Who’s on top?

I’m not sure that bodes well for me. I was doing so well at keeping an accurate log of all of my training. It’s all gone to pot. Not the training. That’s actually going very well. But the tracking and writing bit seems to have gone away. I’ve got to try to get back into the habit to filling this in every night but it’s feeling like a homework assignment that I just don’t want to do.

So anyway. Training. It’s been good. Very good. Most people know that, aside from the South Pole Race, I’m also training for the London Triathlon in 2011. I’m really very excited about it. It will be a big challenge, but I think I could get addicted to it pretty easily. Not the worst thing to be addicted to, right?

Over the past two weeks I’ve been concentrating on my  squash and my swimming. Squash because I’m really trying to push my game up a bit, and swimming because I need to do it in the triathlon.

So the breakdown:

Monday 20 September:
Light run (4 KM) to test  my knee and a weight session.

Weights:
50 X Side Lats
50 X Curls
50 X Tricep Push
50 X Bent-Over Rolls
50 X Calf Raise
50 X Shoulder Press
50 X Front Raisers
50 X Hammer Curls
50 X Tricep Raise
50 X Side Bends

Wed 22 September:
Early morning swim. 56 Laps in the pool (1.28KM)
45 Minute Squash Lesson

Thursday 23 September:
Squash Match.

Friday 24 September:
Early morning swim. 80 Laps (1.82KM)

Saturday 25 September:
45 Minute Squash Lesson

Sunday 26 September:
90 Minutes of Squash Training

Monday 27 September:
Early morning swim. 40 Laps (914m)

Tuesday 28 September:
4.8KM run to test my knee

Wednesday 29 September:
Early morning swim. 60 Laps (1.37KM)

Friday 1 October:
Early morning swim. 80 Laps (1.82KM)
45 Minute Squash Match

I need to step up my running and my weights over the next two weeks as we have the MH race in a couple of weeks and my knee is feeling better. I’ll continue swimming three times a week as well.

That’s a boring update. But I needed to get it all done on paper, so to speak.

- j

Yum. Curry is always amazing the second day, and Mark and I decided to go to Kebab Mahal last night for a bit of a feast. That has nothing to do with my training, but I’ve just finished eating and feeling pretty satisfied.

I’ve been back and squash this week with good success. I had my final two league matches to play (Wednesday and Friday) and, even though I haven’t played in two weeks (knee) I managed to win them both 3-0. I felt good. A bit stiff at times, but good. I think I’ve probably lost a step or two of pace, but I can get that back over the next couple of weeks. Running will help as well.

Today was a weights day, before heading out to the Dialogues concert tonight:

Weight:
6KG Dumbells

Sets:
5 X 20 Reps

Totals:

100 X Side Lats
100 X Curls
100 X Tricep Push
100 X Bent-Over Rolls
100 X Calf Raise
100 X Shoulder Press
100 X Front Raisers
100 X Hammer Curls
100 X Tricep Raise
100 X Side Bends

1000 X Ab Crunches

Yep. 1000 Abs. That got tiring. I admit.

- j

I have to make this brief as I need to get ready to go to the Tattoo tonight. I came home early from work so I could fit in a weights workout.

Weight:
6KG Dumbells

Sets:
2 X 15 Reps
3 X 20 Reps

Totals:
90 X Side Lats
90 X Curls
90 X Tricep Push
90 X Bent-Over Rolls
90 X Calf Raise
90 X Shoulder Press
90 X Front Raisers

90 X Hammer Curls
90 X Tricep Raise
90 X Side Bends

900 X Ab Crunches

Yep. 900 abs. Ouch.

Gotta run. Gotta cry.

-j

It’s Saturday, and I was supposed to go for a swim. I didn’t. That sort of makes me angry, as it was really down to laziness and a desire to avoid a pool full of retards.

Whenever I get lazy in my training, I punish myself a bit. It’s a nice way of reminding myself to stick with the plan, because when you pussy out, pain and tiredness gets multiplied by an angry and vengeful Jordan. Something like that.

Anyway, on to today. Since I decided to pussy out on the swim, I figured it was a good opportunity to see if I could push the weights on a bit. I’ve been doing a lot of them and I’m feeling good about it. Rather than  stick with the same, I decided to play about with the reps a bit and see how I got on. It went pretty well.

