mdiver
I fix stuff 'round here
Greg, thank you so much for your donation that means so much! Ian will be here in a couple of weeks and I will pass on your words of encouragement. Also tomorrows run you can put on your fitness tracker ;-)
Purple and Black
Taking Independent and Unofficial Back
Taking Independent and Unofficial Back
The "OK, New Year's Resolutions Are Either Over Or In Full Swing" 2022 Fitness Thread!
- Thread starter RodeoSchro
- Start date
RodeoSchro
Well-Known Member
PRO TIP: Don't get kicked in the knee by a horse. It hurts a lot. Sure am glad I donated to Dylan's Wings of Change, I need that vicarious running more than ever!
mdiver
I fix stuff 'round here
RodeoSchro
Well-Known Member
Getting there, thanks. It got me just beside the right knee cap. I am very lucky - if it had got me on the kneecap or on the shin, I'd be in the hospital but minus a kneecap/some bones. As it was, the kicked area swelled up so that it looked like I had half a baseball under there. But the one good decision I made was to go to the medical room instead of trying to drive home.
We iced it and took a lot of Tylenol, then repeated when I got home. The swelling has gone way down. It's still very sore but I am actually going to "get right back on the horse and ride it" tomorrow night. The horse that kicked me had no business being on the arena floor - it'd kicked three others already but no one as bad as me - and hopefully it's been removed from the stock.
I did learn these things about myself: (1) When hurt badly, I will scream "F$@#"!!!!!! at the top of my lungs, a whole bunch of times. I'm sure the whole stadium heard me, LOL. I wonder if the arena announcers told the parents to cover the kiddies' ears?; and (2) There was no way in hell I was coming off the back of my horse. First, I've never been thrown off a horse in my life and I wasn't about to go down in front of 10,000 people and second, you just don't do that. No way, no how! What a macho idiot I am, but I did finish the ride all the way out of the stadium and all the way to where the wranglers were
mdiver
I fix stuff 'round here
mdiver
I fix stuff 'round here
March Mile for Meaning so far- day 21
My legs are feeling it- 10 days to go but our teams are crushing it- Team 1 are over 500,000 points ahead of the second placed non DWC team- they would have to be superhuman to over haul us- DWC team 2 are catching 2nd place and currently placed 3rd, DWC 3 are in 4th- this means we have 3 teams that stand to win money this year.
Likely outcome on top of donations while this is going on is a 35-40k prize money win for DWC.
It's worth the tired legs, this is a massive thing for the charity.
| Run | 187.4 | ||
| Bike | 246.36 | ||
| Bike to run ratio 3:1 | |||
| Bike Mileage Equivalent | 82.12 | ||
| Run Mileage total for points | 269.52 | ||
| Average run per day | 12.83429 |
My legs are feeling it- 10 days to go but our teams are crushing it- Team 1 are over 500,000 points ahead of the second placed non DWC team- they would have to be superhuman to over haul us- DWC team 2 are catching 2nd place and currently placed 3rd, DWC 3 are in 4th- this means we have 3 teams that stand to win money this year.
Likely outcome on top of donations while this is going on is a 35-40k prize money win for DWC.
It's worth the tired legs, this is a massive thing for the charity.
mdiver
I fix stuff 'round here
Miles for meaning is done! We won by over a million points- second place 2.2 mil, DWC Team 1 -3.3mil- absolutely smashed it.
Personal totals for March below- I am tired beyond words- Umstead 100 this weekend- no running this year for me, we start to prep for the race on Monday for our 2023 assault on the race.
I am very happy with this, its basically a half marathon every day for 31 days.
Personal totals for March below- I am tired beyond words- Umstead 100 this weekend- no running this year for me, we start to prep for the race on Monday for our 2023 assault on the race.
| Run | 312.32 |
| Bike | 273.67 |
| Run/Bike Equivalent | 91.22333 |
| Run Total | 403.5433 |
I am very happy with this, its basically a half marathon every day for 31 days.
barnswallow
Well-Known Member
Wow.
maplenpg
Well-Known Member
RodeoSchro
Well-Known Member
Good news! I skied all day Saturday and had absolutely no knee problems. I wore a cool black knee support and I'm sure that helped. The only discomfort I ever felt was riding on the lift and not using the bar. I even fell once (not my fault! It was slushy!) but was able to keep my right leg out of the line of fire.
