Twelve Labours of Cord - looking for ideas

[Cord the Seeker]

Okay, so I have been making some pretty decent progress on reconfiguring my body into the one I want. A long way to go yet, but I'm not going to disparage the work I have already done.
In early July I decided to put my body through its paces and see what it could do. I went down to Vancouver and hiked up a couple of famous local mountains.
A friend of mine referred to these feats, somewhat grandiosely, as 'Herculean'.

This got me to thinking: what if I set myself a series of twelve tasks, labours if you will, that would challenge me and demonstrate that I have reached greater levels of fitness? My idea is that by the time I had completed all twelve labours, I would be in pretty darn good shape.

So, I'm looking for ideas for my twelve labours. So far I have completed 2. I have one more that I definitely want to add to the list.

1. Hike up Stawamus Chief - completed July 09
2. Grouse Grind - completed July 09
3. Enter (and complete) a triathlon

Anyone have any input?

 

[Guest]

oo Awesome Idea!!!!

I don't have any grand ideas...lol

Do a Half way or a quarter of a way to Mount Everest? Don't cha need to be in fairly good shape for that...something to do or everything to do with strong lungs?

Go on a Kayak/Canoe Camp Trip? A long distanced planned one...

Google Adventure camps, there are LOADS of those, might be pricey though, but could get some good ideas? & make them into your own maybe.

I'll be back must go brain storm this one, and would like to see what other's come up with too!! ​

 

[MGR1]

I'm looking for ideas for my twelve labours. So far I have completed 2. I have one more that I definitely want to add to the list.

1. Hike up Stawamus Chief - completed July 09
2. Grouse Grind - completed July 09
3. Enter (and complete) a triathlon

Anyone have any input?

Marathon or a half marathon come 1st to mind. I'm just sayin'. Of course, as beastly as you are maybe you should make it your 12th and go for an ultra. (I kid, but you are a beast)

 

[Cord the Seeker]

Beast? Me?



Yeah, I should have put marathon on right away.
No ultras for me, though - right now I can't even run a whole quarter mile (yet). Can you imagine a fat bastard like me trying to do an ultra? Only if I can take a cab most of the way...

Right now I'd say triathlon will probably be the 12th.

 

[MGR1]

Beast? Me?

Yes you. I read your log after seeing you in Pixienerd's thread. First, you inspire me as a sweets lover - I like how you don't ditch them completely. Just helps me to remember to keep it sane and not cut out anything totally.

Further, I don't recall seeing you really falter or waver once when you've had bad days or stumbles. So I see drive there and I know you're a bigger guy, so when I picture you the two combine into something like a steamroller, and that IS beast.

Yeah, I should have put marathon on right away.
No ultras for me, though - right now I can't even run a whole quarter mile (yet). Can you imagine a fat bastard like me trying to do an ultra? Only if I can take a cab most of the way...

Right now I'd say triathlon will probably be the 12th.

Meh, you'll be doing ultras as training for an ironman before it's all said and done.

Honestly though, even when I was much younger and in easy shape for it, I never ran anything. Not even a 5k, and I think I'd like too. I could even see a half or a marathon eventually, but ultras are indeed crazy. If you haven't seen it, see if you can look up the documentary on the three guys trying to ultra the Sahara, tis craziness.

 

[Jynus]

well some of my personal goals by year end would be to:
bench 1.5x my body weight
squat 2x my body weight
dead 2.5x my body weight
<12second 100m sprint
50" box jump
20 pullups

These are my goals of course, but if your goal is body transformation then having set resistance goals could go a long way for you as well seeing as the 2 really go hand in hand. I also like the idea of having a variety of athletic goals, I'm not just about how much I can lift. I look at power lifters and I would hardly call them a pinnacle of fitness. But having a well rounded goal set in all aspects of fitness will in the end make a well rounded look imo.

 

[KaraCooks]

I think running some kind of race - even better one for a favorite charity - would be a good goal. 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon, whatever distance you want to aim for.

What about bicycle riding? Is there a local road race that you can register for? (Would also be good training for the triathalon.)

I also like Jynus' idea of setting some weight lifting goals to shake things up.

I'm really impressed with this idea and with your drive and determination! I'm going to be cheering you along in this!

 

[Cord the Seeker]

Yes you. I read your log after seeing you in Pixienerd's thread. First, you inspire me as a sweets lover - I like how you don't ditch them completely. Just helps me to remember to keep it sane and not cut out anything totally.

Further, I don't recall seeing you really falter or waver once when you've had bad days or stumbles. So I see drive there and I know you're a bigger guy, so when I picture you the two combine into something like a steamroller, and that IS beast.



Meh, you'll be doing ultras as training for an ironman before it's all said and done.

Honestly though, even when I was much younger and in easy shape for it, I never ran anything. Not even a 5k, and I think I'd like too. I could even see a half or a marathon eventually, but ultras are indeed crazy. If you haven't seen it, see if you can look up the documentary on the three guys trying to ultra the Sahara, tis craziness.

