The TFP Health Club

This is why I can't go to the gym.

 

I was just thinking about this thread while I worked through my routine, wondering if I'd be replying to myself again. I did it in the morning instead of the afternoon today, just as a change of pace.

I'm thinking about doing yoga again. There's no point in signing up for classes when I'm going to be moving soon I think, but post-move I'll look into it.

 

On the topic of new gear, I picked up my Muay Thai sparring vest last night (pictured below in red, but I have the blue).



This along with my shin guards, and I'm ready for the sparring-like training we'll be doing at green rank in Muay Thai.

If I get into hapkido sparring soon, I'll have what I need once I get headgear and a mouthguard.

 

When my neck is all healed, my first order of business is signing up for a martial art, and I am thinking kendo.

 

I finished the Spartan Super Race yesterday. It was 15+ km (about 9 or 10 miles) and around 20 obstacles. The killer part though was the fact that it was at a ski resort. We went up and down seven ski hills. That was the first two thirds of the course. The rest was through the woods and a lot of mud.

Oh, and it was a day after a heat wave hit. The night before didn't drop below 30 C (86 F), and race day got up to 40 C (104F) with humidex. It was sunny all day. There were storm warnings, but we were spared.

The good: Apparently I'm pretty good at spear throwing.
The bad: My grip strength sucks, and I need to work on my upper body strength.
The ugly: This was my first race, like ever (I don't like running). I will be more prepared next time when it comes to gear and supplies. I underestimated my need for carbs/electrolytes.

My hips ache. Those hills were fricking killer. My quads are toast. I'll probably feel them a lot worse tomorrow. Probably my glutes, traps, upper back too.

No injuries, and I finished. Those were my two goals.

Looking ahead, I now know what I need to do to get into better shape (in general).

But for now: Tomorrow at noon I have a 1-hour massage with a therapist who has a reputation for "killing" her clients. I will probably need it.

 

Now that I've had a massage and I've been able to reflect on things post–Spartan Race, I now have a new goal: yoga and resistance training three days a week to correct some imbalances in strength and flexibility in my legs and back.

 

Made it back to the gym this morning. I only rode the recumbent for about 20 minutes, but I consider that a win after six weeks away.

The particulate in the air right now makes it hard to breathe, so I'm probably going to urgent care this afternoon to get an inhaler. Sigh.

 

My knee is still pretty messed up. I'm starting to feel anxiety about my lack of exercise. I keep having to stop and remind myself that I did get hit by a car, and even if it wasn't going very fast that's still a reasonable excuse to take it easy for a few weeks.

 

I also do paleo/low carb, and not strict at all. I try to hit about 80% compliance, but I won't give up dairy. I eat mostly meat, fish, and green veggies. I don't much care for chicken. No sugar. Rarely eat grains (whole or not) except for occasionally oatmeal or a tortilla. Potatoes on rare occasions, usually away from home when they can't be avoided.

I don't do cardio at all, tho I do a lot of walking and stair climbing. And stair descending, which is great for the glutes and leg muscles. Stair machines won't let you go down the stairs.

I've done different controlled carb variations for almost ten years now. I don't have a formal exercise "plan" but most days I weigh in at a couple pounds less than I did in high school 20 years ago, so something must be working.