2012: The Year of the Lion

Watch out, bitches. This year is mine.

This is your warning.

May 19: This time, it's personal

I just registered for the May 19 Warrior Dash. It's just over 200 days until we meet again. This time, I'm going to run for time, not just for completion. That means a lot of training between now and then, so this blog will become a lot more active. Any training tips are greatly appreciated as I've obviously never done this before.

The Way of the Warrior

On Saturday, I ran in the Warrior Dash Carolinas event just outside Charlotte. Follow the link for details, but the short version is that it's a 5K foot race with various obstacles in the way. Obstacles range from "walk over this 6" beam that changes in altitude" to "wade through this sewage-runoff pond climbing over logs in the water". 

Thanks to the hurricane churning off the coast, the 10:30 wave of runners (mine) was gifted with an awesome day: sun, a good breeze, and temps in the mid 80s I'd estimate. I had no delusions of finishing the race in anything resembling a competitive time; my goal was simply to cross the finish line under my own power, and I'm happy to report that I did. I have the medallion, pictures, and friends that also raced with me to prove it.

I came away with several things, both physical and not. My knees are torn all to hell from all of the crawling through mud, darkness, and rope. Just superficial scratches really, but the kind that don't quite scab over completely and just burn whenever anything touches them (including things like WIND). I've also got a nice lobstery tan on my arms and face from the post-race concert. Every muscle in my lower half is sore to the point that I can only lift myself about 2" off the ground using my calves.

Nonphysically, I feel victory. I did it. I also feel an addiction: next year, I'm running the thing to actually compete.

Pants, part 2

Again, no concrete values, but pants are falling off...more. Something's working.

Pants!

No concrete values, but I put on a pair of jeans today that I haven't worn in a couple of months. They're nearly falling off without a belt.

"Did you do something to your calf? There's an imprint or something."

That's muscle, baby. Thank you, stairs and FiveFingers.

Stairing Contest

At the office again, five flights of stairs. I can jog up the first 3 floors and walk the remaining two now. I've done that twice today, and might do it again before the end of the day...it all depends on whether I can get this damn import working.

Results: Shorts falling off. Need to tighten belt.

Anyone want to go for a walk?

The Route

Bedroom.

Not what you're thinking. :P

What: Rearranged my room, which involved moving the bed around a couple of times, shuffling the headboard and footboard. Also, cleaned out my closet, which involved moving a ton of clothes.

Stairs.

Today I walked the stairs at the office. Five flights down, across to the other stairwell, five flights up. Once in the morning, but the afternoon got too busy to allow an afternoon trip.

Hello World.

"I leave this as a declaration of intent, so no one will be confused." - Thomas Jane as The Punisher

As do I. Publishing this statement represents many things, but the title says most of it. I'm a man. My world is, among others, my gym (and my urinal, hehehe). 

To properly begin, I'm going to state my reasons for starting down this path.

Reason 1: I'm in the worst shape of my life. Years as an office drone and general laziness has done this to me.

Reason 2: The Warrior Dash. August 27th, 10:30AM. Training.

Reason 3: You. I'm hoping you will keep me accountable.

And now, my method.

Lift heavy shit. People do this in a gym normally, but plenty of heavy shit exists already. I'm heavy, so lifting myself up and over things counts.

Move from Point A to Point B, then back to Point A. Under my own power, otherwise, what's the point. 

What's going to go here?

When I do something physical, it goes here. When I see results, I celebrate here. When I need motivation, hopefully I can come here and someone will have left some.

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