Back from the Dead 🧟‍♀️

SevenDeadlyExes SevenDeadlyExes Logging since February 2024
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
 
Yeah nah - autistic burnout hit and I ignored the early warning signs (I got stuff to do gd it!) and so it knocked my equilibrium off for the past couple of days, just getting seasick every time I got up 😵‍💫🤢
I remember reading somewhere (I have a feeling it was darebees own @neilarey who said it) something about how you've got 5 points to spend on all the different facets of your life and it's a lesson I just refuse to learn?!

Anyway, I've been on my arse for a couple days and as I'm feeling a little better I wanted to get some movement going, so I did this (pretty good)

And then a Yoga with Adrienne, but that made me dizzy again and cry a little bit so - I guess I'm still not well 🙄

Chronic illness is the pits ngl

Sidenote: I'm giving Hexen another chance and I'm really getting into it this time
 
Pretty ironic that I've had to drop out of Labyrinth because I have labyrinthitis 😂
david bowie labyrinth GIF
 
OK, new plan... #ADHDMantra

So after recovering from labyrinth-induced labyrinthitis - I am once again forced to confront the concept that I am getting too old for this 🤫

However, whilst more or less bedridden I have rediscovered a passion for drawing and designing dungeons for ttrpgs, as well as how bad sitting/lying down for long periods is for my back - so I will be returning to my rightful place amongst the lvl 2 workouts, with Herald & Scribe to keep me mobile.

I guess it's true what they say, you either die a Hero, or live long enough to become a Dungeon Master 🤓
 
SevenDeadlyExes said:
Managed some short walks over the weekend and now we're back at a working week again - still not 100% so I want to keep my exercises just to "showing up" levels
Yoga for Herald today so I did this little 10 min YWA
And Scribe prescribes posture today, so let's go..


Slow and steady unknot myself and get my old bones moving again
Click to expand...

Have a beautiful start to the week! ✨💕
 
Morning all,

Bit of a down day yesterday, but I did eventually manage a YWA and I think it was back stretches for Scribe - also a lil twilight walk with a homemade mocha in the autumn leaves and light rain, which was lovely!

I also put my phone in the wash so I'm having to do things on the laptop now - which is an adjustment, though not necessarily a bad one - I have a flip phone and sure up until the 2000s we all got along fine without even that - so I don't think I'll replace it if I can avoid it

This morning I did;

for Scribe - I wish I had this in my proverbial toolbox when I played drums (although, the RSI was only a small part of why I quit tbf)

And then;

for Herald

Still not in fighting form, but I'm testing clear from the covid now, so I think I'm going to add in some walks next week to start building up my cardio fitness a bit - I don't think we'll be going up the mountain on our upcoming holidays after all because of this - but maybe we can go around it (I always think mountain are most impressive from the ground anyway) and there's woods to explore, and the beach, and castles - so I definitely want to be as fit as I can manage given the circumstances - even if we're not doing the big challenge.
 
I guess Saturday is my big day because both programs have cardio today

Low Impact Cardio for Herald; Steady State Cardio
And Walking at Home for Scribe; Hiker

Just 3 sets for each, for total 6 sets of cardio which I thought was plenty for coming back from illness

I did have a mind to just go for a walk instead, but I thought these would provide a greater range of motion and more intensity - Rest day for Herald tomorrow so I might go a walk then

Did the
 
Prehab - for Scribe today, and Herald is a rest day - but I'm off for a Sunday morning walk anyway to get some fresh air and work up an appetite for a big brunch

I think starting tomorrow I'm going to switch out Herald for Drifter though - this week I have been doing mobility on mobility, which was fine for when I was super stechy and still a bit ill, but I'm doing better now and want to get back into shape again. I'll keep it light, with a low set count - I figure I want at least 2 weeks for recovery after covid - but I also want some strength and endurance for exploring on my hollies!!

I guess I'll see about slapping the barnacles of them old sea monsters (Guild Quest - not a euphemism) when I get back - if there's energy left in the tank
 
Tuesday 13 October 2026

Morning all,

I did do my workouts yesterday - but I came here to post about it and they'd changed it and it did me an autism - so I didn't end up posting
Stakeout - for Scribe today, which was apparently level 4, and I did the EC so ig I'm getting my mobility back - which is good
One Day At A Time - for Drifter, which is level 2 and I only did 3 sets (which was my plan because recovery) but that was pretty challenging tbh because covid has wrecked my cardio fitness - which is annoying
Nothing to do but keep working away at it tho, slow and steady style..
 
Thursday 15 October 2026

SO yesterday I did do my exercises irrc Wild & Free for Combat for Drifter, and the NHS neck one for Scribe (whihc actually came in handy again today because I spent a lot of time last night hunched over my laptop and my back was killing in the uncomfy as waiting room chairs at the doctors office today so - also noticed another girl doing neck stretches in there which I wanna say I started a trend, but I was sitting 2 rows behind her, so probably just a coincidence - or I have psychic powers I never knew about before XD

Anyway, I have Back & Core loaded up (listed on both Scribe & Drifter for today, so I figure I'd just combine them) but I'm not long back from errands (loads of walking so still counts for something) and I'm having hard time switching gears to do a workout now so idk, maybe I need a bit of encouragement - give us a clap?? XD

Update: I wanted to mke biscuits, but the butter needed time to soften - so I used that time to do my back and core workout!
 
