Missy, you would be surprised at how much you would enjoy exercising I n a gym environment. In your line of work and being used to lifting heavy bags all day, you would certainly have a very good head start above other newbies. Not that anyone is in competition with anyone; we all just do our own thing in the gym. Then again, you probably don’t need any extra weight-bearing training other than what you do in your work (or on your homestead).
That charity event sounds a good idea though. Four miles isn’t a long way for a walk. I’m sure you would enjoy it with some company to talk to
I’m certifiable, alright, Missy! I sure like the way you opted for a 2.5 miler as opposed to taking the day off. That’s a beauty of a medal and now a reminder of the challenge that got you back into the swing! Thanks for sharing it It’s great you can run late day. As the evening temperatures are around 33C with 85% humidity, about the only place I can run is at the sportsplex where the lights remain on when there are games. I would rather do that then run on a “dreadmill”.
OGF, isn’t it hard to run with all those medals around your neck?That some kind of history! I really do hope that you make something special of your run this year. Very neat to see all of the artifacts from your events. My trophies more in the form of worn out shoes, knee braces, doctor bills, . Really glad to se you out there in the Yorkshire countryside reclaiming your territory. Those farm dogs have been smuggle sitting around thinking that they ran you off…
Floydy, I’m very pleased to hear about the blood tests…but if if happens again, you might consider patterns in your behavior - sleep, drinking water, etc. that might be culprits.
yes it was a most interesting place and those young military men are not messing around. I also notice that there is none of that business of hogging machines and weights. They are as serious a judge and get right on with it. While I am enjoying going there while I am waiting to get back to running, I really like the solitude of my running places.
As running places go, my least favorite is the track in the sportsplex near my house. It’s a beautiful, but running in circles? I do that enough in my day-to-day activities ;-). Still it is a very soft surface and so I gave it a go to do some walking and try just a teeny-tiny bit of jogging. I found that if under-pronated and stepped lightly I could get my heart rate up for a minute before going back to walking. So, under the palm lined oval and a tangerine sun setting in the distance, I gave it a go, encouraged by the nesting osprey screeching overhead. I will behave and not push it too far, but it did feel good to try some semblance of moving for a change.
It’s Friday! What’s everyone doing? I’m off to a World Cup get together and then it’s a loooooooooong cycling session tomorrow. I love Summer!
Thanks Ruthio, Missy, Mags and Surfermom…
Something to show the grandkids of what’s left of forty years of running, it sure was fun collecting them, and every one sparks off a story…:-D…But don’t worry…I’m not going to start rambling…
The medals don’t come out very often and I keep promising myself that one day I’ll make a display case for them, but it’s at the bottom of a very long list of things to do…Perhaps this fortieth year might be the year.
So reverting back to the reason Floydy started this thread; My record breaking streak continued this morning with a very warm trundle round my five mile course. The only time I wasn’t kicking up dust from the sun baked lane was as I jogged through the overspray from a desperate farmer trying to save his carrots with an industrial size sprinkler.
I assumed that after running on consecutive days, today would just be case of struggling round at any pace. How surprised I was when I stopped the watch almost thirty seconds faster than yesterday…:shock:
Those farm dogs should be getting ready for the chase of their lives…
Just popping in to belatedly congratulate Bob on his 40 years of running:041: I was going to mention this as part of my write-up later, but feel compelled to now as I’m late
Those medals are awesome and true recognition of a man who has put the effort into his exercise and fitness regime over so many years. Well done mate
I missed my training yesterday. Why on earth would I want to thrash myself stupid in a hot, humid gym when it’s absolutely gorgeous outside and I could be relaxing after working? That wouldn’t make sense would it? I’m not lazy, just practical Suzie - Just a mention also on your advice of getting my sleep pattern and diet in order…that’s already par the course for me as it has been since I began working these bloody night shifts over twelve years ago. I always do the best I can pending ability to sleep in this weather and slight relapses with a pint in the sun. Nothing to worry about, I’m still doing well with my fitness and health
However, I’m starting early today to get there while it should still be relatively cool inside that place and commence my intensive weekend session. Back soon.
Thanks Floydy, your comments are much appreciated, and coming from a man who has had the same dedication as me over the years, it means a lot…
Although I’ve loved every minute of every run and don’t regret one single moment, I find that now I have found a new dimension to my running. With nothing to train for anymore I can run just because I like running and enjoy other areas of my life sometimes neglected in the past. Running marathons is easy, it’s the big chunk of your life that the training requires, including the tiredness when you’re not out on the road.
