I'm going to start keeping the blog up to date again. It wasn't a conscious decision to stop blogging, it just happened. Anyway, I miss it, so I'm going to start doing it again.
My long term target remains the same: to achieve my second dan black belt in Karate. To do that, I have to be fast, strong, focused and sharp. I'm currently slow, weak, focused and soft. One out of four...
Last month, after 12 weeks of training, the cycling chaps and I managed to get through another Mad March Hare in a time that was slightly faster than last year. It felt a lot easier. It's now spring, nature is waking up everywhere, and the days are longer and warmer. Let's get to it!
Monday 8th April
I cycled in to work. After lessons, I went along to the college gym to do my shoulders and chest workout. I had the place to myself so blasted out some heavy metal!
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| I had the place to myself |
I cycled home to make chicken and mushroom pasta. Unfortunately, I didn't make enough so I ended up having bacon and eggs!
College workout
Tuesday 9th April
I cycled in to work in the rain and got soaked. Thankfully, it wasn't too cold this morning.
After lessons, I went along to the college gym again. This time, accompanied by Michael. We did some work on the bench press together. Then I cycled home for Jane's birthday party! I managed to resist all the cake on offer, but I couldn't say no to a beer (or four...)
College workout, beers
Wednesday
I cycled in to work. After lessons, I once more went along to the gym. I had it to myself again. I did my usual workout, but couldn't complete everything because the lat pulldown machine broke. I wasn't even lifting heavy! I cycled home.
I cooked dinner for the family and decided to enjoy some ales to help me along!
College workout, beers
Thursday
I cycled in to work again. This time, it was a much brighter and warmer morning. After lessons, I cycled back home and then set about a weight lifting session comprised of side raises, front raises, squats, overhead presses, curls, press ups, triceps dips and leg raises. It took me almost exactly one hour, and by the end of it my hamstrings were very sore!
Weight training
Friday
We used the car for work this morning. Our friends had some terribly sad news so we went to visit them briefly after we left college.
Back at home, I went out for a short run. I'm taking it really easy on the runs to make sure I don't make my left knee any worse. I had it strapped up and smeared in Deep Heat. I wobbled round for 1.3 miles and then went home to barbecue some chicken for the family and some friends. Of course, I ended up enjoying one too many beers!
Run, beers
Saturday
This morning, I did boring stuff like clean the dishwasher and walk the dog. In the afternoon - time for dojo! I was the instructor (Saturday at Village Hotel Shirley is my regular dojo) and I had some fantastic young people turn up to train with me. We did a high-energy warm up with a partner and then blasted through some basics. Some of my students have a grading on Sunday so I made sure that they felt confident and ready. We moved on to kata and I looked at those who will be in the grading. I made sure I gave them a 'pass'!
Back at home to watch the grand national with my wife - she won some money!
Lucy made a lovely dinner and we watched the last episode of Succession.
Karate
Sunday
Up early for Sensei Ronnie's training session on the mats. It was a glorious sunny morning and I was quite envious of my mates going cycling without me today, but Sensei Gary had called the instructors together at this session to have our portraits take by a professional photographer!
The session was great! We started with free flow basics just to get the blood pumping, and then the rest of the session was spent on kumite. We were called off the mats one by one to have our photos taken, and then there was a group photo at the end of the session too. I'm looking forward to seeing the group one.
Back at home, I made use of the dry sunny conditions to spend a few hours in the garden. I did some tree surgery and then got stuck into cutting up some firewood for use in the firepit in the summer months.
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| Tree surgery in the sunshine |
Karate, beers
