wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii very impressive - vwp do you listen to music when out walking, or are you with nature. if the former, how about switching to an audiobook of Candide? Posted by GELDY
I'm with the nature.
But this is a good idea Geldmeister, even nature gets abit 'samey' during 4/5 hour walks.
I've never listened to an audio book before, do I need to have internet on my phone to do it? This would also be something new for me.
Still living in the (early) naughties here
---
Another shoutout for twitch, as scoop has started and there are loads of good streams going on today, and over the next 15 days.
Again, https://www.twitch.tv/tonkaaaap , that is my favourite, all the highest stakes mtts (and sngs on weekdays) on the internet.
Great to watch alongside your grind or instead of eastenders etc.
Twitch poker needs more love! It's a brilllllyant website.
Now that the weightloss thing is done, and the half marathon target is a long way away in mid September, I need to set some short/medium term goals to help focus my 'training' over the next few weeks.
Challenges have worked well for me over the last year so I think it's a good idea to keep setting myself them.
I want to pencil in a target date for my first park run, which I believe is 5km/3 miles.
To give an idea of where I'm at at the moment, I've only just started running a full mile without stopping recently, I think i've done it 4 or 5 times now at a very moderate pace and it absolutely kills me, I'm full on shattered at the end of it.
What do people think would be a challenging yet realistic time frame to expect to be able to run 3miles from where I'm at now?
I have lots of time to train and will be fully committed to achieving any goal that I set (with your help).
I was thinking maybe 6 weeks?
Would that be too difficult/easy?
-----
Since Saturday I've relaxed the training alot, and the diet rules a little.
I weighed in today just 1lb up on Saturday morning, which is a fine result for me.
On Monday I made the spur of the moment decision to go through to Headingley to watch day 2 of the County Championship game between Yorkshire and Surrey.
Hiya, i would suggest you mix in some cycling in your training to beat the monotony of running.Maybe a 15to20 mile cycle route, then mix it with your running on alternate days.You may find you will fancy doing both on some days.And theres less chance of the stresses and strains of just running.It does sound like youre starting from a low level of athleticism so try and beat your times in cycling and running gradually.
After a while ,you will get the" buzz" a good workout gives you, which can be quite addictive.And when you do start beating your times, then you will find you can eat more!! All good.
And also to add you can pick up some extremely cheap second hand running machines,treadmills, as sometimes the unplanned workout is a bonus, especially when you have something to focus on like tv, dvd etc.
Mid-September is only four months away. To go from one mile of running today to thirteen miles then is a big ask. To get there you should definitely aim to do that park run in 6 weeks from now. A third of the 4 months will already have gone by then.
I remember you mentioning the couch to 5K plan. That's a very successful, proven plan, it's got thousands of newbies running 5K non-stop. Can you pick it up mid-way through?
Another possible approach is to continue your walk/run solo half-marathons as exercise. Don't increase the distance, just slowly increase the percentage of running and decrease the percentage of walking.
In my opinion you should commit yourself 100% to both the park run and half marathon. Then do them no matter what, even if the best you can manage is to say run 33%, walk 66%. Loads of other people at both events will be doing the same thing. I see tons of people in half-marathons who finish well under 2 hours taking walk breaks. Park run specialise in making novice runners feel comfortable.
Much like with the weight-loss having a fixed target focusses the mind and is much likely to get you a positive result. Your target should be to finish both events. Time taken is irrelevant.
A disclaimer here; I'm aware you have a medical condition that causes chronic fatigue. Advice from your GP trumps anything I suggest obviously.
Excellent posts both, thanks. And welcome to the thread chilling, you are a new-ish name to me, so I especially appreciate you taking the time to post.
The 4 months thing hit me hard when I read it Gary
I was thinking September is ages away but it really isn't!!!
I don't have any time to waste, I shall pick up the couch to 5k training tomorrow. (yesterday you said tomorrow, do it now!) I'll go for a jog tonight too
The bike suggestion is also a good one chilling, I'm glad you mentioned it because last week I was hovering over the checkout button on halfords having found a bike I thought would suit.
Only at the last minute a friend told me I should go and sit on it before buying it, and that put me off.