It reminds me of the farmer who didn’t have any spare time to go to church, so the priest said:- “Do what I tell you and I will find you the time”…But I know you have all heard that story before…
Well done Floydy for going down the Gym before it gets too hot. I use the same logic for running. Go as early in the morning as I can while it’s cool. But I’ve always gone early because I find it’s often the best part of the day, and I can’t eat anything until my run is completed, then it’s ‘No Limits’…
I must admit though, that I’d rather run in the heat than the cold. There’s something satisfying about pitching yourself against the elements and surviving. Sure it hurts sometimes, but it makes you feel alive…
Well said Bob. What goes around comes around as they say and your determination to not give up over those couple of months of problems you faced has truly paid off bud. You have many, many more miles of running still to come matey boy
Even though I was at the gym just after 10am, this morning’s session was stifingly hot even with the air con on (which depended where you were at the time) and I attacked (or ‘shuffled’ to each exercise with rather less enthusiasm than was necessary for a full-on workout. Nevertheless most of my proposed plans were carried out, although I cut things short and decided to do the remaining exercises tomorrow with my legs session.
Saturday, 7/6/18:
(All weights in kgs; h/r = high reps)
DB bench press:
10x22, 8x26, 6x28
Smith shoulder press:
10x30, 8x40, 6x45
Smith flat bench press:
6x60, 4x70
25x30 h/r
Shoulder press:
12x40, 8x60, 6x70, 6x80
Chest press:
12x50, 10x60, 8x70, 6x80
25x35 h/r
Pec dec:
50x30 h/r
Lat pulldown, hammer bar:
10x50, 10x60, 6x70
25x35 h/r
Seated row:
25x35, 15x41
Tricep pushdowns:
50x15, 25x20 h/r
Tricep extensions:
10x40, 10x50, 10x60
25x30 h/r
Time: 1hr. 15mins.
On a cooler day (and if I were a younger man) I know I could have done my full session, but with the heat draining my every rep and constantly looking outside wondering why I wasn’t in the sun instead of crucifying myself in that sweatbox, I retired for the morning and hit the rays ready for the footie at the pub later.:-p
So tomorrow it’s my Sunday legs session, plus some work I omitted from today. Again, I’m hoping for an early session.
Ah, this thread is sounding so good…nothing like hearing OGF is back in the pattern of running and knocking a few seconds off of his time! This is the time of year in which the angle of the sun matters so much and that precious patch of shade just ahead becomes a goal to be treasured. You’re my compass when it comes to running, OGF, so your return helps keep me on the straight and narrow.
Floydy, it is likewise a huge relief to hear you are feeling fit and healthy, working your own way around the heat. Your workouts are impressive by any measure, and you seem like you have come to some balance. If there is a better reason than summer to shave off a workout for other fun and diversions, then what’s the point!
I am in a strange but happy sort of nesting mood, working non-stop in the gardens, on the hunt for lime and avocado trees, and getting the planters spruced up again after a few weeks away. Steer clear gentlemen or else you get sucked into this vortex of rearranging everything in the house. Paintings are coming down while others are going up. It like moving without moving and it feels great! Silly you say, shaking your heads, I know, but it’s good for the psyche and mood, and not a bad workout!
With the house in chaos, I headed to the sportsplex with my little friend known as Fourth Toe, who was complaining before we even approached the soft track, but with a rare overcast day, I was not going to miss the opportunity for a cool-ish run. In a style that could only be described as pathetic - limping, walking, jogging, I gave it all I had with the disinterested company of mockingbirds and killdeer. 'Twas a mere 5K by the time I finished, but after feeling lonely for summer days of surfing an full-bore running, it quenched a little of that craving that only a broken athlete can understand. http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/sad/crying.gif
With clear skies forecast for tomorrow, it’s early or late, but I’ll be out there with the walls and spaces of my poor house grateful to get a break from … that canvas needs to go up about eight inches, now down two, four inches to the right…
It’s good to hear that you are managing to struggle round the track in some kind of fashion. I don’t know about being your compass Surfermom, you seem to have that same little annoying chap perched on your shoulder that I do…And all of the dedicated sports people everywhere. You seem to be doing quite well yourself, and as we say in Yorkshire “You’ll do” That’s high praise indeed from a Yorkshireman…
So it was six mile time again. Half past six this morning and the sun already high in the sky without any sign of a cloud for shade. I took my first few wobbly steps - It’s taking me about a mile to shake off the stiffness from my piriformis; but once I’m free of the limiting discomfort, I can start to stretch out and find the groove…
A strange thing happened though, as I approached a small copse of overhanging trees I heard footsteps behind me. Without looking round (it’s bad form while out running to look back, usually it’s to see who’s catching you, and it means you’re tired, which gives your opponent renewed vigour to overtake you) I guessed there was more than one runner. Their pace sounded slightly faster than mine, so I expected to be overhauled at any moment. It never happened! So about half a mile further, on a bend, I glanced over my shoulder…There was no one there…:shock:
The footsteps has gone now as I carried on, and I realised that it was exactly the same place where I thought last weeks walker had started to jog behind me…
What could have been the explanation; The thought stayed with me for the next few miles.