Ha, thanks. Cord the Human Steamroller, eh? Right now I feel more like Cord the Human Doughnut Truck.

well some of my personal goals by year end would be to:
bench 1.5x my body weight
squat 2x my body weight
dead 2.5x my body weight
<12second 100m sprint
50" box jump
20 pullups

These are my goals of course, but if your goal is body transformation then having set resistance goals could go a long way for you as well seeing as the 2 really go hand in hand. I also like the idea of having a variety of athletic goals, I'm not just about how much I can lift. I look at power lifters and I would hardly call them a pinnacle of fitness. But having a well rounded goal set in all aspects of fitness will in the end make a well rounded look imo.

Wow, those are some pretty insane targets (for me, that is). Let me plug in my goal weight (200) and see what that gives me, and also tell you what I'm lifting now:
Bench 300 (currently benching 45lb DBs, so 90)
Squat 400 (currently at 150)
Deadlift 500 (haven't tried a deadlift yet)
100m sprint - not sure I could run 100m yet...
50" box jump - you mean jumping up onto something that high? I can maybe jump onto a 15" box...
20 pullups - I can almost do one chin-up

I understand that those sorts of numbers are possible, and not just for pro lifters or bodybuilders, but I seriously can't imagine myself ever reaching those levels.

I think running some kind of race - even better one for a favorite charity - would be a good goal. 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon, whatever distance you want to aim for.

What about bicycle riding? Is there a local road race that you can register for? (Would also be good training for the triathalon.)

I also like Jynus' idea of setting some weight lifting goals to shake things up.

I'm really impressed with this idea and with your drive and determination! I'm going to be cheering you along in this!

All good ideas. My own town has an annual run on Father's Day - you can walk or run 10k, or run 20k. I walked the 10k this year, and was hoping to be able to run the 10k next year. Run the 20k the year after that.

I have added a particular cycling trip that is well-known out here in BC - the Icefields Parkway. It's really beautiful, and I have driven it more than once. It is supposed to be a 3-day trip to bike it (assuming a fit and experienced cyclist, I'm sure).

I like the general idea of weightlifting goals, but I don't know what would be sensible targets for me. I'm going to have to think about that one.

 

[Cord the Seeker]

oo Awesome Idea!!!!

I don't have any grand ideas...lol

Do a Half way or a quarter of a way to Mount Everest? Don't cha need to be in fairly good shape for that...something to do or everything to do with strong lungs?

Go on a Kayak/Canoe Camp Trip? A long distanced planned one...

Google Adventure camps, there are LOADS of those, might be pricey though, but could get some good ideas? & make them into your own maybe.

I'll be back must go brain storm this one, and would like to see what other's come up with too!! ​

I like the idea of a long kayaking trip. There are loads of good lake chains out here.

 

[Jynus]

Wow, those are some pretty insane targets (for me, that is). Let me plug in my goal weight (200) and see what that gives me, and also tell you what I'm lifting now:
Bench 300 (currently benching 45lb DBs, so 90)
Squat 400 (currently at 150)
Deadlift 500 (haven't tried a deadlift yet)
100m sprint - not sure I could run 100m yet...
50" box jump - you mean jumping up onto something that high? I can maybe jump onto a 15" box...
20 pullups - I can almost do one chin-up

I understand that those sorts of numbers are possible, and not just for pro lifters or bodybuilders, but I seriously can't imagine myself ever reaching those levels.

Like I said, those are my goals. Yours can be whatever you set Thats the beauty of periodization, you make goals unique to you, then set up a routine to achieve them. You already have numbers for your current resistance level. I'm sure there are other lifts and resistance benchmarks of your favorite exercises that you havn't listed here too. Set up goals for what you want to do by year and, and work towards beating them. You have a 90lbs bench right now, well try and hit 155lbs barbell bench for 5 reps by year end. (barbell easier than dumbell) Same can be done for any lift, or movement. sky's the limit. And you might think that my lifts are beyond you, well I can assure you they are not if you're interested enough in this type of training and are willing to put the time into working towards goals like that. I understand that lifting is not everyones cup of tea and most people could care less about how much they can hit, but no reason you can't have goals that are on a personal level to you in this type of training...

And as I said before, if your goal is body transformation (ie: getting muscle to look "toned") you're going to have to resistance train. Which means moving heavy weights, then moving heavier weights to build up that muscle mass. Once you get to the level you want, feel free to stop there and maintain. But as a general rule, the more you lift, the bigger you will be. Muscle aren't stimulated enough to microfrey until subjected to stresses they are not used to lifting so they are forced to adapt during rest (ie: grow). If you're not increasing the weight in a periodized manner, muscle growth will be stalled due to not ever stressing the muscle fibres. So setting goals in that department should also be a consideration if you do want to get a level of muscle built.

 

[Cord the Seeker]

Those numbers I listed are for 5 sets of 5 reps.