At the break of dawn

[NancyTree]

Monday August 12th
I skipped my run today. The muscles and tendons in my legs felt stiff. So instead of pushing it, I chose rest. Lost my step streak again because of it, but well.. better safe than sorry. My mind was trying to trick me into going for a hike instead or go for a shorter run, but I was so tired that mentally I also needed a break. I stuck to rest and finished my book.
 Program ZEN, day 3
Focus: strength
Workout #27 Sofa Bound, +EC (Don't drop your arms from move #1 to move #2)

Steps today: 3358

Goals progress
5000 steps (0/7)
Healthy dinner (1/5)
Reasonable snacks (1/5)
Language course (1/7)
Going to bed in time (1/5)
Doing 2 chores a week (0/2)

Darebee workouts: 51/2337
Step streak 0 days
Workout streak: 5 days
Duolingo (hard) streak: 382 days. 1st day July 27th 2023

 

[NancyTree]

Tuesday August 13th
Focus: cardio
Workout #31 Catapult, lvl 3 + EC (1min rest)

Steps today: 6004

Goals progress
5000 steps (1/7)
Healthy dinner (2/5)
Reasonable snacks (2/5)
Language course (1/7)
Going to bed in time (2/5)
Doing 2 chores a week (0/2)

Darebee workouts: 52/2343
Step streak 1 days
Workout streak: 6 days
Duolingo (hard) streak: 383 days. 1st day July 27th 2023

 

[NancyTree]

Wednesday August 14th
After my run I ran up the stairs too fast, so now my knee hurts..

 Run 6.45 km trail. I went early in the morning, because it finally cooled down a bit. I saw a wild boar which is the very plus of going early.
 Program ZEN, day 4

Steps today: 12280

Goals progress
5000 steps (2/7)
Healthy dinner (3/5)
Reasonable snacks (3/5)
Language course (1/7)
Going to bed in time (3/5)
Doing 2 chores a week (2/2)

Darebee workouts: 52/2343
Step streak 2 days
Workout streak: 7 days
Duolingo (hard) streak: 384 days. 1st day July 27th 2023

 

[Anek]

I hope your knee feels better soon!

 

[MadamMeow]

Me too, hope it's better tomorrow.

 

[NancyTree]

@Anek @MadamMeow thanks! Thursday during the day it became better, today (Friday) it's unpredictable, on and off. Hopefully in a few days it will be totally okay again.

Thursday August 15th
 Hike 3.56 km

Steps today: 8017

Goals progress
5000 steps (3/7)
Healthy dinner (3/5)
Reasonable snacks (4/5)
Language course (1/7)
Going to bed in time (4/5)
Doing 2 chores a week (2/2)

Darebee workouts: 52/2343
Step streak 3 days
Workout streak: 0 days
Duolingo (hard) streak: 385 days. 1st day July 27th 2023

Picture

 

[NancyTree]

Monday August 20th
My knee is only slowly getting better, but luckily it doesn't hurt while hiking or running. It's mostly bending and using it with strength.

Did a nice 13 km hike in the weekend, a two hour drive from home. So I was really happy my knee held up as long as I kept it easy.

I'm rethinking my training routine. Doong all the Darebee workouts in (sort of) order is not working. I have abandoned it before because of the lvl 5 workouts. It's not really balanced and it's demotivating me. Maybe I should do it from lvl 1 and then working up. Or just abandon the whole idea and get back to programs or workouts that I like. I'm not sure yet what I'll do, so for now I will just do the WotD and exersises as I like.

 Hike 2.69 km
 WotD Overdue, lvl 1, +EC (1 min rest)
Challenge Arms&Abs day 1
Strength: upperbody 5.5 kg
3x10 bicep curls
3x5 tricep extensions (both sides)
3x10 bent over rows
3x5 lateral raises

Steps today: 6449

 

[NancyTree]

Tuesday August 21st
I want to let go of my Duolingo streak. I'm mostly still doing it every morning to keep my streak, but I don't feel like I'm learning for real. I want to be committed to my real language course (Duolingo doesn't teach Slovene so I had to get it somewhere else). The Duolingo streak lost its meaning, but letting it go for real feels also not really right. Yet.
 Run 6.53 km trail
 WotD Keep defender, lvl 1 + EC (1 min rest)
Challenge Arms&Abs day 2
Strength: abs
3x20 crunches
3x20 cross crunches
3x20 sitting twists with 5.5 kg dumbbell

Steps today: 13309

Edit: forgot to mention the challenge

 

[NancyTree]

Pictures

 

[NancyTree]

Wednesday August 21st
The workout of the day was with a lot of squats and lunges, didn't dare to stress my knee that much yet. But tried a few for myself and that seems to be okay.
 Hike 7.04km. It was sort of adventurous, through a corn field and blackberry bushes higher than me.
 Challenge Arm&Abs day 3
 Challenge Wall sit day 1
 Program ZEN, day 1
Strength: lower body
3x10 calf raises
3x10 deadlifts 5.5 kg
3x15 bridges
3x20 side leg raises
3x5 wide squat

Steps today: 12310

 

[NancyTree]

Pictures

 

[NancyTree]

Thursday August 22nd
My knee feels kind of strong again I'll stay a bit cautious though.
I forgot to do ZEN tonight.. so annoying, I went upstairs to start, and just forgot, brushed my teeth and went to bed...
 Run 6.53 trail
WotD Selkie, lvl 1 + EC (1 min rest)
 Challenge wall sit Day 2
 Challenge Arms&Abs day 4
Strength: upperbody (5.5 kg)
3x10 alt bicep curls
3x5 tricep extensions (each arm)
3x10 shoulder press
3x5 push ups
3x5 lateral raises

Steps today: 10956

 

[aku-chan]

Love the pictures, graffiti and goats!