And the next day? The knee was fine! It's still swollen pretty good but it looks like that I escaped any actual injury. Thank God!
And the next day? The knee was fine! It's still swollen pretty good but it looks like that I escaped any actual injury. Thank God!
mdiver
I fix stuff 'round here
RodeoSchro
Well-Known Member
It's been almost two months since I started "Training Like Reacher". How's it going, you ask?
Saturday, I was mistaken for a professional bodybuilder - by an actual professional bodybuilder! We work out at the same gym and he thought he'd seen me competing at the last Labrada (a contest held in Houston by former Mr. Universe Lee Labrada). Man, that got me PUMPED!
I'm not Labrada-ready but I can absolutely feel and see the results of what I've done the last few months. I used to be all about lifting the heaviest weight I could for two sets of three - eight reps. I did get much stronger, and it's fun to have high maximum weight lifts. Here's what I used to do for an average workout under that scenario:
INCLINE PRESS - Six sets, working up from 135 to 185 to 215, with a spotter for the two 215 sets.
CURLS - Six sets, two at a warm-up of 20-pound dumb bells and then four sets on a bar at 75 pounds
SHOULDERS - Either flies with 20-pound dumb bells, or shrugs that worked up to 65-pound dumb bells
LEGS - Seated leg press, working up to 415 pounds (the most the machine can do). I got 8 reps at 415 once!
Now, here's what I do:
INCLINE PRESS - 100 reps at 135. I try for a minimum of 16 reps per set and a maximum of 25 reps. I do however many sets it takes to get to 100 reps. Yesterday, I did it in 5 sets - my best ever! Until yesterday, it usually took 7 sets to get there
CURLS - I use the rope and machine like in the Reacher video. I do 150 reps, usually 2 sets at 40 pounds and then 6 sets at 50 pounds
SHOULDERS - Same rope set up but with hands turned outward so it hits the shoulders. I do 100 reps minimum, usually taking 5 sets. Sometimes I raise the rope and do triceps push-downs instead of shoulders.
LEGS - 150 reps in 25-rep sets, working up to 200 pounds.
The Reacher workouts take the same amount of time as my original workouts, so that's good. But the pump is INCREDIBLE and the size gain is noticeable. I highly recommend it!
Saturday, I was mistaken for a professional bodybuilder - by an actual professional bodybuilder! We work out at the same gym and he thought he'd seen me competing at the last Labrada (a contest held in Houston by former Mr. Universe Lee Labrada). Man, that got me PUMPED!
I'm not Labrada-ready but I can absolutely feel and see the results of what I've done the last few months. I used to be all about lifting the heaviest weight I could for two sets of three - eight reps. I did get much stronger, and it's fun to have high maximum weight lifts. Here's what I used to do for an average workout under that scenario:
INCLINE PRESS - Six sets, working up from 135 to 185 to 215, with a spotter for the two 215 sets.
CURLS - Six sets, two at a warm-up of 20-pound dumb bells and then four sets on a bar at 75 pounds
SHOULDERS - Either flies with 20-pound dumb bells, or shrugs that worked up to 65-pound dumb bells
LEGS - Seated leg press, working up to 415 pounds (the most the machine can do). I got 8 reps at 415 once!
Now, here's what I do:
INCLINE PRESS - 100 reps at 135. I try for a minimum of 16 reps per set and a maximum of 25 reps. I do however many sets it takes to get to 100 reps. Yesterday, I did it in 5 sets - my best ever! Until yesterday, it usually took 7 sets to get there
CURLS - I use the rope and machine like in the Reacher video. I do 150 reps, usually 2 sets at 40 pounds and then 6 sets at 50 pounds
SHOULDERS - Same rope set up but with hands turned outward so it hits the shoulders. I do 100 reps minimum, usually taking 5 sets. Sometimes I raise the rope and do triceps push-downs instead of shoulders.
LEGS - 150 reps in 25-rep sets, working up to 200 pounds.
The Reacher workouts take the same amount of time as my original workouts, so that's good. But the pump is INCREDIBLE and the size gain is noticeable. I highly recommend it!
mdiver
I fix stuff 'round here
RodeoSchro
Well-Known Member
Got the incline bench up to 120 reps over 6 sets.
