Jump to content

The Highland Hippie's Grand Adventures


Pat (pogo69)

Recommended Posts

MTB

  • Riding was again, a mixed bag:
    • Friday - Cornubia.  Back to Cornubia again, but this time, after a warm-up of Stupidly Happy, I did two runs of the Black trail, Resurrection.  All went well.  Very wet out there, but was pretty in control over most everything.
    • Monday - Castle Hill.  Back out there for the 2nd time, to hit each of the Black trails.  Unfortunately, one of the them hit back.  Yep - crashed AGAIN.  More bark off on the same shoulder, down my back, and into my tail bone.  Little stiff and sore, but I am basically OK.  My bike, however, is in the shop.  Hoping it will be back in time for the race, the weekend after next.  But time will tell.
    • Wednesday (this morning).  Nada.  I could have taken my old hardtail out, but my body needs a rest.  See how I feel on Friday, but it will be on the hardtail, if at all.
  • Race course was released for the upcoming Gravity Enduro race.  A little bit frightening.  They're using the full downhill course, which has some crazy gnarly stuff in it.  I will, of course, be taking ALL of the b-lines, but not having seen it, I don't know what they look like in real life, either.

Mobility

  • Keeping shoulders moving.  Did one session of most of HtSfM.  A little bit of BW squatting a couple of times.

Strength

  • Still very little.  I have played around a little with some scapular movement stuff - scapular pushups and active/passing hanging.

Meditation

  • Nada.

Other

  • Walking.  Still less frequent, and shorter.
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

A little behind - two weeks since posting.

MTB

  • Only one ride after the most recent crash, before heading to Kooralbyn for my first Gravity Enduro race:
    • Wednesday - Nerang.  Mostly easy kms, around my usual loop.  Lots of PRs without ever particularly pushing.
  • EMS Qld Enduro Series Race #2
    • Friday - Practise.  Hit each of the four stage trails:
      • Iron Man.  A couple of "sessions" over the tricky rocky top section, then down through the flowy bit on the 2nd run
      • Nemesis, full run
      • Copperhead 2.0.  New trail!  Nice, very tight downhill switchbacks
      • No Name into Lower DH track
      • Nemesis, again
      • Copperhead, for another run (thankfully, as they had changed the track with bunting after my first run)
      • NB: I had decided earlier in the week to cut back from the Veteran's Race category to Sport.  This means I didn't have to do the Downhill track.  Didn't feel ready, and I do not regret the decision in the slightest.
    • Saturday - Race Day.  Went great!  Raced harder than I usually ride, but still well within my limits.  Again, PRs all over the place.
  • Tuesday - Bayview.  Hadn't been out there in a while.  Felt the need for some relatively "safe" XC style riding.  Felt good.
  • Wednesday (this morning) - Nerang.  Hit each of the Rocky Trail Superflow stages.  PRs all over the place, despite riding only in a moderately "spirited" fashion, and forgetting to unlock my rear suspension on the final descent (stopped to unlock it, before continuing).

Mobility

  • Not much.  The occasional squat, the occasional Daily 5, the occasional back-bend over chiro foam wedges.  Very sporadic.

Strength

  • Almost nothing.  Haven't returned to formal strength training since initially injuring my shoulder.  Still experiencing discomfort, particularly after a day of desk-bound "mouse" operation.  Might consider switching to using mouse with left hand.

Meditation

  • Nada.

Other

  • Walking.  Still shorter, but more often due to the addition of a couple/few days per week of walking the little fella home from school.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still on the road to recovery.  No longer feel like death, but still having long periods (~2hrs) of awakedness during overnight sleep due to coughing fits.

MTB

  • General
    • Been trying to get out into the backyard for skills practise, 1-2 times per day.  Mostly manuals, occasional bunny-hop attempts, little bit of track standing etc.  Have also set up some skinnies, but haven't yet used them.
  • Rides
    • Tuesday - Daisy Hill.  Nice easy KMs on Daisy's flat'n'friendly XC trails.
    • Wednesday (this morning) - Nerang.  Usual loop, but shortened to keep volume relatively low.  Very easy on the climbs, and relaxed and flowy on the descents.

Mobility

  • Minimal.

