101/1001 Update
Aug. 10th, 2025 12:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grim23“It’s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.” – John Steinbeck
Body/Martial Arts/Physical Improvement/Testing: I did train in a Shaolin Kung Fu class this week, continuing the testing process for a belt promotion. I struggled a bit with Week 2 of testing (basic hand and foot stances), and I'll do better with Week 3 (hand and foot strike combinations) this week. I've registered to run the MLK Dream Run in September.
May's GoRuck 'Believe' Challenges are still ongoing. All that's left for May is the workout, the traditional 'Murph' Challenge. The Murph Challenge is "not just a physical test, but also a mental and emotional one. Participants are pushed to their limits and are encouraged to keep pushing through the pain and exhaustion, just as Lieutenant Michael Murphy did during his final moments." At the Tough level, it is a 1-mile ruck, 200 Sandbag Bent Over Rows (the substitute for 100 pull-ups), 200 Pushups, and 300 Squats, and then another 1-mile ruck, all wearing a 20-lb. plate carrier and using a 60-lb. sandbag. No progress.
June's GoRuck 'Resilience' Challenges are finally completed, with a focus on Apache (pursed lip) breathing. The workout was, "Take a sip of water and hold it in your mouth for the duration of the workout. Every time you swallow the water or spit it out do 10 Burpees over your ruck", is 4 rounds of a 400m Ruck, 10 Sandbag Power Cleans, and 10 Sandbag Shoulder to Overhead, wearing my ruck for the entire workout except the penalty burpees, with the ruck weight 30 lbs.+, and the 60 lb. sandbag for my level. I was required to perform 10 burpees when I sneezed at the beginning of the third round. The Rucking and Additional Challenge requirements were Apache breathing for a mile at base weight, with an extra mile every week, i.e., week 2 = 2 miles, week 3 = 3 miles, etc. I have also completed the Week 4 Ruck.
August's GoRuck 'Evolve' Challenges are also ongoing, and I should be able to complete them this month, as well as the May and June workouts and the June Week 4 ruck. The workout is “GRIN AND BEAR IT”: THE DRIVE: 100 Sandbag Step Ups, 20 Sandbag Bear Hug Squats, 15 Sandbag Front Tosses, 10 Sandbag Bear Complex, and a 400m Sandbag Shuffle, as well as THE RETURN: 10 Sandbag Bear Complex, 15 Sandbag Front Toss, 20 Sandbag Bear Hug Squats, and 100 Sandbag Step Ups. The Rucking and Additional Challenge is, "Max number of miles going upstairs or uphill in the month of August (downhill also counts for distance). Skip the elevators and escalators." The F*CK is "2 min max reps" of American Twists, using a sand kettlebell or ruck, and the book is Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Noah Harari. Because there is no clear guidance on what the "max number of miles" refers to, I am interpreting this as at least one mile per week of uphill or downhill rucking. I'm behind, but I'll get caught up.
Mind/Spirit/Centering/Health: I've finished The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön. I have also started Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande. I virtually 'sat' loving-kindness metta for The Old Man, and myself.
In Case of Zombies/Disaster Preparation: I'm continuing Jim Cobb's Countdown to Preparedness book/assignments. Week 22 is firearms, and I need to check, clean, and practice more with my existing gear. Week 22 is still on hold. I'm in good shape for Week 23, Alternate Methods of Transportation, and Week 24, Preparing Food Postdisaster. I have a sturdy mountain bike with panniers and tools, and camp stoves and fire pits/grills, all in working order.
Maintenance/Shit Got To Be Done: I completed my medical appointment this week. I'm still working through the life insurance policies and the legal issues. The Whorse is back at the mechanic from the specialty transmission mechanic this week and is almost ready; it still needs a bracket re-welded to make shifting into 'low' easier. I should be able to pick it up in a week or two. I don't want to rush the repairs; I want this done right and thoughtfully.
Base Station/Ol' Number 3: The County still has some questions. I'll be submitting a Revised Site Plan soon. More progress has been made in the Pump House organization.
Travel/Adventure/Doing Stuff: I am still at the Gate House part-time, slowly organizing and cleaning things, but taking refuge. I attended a Cigar Social.
