Week 6

The last 4 weeks haven't been the kind of weeks one would write about in a fitness/training blog. In those 4 weeks I attended 3 Karate lessons, went on 2 bicycle rides and got through 8 weight lifting sessions. However, I must have eaten my weight in chocolate and consumed gallons of stout and IPA! Now it's time to regain my focus and get back to a healthier lifestyle. The first thing I need to do is lose some Christmas flab...

Monday

A bank holiday, and the last day before we return to work. I crawled out of bed late and then spent a lot of the morning getting lessons ready for Wednesday. I also put some more comics up for sale on eBay. In the afternoon, I slung some weights around: I'm finding it a challenge to complete barbell shrugs at the moment because I don't seem to have the necessary strength in my left hand (I broke the middle finger in February last year.) Anyway, I completed the hour.

I weighed myself this afternoon: I'm 6 pounds overweight. Not too bad. I reckon I can shift that in two weeks.

The biggest challenge of the day was eating Lucy's fabulous homemade chicken curry without a nice glass of beer to go with it! I had several cups of tea instead.

We went to bed early, about two hours earlier than we have been doing recently, but couldn't sleep. So we sat up reading. I finished William Gibson's Blue Ant trilogy - recommended, but you will spend a lot of time googling all the various pop culture references, especially fashion designers and artists.

Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol

Tuesday

*Deep sigh* Back to work. Today was a training day. It wasn't too bad - we got to see lots of our work colleagues, many of whom we regard as friends.

In the evening, Martha and I went along to our first Karate lesson of the year. It turned out to be a black belt instructor training session with Sensei Ronnie Christopher in charge! As first dan black belts, Martha and I were the lowest grades in the training. Sensei put us to the test with high level kata and bunkai. At one point, Sensei Ronnie kicked me in the groin during a demonstration. He then asked if I was wearing a box - which I obviously wasn't! This caused much amusement among the higher grades! I was just relieved that I managed to stay on my feet...

Home for a huge serving of homemade shepherd's pie and lots of water.

I'm now only 3 pounds overweight.

Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol

Wednesday

Back in the classroom! It felt great to be teaching again, but with so many staff off sick the pressure was on the rest of us to accommodate the students without a teacher. My classroom was full to bursting!

Back at home, I made dinner for the girls and then hurled some weights around in my man cave. 

I drank a lot of tea.

Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol

Thursday

I cycled in to work on the mountain bike. I had an 11mph wind behind me so it was easy. In the afternoon, I did some boxing drills with the sports lads and did a bit of bodyweight exercise as part of the warm up. I cycled home against the wind which was rather more challenging!

I strapped on my old running shoes - trainers so old they literally have holes in, and the soles are so thin they are without any grip left. I put four layers on, plus a thin scarf and gloves because it was cold and raining. Then I set out for a 10 kilometre run.

I'd gone less than a mile before I realised my mistake: I was far far far too hot! Four layers was too much, even in the rain. I actually considering stripping off and just leaving a couple of layers in a hedge! However, I struggled on, sweating in the rain for the remaining 5+ miles. It was more of a mental test than a physical one. I desperately wanted to stop, and I did think about it a couple of times, but I soon solved that by promising myself a beer if I ran the whole 10K. I ran past other joggers who were wearing shorts and vests - they must have thought I was quite mad, all wrapped up and huffing along with my bright red face...

Eventually, pouring with sweat and aching all over, I made it home in an abysmal time of 69 minutes and 18 seconds. This may be my slowest ever 10K - it is 11 minutes slower than my best!

The rest of the night involved a much needed shower, some lovely beer, and a fantastic dinner.

Slow 10 kilometre run, 3 beers, no junkfood

Friday

I enjoyed my morning at college - a good ICT lesson with some fantastic students. The afternoon was taken up by a very long, very frustrating meeting. I was glad to get out of there!

I went along to the dojo tonight. Sensei Jason was in charge for the hour and a half because Sensei Gary is away training in Japan! We were put through a good mix of kata, basics and some self defense to finish. I got to work with a brand new student who said she would come along to my Sunday lesson (Sensei has asked me to teach the Sunday class while he is away.) 

At home, Lucy had made a very tasty beef chilli con carne. I had three bowlfuls! It's all natural ingredients so I'm sure it's good for me, just not so good for my efforts to lose weight!

Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol

Saturday

Some DIY to start the day - I got under our freestanding bath to reattach a waste pipe. After that lovely experience, I made a curry for tonight, scoffed some lunch, and then went off to teach a Karate session (Sensei Gary is away in Japan.) I was in charge of 14 enthusiastic students, all eager to train hard. We even managed to have a few laughs too! The highlight was the heavy bag work at the end.

In the evening, I decided I deserved a few evening beers with my homemade curry.

Karate (teaching), no junkfood, 3 beers

Sunday

I was up at 7 and out at 9. I rode out into the lanes with my mates James and Roger for our second training ride of the year. In March, we will be riding the Mad March Hare: a very hilly, usually cold, sometimes wet 60 mile sportive which we use to motivate ourselves through the winter. I have ridden it every year for the last 11 or 12 years. (I had to abandon once but that was because my brother's bike stopped working after the first few miles.)

Today's ride took us up High Cross and then through Snitterfield. It was a very familiar route and we chatted along at a relaxed pace. We were into a headwind but it didn't seem to cause us any concern. The legs felt fine and we arrived at Wilmcote after 20 enjoyable miles.

Jane served some fantastic coffee cake and hot drinks. 

Cycling has many health benefits. Cake doesn't.

If anything, the last 15 miles home were even more enjoyable. We had an 11mph wind behind us and it still wasn't raining. We got back to my place in good spirits after 34 miles at a comfortable pace of 13.5mph.

Sally came to visit in the afternoon. It was nice to put my feet up and drink a coffee after my exertions on the bicycle.

After a shower, I went off to the dojo. Sensei Gary had asked me to cover this lesson while he was in Japan. I was relieved to find Sensei Kai already getting warmed up. He kindly agreed to teach the brown and black belts while I took charge of everyone else. 

It proved to be a very busy session. It was challenging for me because I had to keep the purple belts working hard while I spent some time with three brand new students who hadn't attended the dojo before. We ended with some pad work and I think everyone went home happy. Phew.

Needless to say, Lucy had made a splendid Sunday dinner for the family. Jake and Tilly came along with some beers for me. It would be rude not to sample a few...

34 miles of cycling, junkfood, 3 beers, a glass of red wine