Training Log Archive: schnitzer

Visiting my Dad in Poole for a long weekend so there goes my attempts to get into a new strength/stability routine this week.

Did manage however to hook up with some of my old pals and do my first ever Park Run. Strangely four out of five of us were very evenly matched and ran around together for pretty much the entire race.

Elisabeth got the honours in the end, me last but just really pleased to be able to run - my knee only felt uncomfortable over the last km. The most intensive session I have done since the accident by far :)

C • Nice one 2

Wow, kicked some ass. Took the resistance level up to 2.5/5 and started off fairly cool but felt good and ended up equalling my best distance for 15mins. Plus just about a zone 3 workout... on a bike!

Increased the weight strapped to my ankle up from 5lbs to 7.5lbs today. Hardcore.

Reflexbana...
1. 73:40 (18:15, 22:35, 32:45)

With Robin. Started a little too enthusiastically and after 30mins or so had to hold back a bit to keep the knee comfortable.

So took 1:35 off the new first section but only 50secs off my post-accident best for the original section (now 55:15).

So this is the way forward, start logging the range of movement exercises as dynamic stretching and strength training. Hopefully adding the extra colour to the 'Training hours by activity' bar chart will motivate me to do it more often.

Nice and easy, still resistance level 0/10.

Took it fairly easy on the bike today (rest week) but still at the same resistance level 2.4/5.

Then had a result on the leg extension machine, best performance yet. Definitely less shaky - more in control. Even tried a few reps at 7.5 and 10kg to finish.

Knee range now 151/160 degrees and yes we did have to re-measure my good leg (again) as up until today we thought it was 151 max (that explains why I still can't get close to sitting on my heels, still 9 degrees away from 100% recovery).

It pissed me off a little TBH, first I was working towards 147, then towards 151. I have enough problems motivating myself without being given 2 false finishes.

450/1000 days.

2017:
Hours of cardiovascular exercise - 140
Total training hours - 152

Days with illness - 65
Sick days taken due to illness - 6
Total working hours - 1576

2018:
Hours of cardiovascular exercise - 146
Total training hours - 178

Days with illness - 30
Sick days taken due to illness - 14
Total working hours - 1259

So this illustrates the improvements to life balance I wanted to make, the idea behind the 1000 days. Of course I haven't got a comparison for the number of quality hours spent with the family but I'm sure that has also increased somewhat. Not sure I can say the same about the house (still a todo list as long as my knee brace) but priorities eh.

It's obvious that I am looking after myself better, the number of sick days for 2018 above does not include the 9 working days I took off work for the broken knee. So the comparison with 2017 is simply for illness and there's a big difference. I get less ill for less days and when I do I'm more likely to take time off work. Great.

An interesting test of my resolve just now, my main work contract finished in December so now I am looking for another source of income. It will be hard to find a part-time one like I had - at approx 3 days per week it was pretty perfect for what I wanted to do.

Virtually everything new I am looking at is full-time which combined with running my own company and existing, secondary work commitments has the potential to destroy the life-balance again. Could be back to periods with 60 hour working weeks if not careful. Worrying.

Went for a walk after lunch over to the major windblow area around the classic hill, first time in daylight since the storm. One of the big trees that has fallen is at approx 45 degrees, resting on a smaller, dead tree that is somehow still standing. I've ducked under that tree a couple of times recently, oops. Risking more than just a broken knee there.

I had thought it would be safe to just tidy up a bit and still use the classic hill exactly the same as before. It's a fairly obvious decision now to re-route it - planned that today, cleared some of the dead stuff but will have to go back with the saw to make it properly meathead again. Shouldn't be significantly different in terms of distance/climb.

3*3.5km on the rower today, felt harder than the HR suggests but still an easy session. Still resistance level 0/10.

I think it was difficult to get my HR up today because I am a little fatigued, have increased the volume of training quite significantly the last few weeks. All things considered it feels pretty amazing to be able to say that I probs need a bit of a rest week!

Did my range of movement exercises before this, they went ok considering the abuse I've put my knee through the last few days. That's 3 times this week and what with next week's plan of less hours/intensity on the cardio side there's a good opportunity to get back into a routine again, from a strength/stability perspective.

Stretching was good tonight, certainly felt better than earlier in the week.