Thursday, December 23, 2010

De-Load Strict Press

Today was my prescribed weights were laughable. My final set was at my usual second warm up set. No big deal, my shoulders are feeling a bit on the pre-tendinitis-side anyways. Nothing a little proactive icing wont cure. 

Strict Press:
1x5 @ 75#
1x5 @ 95#
1x5 @ 115#

Assistance Work

Barbell Rows
1x10 @ 159#
1x10 @ 169#
1x10 @ 179#

Good Mornings
3x10 @ 105#

I worked out at my house today. Vulcan Fitness, although small, has a pretty sweet set up there. Like I said the shoulder press was less then a warm up but I am fine with that. The assistance work was cool because I am very novice with the barbell rows only ever having performing them when I was in my bodybuilding phase in college. I am sure my goal then was to impress the other gym patrons with the weight I was using rather then to impress myself with good form, technique and results. The good mornings are another lift I have only performed a handful of times in my life. This exercise is slightly sketchy to me and I am not sure exactly how I feel about it. I am rather flexible and have good coordination. However, I was having some difficulty finding, what I felt, to be the optimal ROM. I tried a few with increasing and decreasing knee bend. I found that when my torso got parallel with the floor or lower I hand to bend my knees more to keep my lumbar curve activated. Nonetheless, I performed what I felt was a good three sets and I am feeling it my hamstrings this morning. I am not quite ready to mail it in on this exercise just yet.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

De-Load Deadlift

It is the fourth week of the 5/3/1 Cycle and it is De-Load Week. This means for every training session this week we are doing significantly lighter weight in order to keep the body fresh while allowing it to heal, before we increase the weight next week. To be honest I am not a fan of "taking it easy" in the gym, however, I realize that this week is necessary for optimal gains, so, I will go with the flow.

Assistance Work:
Back Squat
1x5 @ 225#
1x5 @ 250#
1x5 @ 275#

Deadlift
1x10 @ 205#
1x5 @ 255#
1x5 @ 305#

Assistance Work:
GHD Sit Ups
4x20 @ bodyweight

The squats were so awesome, even after 7 months of squat training I am still noticing improvement in my squat form and technique. The deadlifts were simple and the GHD's kicked my ass!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Beam Me Up Squatty.

Two days to update. Friday was squat day, and it was heavy squat day. I had a lot of nerves going into this session.


Friday 


Back Squat:
1x5 @ 290#
1x3 @ 325#
1x5 @ 366# (PR)


Assistance Exercises


Power Clean:
1x5 @ 165#
1x5 @ 175#
1x5 @ 185#


Weighted Lunges:
1x5 (each leg) @ 95#
1x5 @ 115#
1x5 @ 135#


Up until this day I had not attempted any back squat equal to or over 365 for more then one rep! After my brother went and did 5, I was able top step up and succeed myself. I really considered a sixth but I fear it would have ended in disaster. The cleans felt rather routine even after a heavy squat session, even 185#. Aside from the fact that my legs were burning, I know I could have gone up significantly.


Saturday


Bench Press:
1x5 @ 200#
1x3 @ 225#
1x4 @ 255#


Assistance Exercises


Strict Pull Ups:
1x15 @ bodyweight
1x15** @ bodyweight
1x11 @ bodyweight


Incline Bench Press:
1x5 @ 135#
1x5 @ 160#
1x5 @ 185#


Realizing that our squat day took some of our spunk out, I am still satisfied with this workout. I was expecting to get at least 5 reps on my 255# bench press attempt but I failed. This was a bit disappointing but I contribute it to fatigue. The pull ups are improving. The asterisk notes that Louis said two of my reps were questionable if I got my chin over the bar. When Louis does pull ups he brings the bar to his trachea, I bring it to the tip of my chin and no more, I believe that the reps were somewhere in between but I will make a conscious effort to assure full ROM next time. Incline bench was easy.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Under PRESSure

I hope you like how creative I am with these titles, it takes me the whole drive to work to think of them.


Heavy day for strict press yesterday. I had a hockey game at 10pm and I didn't get to the gym until 7:45pm so I was going to be cutting it close. Luckily, I was able to avoid my alter ego, Chatty Cathy, and use my time efficiently.


Strict Press:
1x5 @ 138.5#
1x3 @ 158.5#
1x4 @ 176# (PR)


Assistance Work


Hand Stand Push Ups:
3x5 @ bodyweight


Barbell Shrugs:
3x10 @ 315#


Very pleased with my press PR and also excited about the HSPU's. Since I have been out of the Crossfit game for a significant amount of time now, I like to test and see if I can still do some of the core Crossfit exercises, especially the bodyweight ones since I am 219#, up from 190# in my Crossfit prime. The HSPU's felt as easy as ever, all sets were "head to ground" and unbroken. I did not want to do too many in order to save my shoulders but it seems as though my strength has increased comparable to my weight. The shrugs were not that difficult especially since I had less rest in between sets then I would have if I didn't have a hockey game!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Heavy Day Week 3

Yesterday was my third week of the 5/3/1 Program. It calls for the heaviest loads of any day yet. I was going to be attempting a PR, I was excited and a bit nervous.

