Monday 27th August
Blood Pressure: 145/77
Resting Heart Rate: 55
Weight: 10st 7lbs
I did some weight lifting today but failed on the barbell curls.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol
Tuesday
Blood Pressure: 143/80
Resting Heart Rate: 56
Weight: 10st 6lbs
I cycled to work and back.
I went along to the Karate session.
Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol
Wednesday
Blood Pressure: 135/78
Resting Heart Rate: 55
Weight: 10st 6lbs
I cycled 15 miles at 13.7mph before work.
Cycling, no junkfood, no alcohol
Thursday
Blood Pressure:160/83
Resting Heart Rate: 53
Weight: 10st 5lbs
I had to work late today.
No exercise, no junkfood, no alcohol
Friday
Blood Pressure: 137/83
Resting Heart Rate: 45
Weight: 10st 4lbs
Another weight lifting session which ended in failure when I tried barbell curls. The pain in my left arm is too much.
I went along to dojo in the evening.
Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol
Saturday
Blood Pressure:151/77
Resting Heart Rate: 57
Weight: 10st 4lbs
After ending up in hospital with a bad back after our last ride, Ed was brave enough to join us (myself and Jonnie) in the lanes again! This time, his weapon of choice was a splendid Boardman hybrid with a flat bar and 28mm tyres with winter treads. He said he could feel the drag of the tyres as we rolled along. However, the more upright position must have suited him because he bombed it along the lanes and up and down hills without any issues. We completed a 30 mile ride at over 14 mph. The last time he came out with us, the average speed was below 13. Nice work, Ed.
Later on, I went along to the Saturday dojo session where Sensei Gary put the finishing touches to my Jion ready for the grading this month.
Cycling, Karate, junkfood (cake) and 4 beers
Sunday
Blood Pressure: 148/73
Resting Heart Rate: 58
Weight: 10st 6lbs
Today, I went along to the two hour Karate session with Sensei Ronnie. There was a very small turn out because of the time of year. We did two hours of kicks and I got to hit a bag while under the direct supervision of a double world champion!
Karate, junkfood (pudding), 3 beers
Monday
Blood Pressure: 147/68
Resting Heart Rate: 58
Weight: 10st 6lbs
I cycled in to work and back.
I finally decided to listen to my body and dropped the weight of my barbell curls down to a laughingly tiny 16kg. I managed to complete an hour's weight lifting for the first time in a while.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol
Tueday
Blood Pressure: 144/83
Resting Heart Rate: 62
Weight: 10st 5lbs
I cycled in to work and back and then went to the dojo.
Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol.
Wednesday
Blood Pressure: 148/70
Resting Heart Rate: 56
Weight: 10st 5lbs
Another successful weights session.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol.
Thursday
Blood Pressure: 140/76
Resting Heart Rate: 53
Weight: 10st 5lbs
I cycled the long way to work and today I clocked up a total of 23 miles at over 13mph.
Today was my birthday! Not really, but I celebrated it early with Lucy and our excellent friends Jonnie and Sally. They'll be away on my actual birthday but they were kind enough to get tickets for a concert at the Solihull Theatre to see the ELO experience. It was an awesome evening of great music and local ales. Jonnie and I may have overdone it a little bit with the beers...
Cycling, no junkfood, 6 beers!
Friday
Blood Pressure: 159/77
Resting Heart Rate: 57
Weight: 10st 4lbs
Hungover at work. It was our mate Trevor's birthday after work so a few of us met up with him in the local 'Spoons for even more local ales...
No exercise, junkfood, 4 beers
Saturday
Blood Pressure: 159/75
Resting Heart Rate: 49
Weight: 10st 7lbs
After two nights on the beer, I've ballooned back up to 10 and a half stone. Very disappointing.
I went along to dojo today and got to do a lot of basics and kata.
Karate, junkfood, beers
Sunday
Blood Pressure: 152/74
Resting Heart Rate: 59
Weight: 10st 10st 7lbs
Another day in the lanes with Jonnie and Ed. This time, we went out for 36 miles over our High Cross route. Ed was strong today and the new slick tyres on the Boardman obviously suited him. He wasn't quite as fast over this longer, slightly hillier distance: We completed the ride with a decent average speed of 13.9mph.
In the afternoon, I went along for the first hour of Sensei Ronnie's Sunday session. It was a good basics workout and I wished I could have stayed for the second half. We had Jane and Eric coming for dinner so I wanted to get home and get changed before they arrived.
Cycling, Karate, junkfood, beers
Monday
Blood Pressure: 158/73
Resting Heart Rate: 57
Weight: 10st 6lbs
I cycled to work.
It was the first day of teaching since the end of June. It was a bit of a shock to the system to have 18 new faces looking expectantly at me. I think I did a decent job of it and I know I'll get back into the groove before the end of the month.
I cycled home to do a weight lifting session and then cook a protein-rich meal for the family.
I'm still very concerned about my blood pressure (as I'm sure anyone reading this is too!) I've given myself until the end of November to get it under control. If I can't manage it through diet and exercise I'll have to go to see a doctor. I just hope I don't end up on tablets for the rest of my life.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol.
Tuesday
Blood Pressure: 158/69
Resting Heart Rate: 63
Weight: 10st 5lbs
I woke up feeling dizzy. I mean that literally. The moment I got out of the bed, the room was shifting slightly and it didn't stop until about lunchtime. Blood pressure related? I have no idea.
Anyway, I cycled to work very carefully and did the best lesson I could while things were spinning a bit. I was fine by the time I cycled home.
Tonight's dojo session was exciting - a new black belt has started with us. He has forgotten all of his kata and he was very sweaty and out of breath. But his fighting was awesome! He beat me without throwing a single punch - all kicks. I introduced myself but he was reluctant to tell me his name. I have no idea why.