The temperature was beginning to rise, and a bead of sweat trickled down my forehead. I was heading home now, I passed the turnoff that would have turned this rather benign six miles into an eight…A smile crossed my lips, not today!..
I was now back to the spot where I encountered my mysterious jogger and the footsteps returned, to hell with form! I glanced over my shoulder and the footsteps stopped…:shock:
I had now left the small dip in the road and the cover of the overhanging trees, the sun started to bore a hole in my back as I covered a mile of open road and I began to struggle. Sweat was now running freely from my head, and my damp shirt clung to my body, I hitched up my shorts and dug in until I reached the village and the luxury of shade from the trees surrounding the small cemetery (where one day I shall reside, but not today…)
Yes, I was tired, Yes, my legs were turning to rubber and yes, I was probably dehydrated and overheating, but with just a half mile left to cover there was absolutely no chance that I would walk any of it…
I arrived home having knocked a whole minute off last weeks time…‘Too fast for the conditions I thought’ As I staggered over the threshold and slurped a large glass of water, and pondered over the mysterious footsteps…
Watch out as I am going to hurl some compliments at you all on here after catching up on this thread…
awesome!
courageous!
inspiring!
Hope nobody got hurt;-)
Anyway, as this heat has knocked me out completely, the only time for me to go running would be very early in the morning or very late at night. Early mornings when I am taking a few days off work is a no no, I stagger up about ten. Late evenings a no no too as my hubby would insist in coming with me and my usual calm self would snap as he runs behind me giving me tips on how to run better.
Lengthen your stride, swing the arms more he shouts…I have been running for over 20 years, I think I know my own style:-D
Sooooo, my exercise routine for the past few days - turning over on the sun bed.
Suzie - It’s hard work juggling what spare time we have around our exercise habits, but even though you’re doing much needed work around the house and garden, not to mention extra-curricular activities such as your painting, doing what you enjoy most you will always have time for.
There’s nothing wrong with 5k at all though, and to run whilst in the company of such beautiful surroundings is certainly a nice boost to your stamina. Well done
Ooer Bob, those mysterious footsteps sound a little creepy bud :shock: Hope they are all in your mind (or maybe that’s not a good thing to hear too often), but you’re proving you too have the willpower to succeed against your niggles and complete a satisfying run. Isn’t the weather just gorgeous…and at least you can do your exercise outdoors
Hi Cedronella, and thank you. We do what we can I guess, against this exceptional heat. I’m sure you’ll acclimatise to at least some walking, if not running as such. But, I don’t envy you preferring to stretch your ligaments out on the sunbed instead. Which is where I intend to be after this write-up…
And so to my continuation of yesterday’s training: Well, all of that plus today’s legs session too, i.e. a double session. Ain’t no stoppin’ ol’ Floydy
As usual the gym was almost unbearably hot, even with occasional wafts of air con depending on whereabouts I was situated – the free weights area was sadly absent from any welcoming cool breeze, so I had to sweat it out and my full litre of iced orange squash was much required. But I managed to complete the two sessions back to back, starting with the legs.
Sunday, 8/6/18:
(All weights in kgs)
Part 1: Legs
Incline press:
50x150, 20x200, 15x250, 10x300
*It’s ages since I lifted more than 250 on the leg press. Not that I couldn’t as my all-time best was 420kg a couple of years ago, but the onset of knee arthritis (or whatever it was) curtailed that feverish pastime, probably for the best. No niggles from the knees today though, but I wisely stopped at a quick ten reps. No point in pushing things.
Sled press:
50x120, 50x150, 25x200, 50x100
*Quads feeling burnt out and looking pumped up to bursting point, time to carry on with the rest of my legs workout.
Seated ham curls:
25x40, 15x50, 12x60, 8x70
25x40, 50x25
Adductor:
30x60, 20x60, 15x60
Abductor:
30x60, 20x60, 15x60
*Same reps on these two but the second exercise (for the outer thighs) was causing a lot of discomfort to the hip flexors near the end. May decrease either the weight or the reps on this one next time.
