardens growing, flowers opening, and a day full of promise beginning. Or rather, on this particular morning, I awoke as the sun pierced the curtains sending a dagger of light into my skull, erratic and jittery due to the cold wind shaking them apart randomly with the early morning cold snap. The dog was licking my face with his enormous, slobbery tongue, breathing his hairy breath into my airspace, and the neighbours were chainsawing a tree down on the fenceline.

Saturday dawned somewhere between the two of those. I wished for the former, but it was probably closer to the latter. Today was a 'work at home' day, and that's what I did. I went outside maybe twice, but for less than a few minutes, and spent the rest of the day on the couch hunched over my computer and watching TV and doing nothing much else. The good news was that despite thinking it might happen, I never did get sore from the Friday session. Phew.

When Sunday rolled around, I was ready and rearing to go. The suggestion of a timed march up the Huntsbury/Vernon lump, then down and up Rogers Track and back had been accepted by all the Sunday walkers. They didn't seem to realise that as the crow flies, both tracks were 100m elevation over about 250m distance. The track however was not direct, thankfully, so the distance travelled would be different, and longer. We met at the table where the tracks start, and as I had the dog, I started on the other hill to the rest of the group. Yes, Austin was back and keen as mustard to go, but would be permanently distracted by people if we hung with them. At about 8:10am we struck out, they went Huntsbury way, we went Rogers way. 

Feeling a bit bullish we decided to jog the first bit, which got the lungs burning very quickly and i was gasping for air all the way up. Austin was great on the tracks, only becoming a burden at the stile where he had to be carried over (and he's pretty close to a wriggly 40kg) and a quick poop on the way back down. We managed to keep a good pace all the way up, but legs were hurting and lungs burning by the time we saw the seat, and hit Rapaki Track after nine and a half minutes. I could have sat in the sun and recovered, but instead, I turned tail and we pushed down again. 

We got back to the table and I quickly gave Austin a drink (time stopped) and I realised it had taken about 30 seconds less to come down than it did to go up. I knew at that point that I had started too hard, and resolved to take it easier on the climb next time!

Dog watered, we struck out for the 2nd hump. I had seen the others heading up as I was on the other side of the valley, all heading in different directions, some getting lost, some taking the easier path, some the not so easy path, but they all made it and we crossed paths towards the bottom of the hill. Based on that, I assumed this hill would be as long and hard as Rogers was. We took the short cut track up the hill, steep but more direct, and by the time we were back on the trail I was gasping for air, legs were screaming in pain and I knew I was about half way there. Austin was heaved over the stile and we recovered on the fairly flat bit of trail, then pushed up the last steep section to the table. I almost gave up with 50m to go, but pushed on knowing that the downhill would be easy in comparison, a real walk in the park. I reached out, grabbed the table, climbed on top of it and sat and looked across the valley at the others walking up Rogers track. They were about half way, up which surprised me, and checking my time showed that this hill was indeed much quicker than the other hill. 

Once the stars had stopped spinning we started the descent. Slowly and gently down the first section, then once on the trail we jogged along at a good pace. Over the stile and a decision to keep on jogging rather than go down the shortcut. I was fairly sure I could make better time going faster and longer than I could going slower and shorter. Plus, I was enjoying the jog, so we kept on going. We hit the bottom gate and moments later were back at the table. Time stopped. 33:41 - crikey!

Yes, I was way faster than I thought I'd be, it was also a lot harder than I thought, but I set a good time, one I am going to be hard pushed to beat. I will beat it tho, however to keep things fair I will take the same paths as this time so my times are a direct comparison. No cheating.

The others arrived at the table over the next 20ish minutes, all relieved to be back and not have another hill to contend with. It was our shortest hill walk, in time or distance, but it was the hardest by far. A great wee outing. I love challenges like this.

This morning I got away without doing a session, not sure how I managed that, but my legs were a bit tired so happy to ride to work unmolested by lunges or curls. I may do a lunchtime session in the park - the first of many I hope. It could be great fun, it might be bloody awful!

Hyper-something

Things got harder. I'm not sure if she was tired and angry, or just got up on the wrong side of the bed, but todays morning session was maybe the hardest one so far.