The numbers are actually pretty cool when you actually add them up.

Each set involved this series:

Side Lats
Ab Crunches
Curls
Ab Crunches
Tricep Push
Ab Crunches
Bent-Over Rolls
Ab Crunches
Calf Raise
Crunches
Shoulder Press
Crunches
Front Raisers
Crunches
Hammer Curls
Crunches
Tricep Raise
Crunches
Side Bends
Ab Crunches

The Weight: 6KG Dumbbells

Set 1: 10 Reps
Set 2, 3, 4: 15 Reps
Set 5: 20 Reps

The fifth set was pretty brutal. Doing 20 front raisers is not easy at all, particularly after 20 Shoulder Presses.

When you add that all up, you get some neat numbers:

Weights: 75 Reps each (10 Different weight sets means 750 reps in total)
Abs: 750 Crunches (that’s actually a lot of stomach crunches, isn’t it?)

Pretty cool.

- j

What a week.

(and yes, I’m sort of past the ‘Jordan is a fucking retard’ stage of thinking and fully back on board with the ‘Jordan is a genius’ mentality. Kind of)

So I guess I’ve already talked about my lack of running. My last run was Sunday Aug 8 (10K) and I’ve been hobbling ever since. It sucks. On lots of levels.

First off it sucks because we were trying to do a half-marathon this month and we’re now putting it off until next month. That fucks me off something chronic.

Secondly it sucks because I’ve gotten quite into my running, and I felt like I was starting to achieve something. I know I can do 15-20Km now. I just have to push myself to get up to the next level.

The plus side of all of this:

• I get it. I’m 32. That’s not going to stop me, but it is going to make me pay more attention to my body and stop pretending I’m 18 years old. Just because I still act like I’m 12 doesn’t mean I’m that flexible anymore. And I need to stretch.
• I haven’t stopped training. I’ve adjusted. The drive is still there. Can’t run? Fine. I’ll do weights. I’ll swim. Can’t play squash? Well, actually, that just sucks.
• I’ve done a lot of weights the last few weeks and it’s starting to really pay off. I feel strong. I feel confident I can push myself up another level.
• I’ve found a great physio that I’m happy with. (Edinburgh Physiotherapy Centre)
• I’ve decided to train for a Triathalon next year. Fuck it. Why not? It’s a nice goal to make for next year, and it’s easier than the South Pole, right?

So it’s been a week. I managed quite a bit of good training. And a visit to the physio for some pain (dear god that can hurt). I’ve also turned my hand to swimming (triathalon eh?) and I’ve found another skill I need to master. I’m not bad. I’m just not good. And I want to be good. I want to win.

So this week in training I’ve learned a lot. All of it useful. Some of it painful. All of it working towards the South Pole. All of it.

My week:

Monday & Tuesday
Weights! Hurrah!

Sets:5
Reps: 10
Weight: 2 X 6KG Dumbells

Side Lats
10 X Ab Crunches
Curls
10 X Ab Crunches
Tricep Push
10 X Ab Crunches
Bent-Over Rolls
10 X Ab Crunches
Calf Raise
10 X Ab Crunches
Shoulder Press
10 X Ab Crunches
Front Raisers
10 X Ab Crunches
Hammer Curls
10 X Ab Crunches
Tricep Raise
10 X Ab Crunches
Side Bends
10 X Ab Crunches

On the second set I do press-ups instead of abs. That fucking hurts. Then I do a smaller set with heavier weights:

Section 2:

4 X 10 Reps
Weight: 11KG

Curls
Shoulder Press
Bent Over Rolls

Wednesday
Swimming! Who knew swimming was such a tough CV workout? Jesus. But it’s a process. I’m going to try to go 3 times a week as a non-impact way of working out.

On Wednesday I did 16 Laps. I was fine. I need to do more and I need to improve my technique and stamina.

Thursday (that’s tonight, right?)
Weights again.