Strength

  • Nil

Meditation

  • Nil

Other

  • Nil.  With me sick, and the dog still hobbling, I've barely walked at all the past couple of weeks.
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sickness is (largely) behind me, but still regaining some fitness and... vitality (?)... in its aftermath.  I seem to be able to ride just as hard, but I lose stamina far more quickly.  Happy to continue taking it easy, for now.

MTB

  • General
    • Still doing the backyard skills practise.  Irregularly, and sporadically, but every little bit helps.
    • Have been trying to book some jump coaching, but just can't catch a break.  Finally got something teed up for yesterday, and it started pissing down rain.  Will try again for next week.
  • Rides
    • Friday - Castle Hill.  Hit each of the 4 black trails, then a 2nd lap of my favourite.  Exhausted after the 4th climb, but felt good at the bottom and convinced myself at the bottom to head up for a 5th run.  Neglected to think about the fact that it is the climbing that hammers me.  Oh well, no regrets after recovering and hitting that final run.
    • Tuesday - Eastern Escarpment.  Finally got back out to the "hottest new place in town".  Has been crazy popular lately, with new "proper hard" black trails to play on.  Tried the 2 new (to me) trails out there, then tried the first of the older black trails.  Wanted to finish on the other black trail, but just couldn't face the prospect of another climb to the top.
    • Wednesday (this morning) - Glossy Black at Reedy Creek.  Usual loop near work.  Nice to get back out there, after not having done so for a while.  Lost my chain, shortly into the first big descent.  Good practise, as I left it hanging, and "pumped" the rest of the track down.

Mobility

  • Minimal.  Although, I did get a big session of squatting on the weekend, while playing with Tallis (building rock towers on the driveway).  A relatively comfortable squat for 30+ minutes.  Paid for it with very stiff knees, for a little while, afterwards.

Strength

  • Nil

Meditation

  • Nil

Other

  • Nil.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

MTB

  • General
    • Jump coaching is on hiatus.  After the weather got in the way last week, my prospective coach got the call the next day, to come in for emergency spinal surgery.  So, he will be out of action for a little while.
    • Bike is back in the shop.  Had more issues with losing the chain, and locking up the drive-train.  Can't have that while racing next week, so having the bike shop fix it up for me.  Hopefully have it back by the weekend, so that I can ride it (test it) prior to the following weekend's race.
  • Rides
    • Friday - Nil.  Horrid night's (lack of) sleep.  Ended up falling back to sleep, in the wee hours, then sleeping in until 06:30.  Ran out of fucks, to get out on the bike.
    • Tuesday - Cornubia.  Warmed up on Stupidly Happy.  On track to (finally) clean the whole thing.  Got through all of the techy climbs, but lost the chain coming down the sketchy trail into the gully.  Had to stop to re-engage the chain, because you can't climb back out of the gully without a drive-train.  Also lost the chain on the chute coming down Resurrection.  Exhilarating.  Good to know I can get down it without the chain, but had to call it a day.  Triggered my taking the bike into the shop, as above.
    • Wednesday (this morning) - Glossy Black at Reedy Creek.  Usual loop near work, but on the old 26" hardtail.  Very b.u.m.p.y ride, but kinda fun.

Mobility

  • Minimal, but at least got the odd bit of movement going.  Some Daily 5 movement, and one session of several of the HtSfM sequence.

Strength

  • Played with some scapular mobility/strength movements.

Meditation

  • Nil

Other

  • Went for a hike around a rainforest/waterfall circuit with Claire and Tallis on Sunday.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

MTB

  • General
    • Bike rode well on Tuesday.  Derailleur seems all sorted for now, although it is probably on borrowed time.
    • Three day lock-down, here is South East Queensland.  So, no race on the weekend.  😢
    • Now that Claire is on placement, I probably won't be riding as frequently.  Her first placement is remote enough to need the car.  Maybe start sneaking in a ride on the weekend, but we'll see.
  • Rides
    • Friday - Darra Pump Track.  Still on the hardtail, so took it out to the pump track to practise pump technique.
    • Tuesday - Plunkett.  Some tech climbing and descending.  Hard work.  Went on the way to dropping Claire off at work (she's just started placement), so she went for a hike.

Mobility

  • Still minimal.  Some Daily 5 movement.