Blood shunting was fun, circuit was fun, but after both of those I was still fully functional. Even as the day(s) passed I was not feeling drained or in pain. Today will be a different story. 

Focussing on the upper body today. A warm-up was doing one round using a lighter set of weights, consisting of pull downs, bench press, inclined rows, bicep curls, reverse grip pull downs, upright rows, incline bench press, side raises (standing and on a ball!), dips, crunchies, prone holds and more. The easy loop set the scene and got me good an warm, then it was one rep of something, then on to another thing, then back and do them both again.

It's funny (now) that lying down and doing crunchies was my 'rest' period, and actually felt like it. Today I did more than I had done previously, and found it difficult, but not impossible. However, unlike previous sessions, when riding to work, I was feeling drained and even though all my arms had to do was to hang on, they were like lead weights for the entire ride, and even now complain when I sip my coffee or scratch my nose. It may help me stop putting food in my mouth if it's too painful to lift the food that high! And she's looking for more weights too, so future sessions will only get harder :( At least I'll only need my legs for the hill session on Sunday.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed todays session as well. I need to be pushed beyond my comfort level, otherwise I'll just coast along, being the lazy sod that I am. A session like this proves I physically can do well in excess of my mental barriers. Roll on the weekend!

Shunting ain't as easy as it sounds

It's been a bad week. Filled with sadness, madness and red wine. When you mind is occupied with stresses and disasters, it's hard to focus on doing exercises, or even finding the time to do them. It almost feels rude to do them when you know that time could be better spent, or at least it seems so inside you head.

First, the sadness. Last week we lost a good friend, Sam, and on Monday, Tracey took our old boy Max to the vet as he was acting odder than usual over the weekend, doing stuff that was strange even for him. The news wasn't good, and so we spent one last night with him at home before taking him to he vet for his last time on Tuesday. Some will say "hey, it's only a cat" whereas others will know the sadness I felt, and how draining it is. Max had been with us for almost 14 years, and he was an adult when we 'acquired' him from the neighbours, so he must have been 16-17 years old, which is a damn good innings for a furry friend. As I have often stated, I've had him longer than I've had my daughter. He's been a permanent fixture in the house, so I was devastated when his time to go had finally come. No exercises on Monday evening, or Tuesday morning, and as for Tuesday evening...

Well, we had some tickets to the Ellerslie Flower Show Garden party, and swanky fund raiser event for the opening of the show. At $125 per ticket, I was very happy to have some gifted to me. I met Tracey and we talked about Max, and entered the show, grabbed a wine, and began the naughty sorrow drowning session. I had several wines, about 6 glasses I think, and some nice hors d'oeuvres as we mooched in the sunshine being completely underwhelmed by the show and displays. Possibly tainted by Max's departure, but also because it was just plain old boring. But the wines were nice. We wandered, sipped, munched, then headed home for some bacon & eggs before bed.

Wednesday morning arrived, and fresh as a daisy I got Tracey to do something fun. Circuit she says, OK I reply, and go for a run. 1km later, I'm ready and we do a rapid session. Pull downs, push ups, raises, crunchies and more, in a loop, 45 seconds on, 15 seconds to recover and move to the next thing. 3 laps of that and I was a write off. Great fun, although 45 seconds is a bloody long time on some of the exercises! 

Thursday morning and having enjoyed the circuit, I'm introduced to 'blood shunting' - or possibly 'bloody exhausting' would have been a better name for it. I went for a jog, and decided to see if I could go further than 1km, test my shins out. Sadly, at about 1.25km the pain started, and at 1.4km I stopped as the pain was getting quite bad. Still not ready for the 6.5km jog to work, but still hopeful before the end of the challenge. Back inside, and it's shunting time - swapping from killing the legs to killing the arms, no rest in-between, just go go go! I hardly remember all of the exercises as there was little gap between them. 10 different things done in 15 minutes, ending with a painful, gut searing prone hold. While it was short, it was fun. I would love to try it for a full 30 minutes, or even 45 minutes. However, I may not be able to walk after that.

I made the mistake of telling Tracey this morning that I haven't actually suffered after a session. I hope this is because I'm slightly active, riding to work and back each day, plus the occasional evening session too, so no real lactic acid build-up taking place. She thinks it's because I'm not working hard enough. Her theory is easier to test than mine is to prove, so I'm expecting some bloody hard session in the coming weeks.