Body/Martial Arts/Physical Improvement/Testing: I did train in a Shaolin Kung Fu class this week, continuing the testing process for a belt promotion. I struggled a bit with Week 2 of testing (basic hand and foot stances), and I'll do better with Week 3 (hand and foot strike combinations) this week. I've registered to run the MLK Dream Run in September.
May's GoRuck 'Believe' Challenges are still ongoing. All that's left for May is the workout, the traditional 'Murph' Challenge. The Murph Challenge is "not just a physical test, but also a mental and emotional one. Participants are pushed to their limits and are encouraged to keep pushing through the pain and exhaustion, just as Lieutenant Michael Murphy did during his final moments." At the Tough level, it is a 1-mile ruck, 200 Sandbag Bent Over Rows (the substitute for 100 pull-ups), 200 Pushups, and 300 Squats, and then another 1-mile ruck, all wearing a 20-lb. plate carrier and using a 60-lb. sandbag. No progress.
June's GoRuck 'Resilience' Challenges are finally completed, with a focus on Apache (pursed lip) breathing. The workout was, "Take a sip of water and hold it in your mouth for the duration of the workout. Every time you swallow the water or spit it out do 10 Burpees over your ruck", is 4 rounds of a 400m Ruck, 10 Sandbag Power Cleans, and 10 Sandbag Shoulder to Overhead, wearing my ruck for the entire workout except the penalty burpees, with the ruck weight 30 lbs.+, and the 60 lb. sandbag for my level. I was required to perform 10 burpees when I sneezed at the beginning of the third round. The Rucking and Additional Challenge requirements were Apache breathing for a mile at base weight, with an extra mile every week, i.e., week 2 = 2 miles, week 3 = 3 miles, etc. I have also completed the Week 4 Ruck.
August's GoRuck 'Evolve' Challenges are also ongoing, and I should be able to complete them this month, as well as the May and June workouts and the June Week 4 ruck. The workout is “GRIN AND BEAR IT”: THE DRIVE: 100 Sandbag Step Ups, 20 Sandbag Bear Hug Squats, 15 Sandbag Front Tosses, 10 Sandbag Bear Complex, and a 400m Sandbag Shuffle, as well as THE RETURN: 10 Sandbag Bear Complex, 15 Sandbag Front Toss, 20 Sandbag Bear Hug Squats, and 100 Sandbag Step Ups. The Rucking and Additional Challenge is, "Max number of miles going upstairs or uphill in the month of August (downhill also counts for distance). Skip the elevators and escalators." The F*CK is "2 min max reps" of American Twists, using a sand kettlebell or ruck, and the book is Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Noah Harari. Because there is no clear guidance on what the "max number of miles" refers to, I am interpreting this as at least one mile per week of uphill or downhill rucking. I'm behind, but I'll get caught up.
Mind/Spirit/Centering/Health: I've finished The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön. I have also started Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande. I virtually 'sat' loving-kindness metta for The Old Man, and myself.
In Case of Zombies/Disaster Preparation: I'm continuing Jim Cobb's Countdown to Preparedness book/assignments. Week 22 is firearms, and I need to check, clean, and practice more with my existing gear. Week 22 is still on hold. I'm in good shape for Week 23, Alternate Methods of Transportation, and Week 24, Preparing Food Postdisaster. I have a sturdy mountain bike with panniers and tools, and camp stoves and fire pits/grills, all in working order.
Maintenance/Shit Got To Be Done: I completed my medical appointment this week. I'm still working through the life insurance policies and the legal issues. The Whorse is back at the mechanic from the specialty transmission mechanic this week and is almost ready; it still needs a bracket re-welded to make shifting into 'low' easier. I should be able to pick it up in a week or two. I don't want to rush the repairs; I want this done right and thoughtfully.
Base Station/Ol' Number 3: The County still has some questions. I'll be submitting a Revised Site Plan soon. More progress has been made in the Pump House organization.
Travel/Adventure/Doing Stuff: I am still at the Gate House part-time, slowly organizing and cleaning things, but taking refuge. I attended a Cigar Social.