Strength

  • Started back with a couple of sessions of minimal strength work - Mon and Thurs.

Meditation

  • Started some semi-regular breath practise.

Other

  • Back to walking every lunchtime this week.
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Behind again.  Just shy of 3 weeks since an update.

MTB

  • General
    • Had most of last week off, due to lack of sleep, lack of motivation, and general ennui.  Back on the horse this week, in prep for racing this weekend.
    • Claire has found some motivation to get on the bike.  I've given her MTB a cleanup and got everything running pretty well (still intermittent issues shifting down, think due to a dodgy spring in the rear derailleur).  We've also organised some new gear (knicks, gloves and helmet), and I put my hardtail's XC tyres on her bike (she was running road tyres).  Currently building up to ride a section (~30-35km) of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT).
  • Rides
    • Sun 04/07 - Cornubia.  Warm up on Stupidly Happy, then 2 laps of Resurrection.  Went on the weekend, to make up for the lack of recent variety.
    • Tues 06/07 - Plunkett.  Some tech climbing and descending.  Another session prior to dropping Claire off to work.
    • Thurs 08/07 - Daisy Hill.  Easy kms.  Bit longer than recent sessions.  Felt good, but wrecked by the end.
    • Fri 16/07 - Nerang.  Checked out the stages for the next race.  They changed the routes from previous years, so some of it was new to me.
    • Mon 19/07 - Nerang.  Sessioned some sections of the trails that were causing me grief in previous session.  Got lines worked out that I'm pretty happy with.  One remaining rocky pinch climb that I always stall on.
    • Wed 21/07 (this morning) - Nerang.  More sessioning.  Concreted my confidence on the little gap jumps on Baileys (they were new to me, and I am still pretty hesitant with jumping).  Also solidified some lines on B+Bs (that follows from Baileys in Stage 1).  Then onto Three Hills to session the rocky climb.  Found a good line, but still very hit and miss.  Just have to hope for the best on race day.

Mobility

  • Still minimal.  Some Daily 5 movement.

Strength

  • Missed last week (see above re: motivation/ennui), but back on track this week, thus far.

Meditation

  • Nil

Other

  • Missed last week, but back on track this week.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Yet another 2 week break since an update.

MTB

  • General
    • Claire's cycling motivation continues.  While she's only got out a handful of times over the past few weeks, she completed a ~36km ride, along a local(-ish) rail trail.  Mostly flat, but with the odd shallow climb.  All made more difficult by the fact that her rear derailleur is now completely fucked.  Maiden long-haul ride on a defacto fixie. I've been researching her imminent new-bike day.
    • Yet another lockdown, causing mayhem.
    • Next Rocky Trail Superflow race @ Castle Hill this coming weekend has been called off.  On standby, pending lockdown etc, to see if it will be rescheduled.  Bummer. 😢
  • Rides
    • Sun 25/07 - Nerang.  Rocky Trail Superflow race.  Went OK.  PR'd on every section, except BnBs (short steep rocky descent with lots of drops).  Hampered by the fact that there was racing on the Saturday and Sunday (you could choose which you rode), and by Sunday the trails were all blown out.  So many of the lines I had picked out were no longer optimal.  Still, pretty decent run, all up.  More or less ended up around the lower end of mid-pack, which is about commensurate with my usual running/riding endeavours.  Too exhausted to attempt additional runs at any of the stages.  Ended up being a good thing, I think, as I did not see one other person improve their times with a 2nd run - no matter where they were on the results page.
    • Tue 27/07 - Daisy.  Went and sessioned some trail features, while Claire had a ride around some of the fire trails (and unintentionally ended up riding up one of my favourite single trails).
    • Wed 28/07 - Glossy Black @ Reedy Creek.  Usual pre-work lap, close to work.
    • Fri 30/07 - Castle Hill.  Practise for the next Rocky Trail Superflow race.  Felt good, so I did two laps of each of the four race stage trails.  Ended up with PRs on all of them, without pushing at all hard.  Obviously paid to take it easy on the first lap(s), and choose lines etc.
    • Tue 03/08 - Cornubia.  Warm up on Stupidly Happy, then 2 laps of Resurrection.  Stupidly Happy descent felt great, but ALL the climbing was hard.  Exhausted.  Under-slept.

