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Last week, I issued myself a three part challenge.
A- Run a 5k in less than 20 minutes
B- Achieve C on ICCup
C- Finish and submit my novel to publishers
I decided to keep track of my progress on here because it would help push me to follow through. Additionally, I've already got some pretty useful advice helping me improve my goals, so this has already proven worth it.
If you feel physically or mentally bored or stuck, you should try to keep up with or beat me to these goals. Alternatively, set your own goals and meet and beat them. It is fun and it is worth it.
Run a 5K in 20:00 or less over the summer.
I've been following this training guide to complete this goal.
My biggest problem with this goal thus far has been stretching. For most of the past few weeks, I have not engaged in proper stretching. It's all a bit shameful - both my mother and my sister are Physical Therapists and could help me out with a full, in depth guide the second I asked. So, the other day I stopped being lazy and gave my sister a call. This morning, fully streched and with a few sets of crunches and push ups behind me, I ran a 5k in 20 minutes and 30 seconds. Additionally, I did it on weird terrain - it is mostly flat but has half a dozen extremely hilly sections. Because my actual summer 5k is weeks away and will most likely be flatter, I am lowering my goal to 18 minutes. If I reach that during training, I will continue lower.
If anyone ever does take up running, my advice is two fold: STRETCH. And run with regularity. Running becomes super relaxing once it becomes a habit and you no longer have to worry about your muscles painfully tearing.
Also, my sister tells me that I should go get fitted for personalized running shoes. She ran a half marathon just a few weeks ago and says they make a world a difference. I have to look up some stores located around me up here at school, but I think it is a pretty good idea. I will tell you guys how that goes if and when I actually buy it.
New goal: Run a 5k in 18:00 or less.
Reach C-level on ICCup by the time my first 5k is run.
This goal is not advancing quite as planned.
First of all, I'm not able to build a good enough winning streak. My TvZ just isn't up to snuff and I feel like I run into nothing but Z on ICCup. Ah well.
I can't lie - the real reason this goal is faltering is Altitude. But I am getting back into BW after a three day hiatus and I am going to keep this goal.
Finish and submit my novel to publishers by mid-summer.
This is not something I am going to rush. However, I feel that I am at a good point right now and plan on continuing writing very soon. I will give a short summary of the book here and next week I'll supply a short sample for you guys to read and critique if you like.
Describing the book is something that really should come much easier to me, but I always put too much thought into it. For starters, the book is called Optimistic. Here goes:
Optimistic is the story of a man named Sam living in a war torn city. The city, Canon, is the natural descendant of Gaza, Berlin, Warsaw, Stalingrad, Nanking and the countless other locales devastated by urban warfare throughout the past century. Living in the crosseyes of a convoluted war and a devastated population, Sam is forced to live his life second to second and ruined house to house.
Each soldier and each civilian contributes a voice to story. In fact, the book could be described as an attempt to explore further than the usual (and useless) faceless masses. It is a confirmation and examination of the idea that each army is made up of individual soldiers, each population is founded on every single life and that each human being is at once wildly unique and strikingly similar.
Some other prevalent topics: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, propaganda and punditry, family and other personal relationships, loyalty and .... well, way too many to list. I hope I've painted a marginally clear picture for you guys.
Anyway, 20:30! I'm fucking PSYCHED that I ran that and, because of the stretching, felt really, really good afterwards.
Now, I've really gotta go hit C.
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Sounds like your goals are helping you  I wish you the best of luck with all three!
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United States24698 Posts
What is the verdict on stretching before running, or doing other sports?
As a kid I always thought you stretch everything out before you physically exert yourself, but more recently I've heard lots of arguments for just doing a 'warmup' such as a jog before exerting yourself, and then stretching AFTER the physical activity. What's the deal?
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On April 15 2009 01:49 micronesia wrote:
What is the verdict on stretching before running, or doing other sports?
As a kid I always thought you stretch everything out before you physically exert yourself, but more recently I've heard lots of arguments for just doing a 'warmup' such as a jog before exerting yourself, and then stretching AFTER the physical activity. What's the deal?
as far as I've read it's important to stretch before and after.
the way i went about it today was: a full stretch session, some strength training (push ups, crunches, etc), the run, and a cool down
i should have stretched afterwards, too. oh well, next time.
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Awesome! XD Hope all goes well!
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pre workout stretching should only be done to increae blood flow in the muscles, not with the intent of lengthening your muscles. imo.
I think that pre workout stretching should be light and dynamic. and post workout stretching should be static and much more thorough.
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I usually take a light jog for 2-3 minutes and then stretch, then go on normal run
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Very interesting blog 5/5.
Stretching is the only way to achieve optimal speeds in alot of things. These days I casually stretch my fingers before a gaming session.
Good luck with your goals!
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United States11637 Posts
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the MOTW on iccup this week is actually pretty decent with andro, tau cross, and desti so you should definitely go for it
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Good luck, you have some cool goals to achieve for!
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Good luck with your runs. I had a goal to run a marathon 2 years ago and succeded half year ago. Its all about finding good motivation that will keep you on fire every day. Btw my marathon was very worthy, I got scolarship and been interviewed.
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Interesting, your first 2 goals are the same as my goals for the summer, but I am much farther form reaching the 5k in 20 minutes then you are. C rank on iccup is going to be a challenge as well. I hope to succeed in both. Good luck to you.
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D- Battle of the Bands 4!
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On April 15 2009 04:46 SonuvBob wrote:
D- Battle of the Bands 4!
duuuuhhh
been thinking about it lately. gonna set that shit up in a few weeks for sure so i can give participants more time to write/record/submit/writhe in agony as they await the results
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Pretty damn ambitious, and a good read. Thanks for sharing.
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wrt stretching as far as i'm aware there's no consensus on whether you should stretch beforehand, i totally understand those that go out running on cold muscles (personally i follow what travis said -- dynamic range stretching beforehand and the standard static stretching after), but the thing pretty much everyone agrees on is the importance of static stretching after the workout.
so make sure you do that at least!
oh yeah and for running shoes -- hopefully the store clerk that'll be fitting you isn't an idiot, but too many of them (in my experience) either are just taught to tell people they need stability/motion control shoes (the most expensive obviously) or just wing it. i'd take what they say with a grain of salt, and look up the signs of what to look for, film yourself running and make your own decision.
then again you might get lucky with someone knowledgeable
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dude, just make games with "Desti D you zerg" and you'll be C in no time, steamroll with mech.
nice job on the run though, I've never had been a good distance runner, I'd be lucky to run a 5k period.
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This is very good for self-motivation and will power.
;p seems like you will reach your goals, and even surpass them!.
Good luck!
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On April 15 2009 01:49 micronesia wrote:
What is the verdict on stretching before running, or doing other sports?
As a kid I always thought you stretch everything out before you physically exert yourself, but more recently I've heard lots of arguments for just doing a 'warmup' such as a jog before exerting yourself, and then stretching AFTER the physical activity. What's the deal?
DYNAMIC stretching beforehand (except hip flexors).
STATIC stretching afterwards.
Reason being that static stretching the muscles elongates them as travis said which leads to an overall decrease in ability of the muscles to exert force.
Hip flexors should be static stretched because they are an antagonist to hip extension which is the primarily movement that drives running. So stretching them makes they "weaker" so your stride takes less effort (or for sprinters you can get more power out of your stride).
TBH I would honestly do something of a sprinters warmup... bunch of sprint drills, and maybe a brisk short run before the event. Some dynamic stretching work to help warmup the muscles... maybe break a light sweat.
Either that or look at what the top athletes are doing and copy them.
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