Fitness February - Here's the Scoop

The resounding result of our non-scientific polling was that folks wanted Option C - the Killer Combo. Y'all are some motivated peeps! (Or crazy...as we repetitively prove, it's a very fine line....) 

So, here is Fitness February's Challenge:

* Move your body a minimum of 13.1 miles of human powered cardio motion PER WEEK (swimming, biking, running, walking, elliptical, unicycling...you human power it, you count it). (Note: if you want us to tweak your spreadsheet so that you're targeting 26.2 per week...we can do that.)

* Do a minimum of 2 of each of these strength-based sessions PER WEEK (so 2 each arms, 2 each legs, 2 each core):
        1.  Arms: 2x30 sec push-ups + 2x30 sec tricep dips + 2x30 sec pull-ups
        2.  Legs: 2x10 each leg lunges + 2x10 each leg step-ups + 2x10 each leg fire hydrants (oh yeah, we went there)
        3.  Core: 30 sec plank + 30 sec back bridge + 30 sec each side plank

For those of you who were curious about "authorized" variations -- here are our pre-approved variations. If you'd like others to be considered, drop us a note and we'll consider it. We'll keep the blog updated so you'll know what counts and what doesn't. 

* Push-Up: standard, close-hand, wide-hand, the one on your knees, and if you are really hurting -- get in a push-up position and push for all you're worth. You can split up the 30s intervals if you need to, but get 1 minute total of work done.
* Tricep dips: you can do it on the gym machine; you can find a sturdy surface in your house and do dips; you can do body-weight only; you can add weight plates to your legs. Same deal - if 30s at a pop crushes you, you can break it up, but get the total work done. 

* Pull-ups: any hand position is fine. Partner assisted is fine. If you can't pull yourself up (it's okay, these take practice), try! Hanging from a bar and tightening all your body muscles will do something for you even if you don't move that much. You can break these up...but do a minute's worth of work. If you don't have a pull-up bar -- a door frame can work (we haven't pulled molding off yet) although it will work your hands a bit more. Or, you could find a playground and use the monkey bars. We like monkey bars. We also have had some good success with the "as seen on tv" $20 gadget that fits in door frame.  

* Lunges: standard; side; with one leg resting on a bench; with weights; body-weight only; walking; stationary.  

* Step-ups: you set the step height, so we don't have any variations for this one. 

* Fire hydrants: if you'd like to substitute the kick-backs...we're okay with it 

* Plank: you may break up the time, but try to hold for the full 30s. 

* Back bridge: some folks like to hold "up" continuously, others prefer the "up, squeeze, down, repeat" cycle. Just don't cheat us out of the 30s! 

* Side planks: feet together, top foot lifted, top arm at side, top arm pointing to sky...lots of options. You may break up time, but give an honest 30s for each side.  

Thanks to everyone who voted -- we like you guys! (Even if we were slackers on email-ing back this past week.) 

Have fun psyching yourself up for Fitness February and keep in mind that March Abness is right around the corner!

Fitness February!

We received some great responses for the "what do you want in a challenge" email request. By far, the themes involved "I want to move every day" "something to challenge me" and "please, no swimming." While we've come to embrace our inner manatee...ok, we hear you. We'll save the swim challenge portion for the warmer months (so, yeah, you've got that to look forward to!).

Three options -- need your votes. Please send an email with your vote or leave a comment here on the blog.

Option A:  "2013.1" (idea stolen but modified significantly):

* It's the 2013.1 challenge. You have to complete 13.1 miles per week for the month of February: walk, run, jog, snow shoe, elliptical, treadmill, your choice.  There will be an option if you want to go all 26.2 on us.

Option B:  "The All-Arounder"

* minimum of 20 minutes of cardio - at least 4 days per week (walk, run, exercise bike, bungee jump...you get the picture).  

* Do each of these workouts twice per week (so 2 each arms, 2 each legs, 2 each core):

        1.  Arms: 2x30 sec push-ups + 2x30 sec tricep dips + 2x30 sec pull-ups

        2.  Legs: 2x10 each leg lunges + 2x10 each leg step-ups + 2x10 each leg fire hydrants (oh yeah, we went there)

        3.  Core: 30 sec plank + 30 sec back bridge + 30 sec each side plank

(oh, and if you're worried about the pull-ups/push-up/planks...we'll have some options)

Option C:  The Killer Combo:  Do both A and B.  Just do it...you know you want to.  Option A satisfies the cardio requirement in Option B.

Ideas will be fleshed out and rules developed...just getting a "head this direction" vote. As a reminder, you are responsible for your participation and for making good decisions. These are supposed to be a fun challenge - not something you use to crush yourself and get injured. These challenges are something you do for FUN. Being injured is definitely NOT FUN.

So, please vote. And if you have something you'd rather see...let us know.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of the Mortal Peeps!

As a quick recap - the Mad Elf Challenge participants racked up well over 10,000 holiday lights in 23 days worth of challenge time. Outstanding job! Toys for Tots was the charity selected by those who voted - so the Mortal Man staff sent a donation of $125 (1 cent per light rounded up a bit, because, well, it seemed the thing to do).

We've had some requests for another MMT Challenge and would like to get feedback. We've done a few different flavors / varieties and want to get some feedback. 

A quick summary to remind you of the different formats:

MMT 1) Complete an iron distance tri over the course of a month (2.4 swim / 112 bike / 26.2 run)

MMT 2) Complete a "session" per day for 31 days and 17 hours

MMT 3) We didn't publicize this one, but to focus on our bike endurance, during last year's Tour de France we matched the pro's ride-for-ride, except we only did 20% of their daily mileage.  In other words, when they rode hills, we rode hills.  When they time-trialed, we time trialed.  We just ratcheted the distances back to "mortal" levels.  

MMT 4 ) The Mad Elf Challenge -- earn lights and decorate your tree

There's some good variety there, but while the challenges certainly assist with *our* goals - we're not sure what your goals are or what types of challenges get you excited. 

So, if you're interested in a February challenge, please send us some feedback. Let us know what interests you -- tri focus, bike focus, run / walk focus, strength focus, "I just want to move every day" focus, general cardio focus, :I am training for a xx event and want something like that" focus, etc. 

Similarly, if you want off the mailing list, please let us know that too. 

Good luck in 2013!