Can you do it?
I’ve found my next physical challenge.
I stumbled onto this site at hundredpushups.com where they lay out a training plan to get you trained over a 6-week period to do 100 pushups without stopping
I’ve talked Tami and Amanda into doing it with me. We started last night with the initial test, and will begin the program with week 1, day 1 tonight.
Anyone else care to join in on the fun?
My injury was so painful that I was worried that it might be something more substantial than a muscle tear. So instead of going to see Dr. Kelly for acupuncture, I made an appointment with my primary care physician.
And the primary care physician examined my calf and diagnosed me with a torn soleus muscle. Or a torn gastrocnemius muscle. Or a partially torn Achilles tendon.
Whatever.
Then he told me that any and all of these injuries basically get the same treatment – rest from physical activity, and ibuprofen.
Have a nice day.
So I immediately made an appointment with Dr. Kelly. Then I kicked myself in the arse for not calling her first.
I had the treatment on Tuesday morning. By Wednesday evening I was walking limp free.
I’m going take it easy the rest of the week – no cycling or swimming – and then gradually get back into a routine of activity on Monday.
Here are my stats for the Double Ironman Triathlon Challenge
5 swims 5.0126 miles 3h:15m:27s 1.5379 mph
12 rides 224 miles 16h:17m:56s 13.74 mph
13 runs 52.4 miles 9h:34m:18s 10:57 per mile pace
Injury Update: I have a Doctor’s appointment this afternoon.
Danielle and I signed up to take an Introduction to Fencing class. It is a six week course that meets every Tuesday evening from 7 to 8:30. We are taking the class at the South Denver Fencing Academy.
Our first class consisted of stretching, determining your vision dominance – which determines if you fence right or left handed (I’m left, Danielle is right) – how to get into the “en garde” position, how to move forward, how to move backwards, how to thrust your weapon, and how to lunge with your weapon.
We had a great time. The instructors seem to be full of knowledge and experience, and they have great senses of humor too.
“Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
The last two weeks of February passed by uneventfully.
My Triathlon Challenge is right on track – the swim (5 miles) is complete, and I’m closing in on the run (52.4 miles.) Biking (224 miles) has been the most difficult, but the most enjoyable. Difficult because I’m only riding twice a week; in a spin class at the gym on Tuesday mornings for about 12 to 15 miles, and a long ride of 25-35 miles on Saturdays. My ride today was about 33 miles and here is a link to the Chatfield Reservoir loop that I took midway through.
So now it is March and a lot of things will be going on. Manda is closing in on buying a used car. We are getting the carpet in our basement replaced next weekend. Becca just finished her first week of driver’s education, with two more weeks to go. Eric turns 24 (!) at the end of month. Danielle and I are going to try taking a class together (more on that later – if we get registered.) Brittany is two weeks into a dietary change. I hope she likes it, and I hope it makes her feel better (not that she was feeling bad in the first place.) Boomer … is busy being a 3-year-old.
So the fitness center at work is putting on what they are calling an “Ironman Triathlon Challenge.” They’ve created several different ways to accumulate the required mileage in each discipline, and durations for the contest.
I took a look at my training over the past month and decided to enter the “8 Weeks to Complete a Double Ironman.” My challenge began today (2/4) and continues to 3/31. In that time, I must complete (cumulatively) a 5 miles of swimming, 224 miles of cycling, and 52.4 miles of running.
The process of competing in the challenge is that you record your mileage and times in each discipline, and then turn this data in each Monday during the event. The Wellness department will then put out standings, and other data points. In addition to the actual swimming, cycling, and running, there are opportunities to reduce your overall time by performing some very defined strength training routines.
I’m not a big volume exerciser. I run about 15-20 miles per week. I bike about 30-60 miles per week, and I swim about 4000 yards per week. Based on what I’ve done recently, what my current training plans look like, and my travel commitments, think I should be able to finish the task in about 5 weeks.
I ran for 40 minutes on Monday …
did a spin class for 60 minutes + swam 1300 yds on Tuesday …
and ran for 45 minutes this morning.
Tomorrow I plan on swimming 1500 yards.
Went to the gym for a double workout this morning. I rode the stationary bike on a random setting will hills, going 10.5 miles in 30 minutes, then swam 1350 yards in 30 minutes. I topped the workout off with a nice 15 minutes in the steam room.
I had the dreaded procedure done today. All’s well that ends well, no pun intended.
So my annual tests are all complete and no issues other than the non-cancer related high blood pressure and high cholesterol problems.
I began my blood pressure and cholesterol medicine regimen today. In two weeks I’ll be back in for a BP check, and 6 weeks back in for a blood work cholesterol check. I’m kind of perturbed that I have to take prescriptions for these issues. But in the long run (which I believe my life will be – a long run) it’s good to get the conditions under control and continue to pay attention to my diet and getting sufficient exercise …
… I’ve been alternating my exercise days – one day three times through the weight lifting circuit, the other day 40 minutes doing a double Body for Life cardio program on the treadmill. I’m doing this 6 days a week for a couple of months.
I haven’t been exercising lately due to travel, little league football, and other things. I had my annual physical and post-cancer check-up last week. I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol and both conditions need medication to correct. I have my CT scan and chest x-ray tomorrow. Tami and I went to the gym this morning. We lifted weight. I need to take better care of myself.