Mobility

  • Still minimal.  Almost nil.

Strength

  • Still on track.  Starting to regain some of the strength lost, after discontinuing all strength training post-shoulder injury.

Meditation

  • Nil

Other

  • Daily walks very much still on track.
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

MTB

  • General
    • Bought Claire a new bike!  2021 Merida Big Nine SLX (with free upgrade to XT derailleur because of the current parts supply issues - win!).  Very nice bike, and more than enough for anything she is likely to do for (possibly forever).  Also very upgradeable if/when necessary.
    • Lockdown finished, Sunday afternoon.
    • Very little riding, due to one thing or another.
    • No idea what is happening with racing, moving forward.  No more lockdown (here in South East Qld), but restrictions still prevent most sporting events.
  • Rides
    • Fri 06/08 - Tudor Park - Pump Track and Trail Loops.  Short ride with Claire, before the day took hold.
    • Tue 10/08 - Ashgrove Dirt Jumps.  Finally got around to getting some jump coaching.  Went well.  Feeling much more comfortable in the air.  Not nailing it consistently, but I know what to do, and what to do to correct when things don't go quite right.  Now need much more practise.

Mobility

  • Still minimal.  Almost nil.

Strength

  • Still on track.  Strength continues to return.

Meditation

  • Nil

Other

  • Daily walks still on track.
  • Was supposed to do the sweep for the final 25km section of the Scenic Rim Ultra, this coming weekend.  Now postponed till September.
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

MTB

  • Rides
    • Fri 13/08 - Parkwood Dirt Jumps and Coomera Dirt Jumps.  Checked out a couple of the local(-ish) dirt jumps.  Parkwood was OK as a warm-up, but not really suitable for me right now.  One line too easy/short/small, and the other WAY too big and gappy.  Coomera was much better.  It has plenty to keep me busy for a while to come.  Lots of jumps, in a 4-switchback configuration, with big berms in between.  One section that I have to scoot around (gaps that still scare me), but otherwise within my capabilities.
    • Sun 15/08 - Daisy Hill.  Nice easy ride with Claire.  Close to the edges of Claire's comfort zone a couple of times, but never overtly so.  She impressed me, and herself, with her willingness to tackle a couple of the features, and did a pretty good job of tackling them.  Really good for me to be out on the bike, and taking it REALLY easy for a change.  Something I really should be doing regularly.
    • Mon 16/08 - Eastern Escarpment.  Back to the best bunch of downhill trails in SEQ.  Had been a while.  One run down each of the descents, including the new (to me) Metamorphic.  Hard morning out, with lots of climbing.  Fun.  Need more of this, too.
    • Wed 18/08 - Tallebudgera Dirt Jumps.  These are the dirt jumps that my jump coach suggested was a good "next step".  He was right.  Started out on the easy line, worked up to the middle line, then had a crack at the "gap jump" line.  No easy way to work up to the gaps, because you have to commit to them, to avoid the gap.  Again, progressed, by hitting the 1st jump alone, adding the 2nd, then the 3rd.  The 3rd actually ended up being the easiest, even though it was taller and steeper.  1st, which looked easy, was harder to clean, due to the slight "step-up" (lander is higher than the launch).  Fun!  Building confidence in the air, step by step.

Mobility

  • Went through HtSfM, with a 10' sitting meditation on Sunday.  Got ~halfway through another session of HtSfM yesterday, but had to cut it short.

Strength

  • Still on track.  Felt really weak yesterday, but still got the job done.

Meditation

  • See 'Mobility'.

Other

  • Daily walks still on track.
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

MTB

  • Rides
    • Fri 20/08 - Eastern Escarpment.  Practise for upcoming Superflow race.  2 x laps of each of the 3 race stages.  Managed to hit them with a good bit more speed than usual.  Two of them contain jumps that I'm still a bit wary of hitting at speed, so I squash them quite a bit.  Going to try to get out there a few more times, so before the race day (weekend after next), so that I can concentrate on one race stage each day.
    • Sun 22/08 - Daisy Hill.  Nice easy ride with Claire.  Hope this is going to become a regular thing.  Very nice to have a truly easy day, and one that I share with Claire (we used to run/train/adventure together quite a bit, before the little fella came along).
    • Wed 18/08 (this morning) - Coomera Dirt Jumps.  Becoming more confident and consistent.  Still can't hit the gaps in the 2nd line.  Just too far apart, and I don't have the speed, boost or courage to hit them with enough commitment.  Not great for progression, because the gaps are so much bigger than the tables.  Back to Tallebudgera next week, I think.