Sets:5
Reps: 10
Weight: 2 X 6KG Dumbells

Side Lats
10 X Ab Crunches
Curls
10 X Ab Crunches
Tricep Push
10 X Ab Crunches
Bent-Over Rolls
10 X Ab Crunches
Calf Raise
10 X Ab Crunches
Shoulder Press
10 X Ab Crunches
Front Raisers
10 X Ab Crunches
Hammer Curls
10 X Ab Crunches
Tricep Raise
10 X Ab Crunches
Side Bends
10 X Ab Crunches

On the second set I did press-ups instead of abs. (once again, ouch)

I’m planning on swiming tomorrow and doing a small run on Saturday adhering to exactly what my physio has said. That will make my sister happy with me.

Sunday I’m planning on swimming in the ocean. Why? What the hell else do I have to do? I can’t play squash.

So yeah. That’s my week in training.

- j

I’m not sure how much has changed.

That’s a confused way of saying that I’ve finally taken the plunge (ha!) an started swimming. If I am going to do that pesky Triathalon next year I’m going to have to get used to swimming, right?

My knee is getting a lot better. I’ve been doing my stretched every day (promise) and I’ve spent the week doing nothing that could aggravate it. No running. No squash. no fun.

So this has been a week of weights. Four days of weights & crunches. It feels good.

I’ve also added in some swimming (as of today). It was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Fun, mind you. I did 10 laps this morning before I headed off to work. I think I’ll try and go a couple of mornings each week. It’s a good CV workout.

- This week i’ll be concentrating on getting back to my squash and running.

I’ll do a better job when my knee is back.

-j

Off to the physio today to work on the knee. I hope it gets sorted soon as I’m getting a bit fed up of not running! I’m going to attempt to swim instead so that I can give my legs a break, but I guarantee I won’t like it as much as being outside.

(now that’s a thought. I have a wetsuit. I could swim in the sea)

Last night I went for weights again. Same sort of workout. I’ll change it up tonight, but I was actually enjoying the weights.

Tonight’s workout:

Section1:

5 X 10 Reps
Weight: 6KG Dumbells

Side Lats
10 X Ab Crunches
Curls
10 X Ab Crunches
Tricep Push
10 X Ab Crunches
Bent-Over Rolls
10 X Ab Crunches
Calf Raise
10 X Ab Crunches
Shoulder Press
10 X Ab Crunches
Front Raisers
10 X Ab Crunches
Hammer Curls
10 X Ab Crunches
Tricep Raise
10 X Ab Crunches
Side Bends
10 X Ab Crunches

On the second set I did press-ups instead of abs.

Section 2:

4 X 10 Reps
Weight: 11KG

Curls
Shoulder Press

Tonight will be a boxing night I think, unless the physio gives me shit.

-j

I’m an idiot. No really. It’s OK. I get it. I am.

It’s been a tough couple of weeks for my training regime. A combination of illness and injury has seen me fall well short of my mark. And I have to be honest, it’s pissing me off. Its also the reason why I fucked my knee. I was impatient. I was stupid. I was anxious to get back out and work.

Cut to last Monday. I went for a nice 5 mile run. All was going well. The birds were chirping. The children laughing.

So I decided to up the pace a little.

Fatal mistake. Everything felt fine until that evening, where I was suffering serious bother around my knee. I couldn’t sleep (not unusual). Like a dumb-ass I was also suffering badly from a cold. coughing up a lot of crap. So really I was in the ideal position to go for a workout.

Tuesday comes. Rather than sensibly canceling the squash league matches for that evening (and the following day) I bought a knee brace and, hacking and coughing (and limping!) I won both matches. Fuck yes.
As it turns out. Fuck no. That was dumb. I’m making it worse.

Saturday comes and my knee is not a happy chappy. I call it at the friendly neighbourhood physio and he explains that it’s a very simple problem that can be fixed with the right running shoes and some deep tissue massage (and a lot of new stretching).

Crucially I’m allowed to run. It’s not a big deal, he says, just make it an easy pace and a small distance.

So what do I do the next day? (armed with shiny new shoes)

I run a 10K.

And I’m fucked again.

I’ve learned my lesson. I’m taking it easy. I see the physio on Wednesday and he’ll rip me apart. I deserve it.

