I finally got an MRI a couple weeks ago because my Achilles heel has still been hurting. Then last week the MRI results showed a partial longitudinal tear of my Achilles tendon. So now I’m in an immobilizing boot for a month.

With that, I didn’t exercise for a while, so this is my first in the boot. I just did calisthenics at home: 4x25 pushups 4x25 sit ups 4x25 pull ups 4x25 air squats (in the boot) 50 more pushups

Felt good to get my heart rate up again.

I hate the boot.

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Lots of arms and back today and while it wasn’t my strongest showing, I felt strong.

Those back extensions got my in the glutes, though.

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My finger pads are hurting and raw from this after doing 100 pull-ups on the home rock wall last night.

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Got out of work on time today so I enjoyed an open gym and a relatively easy chest day.

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You might feel like you’ve done a hard workout but when you see a baby struggle and finally succeed in rolling over after 5 minutes of their little struggles, you’ll feel weak in comparison.

New estimated 1RM of 400+lbs on the back squat, so that’s cool.

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Didn’t feel strong lifting but I feel strongly that I should use every opportunity possible so here I am.

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5000m 33spm average, 40spm max 8/10 resistance setting

I’m dialing in what I like in a resistance level on this concept2 machine. This felt like more of a workout for my arms and I was able to keep the same pace (though I had to sprint at the end).

Today I was listening to podcasts about AI regulation theories.

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Work ran long and it was a beautiful day outside so I wanted to maximize the walk with the kid, so I hustled in to the gym and halfway through remembered that I was supposed to be at a haircut. So now my hair continues unkempt and I feel guilty but hey we gotta keep moving forward.

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I went for shorter than I normally like, to make it to daycare for pickup, and so compensated by pushing my legs a little harder than normal. But I think both are good for me.

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Squeezing this in after an afternoon with friends and kids.

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On my last day of intermission/parental-leave before returning to work next week and it was a treat: gorgeous weather, wearing the baby while doing yard work, then a lifting session early enough that the gym was empty. What a shining day.

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Signed up for the advanced hike on the day I left the company retreat and it was just me and the guide, Phil. We were faster with just ourselves, so we were able to do the Jewel loop as well and enjoy the riparian zone twice. (The creek-in-the-middle-of-Sonoran-desert really reminded me of Darwin Falls)

The hike was easy but had some nice features like the shady streambed and some beautiful petroglyphs. And talking to Phil through it all was an enjoyment all its own.

Almost exactly a year ago I was hiking out of the Grand Canyon (full story) and boy did this make me miss it. I didn’t miss carrying all the weight, though!

44318 Spur Cross Road, Cave Creek, Arizona 85331, United States

Played against Sebastian again and lost handily but saw the lively sunrise and was helped.

Playing at Civana in Carefree, AZ.

This hedgehog cactus apparently blooms only for 24hr and it chose to start last night for our arrival at this work retreat. Absolutely gorgeous gigantic blooms.

I played doubles with Victor and Paul and Sebastian in astroturf courts and that was… interesting.

Playing at Civana in Carefree, AZ.

When you’re listening to a Daft Punk DJ set, it’s hard not to go all out through a quick lifting session you’ve got to squeeze in before picking up the kid from her first day of school where she made friends with another kid and Spring is in the air.

Barbell Curl HIGHEST WEIGHT 100lb VOLUME 2,880 lb ESTIMATED STRENGTH 129 lb in 1 rep Barbell Bicep Drag Curl HIGHEST WEIGHT VOLUME 70 lb 3, 160(b ESTIMATED STRENGTH 101.1 lb in 1 rep Dumbbell Row HIGHEST WEIGHT 100lb VOLUME 4,360 lb ESTIMATED STRENGTH 124.7 lb in 1 rep Hammer Curls HIGHEST WEIGHT 40 lb VOLUME 3,840 lb ESTIMATED STRENGTH 60.7 lb in 1 rep Pull Up TOTAL REPS 42 in 3 sets HIGHEST REPS 14 in 1 set ESTIMATED STRENGTH 16.2 reps in 1 set Cable Row HIGHEST WEIGHT 160lb VOLUME 2,400 lb ESTIMATED STRENGTH 245.8 lb in 1 rep Leg Pull-In TOTAL REPS 91 in 4 sets HIGHEST REPS 30 in 1 set ESTIMATED STRENGTH 30 reps in 1 set

(Looks like Strava just added a new feature where I can upload an image of the workout and it will do OCR to scrape the workout details into this description. Pretty cool. )

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I don’t have a good barometer yet for what a good rowing session feels like but today’s was a quick 3 miles and made me breathe heavy so I think that works. Had to get home to see the family all together for a bit. The smiles are worth it.

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Focusing on push muscles today. No records broken but it felt good to listen to a DJ set and lift in the sunshine. I also made another podiatrist appointment because my left Achilles heel was indeed worse this morning after the run and I don’t want to live with that forever.

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I wasn’t feeling great this morning after too much fun last night but pushing down on the platform with both feet planted firm against my hesitation gave me some good numbers today!

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Our oldest cat passed away yesterday so this is mostly an opportunity to distract myself. Distraction from the mental by engaging fully with the physical feels good.

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My Achilles tendon is hurting. After a nap, I woke up still with a full stomach and my heel was hurting. But we have tome time before dinner and I need to burn some energy, so here I am running a couple miles to sweat. And my heel is hurting.

I run past this fence over a tree repeatedly. And each time I wonder if it is a testament to acceptance that the tree is worth keeping in tact or if it is a warning against failure to build the correct fence. As my heel is hurting, I wonder if I should be training it or letting it train me.

Chicago, Illinois, United States (Halsted to Larabee)

The less frequently I go to weight train, the harder it is to lift these things. And the more sore I am for days afterward. But it’s good for us to go and struggle a bit, so that we’re able to do more in life.

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I don’t want a gate in front of my door but this one I always enjoy as I run past.

Chicago, Illinois, United States (Halsted to Larabee)

Damn it’s easy to lift in the late morning sunshine on a weekday when the rest of the world is working.

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