Mobility

  • Very little.  Minimal tinkering with Daily 5.

Strength

  • Still on track.  Still feeling a little weak on Monday, but got the job done.

Meditation

  • Nil

Other

  • Daily walks mostly still on track.  Missed Monday and Tuesday, because little fella was home sick.
  • Got 1st Pfizer jab last Thursday.  No ill-effects, apart from mildly sore arm at injection site.
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

MTB

  • Rides
    • Thurs 26/08 - Eastern Escarpment.  More practise for upcoming Superflow race.  Concentrated on 'Powerful Howl' trail.  6 laps, checking out lines, then getting progressively faster.  Should now be able to hit it with close to maximum speed without axing myself.  Also 1 lap each of 'Shenanigans' and 'Metamorphic' just to remind myself what they look like.  Shenanigans needs more work.
    • Fri 27/08.  Had the day off, so I went up to the Northside of Brisbane to explore trails less travelled (for me).
      • Ashgrove Dirt Jumps - back to where I had the jump coaching a couple of weeks back.  Didn't really progress any further than I already had there, but I did come up to speed, and was reasonably comfortable and consistent, quite quickly.
      • Gap Creek.  Had never been there before.  Nice change.  Had an explore.  2 laps of the Dingo trail.  Nice flow trail - good to pin it on the 2nd lap.
  • Nothing since Friday, due to illness.

Mobility

  • Very little.  Maybe nothing?

Strength

  • Got last Thursday's session in.  Nothing this week due to illness.

Meditation

  • Nil

Other

  • Sick, since Saturday.  Finally succumbed to the kids' evil germs.  Weakness, lethargy, lack of appetite, fevers, coughing (that just won't fucking stop).
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

9 days later: still sick.

Was on the mend for a couple of days, then took a turn for the worse.  Similar earlier this week, then Wednesday was awful.  Yesterday and today much better, but still niggly cough and periods of extreme mental and physical fatigue.  Have been napping.  Very unusual for me.  Very therapeutic.  Working again today, but still think I might try to catch a nap, maybe after lunch.

MTB

  • Rides: NIL
  • Missed the Gravity Enduro event at Eastern Escarpment last weekend.  Will also miss the Gravity Enduro event at Kooralbyn tomorrow.  After all of the COVID cancellations and rescheduling, illness could not have come at a worse time.  But... c'est la vie.

Mobility

  • Little bit of limbering and gentle pulsed stretching on a couple of the better days.

Strength

  • NIL

Meditation

  • NIL

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/10/2021 at 5:06 PM, SwissDanny said:

Did you get tested for Covid?

Yep.  Both my partner and I were tested.  Both negative.

QLD (our state) has been predominantly COVID-free for... ages.  But we've been in/out of an "area of concern" as tiny clusters start, so the possibility was there, albeit remote according to contact tracing data.

On 9/10/2021 at 5:06 PM, SwissDanny said:

Coughing that wont stop, mental fatigue, the relapse

Unfortunately, over the past few years, all three of these symptoms have become an almost guaranteed pathway for me, once a viral infection gets hold of me.

Used to be that I was relatively robust.  But in recent years, I very frequently appear to be winning the war against an initial infection, then take a turn for the worse as a secondary infection takes hold of my lungs (they've always been weak due to 30+ years of chronic asthma).  On-going "niggly" cough always accompanies it.

I've had three bouts of pneumonia (secondary to initial infections) over the past few years.

Anyway.  Seem to be finally coming out the other end of this one.  Went for a gentle ride this morning, and lungs seemed to hold up OK.  Absolutely exhausted, but I suspect that was a case of "too much, too soon".

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Playing catch up.  19 days since last update.