 

[NancyTree]

@aku-chan thanks!

Friday August 23rd
Walk 3.30 km
Program ZEN day 2
Challenge wall sit day 3
Challenge Arms&Abs day 5
Strength: Abs
3x20 long arm crunches
3x20 knee to elbows
3x20 lying leg raises
3x5 ab wheel

Steps today: 8712

 

[NancyTree]

Saturday August 24th
 Run 4.51 km trail
WotD Eye of the Tiger, lvl 1, +EC
Challenge wall sit day 4
Challenge Arms&Abs day 6
Strength: Lower body
3x10 calf raises
3x10 deadlifts (8 kg kettlebell)
3x15 bridges with light small resistance band
3x20 side leg raises with light small resistance band
3x20 donkey kicks with light small resistance band
3x10 wide squats with light small resistance band

Steps today: 11063

 

[NancyTree]

Sunday August 25th
 Hike 13.99 km
Challenge Wall sit day 5
Challenge Arms&Abs day 7
Strength: upperbody 5.5 kg
3x10 alternating bicep curls
3x7 bicep extensions (each side)
3x5 bent over row + bent over fly
3x10 chest press
3x10 shrugs

Steps today: 20711

Pictures

 

[Anek]

That macro picture is especially amazing!

 

[NancyTree]

@Anek thanks! Today I hope to get some more macro pictures, last time I forgot to take my macro lens

 

[NancyTree]

Monday August 26th
 Run 7.02 km
 Program ZEN day 1
 Challenge wall sit day 6
Challenge Arms&Abs day 8
Strength: abs
3x20 crunches
3x20 cross crunches
3x15 knee crunches
3x30 flutter kicks
3x20 sitting twists with 5.5 kg dumbbell

Steps today: 11807

Pictures

 

[JCU]

We have a special love of hairy coos here. Thank you!!

 

[NancyTree]

@JCU I also like them, they are awesome. I was a bit intimidated by the size of the herd though, luckily they kept calm and let me run through.

 

[NancyTree]

Tuesday August 27th
Crappy day at work. Drained to the max.. Did only ZEN and a very short walk around the block.
Program ZEN day 2

Steps today: 5555

 

[NancyTree]

Wednesday August 28th
 Hike 6.39 km. The heather is going down
 Program ZEN day 3
 Challenge Wall sit day 7
 Challenge Arms&Abs day 9
Strength: lower body
3x15 calf raises
3x15 deadlift with 8 kg kettlebell
3x15 squats with light miniband
3x30 side leg raises with light miniband
3x30 donkey kicks with light miniband

Steps today: 14341

Pictures

 

[Anek]

Wow!!!

 

[NancyTree]

Thursday August 29th
Forgot to do the ZEN program because I did yoga (today was meditation day)
 Run 5.67 km trail. My legs were heavy, my breathing was off.. maybe the stress of this week, bad nutrition because of the stress and the leg workout from yesterday made it hard.. I took an extra protein shake afterwards
Yoga
TLC
2 minute yoga
ZEN workout

Steps today: 11605

 

[NancyTree]

Friday August 30th
 Walk 3.84 km
 Program ZEN day 4
Challenge wall sit day 8
Challenge Arms&Abs day 10
Strength : Upperbody
3x16 alt bicep curls
3x7 tricep extensions (both sides)
3x10 shoulder press
3x5 lat raises
3x10 knee push ups

Steps today: 9924

 

[NancyTree]

Saturday August 31st
I was so tired, I went back to bed after breakfast instead of doing my workout. My legs are still toast, I don't understand.. but I decided that the short bike rides and walks were enough and skipped my run.
 Bike 2.97 km + 2.56 km
 Hike 2.31 km + 5.43 km
 Program ZEN day 5

Steps today: 11927

 

[NancyTree]

August summary
Days of exercise: 31/31
Run: 63.28 km
Hike/walk: 99.61 km
Steps: 324211

July
Days of exercise: 31/31
Run: 50.11 km
Hike/walk 60.63 km
Steps: 270345

August was a month of change, I think. I'm hiking long distances, I'm running more consistently, I found some sort of routine in exercising I like for now (but still it's hard to keep it up).

Edit: I took these screenshots and then forget to use them.

Hiking:




Running:



Change in fitness level:

 

[NancyTree]

Sunday September 1st
I was out really early to do my long hike before I was going to some friends. Forgot to do DuoLingo so now I lost my more than 1 year perfect streak. I wanted to let go of the streak anyway, but now it was not a real choice. Makes it easier though.
Hike 17.02 km
Challenge Wall sit day 9
Challenge Arms&Abs day 11
 Program ZEN day 6

Steps today: 23977

 

[NancyTree]

Pictures

 

[TopNotch]

Very pretty.

 

[colin]

I missed your pictures Nancy!

Lovely.

 

[graoumia]

Love your pictures, but the last one gave me chills...

 

[Anek]

What gorgeous flowers! What are they, do you know? I'd love to have them in my garden!

 

[NancyTree]

@Anek it's (macro photos of) blooming heather, Besenheide.

@graoumia me too I almost went with my head through it when I was taking pictures of the small heather flowers next to it... saw it just in time

@colin thanks!
@TopNotch thank you

 

[NancyTree]

Monday September 2nd
Long day at work, wanted to skip my run but dragged myself out.
 Run 5.87 km trail. I promised myself an easy run, but unnoticed I was running very fast. Had to hold me back the whole time, but still made a CR on a Strava segment.
Program ZEN day 7
Challenge Wall sit day 10
 Challenge Arms&Abs day 12
Strength: abs
3x20 high crunches
3x20 sitting twists with 5.5 kg dumbbell
3x10 reverse crunches
3x10 lying leg raises
30 sec elbow plank

Steps today: 10743