Tuesday 20 October 2026

#OKNEWPLAN - No Plan

Crashed out end of last week and haven't picked up again til today so..

I'm thinking mobility, yes. General fitness, yes. Specific daily plan, no.

I am biting the proverbial bullet and picking workouts from the "Oh Lordy, I'm over 40" collection, which today included Bad Knees Cardio, and Daily Mobility
I did have a stab at anti-aging mobility but as a CR3 workout, I was knackered halfway through my first set and thought "oh f- this!" (I'm struggling to do any exercise at the moment, so anything that incurs that kind of reaction is not conducive to building the habit back up again)

I will continue to pick out workouts from this collection each day - except on days when I can't be bothered - and then that will be useful data too
Maybe I can make a little chart and see if a pattern emerges!?

Update: I joined the Walking Club too - which got me thinking, actually going for walks is a pretty poor input:output ratio in terms of exercise - all the added effort of getting ready; check the weather, get dressed, plan a route, remember water, and actually go outside - plus all the sensory stuff of being outside - that can honestly be my whole day
Happily though, there are walking at home and walking alternative collections here that require much less investment for at least as much reward (except for sometimes you see cool stuff outside and fresh air tbf - although sometimes you see horrid stuff though or the air quality is bad and/or stinky so...) and if I do walking around in the flat for intervals (which I do anyway) that counts for time eh?
 
Wednesday 21 October 2026

I'm liking the walking club so far - and the walking at home alternatives

Another 30 mins logged today with the Hiker workout - and walking about the flat for my intervals, practicing the heel-toe thing as suggested (who knew I needed a refresher course of how to walk - and yet..!)
And I did Posture Fix for my mobility workout, cos I need it - and then I did Daily Mobility again, because I'm doing a good bit of lower body atm and my hips need the extra attention

Probably going on a irl walk tomorrow as I have an appt by the park - and I probably should do a mobility as well, but we'll see what happens
 
Friday 23 October 2026

Ah, see now I've run into a little problem - because after yesterday's big walk I've gone and doubled my intensity minutes goal again - maybe it's ok because I'm just grinding zone 2 rather than doing anything particularly intense - but I'm on holidays next week in a place where the only thing there is to do is go on walks - so maybe I better check myself before I wreck myself..?
I would like to get that walking badge though - and I've been doing song lyrics for my postcards - so I kinda do need to finish that (or I'll never get to Mhairi's Wedding!?)
Maybe just wee 10-15 min sessions, just to tick the box like - and my mobility ones as well ofc
 
Saturday 24 October 2026

Well that's me for the week - will be driving all tomorrow (well, I'll be in the car, being a passenger princess lol)
Total 365 intensity mins this week!/ Goal is only 150!!
Guess Covid kicked my ass because I only counted 180 mins of walking/walking alt workouts - unless my watch was counting all my errands and house chores on the sneaky maybe?

Anyway - that's plenty - I got my walking club badge, stayed on top of my mobility exercises - time for a well earned rest day or two (there's a storm blowing so we might be laying low for a day when we get to the cottage)
 
Sunday 1 November 2026

Hey gang!

Just back from my walking holiday up in Scotland - it was absolutely gorgeous, despite the storms that made getting there a little more exciting than expected
I couldn't bring my laptop (wouldn't fit in my bag) and my smart phone went in the wash #whoops - so i pretty much had no internet for the last week
I did however walk a total of 60km - and gained about 4kgs from good eating lol
I also did my mobility exercises 6 of the 7 days (I needed them, that was a lot of walking!) thankfully I had the foresight to make myself a quick little zine to remind myself and to keep track

Might look out some weight-loss workouts for the next week or two, or I guess just go back to not eating quite so much sausages and chocolates - at least until Yuletide anyway

Hope you all had a lovely Samhain (we had a wood fire going in the cottage, it was so cosy!) 🎃
 
Monday 2 November 2026

Back on Drifter this week;

Did Daily Dumbbells because after ll that walking last week I was itching to move some heavy objects (just 3kg - bit too small tbh, but it's been a minute and I struggle with the lat raises - also 24 reverse lunges is a good amount and I don't wanna overload my gammy knees!)
Daily Mobility too as that's kept me out of pain all week - probably will pick up Scribe again as I get back in to sitting on my backside most of the day again

Walking club seems easy enough this week - just for an hour - maybe do that for on of my cardio days ig
 
Wednesday 4 November 2026

Not doing the Combat workout Drifter calls for today as I'm low on energy and I'm back doing housework today and I'll be running errands tomorrow so I'll need whatever energy I can muster for other things (which as you'll recall is the plan - the program is a prompt, not an obligation!)

Did my big walk for the walking club yesterday - and I've done my (expanded) Daily Mobility for today so I think that'll do for me today! (well that and house work, which counts too!)
 
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