Training is going pretty well. I'm making a regular thing of taking Barney, our shih tsu up the hill at Brantingham and along the Yorkshire Wolds Way. He seems to be enjoying it although I was wary of walking his little legs off. While I was on the ship I was carrying a heavy pack up and down the hill at Ortona which was hard going, or climbing up and down the helideck if we were at sea.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
No more treadmill
I changed job a few months ago, and although the money's better the ship is much smaller so we have little in the way of gym equipment. Being alongside in Greece for eight weeks set me back, and I definitely put weight back on.
I did a hike in Yosemite which was a big wake up call. Could have gone further, but I was certainly struggling.
So now to make the best of what's available. I've started plodding up and down the helideck stairs with a pack on, and it feels more effective than the treadmill work, especially in the heat of the Mediterranean. I think this routine, and lots of walking at home is going to pay off.
I did a hike in Yosemite which was a big wake up call. Could have gone further, but I was certainly struggling.
So now to make the best of what's available. I've started plodding up and down the helideck stairs with a pack on, and it feels more effective than the treadmill work, especially in the heat of the Mediterranean. I think this routine, and lots of walking at home is going to pay off.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Down beat
Well, I checked my resting pulse this morning and it's at 58, which I'm told is really good.
The weight is slowly coming down too. BMI 32.
Now this has me as obese by 14 pounds. Admittedly I'm no stick insect, but obese? I don't think so!
The weight is slowly coming down too. BMI 32.
Now this has me as obese by 14 pounds. Admittedly I'm no stick insect, but obese? I don't think so!
Monday, April 20, 2009
I know I had another one. Where did I leave it?
I seem to be down to only one chin. Hope I don't lose this one.
The Amazing Haphazard 18 Month Kilimanjaro Beach Body Plan
I had started on a get fit gig a few weeks before the idea for Kilimanjaro came up. Mainly weights to try to build some muscle in order to burn more fat. At time of writing I'm a couple of stone heavier than I want to be for the trek.
Some of the companies who guide the treks give out suggested training regimes.
The problem is, working on a ship doesn't always lend itself to following these, even though my ship's pretty well equipped with gym equipment.
For example there's a big difference between running on the road and on a treadmill.
For some reason I'm quickly out of breath on the road, but I'm presently doing 6k on the treadmill without too much trouble.
I'm still doing the weights but I'm focusing a lot more on cardio right now, and trying to find the right level to use interval training to get the best benefit out of it.
I'm also doing hill programs on the treadmill with a 20 lb pack, which is roughly what I'll carry on Kilimanjaro.
I read that it's a good idea to strengthen muscles which aren't necessarily in primary use when walking, to help support the muscles that are, and for this reason I'm mixing things up a bit with biking and rowing.
I don't think any of this really simulates the trek too well so I have to make the best of my time at home.
Paul, my neighbour used to be a keen walker. He's planning some tough walks for us partly in order to test his knee, as depending on that he may or may not come to Kili.
No half measures, he's talking about the Yorkshire Three Peaks and the Lyke Wake Walk (a 24 hour slog over some 40 miles).
The Lyke Wake scares the living daylights out of me, but there again, so does Kili.
I'm particularly looking forward to the Three Peaks because that's going to give me my first marker of where I am and where I need to be. At this point I have absolutely no idea whether I'll run out of steam half way up the first peak, Pen-y-ghent, or if I'll complete the challenge within the alloted 12 hours.
Another thing I want to try is a hard trek on two successive days. It's fine knocking out 12 hours solid hiking, but if you can't move the following day what use is that?
I don't know if my approach is scientific, and I'm sure it could be pulled apart, but I do know that my general fitness is improving quickly and my legs can stand successive days of training, which they'll need to be capable of on the trek.
Nearer the time when I'm on the ship I'll be doing a lot of stair work with a pack heavier than I'll be using on the mountain. This was recommended to me by Peter David, who used this training to prepare for the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea, his description of which made the colour drain from me. He must have been doing something right because there were Australian SAS guys who dropped out on that one. Strewth!
Some of the companies who guide the treks give out suggested training regimes.
The problem is, working on a ship doesn't always lend itself to following these, even though my ship's pretty well equipped with gym equipment.
For example there's a big difference between running on the road and on a treadmill.
For some reason I'm quickly out of breath on the road, but I'm presently doing 6k on the treadmill without too much trouble.
I'm still doing the weights but I'm focusing a lot more on cardio right now, and trying to find the right level to use interval training to get the best benefit out of it.
I'm also doing hill programs on the treadmill with a 20 lb pack, which is roughly what I'll carry on Kilimanjaro.
I read that it's a good idea to strengthen muscles which aren't necessarily in primary use when walking, to help support the muscles that are, and for this reason I'm mixing things up a bit with biking and rowing.
I don't think any of this really simulates the trek too well so I have to make the best of my time at home.
Paul, my neighbour used to be a keen walker. He's planning some tough walks for us partly in order to test his knee, as depending on that he may or may not come to Kili.
No half measures, he's talking about the Yorkshire Three Peaks and the Lyke Wake Walk (a 24 hour slog over some 40 miles).
The Lyke Wake scares the living daylights out of me, but there again, so does Kili.
I'm particularly looking forward to the Three Peaks because that's going to give me my first marker of where I am and where I need to be. At this point I have absolutely no idea whether I'll run out of steam half way up the first peak, Pen-y-ghent, or if I'll complete the challenge within the alloted 12 hours.
Another thing I want to try is a hard trek on two successive days. It's fine knocking out 12 hours solid hiking, but if you can't move the following day what use is that?
I don't know if my approach is scientific, and I'm sure it could be pulled apart, but I do know that my general fitness is improving quickly and my legs can stand successive days of training, which they'll need to be capable of on the trek.
Nearer the time when I'm on the ship I'll be doing a lot of stair work with a pack heavier than I'll be using on the mountain. This was recommended to me by Peter David, who used this training to prepare for the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea, his description of which made the colour drain from me. He must have been doing something right because there were Australian SAS guys who dropped out on that one. Strewth!
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