MTB

  • Sat 11/09 - Kooralbyn.  Missed the 2nd round of the Scenic Rim Gravity Enduro Series.  Quite bummed, as a) I love it at Kooralbyn, and b) wanted to support the local MTB club.
  • Mon 13/09 - Scribbly Gums.  First time at new (to me) trail park.  Had meant to get there for ages, but the lure was strong this time, as it has a reputation for being "fairly flat and friendly".  Just the thing for easing my way back into post-illness riding.
  • Wed 15/09 - Tallebudgera Dirt Jumps.  Some good jump practise.  Got into the groove fairly quickly, and was hitting the gaps pretty consistently.
  • Wed 15/09 - Burleigh Dirt Jumps.  Bit of a fail.  Easy line is far too easy.  Hard line is far too hard.  File it away for another day.
  • Sun 19/09 - Scribbly Gums.  Headed out to Scribbly with Claire.  So nice to be able to share this (MTBing) with her, particularly as her confidence and abilities grow with the new bike.
  • Sun 19/09 - Eastern Escarpment.  Hit each of the 5 "fun" gravity trails, with a few friends (one old, and two new).  Was much more fun to do this with others, than I had expected.  Need to prioritise this, I think.  Regular "fun with friends" riding.
  • Thu 23/09 - Castle Hill.  Superflow practise.  Hit each of the 4 stages for the race.  2 x Roweys and Phils - 1 x World Cup and Inca.  Went well enough, to feel "ready" to race on the weekend.
  • Sat 25/09 - Castle Hill.  Superflow Race.  Finally got back to "racing".  Very much still riding within my limits.  B-lined everything sketchy.  Had a couple of... questionable... line choices.  But had fun, had PRs on each stage, and didn't crash.  So calling it a win.
  • Sun 26/09 - Scribbly Gums.  Ride with Claire again.  It seems this is going to be a regular thing.  Absolutely loving it.
  • Tue 28/09 - Kooralbyn.  Practise for Scenic Rim Gravity Enduro Series #3.  Hit each stage once.  Went OK.  Need more commitment on at least a couple of the stages, but went well enough to know that I can survive the day.
  • Wed 29/09 - Coomera Dirt Jumps.  Another good progression session.  Hitting the first two big tables pretty consistently and confidently. Still not had the courage to have a crack at the first tall gap - think my body can clear it, but not so sure about my brain.  Now also hitting the long, skinny table. Gradually hit with more speed, until I started landing on the lander. 

Mobility

  • Little bit of limbering and gentle pulsed stretching on a couple of the better days.

Strength

  • NIL

Meditation

  • NIL

Other

  • Was supposed to "sweep" (run/hike behind the tail end runners) the final ~30km section of the Scenic Rim Ultra on Saturday night.  But got a call mid-afternoon, that I would no longer be required.  The race was called off, and the runners brought back to safety, due to a flare-up of burn-offs from earlier in the week.
  • Daily walks are back, most days.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

MTB

  • Sun 03/10 - Kooralbyn - Scenic Rim Gravity Enduro Race #3.  Had fun!  Came last (out of 4 riders) in my age group.  But I am OK with that.  I know the guy who came 3rd, and he is objectively faster than me on every level.  Screwed up one stage - went the wrong way, and "stopped short" (ceased pedalling hard) of the finish, because I didn't know where the finish was.  Had another go at it, and went MUCH better.  Went OK in every other stage, so left it at one run each.  Overall, reasonably pleased on the basis of a) quick enough for me, b) didn't crash, and c) continuing to build speed and technique in a relatively controlled manner.
  • Mon 04/10 - Scribbly.  What has become my regular weekend (long weekend) ride with Claire.  Enjoying this SO much.  Wore a HRM for the first time in ages.  Pleased to see my HR peak in the high 130s, at the top of one fire road climb, with an average of 107bpm.  Scribbly is obviously a very easy aerobic effort for me.  Good to know.
  • Wed 06/10 - Coomera Dirt Jumps.  Another jump progression session.  More progress!  Hitting and clearing the long skinny tabletop, cleanly and consistently now.  Also hit the tall gap jump on the LHS of the first jump for the first time.  Rolled it the first time, then "hardened the fuck up" and hit it properly.  Cleared with no problem.  I "knew" that I could clear it, but was still quite the mental block to commit to it for the first time.  At least another half dozen clean runs after that, so the gap is now mine.

