Labyrinth - Day One
I don't want to spoiler anyone who plans to do this program after me, and because I think it's more fun this way - instead of a workout log - I'm just going to write a little pulp style piece about the narrative
Rest assured I'll still be doing my warmups and cooldown stretches as appropriate
Wish me luck!!

As I took my first steps into the labyrinth, my eyes struggled to adjust to the gloom within. Suddenly, torches which lined the walls sparked into life, their flickering amber glow drawing me forth down a long passage way. I gazed up at the ornate engravings, great heroes of the past, the brave few that have walked this path before me and survived the Trials of Labyrinth. Was I really up to the challenge of walking in the footsteps of these legendary warriors? Time would tell. Surely a trick of the flickering torch light, but their eyes seemed to follow my every move as a tentatively advanced, as if passing judgement against my worthiness. My footsteps echoed down the seemingly infinite hallway before me, louder and louder until the sound became deafening, the ground began to shake and fracture, dust and rubble began to fall all around me - I struggled to maintain my footing as the ancient stones trembled and quake - had I been judged unworthy already?! Would the labyrinth swallow me up before my quest had even begun?! Not if I had any say about it!!
 
Labyrinth - Day Two
The Chamber of Echoes
As the ancient masonry crumbled all around me, I had little choice but to press on - passages lead to the East & South, I had to make a choice, and fast!
South! I darted forward just as a huge chunk of stonework collapsed, blocking any hope of retreat. I strode onward into the next chamber at first it seemed only to be a hollow room, but as my footsteps echoed against the cold stone walls they began to distort, first into indecipherable whispers, then a chorus of disperate voices, then a deafening cacophony of cries! What fell socerery had bewitched this place a knew not, but as the screeching voices grew ever louder I knew I could not remain here for long. The volume alone pounded into my chest so hard that it sycopated the very vital rhythm of my heart, and wretched screeches grasped and clawed at my mind, threatening to rend my sanity asunder!
"Breathe!" I bade myself. I had to maintain my focus, find my rhythm! As the unrelenting psychic assault bombarded me with its thousands maddening cries, I almost stumbled under the onslaught. Muttering a silent prayer of gratitude to the wizard Lonsdale, who had provided me with the Bracers of Knee Support for my journey, already proving to be invaluable - I regained my balance, calling upon all my willpower to keep my concentration, and press onward toward the exit from this chamber of nightmarish echoes...
 
Quick OOC Update:
So I did do Wednesday, but I had to leave it till later because I had a lot of DIY and cleaning that day and by the time I was done, I was absolutely exhausted, and I couldn't even muster the energy to do a write up!
I'd already hit 150 intensity minutes too, which meant I was on track for doing too much and burning out, so yesterday thankfully I was able to get a good bit of physical rest, so I plan to pick up with the program (and my pulp write-ups) today.
I think that usually Darebee programs have active rest days built in, but because this one is nonlinear by design - I don't think I can expect that (ngl, 2 leg days in a row was p brutal) so I might have to program my own - I'm also really missing my walks! (and I have a walking holiday coming up, and there's a new training plan just dropped specifically for prepping for hikes - so I might be smart to pause this program when I get to that point, unless I fluke a speed run! Let's see..)

Anyway ye, just wanted to check in because I kinda fell off the map for a hot minute there - but I'm still here!
 
Labyrinth - Day Three - The Iron Cogs
Continuing Southwards, as I feared changing course now might cause me to lose my sense of direction after such a psychic assault, I soon came to a new chamber. The rear wall held two doors, both sealed shut, seemingly held in place by a mass of enormous metallic gears, each etched with faintly glowing astrological symbols. Several of the giant cogs were misplaced, some grinding and jammed others screeching as they span free - as I began to decipher the arcane symbols it became clear that if I wished to advance any further I would need to repair this monstrous machine. I searched my memory for knowledge of the order of constellations, an incomplete map began to form - the rest I would have to discover through trial and error. It took all my effort to resist the grinding gears revolutions as I hauled first one enormous cog and then another into position. When the machine began to turn I breathed a sigh of relief as I stood back to wait for the doors to open, only to realise that the engraved glowing stars were not aligning and I had to begin the process all over again. Prying out the gigantic gears and holding them in place as until the right moment took the last of my strength and I was almost crushed as I stumbled, heaving the last piece of the puzzle into place. Suddenly all almighty whirring as the stars aligned at last, and the doors that blocked my passage forward slid open effortlessly

Labyrinth - Day Four - The Tide Hall
I took a moment to catch my breath, the labyrinths challenges had been exhausting and I was sure there would be many more to come. I sat down on the cold stone floor and wondered what the next chamber held for me. Hungrily I gulped down a hard dry ration, it tasted vile, like the rancid engine grease that still coated my hands, but I gulped down every last crumb - I would need all the energy I could muster in the days ahead. The passage before me smelt of damp, and the stonework was slippery with moss growing from every crack and crevice. I soon discovered why.
As I made my way through the room frozen water began to pour forth through grates in the moss-covered walls, not in a steady flow, but in suddenly violent surges. At the far end of the chamber stood a heavy sluice gate. I had to hurry! The chamber was filling rapidly and the waves buffeted me this way and that. I braced against each new tidal wave as I struggled to maintain my footing on the slippery stone work. If I fell, the current would surely drag me under and my adventure - and life would end here! I grasped at the rusted chain attached to the sluice gate s the water rose up to my neck, the next surge would surely drag me under - it was now or never! As the tide ebbed in preparation for it's final fatal flood, I hauled with all my heart, hand over hand as my shoulders burned. Slowly, inch by inch the gate began to rise and as the deadly deluge descended, I slipped through seconds before it came crashing down!

OOC
These last 2 challenges I have dialled back to 3 sets instead of 5, however I'm now up to almost 200 intensity minutes for the week already, and you (regular readers) will know I decided to limit myself to 225, so I think tomorrow will be my last one - maybe a Sunday afternoon walk

Oh - also, it's Bandcamp Friday today, maybe I'll get some new dungeon synth to be the soundtrack to my adventures!?
 
Yeah so I was totally knackered yesterday and I've been itching for a walk (and I'm keen to get some practice in before we head up to Scotland next month) so that's what we did today - pretty flat around here, but we were wandering for a good 2.5 hours, got just shy of 10km
Nearly all zone 1 but it got my up to 217 intensity mins for the week, so that'll do nicely I think

I've found some exercises for to hopefully help fix my "runners knees" too, probably gonna want to sort that out as best I can before we go too - southern uplands, so not especially big hills, but still
 
So today I was still feeling a lot of fatigue in my legs, especially the quads - and a lot of tension in the joints, especially the hips - to the point my back problems were flaring up. I didn't think it would be smart to stack anything strenuous on top of that, so I just wanted some light movement and lots of stretching to loosen up again;

Prehab, Shaolin Morning Flow, Ultimate Morning Stretches pt 1 & 2

Obviously that's not going to get me my intensity minutes, but hopefully it will loosen me up for something more significant either after today's jobs, or tomorrow
 
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