RodeoSchro
Well-Known Member
It's been 60 days since our last post - I assume everyone has been hitting it hard and is in the shape they want to be here on the first day of summer.
Right?
I am! I haven't missed any workouts and I've increased the reps and sets on every exercise. I've even pretty much got actual legs now, instead of my lifelong chicken legs! Here's a sample workout:
CHEST
50 warm-up reps with 95 pounds (45-pound bar, 25-pound plate on each side), done in 2 25-rep sets
150 reps with 135 pounds, done in 6 sets of 25 reps each. But for 4 or 5 sets, it takes me 2 or even 3 lifts to get to 25 reps; AND SOMETIMES ADD
150 reps on the chest pull-down (similar to the lat pull-down but with that small, triangle bar). Work up from 70 pounds to 110 pounds OR
120 reps on the cable fly machine, 60 - 65 pounds total
ARMS
200 reps biceps curls, using the rope like in the Jack Reacher video - 50 warm-up reps, then 6 sets of serious reps OR
150 reps with a curling bar, 55 pounds; AND
120 reps with dumb bells, either 20 or 25-pound dumb bells
150 triceps pull-downs
SHOULDERS
120 reps shoulder shrugs - either 40-pound dumb bells or 100 pounds plates if I'm at home on my bench press machine; OR
150 reps shoulder pull-up on the rope, same set-up as the biceps curl except hands positioned outward instead of inward
LEGS
150 reps on the squat machine, 25-rep sets. I stair-step these, starting at 140 pounds and going up to 300 pounds by the last set OR
120 reps on the leg extension machine, 6 sets from 70 pounds to 90 pounds
I think that this fall, I'm going to back to the heaviest weights I can but for now, I really like the pump that using lighter weights gives me. If you're having trouble getting started or maintaining enthusiasm, try doing 25 reps with a light weight and shoot for 4 to 6 sets. I think you'll like it!
Right?
I am! I haven't missed any workouts and I've increased the reps and sets on every exercise. I've even pretty much got actual legs now, instead of my lifelong chicken legs! Here's a sample workout:
CHEST
50 warm-up reps with 95 pounds (45-pound bar, 25-pound plate on each side), done in 2 25-rep sets
150 reps with 135 pounds, done in 6 sets of 25 reps each. But for 4 or 5 sets, it takes me 2 or even 3 lifts to get to 25 reps; AND SOMETIMES ADD
150 reps on the chest pull-down (similar to the lat pull-down but with that small, triangle bar). Work up from 70 pounds to 110 pounds OR
120 reps on the cable fly machine, 60 - 65 pounds total
ARMS
200 reps biceps curls, using the rope like in the Jack Reacher video - 50 warm-up reps, then 6 sets of serious reps OR
150 reps with a curling bar, 55 pounds; AND
120 reps with dumb bells, either 20 or 25-pound dumb bells
150 triceps pull-downs
SHOULDERS
120 reps shoulder shrugs - either 40-pound dumb bells or 100 pounds plates if I'm at home on my bench press machine; OR
150 reps shoulder pull-up on the rope, same set-up as the biceps curl except hands positioned outward instead of inward
LEGS
150 reps on the squat machine, 25-rep sets. I stair-step these, starting at 140 pounds and going up to 300 pounds by the last set OR
120 reps on the leg extension machine, 6 sets from 70 pounds to 90 pounds
I think that this fall, I'm going to back to the heaviest weights I can but for now, I really like the pump that using lighter weights gives me. If you're having trouble getting started or maintaining enthusiasm, try doing 25 reps with a light weight and shoot for 4 to 6 sets. I think you'll like it!
barnswallow
Well-Known Member
according to my phone, my step count is trending higher for the last 5 of 21 weeks, from 6,000 steps to almost 12,000 steps per day; i'm walking/running ~4.2 m per day; a brain notices these things but it's pretty cool having hard numbers. This past winter, i was more inactive in winter than i usually am, which accounts for the big swing. feeling good now though. happy solstice.
RodeoSchro
Well-Known Member
Awesome, keep it going! Unless you live in Texas, in which case keep it going - indoors!