Am I fitter? Probably, although I'm still depressed at how crap I am at what seem to be very basic and easy exercises. And I leaner? No. Still have the gut, but now that some normality has returned to life, I may be able to focus on food a little better too.

This Sunday's walk might be fun, in a crying in the gutter kind of way. Double-peak time trial. From the carpark in the valley, we head up to the top of the Huntsbury/Hilsborough hump, touch the table, then down and up Rogers Track to Rapaki Track, then back. Two very steep climbs with the clock ticking. I'm hoping for under an hour... Each climb is 100m ascent (or more) so not quite a walk in the park!

Step it up

We've been doing this for almost a month now, 4 weeks in theory, although I was a bit of a late starter... But it's time to start making it harder and harder, testing my limits, finding my failure point, that sort of thing.

I don't remember Friday's session, but pretty sure it was weights after a brief 1km jog. It was another drive-to-work day, and I was sad because I had now driven to work twice in a row - hate that! Today I had another 45min session, and after lat-pulldowns and dumbell flies, I managed to do 8 push-ups before failing, and 20 overall. That is a vast improvement on the 7 I managed in a minute a few weeks ago!

Saturday was a lazy day, spent on my laptop doing work. But Sunday arrived and we had finally agreed to do the Bowenvale to Sugarloaf hill walk. Sugarloaf is pretty high up, and after some time, we seemed to be getting closer, but not higher... The cars were parked at the end of Bowenvale Ave, elevation 15m above sea level. The carpark on Sugarloaf is at 420m, so this was an ascent of about 400m. For the 8.5km loop, the first (and last) 1km was basically flat. Well, except for the sidetrack I went on which added some excitement, but I did stumble over an overgrown Hidden Valley track, so might have a walk up there one day, see where it goes.

To get to Sugarloaf, spend 3.5km walking up, up, up. Some parts were easy, gradual, wide, others were steep (sometimes vertical), narrow, rocky and hard. All the way tho, awesome views, lovely scenery, and a mental dog (Chester on this walk, bonkers mutt)

We made it to Sugarloaf in good time, with the wind howling at us, we quickly descended through Vic Park (again, plenty of sidetracks, will take notes/map next time) and after avoiding some mad downhillers were back at the car in 2.5 hours. That was maybe the hardest walk so far, or so I think, so the crater rim challenge is looking good for some time soon. Up Kennedys Bush to Summit Road, follow the Crater Rim track to Godley Head, then drop down to Taylors Mistake for an ice cream (or a stick of celery).  That's about 30km as the crow flies, maybe 35km on foot. A bloody long way to go for an ice cream, that's for sure!

On the subject of celery, my diet has changed a bit, but not enough. I don't see a lot of gut-reduction going on. I'm sure it is, but I like instant results! So, I'm trying harder and harder to lower carbs every day. Today's lunch is protein high (chicken legs, bacon & lettuce salad, 2 x boiled eggs), carb low (a muesli bar and a banana) and will set the bar for the week. I'm a diabetic for gawds sake, carbs are poison for me! Why do they taste so damn good? Why are they in every convenient edible product? Must try harder.

Hoping to do 10 sessions this week and add some distance to my commute somehow, maybe taking the long way through the park or doubling back on the tracks. Riding on the grass in the park is hard, so may add a few extra km's of that when I get the chance.

Onwards!

Excuses run faster than I do...

Since Monday, little has happened as far as exercise goes. But, before you (probably correctly) judge me, let me explain.

Monday went fine and well, but on Monday evening I got a phone call and was invited on to TVOne Breakfast the next morning. So obviously I couldn't do a workout in the morning and then smarten up and head to the studio. That evening, Tracey was out apparently learning about nutrition (probably at the pub) so no evening session either. Wednesday saw Tracey sleep in so no time for a session before work, and she was at the pub nutrition seminar again that evening.

So, not all my fault. Yes, I could have done some exercises without her, but I know it'd be half-arsed, and anyhow, I ride to work and back, so it's not like I was being completely lazy!

