Alex and Jake's 3 peak challenge.

Some Commando qualities in there…

(Source: a-carolina-belle, via pinelands)

On Monday I performed an interval session in an oxygen deprived room, simulating a height of 2,740m above sea level. This isn’t as much prep for the 3 Peaks, as I just wanted to crank up my VO2 max and get myself feeling as fit as possible for my upcoming POC. I didn’t notice the difference much, atmospherically, and still kept to my usual speeds and inclines on the treadmill. Although since Monday I’ve been savagely struck down by some form of man flu type illness, I won’t be bold and suggest altitude sickness. But seriously, I’ve had to rest up, eat up and try and shift whatever I have so I can back to training hopefully this weekend. Perfect timing to get ill, cheerfulness in the face of adversity and what not.

Alex

Sunday was a long day.

We hit the road at around 8am with a drive to Birmingham ahead of us.

The expo started at 10, with us arriving shortly after.

It was filled with tank like men, and women even bigger and stronger than ourselves, but we were there to learn!

Myself and Alex attended two nutrition seminars, one by Alex Ferentinos and one by Scott Baptie and found them greatly informative.

They’ve given us new ways to experiment with our nutrition and training and also ways to develop mental preparation for the challenge in front of us.

We will be meeting on Thursday for an outdoor circuits session!

We’ll let you know how it went!

Jake

A package from the Gods

Monday’s session consisted of:

Back squat to deadlift superset - 12 reps each exercise (24 total) x 6 sets (12 sets total)

                                                  ~ 1 minute rest between sets.

Seated row - 5 x 5

Pull Ups - max effort x 3

Lat pull down to single arm row superset - 8 reps each exercise x 3 sets (6 total)

Short and sweet session.

elbooga:

Modern day Gandalf, a cross post from my blog

After a brutal hill sprint session on Friday (during which I raced a horse - no joke) I rested up Saturday and was in the gym today with a DTP inspired session.

Back Squat - 50, 40, 30, 20, 10 reps increasing the weight as you decrease in reps.

8 reps bench press, 20 press ups, 10 dips - Triset x 3

Sit up to press up superset x 3

Intervals in the pool (2,4,6,6,4,2)

A leg and chest split today, because Jake and I will train together tomorrow and I have a back session planned, loads of pull ups! 

I came across a great quote by Hugh Laurie that I think is rather relevant these days…

 ”It’s a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you’re ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now. And you may as well do it now. Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.”

 I understand that prior preparation is key in completing any task but allow yourself to put all that preparation to the test. Trust your preparation, whether that is in the form of training sessions or hours dedicated to whatever you do. If you can truly say that your worked your arse off then I really think the things you want will come to you. The preparation places you in the right direction towards those things, it’s the strength and guile within you that makes those things attainable. 

Alex

As Alex performed his Marine style training yesterday, I smashed HIIT sprints. 1 minute on 15kmph, 2minutes on 10kmph for 20 minutes over. Killer.

Today consisted of a high volume leg day, with a little abs. It went as follows:

Each single exercise has 30second rest, each superset has 45second rest, and triset has 90second rest.

Back Squats and Leg press SS
4x15 on each

DB walking lunge, leg extension and leg curl TRISET
4x15 on each

Calf Raises
4x15

TRISET
Barbell Rollouts 4x15
Plank 60second x 4
Bridge 60second x 4

Then I completely finished myself with 4x15 box jumps, 4x max TRX Squat Jumps, 2x max plyometric lunges.

This session was left wobbling to work.

Jake

As with any physical challenge the need to tailor a training routine to meet the demands of the challenge is paramount. With this in mind my training has taken a shift in its focus. As I will be undertaking this challenge alongside my continuing progress through the Royal Marines application process I must retain certain elements of training that are crucial for passing my POC, which may not be entirely necessary for the sole completion of the 3 Peaks Challenge.

With the possibility of a POC date getting nearer (especially if I pass my medical this Friday!) I have opted to not repeat a training session. This decision was made to instil a value of keeping my body constantly guessing.

Enough guff, this was a weights session I did yesterday:

Every exercise was performed with 1 minute rest in between sets.

Deadlifts - 5 x 5 ~ 100kg

Bench Press - 5 x 5 ~ 80kg

Kettlebell High Pull to Back Squat superset - 3 x 24 (12 each arm) ~ 16kg

                                                                    - 3 x 30 ~ 50kg

Pull Ups - 3 x 12

Knee Extension - 3 x 20 ~ 25kg (I only perform this for superstitious reasons in that without any scientific proof I, for some reason, believe if I do this I won’t injure my knee again!? - “whatever works for you”)

Sit Up to Press Up superset - 3(6) x 45

This was followed by a pyramid sprint session performed in the pool:

2 lengths, 4 lengths, 6 lengths, 6 lengths, 4 lengths, 2 lengths with 1 min rest in between each set of lengths.

Alex

The Three Peaks Challenge consists of climbing the three highest mountains in the United Kingdom in succession within 24 hours. In the order of Ben Nevis (4409ft, Fort William, Scotland), Scafell Pike (3209ft, Lake District, England) and Snowdon (3560ft, Snowdonia, Wales) we will run and climb to the peaks of these mountains, completing all 3 climbs withing 24 hours from the bottom of Ben Nevis to the bottom of Snowdon.

This is the first of many posts, detailing the training, preparation and fundraising we will undertake to achieve this feat and raise as much awareness and money as we can for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund. Follow us along this challenge by checking back here and following our twitter pages.

To find out more about us, and to donate to our cause, CLICK HERE!

Thanks, 

Alex and Jake.