Mobility

  • Went through HtSfM on Monday and Tuesday.  Hoping to continue this at least every other day.  Really feels good when I do, but very haphazard with any mobility work lately.

Strength

  • Have started back with a VERY rudimentary and low volume circuit of KB and bodyweight work.  Going to slowly build the volume and intensity.  But deliberately avoiding stepping into max strength territory.

Meditation

  • 2 recent sessions after HtSfM.  About 10 mins on Monday.  But only about 2 mins yesterday, due to interruptions.  Interestingly enough, the 2 mins still had quite a marked effect on my feelings of placidity.

Other

  • LOTS of walking lately.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

MTB

  • General
    • Probably won't get out much over the next week or possibly more.  Lots of rain about.
    • Have one more race, this season.  Another gravity enduro event, the weekend after next.  This one is run in more of a "true enduro" style.  Liaison stages not timed, but you do have a time limit to get there, with time penalties if you're late.  Also only one race run, and we only find out the stages, the Monday before the event.  6 stages, also, so another big day out.
  • Rides
    • Fri 08/10 - Cornubia.  Hit the 3 main loops.  Spangled Drongo/Wallum Froglet, Stupidly Happy, then Resurrection (the Black DH), climbing back up Birdwing after each.  Good final fun ride, before the race on Saturday.
    • Sat 09/10 - Mt Joyce - Rocky Trail Superflow Race.  My first time at Mt Joyce, so I made the decision ahead of time to have a recce run of each stage, before hitting it at speed for the race runs.  Turned out to be a long, hot'n'hard day out.  About 25km, but with just shy of 1000m climbing; temps in the low 30°s, but almost the entire park is very exposed.  Done in just over 3 hours, with absolutely nothing left in the tank.  Recce runs were a good idea, but with two of the stages being quite pedally, I was feeling it by the 2nd race stage.  Started cramping on the final climb, which saw me fighting the cramp through the final two race runs.  Not ideal, but... I haven't really been training for such a big day.  Still... plenty of type 2 fun.
    • Sun 10/10 - Daisy Hill.  Regular easy ride with Claire.  With her confidence rapidly growing, we went back to Daisy Hill (all green/blue XC trails, but MUCH more populated) and hit the single trails.  Claire did great.  So much more confident, and balanced on the bike.  Me...?  Not so much.  Had a nice easy ride, but took my eye off the trail, while talking back to Claire, and rode straight over the top of a berm and had a low-speed crash.  Oh well; it gave Claire a laugh.

Mobility

  • Still keeping at it with HtSfM.  More or less, 5 days a week or so.

Strength

  • Continuing the gradual return.  Same circuit.  Still only one set of each.  Will add another set next week, then again in probably another couple of weeks.  Intensity can gradually increase some time later.
  • All still very easy at the moment.  Determined to take it slowly, this time.  While I can do more, I have learned that it is better to build capacity very gradually, particularly as I try to balance riding (my #1 movement priority) and life in general.

Meditation

  • As per mobility, about 5 days a week.  But the length of the sitting meditation session has varied between a few minutes to 10 max.

Other

  • Still walking quite a bit.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

MTB

  • General
    • Riding is still sporadic, due to one thing and another.
    • Final race of the season has been cancelled.  Ugh.  Yet another victim of the hapless 2021.  Fewer than two dozen entrants, so they couldn't financially justify going through with it.
  • Rides
    • Thu 14/10 - Castle Hill.  Hit a bunch of trails I'd never done before.  Had always been out there with the purpose of practising the race stages.  This time, it was just for fun.  Lots of new climbing trails.  Some of them, really challenging, especially in the wet.  Couple of new gravity trails.  Hit one of them twice, because it was too much fun.  Also hit an unmarked, unnamed trail, out the back of the mountain that turned into basically a steep descent down raw "not really a trail".  Lots of fun, but a LONG, STEEP hike-a-bike back up the fire trail, as penance.
    • Sun 17/10 - Scribbly Gums with Claire.  Usual bike date.
    • Mon 18/10 - Eastern Escarpment.  Race stage practise for the race that is no longer.  Hit all 6 stages, then finished up with a pedal out and back along the XC escarpment trail, to recce it for Claire and I.  Now added to the list of trails we can hit together.
    • Wed 20/10 - Coomera Dirt Jumps.  Another progression session.  Made unintentional progress by working on a new gap jump.  Unfortunately, didn't know it was a gap until I hit it for the first time, this morning.  It used to be a table, but I hadn't noticed the change.  Anyway.  Few more laps and I'm now hitting it cleanly.

