You are undoubtedly right - my approach is definitely sub-optimal. I am a lot closer to failure at dips than pull-ups. I have no idea what my max hanging leg raises is, I tend to forget to do them.

Wednesday
I aimed to go climbing, but worked until after midnight. So I just went for a short run instead, around the block. It took about 9 minutes, so Fitbit's GPS didn't kick in. It seems to have been about 1km.

Thursday
Climbing, 75 minutes.
I was in a lot better form than my previous two sessions. I still wasn't brilliant, I got a few v2-v4s and pretty much all the v1-v3s. They gym had rest, so most of the routes were new to me.

I rechecked the distance for the run, using MapMyRun. It was closer to 1.7km - it's hard to be precise as a track I used wasn't on the map. Using the nearest roads gave 1.9km.

Friday
Climbing

This was OK, I actually got a proper dyno. My balance-y slab stuff was nicely controlled.

Saturday
Diving

A quick quarry trip a friend wanted to test his kit. Visibility was poor, at some points I couldn't see my computer (which is on my wrist). I had the neck seal on my drysuit replaced, which was successful, and so this was the driest dive I've had this year

Sunday
Climbing coaching. This was good run, we looked at footwork on slab and if I could climb without my hands.

Tuesday
Hangboarding. This was my first session in a while. It went OK, getting 10 seconds on the 15mm ledge.

I then benched, doing 3 sets of 5 @ 55kgs.

Wednesday
I did weighted pull ups, working up to +17.5 kgs. +20 kgs proved to be too much - I am weak. I was on the jugs on my hangboard, I think I find a bar slightly easier.

My slightly random finisher was a few deadlifts @100 kgs.

The SPAC isn't going to happen - the merger was abandoned.

Friday
Lifted, doing 3 sets of 8, squat, 70 kgs
3 sets of 5, deadlift, 110 kgs.

Saturday
I visited my parents for the weekend. That is why I didn't climb last week, as I was self isolating (my dad is in the high risk category.)

It was great seeing them. I did a morning walk with my brother and mum, and afternoon walk with my brother. I got slightly over 12 miles in.

Sunday
A repeat of yesterday, getting 12 miles in.

My dad is pretty frail at the moment - he had a fall on a short walk. Getting old sucks donkeys' balls.

Monday
Climbing, 100 minutes. A relatively good session with some new sends at the v3 to v4 level. I fell off a lot as well

Tuesday
I worked long hours, so all I had time for in the end was a 6 mile walk.

Wednesday
I had 15 minutes free over lunch, so I threw a kettlebell around a bit, doing 3 sets of 5 (goblet squat) and 100 swings with a 24k kettlebell.

I hope to get a climb in later.

I have been on a week long scuba trip to the remote North-West of Scotland. It has been superb. I have got a number of hikes in as well.

Diving is over now; I now have three days' hiking before heading back.

There was no internet or mobile reception at the cottage. It was relaxing, although I have now moved to a hostel with both.

I have gone to Cornwall for some more diving. Today's three dives were brilliant. The second was a bit dark and silty, but the vis was OK with a torch. Three dives done; one shore dive and two wreck dives.

Me on a dive, taking a crab for a walk. The trip is now nearly over.

The non-exercise bad news is that my dad's cancer is back, and untreatable.

That sucks. Hope you are holding up ok

I'm really sorry to hear that, take care man.

Thanks both.

The Verve from years ago sum how I feel.



I had a 90 minute climb yesterday. I was terrible for the first hour, but somehow started to send stuff after that, and ended the session with a bunch of hard (for me) tops, including a couple of flashes.

My weight this morning was 139.5 - I tend to lose weight on scuba trips, so I may also entered Floppy's micro-weight category.

Welcome to the weight class and I am really sorry to hear about your dad. Brutal news, hang in there.

Sorry to hear about your father. I wish your family all the best.

Thanks both. Cottonseed - are you managing to get any climbing in at the moment?

I did some lifting yesterday, pretty light as I had fortnight off for my holiday.

OHP: 2 set of 5, 35 kgs
Squat: 2 sets of 5, 70 kgs
Bench 2 sets of 5, 55 kgs.

I've been climbing the gym loads the past 6 months or so, but haven't been outside much. I ended up having one of my best off-seasons and actually made some strength gains. The climbing season here will hopefully be getting geared up in the next 3-4 weeks. I'm curious to find out how well getting a bit stronger will translate to the rock.

I am at my parents' house for a bit. I am loosely isolating whilst there, and my workout options are more limited than normal.

On Sunday, I did a 12 mile walk and had a go on a portable hangboard. I don't know the edge thickness, I would guess around 15mm. The added challenge of balance made it more fun. I did aimed for a few 10 second repeaters, which started at 10 seconds and got shorter as things progressed.

I went for a couple of walks yesterday, I think getting in around 20,000 steps. I replaced my smashed Fitbit yesterday, so I will start tracking accurately again as of today. (I smashed it by wearing it whilst climbing, and then took it under my drysuit wrist seal on a few dives. At the risk of anthropomorphising, it didn't seem to like the combination of a crack and salt water.)

I need to decide if to get a South Coast dive in this Saturday. The dive will be in Portland, Dorset; and I am currently in Norwich, Norfolk. It's a long trek between the two, and Sunday seems to be blown out.

I am minded not to go, although the wreck we're doing on Saturday (the Aoelian Sky, https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?513) is one I've wanted to do for years. I've dived the seabed near it three times, but our shotting has been inadequate each time. I think I first looked at the nearby seabed in 2014.

I'm interested if estimates of my body fat are different at 140, as opposed to 147 for the previous nude. The photo below is a comparison, 147 on the left, 140 on the right.

140 looks leaner and more ab definition

Wednesday
About 9 miles' walk and a quick session (100 swings and 15 goblet squats) with a 24 kgs kettle bell.

Thursday
I aimed to go for a walk before work, but didn't leave myself enough time. So I went for a run instead. It wasn't very far - 1 mile in 9 minutes.

I got an evening walk instead.

Friday
I managed a decent walk before work, so I'm currently on 15,000 steps (just after lunch.) I will go for an evening walk and either play with a kettle bell or do some hang boarding.

I should be able to see Dad tomorrow - he's moving from the hosptital (where he is only allowed one visitor) to a hospice.

I did get to see Dad. He is in a lot of pain.

I did a couple if walks, getting 26,000 steps for the day. I did a spot of portable hangboarding as well, moving on to 15 second repeaters.

Sunday
I did an hour's yoga in the morning, and a brief kettle bell session just after lunch. (100 swings and 15 goblet squats with a 24 kgs bell). I then played with my hangboard a little. Finally, I did an evening walk, ending on just over 21,000 steps.

Monday
Day off, just getting 14,00 steps.

Dad died this evening. It is 6 weeks since his cancer came back, so at least it was relatively quick and not too drawn out. he didn't suffer too much.

I did some exercise stuff in the morning before it happened, a 6 mile walk and a kettle bell session. I did some stuff on Tuesday and Wednesday as well, but the details are now lost to posterity.