TGC Fitness Thread - 2024

[Danster]

I'll give it a look. Busy weekend means I didn't get out for a run, but I will definitely do one tomorrow regardless of the weather. Needs to be at least 7km as well to keep ahead of the curve for the 100km month. Two blank days have pulled me back into the danger zone.

[General Ceel]

Very cold this morning, but I did get a short walk in on the flat ground where it was less likely to e icy.

[Danster]

Made up for the blank weekend, just back from a 10.7km run this month. I'm not just shy of 75km for the month. So a measly 2.5km a day will get me to my target.

Although I stopped running almost completely between September and the start of this month, I was running quite frequently between April and mid-August last year, culminating in the sub 50 minute 10km I did at a local event in July. Last year, it took me a long time until I was able to start running much more than 5km, whereas this month I've gotten to a position where I've run a 10km with just two and a half weeks of dedicated running. So I think I just have retained at least some of the running fitness I had last summer, it just needed unlocking with a few quick runs. The quick progress I've made has made me think about potentially entering a half marathon either later this year or in 2025.

[General Ceel]

You should definitely look into "trail" or "fell" running, as its called in your part of the world. I think you'll find the community a lot more agreeable than is typical among the road running crowd.

[General Ceel]

2 miles this morning. Really cold and really icy on the trails, which made me hesitate to go any further and risk falling on the ice. I'm more cautious than I used to be I guess.

Unfortunately only 75 miles so far this year. I was hoping for 100 miles per month during Jan and Feb, but I'm heading toward less than half of that amount. The good news is that March is just around the corner. In a typical year, our local weather typically sees a rapid improvement in the second half of the month. Its not beyond possibility that we get a huge snow storm in late March, and a few flakes in April and even May, but the likelihood gets slimmer by the day and we typical see more warm days. Despite being behind schedule on my mileage, I'm still head of my pace from last year. I'm confident I'll be able to top 2023 and reach my goal for 2024 in the long run.

In related news... working on cleaning up my diet again, and also cutting back on the alcohol. Not that my diet is bad, relative to the average person, but I have a bad habit of continuing to overeat after my exercise volume goes down. This goes back to my days of training hard, always being hungry, and being able to eat anything. The appetite just never goes away. I'll be 42 at the end of March, and without a high level of training, I guess my metabolism just won't allow me to continue acting like I'm a younger man.

[Danster]

Cold, wet and windy this morning, but managed to get out and do 6.14km.

I've always struggled with my diet. I'm lucky that I still seem to have a relatively good metabolism still and don't put on significant weight, despite historically having a pretty poor diet. I eat good meals and get plenty of fruit and veg in me, but I have always supplemented that with a lot of chocolate, crisps(chips) and alcohol. It never used to affect me, but in the last 4 or 5 years, whilst it won't be so bad that you can see my gut through clothes, I do start to carry a bit of a belly that becomes noticeable when I'm on the beach or in the pool.

So this year I'm determined to cut back on that at the same time as exercising regularly. As it's Lent, I've given up chocolate and crisps entirely, so I've had a full week without that, and I did say I was going to cut back on alcohol, which as of yet I've not done so well at. I need to do something, as the old adage goes, you can't out-train a bad diet.

[General Ceel]

My Birthday is March 31t. I'm toying with the idea of giving up Alcohol for a set period of time beginning either March 1st or April 1st. One month? 6 months? And entire year? Not sure. Regardless, I definitely don't need to be spending the money. Craft beer is expensive. I'll have to go back to obliterating my worries with mileage I guess! hehe

[Danster]

It's harder than it should be, giving up alcohol.

[General Ceel]

Yeah, but its the same damn way with soda too. hehe

[Danster]

I've been able to cut back with Coca-Cola since Lent, but I did go to the cinema with the kids on Tuesday to watch Migration and drank a whole bucket of the stuff.

Just back from a 7.25km run in my lunch hour. Over 88km for the month now so bar an injury, that 100km month should be in the bag. I probably did do 100km + months back between the ages of 17-21, but I never recorded it. However, since then I have definitely only done a 100km month once, so I'm pretty pleased with how easily it looks like I've managed it this month.

I might aim for a 100 miler later in the year. I've still got the 1000km target for 2024. I'm also gunning for a sub-20 minute 5km run too, but I haven't even considered going out with a watch yet. Need to get the miles in my legs before speed because something I give any consideration to.