I’m so sorry to hear about your folks Cal… that’s an incredibly difficult situation.
Do you have siblings who you can lean on?
yeah, i’m sorry to hear about your folks, too. must have been hard for you to see that. glad you got to go for a run.
Gym today. Not an amazing workout but I got some stuff done.
Did some glute stuff to warm up.
Squats:
Bar x 10
30kg x 10
3 x 40kg x 6
50kg x 5
55kg x 1 (didn’t feel quite secure with this).
Honestly, I feel like a big pussy after reading a lot of these logs and seeing girls smaller than me squatting twice as heavy. But I have had so much trouble with squats, I just have to work my form and not worry about the weights. I don’t think I’m even hitting parallel on the 40s and 50s, but whatever. I’m not a powerlifter and putting my back out would avail me nothing.
After that I tried a few cleans with the empty bar but my right elbow is still being a cunt so I left it at that.
Single bent over leg curls (Cybex machine):
2 x 20kg per leg, alternating (no rest).
20 hypers, 20 reverse hypers.
Waiters walks: 2 x 22kg (crossed the gym twice each “set”).
Went up 2kg this time.
TGUs: 12 x 8kg (added two reps. Basically this is six reps per side, non stop).
Decided that was enough. Did a bit of handstand work and stretched. Then home.
Cal: Sorry to hear about your parents. That must have been draining.
And don’t get down about the squats. You’ve just gotten back to them. Remember what a good day it was when you got to squat without pain? That wasn’t very long ago. Still no pain? You’re doing something right.
Sorry to hear about your parents. I won’t dwell on the matter since it must be hard for you to think about.
I think you’re way too hard on yourself with the squats. The numbers are legit, and I’m sure your form is tight. You’re right, you’re not competing in anything so don’t stress depth and whatnot.
Great workout.
Yesterday…didn’t feel like running but forced myself out for a 3 mile run because it was such a lovely day. In fact it was a bit too warm - I could have gone further but was too thirsty. I had sweated a lot in the night and I guess I was a bit dehydrated.
My bloke is here! He is in London for an interview so we went for sushi last night and he stayed over. First time in months. I am off to the local amusement park today (with a friend - boyfriend has another interview) so no training for me.
they are better than my squats! hope you have some fun with your bloke.
sushi and bloke should brighten the spirits 
I had a fairly shitty workout this morning. (This is becoming a theme).
Military Press:
2 x bar x 10
25kg x 5
30kg x 5
32.5kg x 5
35kg x 2 (usually I can get 4-5 but I just failed on the third rep).
My strength seems to be regressing. Not good.
Superset:
Negative pull-ups: 3, 3, 3
Push-ups (feet on box): 10, 10, 10
Superset:
Skullcrushers/Close grip press
Bar x 10, 10
Bar + 10kg x 10, 10
Bar x 15kg x 3 (?!), 5
(Don’t know what the bar weights. It’s an EZ bar).
Just failed horribly on that last set.
If you’re wondering why I’m doing these again, it’s because I’m tired of having slender arms. They’re my hardest to grow bodypart.
However, doing the negative pull-ups and skull crushers did not sit well with my funny elbow so I had to stop my workout there. I have some golfer’s elbow going on (from squatting) but the pain I’m concerned about is the outer bicep tendon. Shoulder is also sore so I guess the tendon at the other end ain’t happy either.
I’m faced with having to drop upper body stuff for a while until it settles. I’m not pleased about this as I’ve been struggling for a while to get my weights back up but my body seems determined to break on me.
I’m not sure what to do now. I really have lost focus and am struggling to motivate myself with regard to anything exercise related. Or diet, for that matter. I can still run, of course, but again, if I do this too often I get sciatic pain and problems with my knees (the crepitus in my knees is pretty gruesome, and yeah I take glucosamine etc etc). Good job we don’t have guns here because I should be taken out back and shot.
I’m not miserable (even if my last few posts have been downbeat) - I’m just frustrated and could use some help getting back on track. Aside form the usual do mobility/rehab shit which I know is necessary but I find fucking tedious.
Anyway, enough grumbling, I need to go to bed.