As a big fatty I don't want tyres that are going to pop when I so much as look at it, so it's probably good advice.
It's something I'll sort soon, I'm just incredibly lazy with this kind of thing.
Well, any sort of thing really.
-----
Just in from a walk where I convinced myself this mtt grind on Sunday may be fun.
I'm certain that however positive I force myself to be going into it, the likelihood is it'll all be drained within 15 minutes when I 4bet/cbet AK on J62r and get shoved on.
ayahhh.
If anyone fancies joining in for abit of banter/moral support/ and hopefully some big final table rails, I'll stick a list of comps up beforehand, maybe ask resident statistician Auzzie if he can design some sort of scoring system so I can have an official memento of my success over Master B.
Hiya again,dont forget that when increasing muscle size as you will when training, weighing yourself as i think you might could be a touch confusing.Scales only give you total weight and not fat reduction.You need specialist equipment for fat loss.Maybe you can still post your weight from day to day as it could fluctuate.Easiest guide is if your clothes still fit well.
Weight loss isn't an issue anymore, that challenge is long gone and now it's all about getting fitter and stronger for this half marathon attempt in September.
I will still weigh myself and post how it's going occasionally, purely out of curiosity but as long as I don't start piling weight back on fluctuations either way wont bother me.
---
Back out running/walking today.
I did 6.5 miles in 1h 40.
Picked up the couch to 5k where I left off, using the week 3 routine as a warm up then the week 4 drill as the main part of the session.
I completed both comfortably, so will start on week 5 of 9 tomorrow.
Means I'm going to pencil in Saturday the 18thof April as my deadline for my first park run.
----
The worrying thing for me is, I'm putting alot of faith into this training programme.
If I stick to it rigidly, it's only 3 days per week of training.
I could, and feel I should do more on top, but then I run the risk of neglecting rest.
Am I allowed to go through the "weeks" in less than a week?
Or do more on top?
If I do exactly as it says and it doesn't work out, that's 5 weeks of training that've not been as productive as they could and should have been, which is a big deal when I only have 4 months to play with.
I feel like I need to do more.
If I go for a run on the evening after doing the couch to 5k drill on the morning would that be ok.
Thanks again chilling. Weight loss isn't an issue anymore, that challenge is long gone and now it's all about getting fitter and stronger for this half marathon attempt in September. I will still weigh myself and post how it's going occasionally, purely out of curiosity but as long as I don't start piling weight back on fluctuations either way wont bother me. --- Back out running/walking today. I did 6.5 miles in 1h 40. Picked up the couch to 5k where I left off, using the week 3 routine as a warm up then the week 4 drill as the main part of the session. I completed both comfortably, so will start on week 5 of 9 tomorrow. Means I'm going to pencil in Saturday the 18th of April as my deadline for my first park run. ---- The worrying thing for me is, I'm putting alot of faith into this training programme. If I stick to it rigidly, it's only 3 days per week of training. I could, and feel I should do more on top, but then I run the risk of neglecting rest. Am I allowed to go through the "weeks" in less than a week? Or do more on top? If I do exactly as it says and it doesn't work out, that's 5 weeks of training that've not been as productive as they could and should have been, which is a big deal when I only have 4 months to play with. I feel like I need to do more. If I go for a run on the evening after doing the couch to 5k drill on the morning would that be ok. So many questions. But for now, dinnerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Posted by DOHHHHHHH
Nearly a year to prepare then....no worries
Just try not to 'over do' anything. We might even get a summer this year, so just be sure you are not pushing yourself too much or feel pressurised into achieving 'targets'. Trying not to be a doom merchant here, as I honestly admire what you have done so far.
Don't decrease the total amount of exercise you've already got used to (measured by time, not distance). That would be a backward step. Build the 5k plan into that time. So yes, it's fine to do more later to top-up to make that days total minutes of exercise the same as what you would have done anyway.
The 5K plan is very gentle and gradual, designed to be do-able by people who have done zero exercise for several years. I see no reason why you can't accelerate it a little seeing as you're already walk/running much longer distances. Possible suggestions; do each week in a five or six day period. Or skip every other week. Be sensible, don't overdo it, make sure your legs get easy days for rest and recovery.