Well. Today I was up and ready to skip off to work by car as we have Chester for a couple of days and he was coming to the office for a while. A bit hard to ride a bike with a dog in your bag, especially a big dog! He was so active and playful with Austin last night, he has spent almost the entire day snoring under my desk and on my feet.

But, before I had time to slip into something uncomfortable and worklike, she had pulled out a deck of cards and it was play time. I did a quickish (sub 6 minutes) 1km jog as a warm up, shins holding out well, then inside to face the deck. A slight twist on the previous 'game' where the numbers no longer count, just the suit. No easy star jumps this time, we had push-ups instead. So for the next 20 minutes or so, I stopped, dropped and rolled like a sweaty sack of potatoes until she had extracted the required amount of groans and whining from me.

A quick clean-up, then into the car and off to the office. I hate driving, people in their cars in rush hour traffic are morons! Every time I drive to work (not often) I fume the whole way, wishing I was on my bike instead.

Speaking of my bike, as I occasionally do, the damn thing is starting to fall apart after just 10 years of use! I snapped a seat rail this week, and my bottom bracket creaks like an old rusty spring bed when I ride. Cost to DIY fix it? Less than $100. Value of the bike after I spend $100 on it? About $25, maybe. Why can't stuff last forever, and maintenance be easy? I'm torn between spending some cash and fixing the thing up properly, or buying a proper commuter bike. DIY will win, it always does. Save my money for a new 29er or something cool and mountain worthy.

Right, back to work, Tracey will have a session organised for me when i get home, so there's no excuses for slacking tonight. This weekend will again be full, but not hectic, so hoping to get some riding in as well as a womble up the hills. Sugarloaf via Bowenvale has been requested, hope I get it this time, we've done all the trails in the Mt Vernon area now. Time for something new and a bit harder!

Slackers Anonymous

The weekend passed gently. It was another of those busy-doing-nothing weekends. We went out for a very nice BBQ on Friday night, a superb dinner on Saturday night and a hill walk on Sunday morning. 

We met in the usual spot on Sunday, but an hour earlier to beat the heat, and discovered we should be heading to higher ground! Quite timely and ironic that we should be heading up a hill at the same time we were supposed to be abandoning the flats due to the impending tsunami after the massive earthquake in Chile. Texts and calls were made throughout the morning, and thankfully nothing serious happened on our shores. We took a new path up the hill, climbing over the lump and down to Huntsbury Domain, then taking the Gorge Track up, up, up, until we got to the cool viewing platform about halfway up to Mt Vernon. I love these walks, I get to see bits of the landscape I miss when I'm on my bike, and see heaps of wildlife (fantails galore on this day). The dog was even better managed, pulling less, and ignoring both of the long-dead sheep just off the path. My descent was easier than Tracey and the others had, seeing as how I stayed on the path, and they went uphill, then off-piste, then vertically up through scrub land for an additional half hour looking for the road again.

Monday morning rolls around and I request a quick ab session before work. I leash the dog and we do a 1km warm-up jog and return home to discover we're not doing a quick session, we're doing a full torture. Chaos, keeps it interesting! On the bench for pull-downs, then squatting dumbbell press things, then more pull-downs, then some kind of reverse backward lunging squat dumbbell press, then onto the floor for hamstrings the hard way, then crunchies on the swiss ball. My fitness test at the start of the challenge saw me to 20mumble crunchies in a minute. I do more than that each session now, which is good. but with my legs draped casually on the swiss ball, I had to do fifty. Yes, it took more than a minute, but I did them. Then some more hamstrings, then another 50 of the damn things. So, 100 crunchies this morning, I guess it's getting easier or just less hard. If I keep this up, I may well be able to do the 1,000 crunchies in an hour Tracey keeps talking about. Sounds painful, but potentially possible. 

During my gut stretching, I mentioned to Tracey I should do a post-ride session when I get home, time and circumstances permitting. Just a quick few minutes doing something nasty. Every little bit helps, and if I can do 2 sessions a day, I should be fit twice as fast yea? I'm not suffering from aches and pains after the routines, so have no issues stepping up the pain or frequency. It's only hard while you're doing it, it's easy once you stop!

Am I full of vim and vigour? I was on Friday on the way home, but was tired all weekend, possibly due to poor food choices and some liquid calories I should have avoided. Back on the straight and narrow this week, results here I come!