Cal: Sorry you’re in a funk. Perhaps you’re focused on too many different goals–you have running, gymnastics, lifting and body recomp on your brain. What do you really want to work on/accomplish?
does your body need a deload?
are there some fun things you could do while you think about where to from here?
Nadia - you’re probably right. I think I just need to concentrate on my half marathon for now - it’s only a month away.
Alexus - it shouldn’t. I don’t push it hard enough for that. It’s just the legacy of 20+ years of hunching over a computer and all the postural fuckage that goes with it, plus 20+ years of training injuries.
Anyway, 'nuff moaning. I did nothing yesterday but redeemed myself today by doing the longest run I have ever done. I’ve done my three common death run (approximately 9.5 miles) a few times now so I added a fourth common to make it a four common death run. The fourth common (which I actually hit early) was Streatham Common - the one with the nasty hills. Fortunately the weather’s been glorious here so there wasn’t any mud to contend with.
Went early (just after 7am) while it was still fresh, but the sun was bright, blossom on the trees - basically perfect. And trust me, I needed all that to distract me from the nagging sciatica and other aches and pains.
Run took me 2 hours 20 and I was pretty glad to get home at the end of it. From a cardiovascular point of view, I could have kept going all day, but my legs were massively fatigued. Map My Run reckoned it was 12.3 miles, but bear in mind I have to guess where I run on the commons, as trails aren’t marked on the maps.
Anyway, I feel happier about tackling the half marathon in May. I will have to do a lot of foam rolling and mobility work on the hips, legs and bum.
One of my good friends is coming over tonight to kip on my floor - we’re visiting Chessington (a small amusement park just outside London) tomorrow to celebrate the birthday of one of its old coasters. It’s more of a family park than a thrill park but it has a nice atmosphere, the weather will be lovely and we should have a good time.
lovely run Cal, glad your lungs kept up.
and funny I wanted to suggest to you to visit an amusement park after reading your post from 04.08. Seems like a read your mind across the pond…
have fun!
I do understand the whole body-failing thing. It sucks, but there are workarounds. The half-marathon training will definitely take center stage. Lower body training, maybe with machines, for awhile to complement the running? That way your elbow and shoulder can take a bit of a breather.
Then after the race, re-evaluate. Maybe you’ll want to focus on gymnastics for a little while before diving into the weights thing again.
12.3 miles is awesome! You must have been very proud of yourself for going this distance.
Sorry about the sucky workout, but I’m glad you have it potentially resolved with focusing on the marathon. Sounds like a good idea
Seems like it got you back on track, that’s one heck of a run.
Have fun at the park, sounds lovely.
Hey Cal, sorry to hear about your parents. Its a sad reality, but it sounds like you’re handling things well. Hang in there.
As for the training, I also understand the squat envy, as well as having to deal with corporeal limitations. So I feel your frustration. I think you got it right though, focusing on a specific goal that is the most immediate, the marathon, is a brilliant plan. Kinda like periodization!
And anyways, look at that run. 12.3 miles is insanity! Congrats!! Thats definitely more than I could ever run. I’d probably hit my wall around mile 7. Really, really great work!
Hang in there Cal. Great run. Hopefully the fun time with your friends at the amusement park helped to revive your spirit.
My spirit’s fine. I’m not depressed or down or anything like that. I am just not that motivated to train or diet right now. I need to shake things up a bit and get back on track.
Anyway, I did have a lovely day out with my friends - sun, blossom, daffodils, rides and ice cream.
^ That does sound lovely. Recharge. Regroup. Enjoy the simple things. Sunshine, friends, ice cream. The good stuff. Sorry to hear about your folks. We all get to look forward to our parents aging, and we are never going to feel “ready” for it. It’s difficult stuff, and more so when they don’t live nearby where you can just run over if they needed you. I feel for you. Mine are on a ranch 12 hours away. I don’t know what I’m going to do as they age.
glad you had a good day out. you have been working really hard with your job stresses etc. nice to have a proper mental deload sometimes and enjoy the holiday. know i collapse a bit during semester breaks. stuff will be waiting patiently for your return.