Tonight I concentrated all my rage and bile into a weights workout in two sections:

Section1:

5 X 10 Reps
Weight: 6KG Dumbells

Side Lats
10 X Ab Crunches
Curls
10 X Ab Crunches
Tricep Push
10 X Ab Crunches
Bent-Over Rolls
10 X Ab Crunches
Calf Raise
10 X Ab Crunches
Shoulder Press
10 X Ab Crunches
Front Raisers
10 X Ab Crunches
Hammer Curls
10 X Ab Crunches
Tricep Raise
10 X Ab Crunches
Side Bends
10 X Ab Crunches

On the second set I did press-ups instead of abs.

Section 2:

4 X 10 Reps
Weight: 9KG

Curls
Shoulder Press
Bent Over Rolls

So that’s tonight. I’ll probably do the same tomorrow night. I deserve some pain for being a fucking moron.

So how are you?

-j

Go figure, huh?

I finally get a day off on Monday, but until then, it’s full steam ahead. We’ll be heading out for a 15KM run tomorrow…I’m really looking forward to it! (honest)

Last night was an excellent club night at The Grange. Brilliant fun and I managed to play (at a pretty high intensity) for about two hours. That doesn’t sound like a lot. It is. I can really tell the difference in my fitness when I do nights like that. And yes, I won all three matches.

Today was boxing day. I’m not sure if it was the squash last night or the heat today, but it was a brutally tough session. It always is.

We did:

3 Mins Boxing (30 Second Constant)
1 Min Squats
3 Mins Boxing (30 Second Constant)
1 Min Abs
3 Mins Boxing (30 Second Constant)
1 Min Pressups
3 Mins Boxing (30 Second Constant)
1 Min Squats
3 Mins Boxing (30 Second Constant)
1 Min Abs
3 Mins Boxing (30 Second Constant)
1 Min Pressups
3 Mins Boxing (30 Second Constant)
1 Min Squats
3 Mins Boxing (30 Second Constant)
1 Min Abs
3 Mins Boxing (30 Second Constant)
1 Min Pressups

That 1 minute of press-ups is a killer. (those are push-ups for my North American friends)

Off to dinner at Michael and Karin’s tonight. Will be brilliant to see them as always.

And tomorrow, we run . We’re going for a half marathon next month….and a marathon by the end of the year.

Hmmm…. triathalon anyone??

- j

I think it’s officially time to buy new trousers. It’s kind of moved past the ‘hey man, notch that belt up a bit more’ stage and slippery sloped its way down to the ‘who is the spaz wearing his dad’s hand-me-down suit’ stage. This is pleasing in every way but financially. I can’t really afford to buy a new wardrobe at the minute, but I’m going to have to splurge on some new jeans at least.

Which makes this a good point to stop and take a minute to assess how this whole project has gone so far.

It’s no secret to some people why I got on this kick. It’s still secret to others (although, as of this weekend, the parents are no longer in the dark). The why doesn’t really matter at the moment, but I started training in earnest about two months ago.

So I’ve had two months of working out 5 days a week. Two months of cutting out alcohol. Two months of healthy living.

And I feel great. I really do. I’ve caught the bug.

Numbers are good. Here are some of mine:

Starting Weight: 215 lbs (97.5KG/ 15.3 stone)
Current Weight: 188 lbs (85.2 KG / 13.4 stone)
Starting Waist: 38″
Current Waist: 34.5″

So not bad. Still a lot to do. I’m not really setting a target weight, but I’m aiming for somewhere around 170lbs. That’s pretty much my fighting weight.

Tonight was circuit night. We did super-set weight circuit (with exercises). It’s a tough workout, and we do it at quite a pace (so it gets the heart a-racing).

Sets: 15|14|13|12|11|10

Circuit:
Side Lats – Weights
Burpees – Body Exercise (military press-ups)
Curls – Weights
Abs – Body Exercise
Tricep Raise – Weights
Twists – Body Exercise
Bent-Over Rolls – Weights
Squat Thrust Alternate Leg
Calf Raise – Weights
Squats – Body Exercise
Shoulder Press – Weights
Dorsal Raise – Body Exercise
Front Raisers – Weights
Pluto Sniffs – Body Exercise (weird Manchester exercise)
Hammer Curls – Weights
Squat Thrusts (combined) – Body Exercise
Tricep Raise – Weights
Press-Ups – Body Exercise
side bends – Weights
Lunges – Body Exercise

It’s a good circuit. The first two sets are always pretty easy. The rest are hard. The last is brutal.

I guess I’m getting there, eh?

- j