Part 2: Biceps
BB curl, standing:
10x30, 10x30, 10x30
BB forearm reverse curl, standing:
15x15, 15x15
E-Z preacher curl:
Close grip - 8x38, 8x43, 6x48, 4x50.5
Wide grip – 10x28, 10x33, 5x38
C/g high reps: 25x18
Stack curls:
25x20, 25x15
High-pull cable curls:
12x25, 12x30, 10x35, 20x20
Ab crunch:
40x35
Time: 1hr. 25mins.
All done and home for a large Asda chicken and bacon pasta meal, with added chopped sausages followed by a siesta in the sun I think :-p
Mrs. Floydysaurus is working quite a lot of overtime next week to add a little spending money towards our next holiday in September, so I’ll be spending most of my afternoons picking up my granddaughter from school – that’s the problem with different kids at different schools (though come September, they’ll all be at the same one), so nothing is set in cement training-wise. I hope to get at least one session in mid-week.
Ive had house guests since Friday and too much booze and junk food have entered my system so no way was I going to be fit to get out, not in the humidity we have had this week end. How I longed for a thunderstorm but all we got was a spit of rain, not even enough to need the wipers on the car
I did have one more party to attend this week but now thats turned into a wake and I don’t have to go to that, so I’ve plans to get back on track and get at least five miles a night in this week. They give cooler weather this week so five miles should be easy and Im. hoping to bring that in at 1.10
Not really exciting as I am only walking but if I write it here I have to follow up
Floydy, hats off to you. I have no idea what all those terms mean but it all sounds so painful
Hi Missy,
I’m sure you’ll catch up next week. It’s the heat though, isn’t it? Lovely, but exhausting!
Thanks for your interest in my training routine.
I know I’m the only one on OFF who does this kind of thing, but maybe one day there’ll be somebody else to join me. Be nice to chat to someone likeminded and sado-machositic
Here’s a link with photos of some of the apparatus I use currently in the gym:
Cedronella, your post gave me a good chuckle and a feeling of empathy. It’s hovering around 34 C here and if I’m not out the door by eight in the morning, it’s sunset or nothing.
Missy, nothing wrong with having a good bit of fun, but I totally agree with you, there is something about writing it down here that is very motivating! I’ll be checking up on you in the next few days. Your walks miss you too! :-D.
Floydy, while I once prioritized my running over everything else, I have finally come to a more balanced way of looking a fitness. It’s still difficult to get everything I want to do in 24 hours, but I don’t feel like I’m going to go to mush if I skip a run here and there. Life is short!
With that in mind, I had a light but not terribly bad first true run today in which I ran without stopping (you hear that, OGF? :-D). The twinges are still there, but not bad enough to set my healing back.
With the sun approaching the horizon of pine trees framing the horizon, I tied up my shoes did a little light stretching to test the mood of Fourth Toe and pushed off. The grass was soft under my feet and springy from the morning rain. In no time, I realized that Fourth Toe was napping well enough that I could lengthen my stride and pick up speed. It wasn’t exactly a time that would qualify me for the Olympics, but at least no one was giving me pity encouragement .
I had ever intention of pushing the 5K to a four mile, but about halfway through, I realized that the sportsplex was completely devoid of people - a perfect opportunity to get the dogs out for some running of their own. After a quick drive home and loading up the doggos in a cloud of dog leashes and wagging tails, I was back at the sportsplex again for some good racing, chasing, and frisbee tossing. The evidence of a very good day are four happy dogs stretched out and soundly sleeping around the room. I’m not far behind…
A good approach, Suzie re your attitude to missing the odd bout of exercise occasionally.
I guess when we were younger doing this madness, it was an essential part of our daily lives to keep our fitness going non-stop. Nowadays we need to be more careful and ensure we get enough rest. I only came to terms with that philosophy over the past couple of years myself. I’m sure I haven’t lost my will to train regularly because of it.
Well after more than 3 year s the hole in my foot after amputation has nearly healed and i hope to start swimming again, and im hoping to start archery again, perhaps using a compound bow from my chair, so i can get some degree of fitness again.
I sure like the way you opted for a 2.5 miler as opposed to taking the day off. That’s a beauty of a medal and now a reminder of the challenge that got you back into the swing! Thanks for sharing it It’s great you can run late day. As the evening temperatures are around 33C with 85% humidity, about the only place I can run is at the sportsplex where the lights remain on when there are games. I would rather do that then run on a “dreadmill”.
That some kind of history! I really do hope that you make something special of your run this year. Very neat to see all of the artifacts from your events. My trophies more in the form of worn out shoes, knee braces, doctor bills, 
)