RodeoSchro
Well-Known Member
Well - it's been six months since we checked in! I assume we've all met our fitness goals? Of COURSE we have! Or gotten close to them, anyway. Here's my update:
I went back to heavy weights about 60 days ago, maybe 90 days ago. Although the Reacher workout was great for pumps, I definitely lost strength. It took me three or four weeks to get back to doing 185 comfortably for 6 - 10 reps or so on the incline bench. Huh! I was anticipating some strength loss but this was more than I figured on.
But, now I'm back to my heaviest lifts. Checking on my goals from January, I wanted to get to 250 on the incline press?!? WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?
I'm shooting for 225. Almost got it a few days back, was thisclose to two reps all on my own. I'm hoping tomorrow is the day, but we'll see.
I am proud of my legs workouts. I've really been hitting all the machines, even the legs biceps thingie that everyone hates. I'm back to doing the stack on the leg press (415 pounds, six reps), although I usually cap out at 300 - 320 in a normal workout. All this is for skiing, mind you. It worked great last year!
Which brings me to the Big News - Mr. I-Hate-Cardio is doing cardio! Ugh, but again - it's for skiing. I do 7 - 10 minutes on the elliptical, focusing on my heart rate. I get it to 150 BPM and keep it there for five minutes or so. I'll usually jack it up to 160 for a minute. According to the heart rate chart on the machine, 150+ is above the red line for a guy my age. So either I'm getting fit, or I'm heading for a heart attack. Time will tell!
How did 2022 go for you? Have you set goals for 2023 yet?
I went back to heavy weights about 60 days ago, maybe 90 days ago. Although the Reacher workout was great for pumps, I definitely lost strength. It took me three or four weeks to get back to doing 185 comfortably for 6 - 10 reps or so on the incline bench. Huh! I was anticipating some strength loss but this was more than I figured on.
But, now I'm back to my heaviest lifts. Checking on my goals from January, I wanted to get to 250 on the incline press?!? WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?
I'm shooting for 225. Almost got it a few days back, was thisclose to two reps all on my own. I'm hoping tomorrow is the day, but we'll see.
I am proud of my legs workouts. I've really been hitting all the machines, even the legs biceps thingie that everyone hates. I'm back to doing the stack on the leg press (415 pounds, six reps), although I usually cap out at 300 - 320 in a normal workout. All this is for skiing, mind you. It worked great last year!
Which brings me to the Big News - Mr. I-Hate-Cardio is doing cardio! Ugh, but again - it's for skiing. I do 7 - 10 minutes on the elliptical, focusing on my heart rate. I get it to 150 BPM and keep it there for five minutes or so. I'll usually jack it up to 160 for a minute. According to the heart rate chart on the machine, 150+ is above the red line for a guy my age. So either I'm getting fit, or I'm heading for a heart attack. Time will tell!
How did 2022 go for you? Have you set goals for 2023 yet?
mdiver
I fix stuff 'round here
In honesty I thought i was slacking this last 5-6 weeks but upon checking I am doing ok.
VO2 max is sat at 50.6 which for a 51 year old is .....well.....elite and i am by no means an "athlete"
I checked in on my miles for the year and have them shown below. When i add the 168 peloton rides in to this totaling just over 2000 miles I am happy with my progress. I am 30lbs down on my start of year with about 15- 20 more to remove by race day the first weekend of April for the Umstead 100.
I have some hard miles ahead, January includes a 37.5 mile single run, a 50 mile training run and a 75 mile weekend in Feb.
Considering that this time last year I simply couldn't run and had stopped doing anything in an attempt to heal my acl I am incredibly happy with where i am. Dec, Jan were just work on the Peloton to build strength without stressing my knee, then the fun started.
VO2 max is sat at 50.6 which for a 51 year old is .....well.....elite and i am by no means an "athlete"
I checked in on my miles for the year and have them shown below. When i add the 168 peloton rides in to this totaling just over 2000 miles I am happy with my progress. I am 30lbs down on my start of year with about 15- 20 more to remove by race day the first weekend of April for the Umstead 100.
I have some hard miles ahead, January includes a 37.5 mile single run, a 50 mile training run and a 75 mile weekend in Feb.
Considering that this time last year I simply couldn't run and had stopped doing anything in an attempt to heal my acl I am incredibly happy with where i am. Dec, Jan were just work on the Peloton to build strength without stressing my knee, then the fun started.
mdiver
I fix stuff 'round here
This is amazing! Really good work, the metrics really help to drive you don't they? (I know they do with me)