Blonde will get you fit 2023

[RED-DOG]

Fantastic effort.

It's amazing how malleable the human body is if the mind is strong enough.

[tikay]

Congrats David, that's extraordinary. Will-power, eh?

Bet you feel SO good both physically & mentally, especially the latter.

Well done.

[Doobs]

When I started, I was thinking I definitely wanted to get rid of the diabetes and would get fitter.  I was thinking that even if I didn't get rid of diabetes, the feeling better would be a bonus. 

But you are right Tikay, mentally I feel fitter, and physically way fitter.  Just sitting here now, feeling like the game is obvious again. 

[Kev B]

What an effort Doobs, with amazing results. Takes some discipline that. 💪 👏👏👏

[vegaslover]

I'm in training for marathon in Oct, latest run was an aim of 10-12 miles, depending on how I felt.
Ended up running 12.4 miles in 2h2m.
Wasn't taking much notice at the time as 12 miles was the goal. If I had kept going at the pace, a half mara would have been done in a 6min pb.

Probably going to run Jon MW local half marathon, which has been rearranged for start of Oct. It it very hilly, so good practice for Beachy Head marathon

Current weight 14st 7, my VO2 max is 42 according to my Garmin
Last BP reading was 158/92

[vegaslover]

Did the Beachy Head Marathon last weekend. Very hard with a lot of elevation. 16m
Have signed up for the BH Ultra next year. Try and complete it in a similar time
Current weight 14st 1lb - Been steady at that for a while

[Enut]

Did the Beachy Head Marathon last weekend. Very hard with a lot of elevation. 16m
Have signed up for the BH Ultra next year. Try and complete it in a similar time
Current weight 14st 1lb - Been steady at that for a while

Jeeze and I thought people only went to Beachy Head to throw themselves off! Congratulations that must be a tough course. Have you done the Hastings half marathon? That's really tough too I think. I'm fit enough to chase a tennis ball about a bit but nowhere near fit enough to do a half marathon so only going on what I've been told.

[Doobs]

2026 now. 

I am up above 84kg, but below 85kg, which I think is fine.  Think I will make 85kg a hard line, so whenever I go over I will quit cakes/biscuits etc. VO2 max has settled at 43 for a few months now.

I know I talked about doing parkrun a lot last year, but never got round to it.  Eventually did one this morning for the first time in nearly 4 years.  Had run 3k on the treadmill a few times recently, but was into the unknown a bit.  Think I horribly misjudged my pace and had to walk for a bit after 2km and walked up both big hills...  But still beat 40 minutes which was my main target first time out from a while.  Think I was hanging round with the 35 minute people for 2kms, so think 35 minutes is a realistic target for now, and that would be a PB.  Can't see me going out on Saturday.  It was close to freezing this morning and was unpleasant enough for me to think I am not running in -4 or -5.  Think I tweaked something, and am coming down with a cold anyway, so might just walk uphill in the gym on Saturday instead.  Can see me going again on the 10th though. Think if I just keep doing it fairly regularly I might get my VO2 max back up to 45. 

Other plans for 2026 is doing a chin up sometime soon. Must be at least 20 years since I have done one and can lat pull down my own weight now, so think I just need to get my form right.  Used to be such a piece of piss when I was 18...

Happy New Year All and good luck all marathon/ultra runners etc. 

[doubleup]

Other plans for 2026 is doing a chin up sometime soon.

Is that a "good" exercise in middle age? Don't know what age you are exactly, but are you into the mystery injury phase of life? Where inexplicable twinges and sprains start happening?  They usually clear up quickly, but putting a lot of stress on the arms seems like asking for it.

HNY btw

[Doobs]

Other plans for 2026 is doing a chin up sometime soon.

Is that a "good" exercise in middle age? Don't know what age you are exactly, but are you into the mystery injury phase of life? Where inexplicable twinges and sprains start happening?  They usually clear up quickly, but putting a lot of stress on the arms seems like asking for it.

HNY btw

I am 58 and have been doing chest/shoulder press/lat pull down/seated row.  Feels like a pull up isn't far removed from some of these, so don't think I need to worry unduly.  Anybody else got a view.  Think the twinges etc are just a part of life as getting older.  Think I'll find it easier to get over them if fitter.

Maybe if I had broken my arm at any stage I'd feel different. Am definitely more careful with ankles and knees, as that is where I have had issues.  But I do think my knees are better now than when I started going to the gym again.  This might just all be feels though, and accept a data sample of 1 is fairly meaningless.