Mobility

  • Still doing HtSfM.  Only a couple of sessions in the past week.  Life.

Strength

  • Continues.
  • Upped volume to two rounds of same circuit as previous.  Still nice and easy.

Meditation

  • As per mobility, only two sessions.  Have been trying to incorporate semi-regular short periods of "breath work" - observing breath and/or box breathing.

Other

  • Still walking quite a bit.  Quite enjoying the habit, lately.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

MTB

  • General
    • Ditto with the sporadic riding.  Had one week where I got 5 rides in, including two with Claire.  Then only 2 the following week, and no Claire time.
    • No more racing.  But hoping to take the opportunity of off-season time to work on base fitness and skills.
    • Still regularly hitting the Coomera Dirt Jumps to work on airtime.  Progressing slowly, exactly as planned.  Growing more confident, more in control.
    • Claire has only 2 1/2 weeks of placement left, then 1 week post-placement.  After which, she will have completed the requirements for graduation and we should have much more time available for extra-curricular activity.

Mobility

  • Still doing HtSfM.  Very sporadic.  Missed ALL of last week.

Strength

  • Continues.
  • Still two rounds at very low intensity.  Up to three rounds next week, all going well.  Sit there for a couple weeks, then (very) gradually increase intensity.  Determined to build capacity in an easily sustainable way, that leaves me fresh for the stuff I love to do.

Meditation

  • As per mobility, sporadic.

Other

  • YAY walking.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

MTB

  • General
    • Still riding ~2-4 times per week.
    • Starting to incorporate some over-geared climbing into my rides.  Intention is to build more power, but not doing so formally at this stage.  More or less, "Fartlek" style.  Adding them in regularly on rides with Claire, as I have plenty of "spare capacity" due to the rides being generally very low intensity overall.
    • Missed jump practise this week.  Went for a ride with Claire this morning, instead.
    • Intending to use the off-season and the end of Claire's undergraduate study, to start hitting up new (further afield) bike parks.

Mobility

  • Still doing HtSfM.  Still very sporadic.  Only one session in the past week.

Strength

  • Continues.
  • Up to three rounds yesterday.  Still felt easy, but at the upper end of "low intensity".  A couple of weeks there, and I'll start to very slowly edge up the intensity.

Meditation

  • As per mobility, sporadic.

Other

  • YAY walking.  Have started to use the daily walk to do some "urban exploring".  The house we bought just over a year ago, is an old (75yo) Queenslander.  I've become rather fond of wandering the local streets and seeing what other people have done with theirs (lots of similar period houses in our area).  Also a good way to keep the walks interesting.
  • Have started tracking my HRV again.  Not particularly successfully, thus far.  Trying to do it, first thing in the morning, but keep forgetting.
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

MTB

  • General
    • Still riding ~2-4 times per week.
    • Now riding with Claire a couple of times a week.  Once on the weekend, and again on Wednesday (on the way to the office for me, and work placement for her).
    • Been a while since my last hit-out at the local dirt jumps.  Did get a day in at Ashgrove (where I had a coaching session a while back) - it was... OK.
    • Trying to get as much variety in my rides as possible at the moment.

Mobility

  • Almost nothing.  Sporadic "Daily 5".

Strength

  • Continues.
  • Still at 3 sessions of usual circuit, still at the initial (very easy) intensity level.  Will try to build intensity a little next week - need a bigger (intermediate) kettlebell.

Meditation

  • Nothing.

Other

  • Walking continues.  Think my body is really appreciating the regular, very easy exercise.
  • Missing most HRV readings, due to a long period of particularly abhorrent sleep.
  • Claire is currently in post-placement week, after which she will be done and eligible to graduate.  She still has a few things that need to be done after (invited to speak at a Health Research conference; getting her paper ready for publishing etc), but our collective time availability should open up significantly.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...