The starting blocks

Some basic information to get things started:

• I'm a bloke
• 6'2"
• Weigh approximately 12 stone or 168 lbs
• Currently running 5km in about 23-25 minutes
• Vertical jump - I can only just scrape finger tips against a standard height ring

I'm unsure what realistic targets for the period will be but I'm looking to be able to complete:

• 35 minutes of interval running on a treadmill (incline 1, 2 minutes sprint, 30 sec rest)
• Able to comfortably grasp the ring of a standard height basketball hoop
• Improved general ball handling skills, especially left handed dribble and simple cross-overs

Training regime is very slack at current time, with approx 1 x 2 hour basketball game a week, 1 x 1.5 hour basketball training session a week and typically 1 other activity for approx 1 hour session, typically the gym.

The next few days will see me start to compile suggested training routines, eating expectations (I'm not dieting or anything too dramatic but intend to keep track of diet for others to compare against), protein and supplement intakes and finally any additional resources required / at my disposal.

With the above in mind I'd be terribly greatful for any suggestions anyone has to work into any of the above, or indeed add to it.

Who knows what 6 weeks or so can bring...

Opening Statement

Blogging is a new experience for me, with it no doubt a new challenge. This first entry I hope will outline why the devil I thought this would be a good idea and what, if anything, I hope to get out of it, let alone anyone else!

So let's start with the title: Ad Hoc. Ad Hoc means something is created with a specific purpose or justification, which is then closed or changed to deal with another area. Of course this isn't anything you couldn't of gained from www.dictionary.com so heres the value add...the stimulus for starting this blog is a specific personal project I'm embarking on over the coming weeks, but fully expect this aim to wander onto other subjects as time goes on.

With that out of the way, lets get onto the meaty bit, the what! I expect this blog to cover my main interests at any one time, whilst a large proportion is going to be focussed on sports (basketball), training and exercise expect the following topics to regularly pop up:

• Food - because lord knows there's a fatty inside me waiting to come out
• Fashion - or more precisely what my girlfriend tells me I look good in
• Business - I don't intend to comment upon the wider economics but rather those areas relevant to me
• Gaming - plainly put, I'm a massive geek
• AOB - covering my ass just in case I feel like writing anything else that pops into my head

However, that said my initial focus and indeed the stimulus for starting this blog is that I currently play for a local league basketball team (division 3 - yes that means I'm not very good for those of you wondering!) and I'm looking to 'up my game'. This means that following my last game pre-christmas on the 7th of December I will be spending the weeks up until our next game on the 24th of January looking to better myself in areas such as vertical jump, general fitness, ball handling skills and shooting.

This may seem somewhat broad but the reality is because I'm not all that good, gains in all of these areas should be fairly realistic. The following posts will go into my plan for this in more detail but I'm hoping this blog will provide a place to share the real-world, real-life effects of training, diet and general living with those hoping to give similar things a go; whilst also earnestly opening up what I'm doing to the wider world for criticism and let's face it...help!

So thank you in advance for reading, I hope this helps some people as well as myself and provides entertainment to a few others along the way.