I'm hoping I get to spar with him again and steal some of his moves. Or at least learn something from him.
Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol.
Wednesday
Blood Pressure: 153/75
Resting Heart Rate: 63
Weight: 10st 5lbs
I cycled in for a good day at work and then cycled home to do a weight session. I made dinner for the family.
Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol
Thursday
Blood Pressure: 147/76
Resting Heart Rate: 49
Weight: 10st 4lbs
I cycled in to work to find out that I'm not teaching GCSE English after all. This is the second time this has happened to me in two years. I've spent hours and hours bringing myself up to speed with the English Language qualification and planning the first three weeks' lessons. I don't think I'll bother getting my hopes up next year. What really annoys me is that nobody tells me. They don't send me a room number and don't enrol any students on my register. You'd think someone would have enough courage to look me in the eye and tell me that I'm not needed this year. Or at least send me an email! Spineless management, I guess.
Anyway, I cycled home and then Lucy and I accompanied Mouse to her school awards evening. She was presented with a certificate and voucher for her outstanding academic achievement.
Nice one, Mouse!
We didn't get home until 8:45 and I couldn't face any exercise on an empty stomach.
No exercise, no junkfood, no alcohol
Friday
Blood Pressure: 144/67
Resting Heart Rate: 53
Weight: 10st 4lbs
Today is the best combination of blood pressure and weight that I've measured since I got back from Aberdovey. It's still too high...
I cycled in to work for a good morning of teaching followed by some lesson planning and admin stuff. I cycled home in time for the karate session. Unfortunately, literally a few seconds before I was going to make my way upstairs for a shower, Tilly asked me to drop her off at her friend's house in Hall Green! I don't know why she couldn't drive herself there - she tried to explain it to me twice but I gave up trying to understand the mind of a 21 year old and just drove the car! I had to miss the session, but happily, Lucy made it home in time to take Martha.
I went along to the dojo to watch the last ten minutes of the lesson. Sensei Mark took Martha to one side after the lesson and went through her Jion with her. Ruach once again proves why it's the club for me - there was no need for Sensei Mark to give up his time for teaching after the lesson. He could have been on his way home for his dinner instead of taking the time to make Martha a better karateka. Thanks, Sensei Mark.
No exercise, no junkfood, no alcohol
Saturday
Blood Pressure: 142/70
Resting Heart Rate: 52
Weight: 10st 4lbs
I woke up early so I had bacon and eggs and chilled out with my PS4. At 9:30, Mouse and I headed off for the open day at the University of Birmingham. We were both very impressed with the place.
We didn't get back home until 2:55. Again, Lucy had taken Martha to Karate and again, I went along for the last part of the lesson. I did some stretching and then helped a purple belt with her Tekki Shodan in readiness for her grading next week.
I had some house work to do and then dinner was ready. Suddenly, it was evening and I'd spent another day without doing any exercise! I stayed up past midnight chatting with my brother on Whatsapp.
No exercise, no junkfood, no alcohol
Sunday
Blood Pressure: 144/70
Resting Heart Rate: 54
Weight: 10st 4lbs
I woke up early again. I only got 6 hours sleep. For me, every big bike ride feels like Christmas Day and I get too excited to just lie in bed! I had breakfast, pumped up my tyres and called for Jonnie at 9am.
Jonnie is planning to ride up Mont Ventoux later this month (yes, without me 😢) and has had his bicycle adapted accordingly. He has upgraded to a 105 groupset with tiny climbing gears. His bike looks a little strange, but totally pro!
 |
| Totally pro |
 |
| 105 with climbing gears. I'm rather envious... |
Jonnie was really strong today. Rolling a big gear and whistling to himself as he tooled along, he looked like a retired professional out for a quick 20 miles. I, on the other hand, was suffering into the headwind with my legs protesting mightily. I'd thought that after three days of rest and a week with no alcohol, I'd be full of energy. Apparently not.
When we reached the Billesley Wall, I went for a Strava PB. I found out later that I only got a silver.
After 35 miles, the cakestop was very welcome. Lucy was there too so it was a very pleasant half hour of tea, cake and chatting. I had homemade ginger cake (we called it Jamaica cake when I was a kid) followed by a banana.
Back in the lanes, the wind was behind us and we put on a good show of maintaining the average. In fact, we rode faster uphill in the last 15 miles than we did in the first 35. Such is the power of ginger cake!
 |
| Faster in the last 15 miles, even though it was uphill! |
After 50 miles and 2500ft of climbing, we were both glad of a sit down and a cup of tea. However, I think we'll be okay on the Tommy Godwin ride next week (62 miles, 3500ft.)
In related news, Ed completed his London to Brighton charity ride today. Great work, Ed!
After some lunch and a sit down, I had a shower and headed off for the advanced lesson at Ruach Karate. It was an awesome session with some higher grade kata (I got to do Jion twice!) followed by some sparring. I hurt my finger during sparring but other than that I felt I did okay. Sensei told me to keep it light which means I must have been showing some spirit - I was up against a higher grade adult at the time 😁. However, my fitness let me down. After 50 miles on the bike and then sparring for 15 minutes I felt as though my heart was about to thump its way through my ribcage! I could feel my cheeks burning too. My gi was drenched in sweat.
Back at home, I had a shower and then did some ironing. And then, even though I'd promised myself I wouldn't, I opened a beer. I told myself that having a beer now won't affect my grading next Saturday...
I ended up having pudding and two beers before walking up the road at 11pm to meet Martha from work.
50 miles of cycling, Karate, junkfood, 2 beers.
My plan for next week is to focus on the grading, practise my kata, and start running again!
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