I'm not sure if you'll find it online or not, but 'Gareth Thomas Run for Life' was a great BBC series last year that followed Gareth Thomas turn 'Alfies Angels', a group of non-running unfit women from a Welsh village, into Cardiff Half Marathon finishers. I really enjoyed it, especially seeing as I took part in that event myself and saw them at the start line. If you can find it you'll probably find it inspiring.
It's coming back this year. I've seen a trailer on the BBC looking for 100 volunteers to participate, in teams of 10.
By coincidence I listened to an episode (306) of the Marathon Talk podcast at work this morning, it featured an interview with a guy who got his marathon best time down to sub 3 hours using a run/walk strategy.
Hi JJ, Great advice by all. Id also look into running clubs in your area. Your local club will almost def have a "before beginners.. beginners club" Trust me ...there is nothing which will help you more than others who are at your "level" Posted by Glenelg
Yes thats a good idea about running and jogging clubs.I have a group near me called the Pyrford Puffers.What a strange name?
In Response to Re: "Sit & DOHHHHHHH Diary" : Yes thats a good idea about running and jogging clubs.I have a group near me called the Pyrford Puffers.What a strange name? Posted by chilling
Where I live there is a club called the "Troon Tortoises".
Well done on the challenge dohh, been going through a diet change myself and it's tough sticking to it, takes alot of self discipline! I think this is the only diary on the forum I regularly check up on now even though I don't post. Are you still playing any cash on sky? I think your missing a trick if not, there's plenty of money to be made even at nl20/30. If you put in some volume you will easy beat it! Posted by BigHawk89
Somehow I missed this post, that has happened a few times of late. Sorry to anyone who has asked questions and been rudely ignored by myself, I think I read stuff on my phone and aim to reply later then forget.
No cash on sky (or anywhere) yet Hawk.
My 'health' or I guess more specifically my general wellbeing isn't really up to it.
It may sound strange, but some of the most talented poker players (relatively speaking, not isildur/polk etc) I've gotten to know over the years have struggled to various degrees and either given up or faded away down the levels (id include myself in that category) whilst less technically correct players continue to thrive and get the money day in day out.
When it comes to cash poker I'll take the disciplined workaholic over the talented potential whizz kid with mental leaks every day of the week.
Point is, before I can start taking on cash (or any form of poker to any serious level) I need to get my head, and body right.
It's by far the most difficult of all the challenges I've taken on, fighting anxiety, losing weight, being a veggie, training for a half marathon and quitting booze all included.
But I am determined to try and get there!
POKER IS HARD !!!!
-----
Talking of pokerz.
It's the night before the scheduled BIG MTT grind, where I take on the same lower buyin comps as Monseiur Bates in an attempt to prove that I'm basically better at poker than he is.
If I have a better session than he does it proves it beyond all reasonable doubt.
I've just played 500 hands of 10nl fast fold and won $22.
So the first 2x 11 bucker comps are now free and I'm also re-familiarised with the rules of poker.
I am waiting on the great man to provide me with a schedule, but I think we're playing from 2pm until late, and it'll include stuff like the mini roller, 9.30 £11 BH, as well as pokerfests, scoops, sunday storm n stuff.
I've set him a max buyin of £11.01 per comp, however I believe there are a couple of $22 buyin pokerfests on party which I'm reliably informed are "good value".
So if anyone wants to buy half my action in a few of those I'll confirm the schedule and which comps then u can send me some money if u like.
I know I aint sposed to do that on here but meh. Mods dnt read this anyway :P
----
@ Harry, I've just dusted off the ipod this week.
Music choices have included....
Dido
Stereophonics
M People
Robbie Williams
Abba.
These are the best 5 albums I could find in the CD section of the charity shop.
If anyone wants to suggest some playlists to help me through tomorrows monster grind I'd love to try them out.
Comments
Would that be too difficult/easy?
Was bantering with 1 of sky pokers finest Master B a few days ago.
Happy Birthday:D
1.9 miles (3.06km) is 61% of 5k.
Best thing I ever did was to start taking my headphones to the gym. Makes those tricky vending machine decisions a little bit easier.
----
@ Harry, I've just dusted off the ipod this week.