Assistance Work:
Backsquat
3x5 @ 225#

Deadlift
1x5 @ 380#
1x3 @ 430#
1x3 @ 480# (PR)

Assistance Work:
GHD Sit Ups
3x20 @ bodyweight

This last set was a great PR for me. I gaged my rest in between sets very well and I exceeded my expectations. I have never pulled any weight over 465# more then once in a set. I was unsure how 480# was going to go, I was shooting for two reps. After the first went up rather quickly, I knew I was going to get at least three. The second rep felt like I thought the first was going to fee and the third was solid but I knew if I tried a fourth I would have put myself in danger of injury. The difficulty of each rep increased immensely. I am very satisfied with the results.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Squats and Bench

Friday is our squat day
Its week two and the rep scheme has decreased to 3 reps while the weight has increased.

Backsquat:
1x3 @ 270#
1x3 @ 310#
1x5 @ 345#

This was a 5 rep PR for me today, however, I should have gone for a sixth. Before a max set, I have a tendency to get a number that I would be satisfied with in my head, the number before this set was 5. As soon as I hit 5 my focus dwindles and I rack the weight. If I were to be thinking 8 reps before I went I am pretty sure I could have got six. This was a bit upsetting because after my brother saw me get 5, he stepped up and banged out 6. I'm feel like I let myself down!

Assistance Exercises:
Power Clean:
1x5 @ 135#
1x5 @ 155#
1x5 @ 165#
1x3 @ 185#

Box Jumps
3x10 w/ 24" box

These all felt relatively easy, even 185#. This is great because even though I haven't been practicing this movement on a regular basis, I feel stronger then ever in it. Along with getting stronger in my major lifts I have learned how to use my body better, get tighter and explode faster with my lifts. I noticed this on the 185# cleans. I felt really tight at the bottom and my hips opened with as much if not more violence then I have in the past. These are great things. Box jumps were fun and easy.

Saturday is for Benching!
I rolled in to the gym around 4pm on Saturday, there were two other people in there with me. This is usually a good thing but I was going to need one spot and preferably two lift offs. 

Bench Press:
1x3 @ 185#
1x3 @ 216#
1x7.5 @ 241#

This was another PR for reps with 241#, I have never tried to do more then 5 with this weight but, I have successfully pressed 255# for 5. Again, with the excuses but, I had to ask your typical male gym patron to spot me. You know, the guy who reads all the Men's Fitness Magazines, has been consistently training for two months and acts like he is the only serious guy in the gym? Well, turns out he is not a knowledgeable as he thinks (shocker). I digress. I asked him to spot me because it was my only choice, he asked how I wanted him to spot me, touch the bar or my elbows (really?). I told him I would tell him if I needed help. I really just wanted the lift off. After setting my arch and positioning my hands, he lifts me off, basically throwing the weight towards my abdomen and my arch slips out a little but, this is annoying because now I am slightly out of wack! To make a long story, medium length, I would have got 8 with Louis or Collin or someone who knew what they were doing, spotting me.

Assistance Exercises:
Strict Pull Ups
1x12 @ BW
1x13 @ BW
1x14.5 @ BW

Dumbbell Press
1x10 @ 60#
1x10 @ 70#
1x10 @ 80#

The pull ups are hard as hell but I am really satisfied with my performance. They have always been a strong point in my ability and I plan on continuing to progress. I wonder if I could still get 52 kips in a row? Prob not. The dumbbell press was simple. Although tired, none of these weights gave me any trouble. I haven't dumbbell pressed since college and back then I think I tipped the weight at 80# by 5 or so, with a spot, in the beginning of my workout, and not with full ROM. Its amazing what strength does.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Meet The Press

Today was strict press for 5/3/1. I got to be careful because I felt the very early signs of tendinitis in my right shoulder, nothing a little ice and ice shower (or bath) won't take care of!


Strict Press:
1x3 @ 130#
1x3 @ 150#
1x5 @ 165#


Assistance Work:


Push Ups
1x12 @ bodyweight
1x20 @ bodyweight
1x18 @ bodyweight


Dumbbell Rows
1x10 @ 80#
1x10 @ 90#
1x10 @ 100#


I think I should have been able to press 6 but I tried and could only get the bar a third of the way up. I was unsure how to go about the push ups so after my first set of 12 I decided to do 50. They were rather simple. The rows are good but the slight pain in my shoulder was a bit off-putting. I went home and took care of it, no pain today.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

The Grateful Deadlift

Week two of the 5/3/1 Program. Unfortunately (for my training), my life outside of the gym is very busy and tiring right now. I am swamped at work (it looks like I will be coming in this weekend!) followed by clients after my day job. I am not complaining! I would much rather be busy and the fact that we are training people everyday is great. All I am saying, sometimes, by the time I can go to the gym for myself I feel like opening a beer and passing out. However, once I get in there, its on.


Assistance work


Backsquat
3x5 @ 225#


Deadlift
1x5* @ 350# (*it was supposed to be 3 reps)
1x3 @ 405#
1x3+1 @ 455#


Assistance work


GHD Sit ups
3x12 @ bodyweight


We decided to squat twice a week and I find that squatting light weight before my deadlift session is advantageous. We are going to make this a staple and probably increase the weight on a weekly basis. Although only 225#, I felt strong and the bar speed up was fast, similar to 135#. Deadlifts were tough, again, I was pretty tired when I arrived at the gym (around 7:45pm) so I knew I was going to have to work hard to get through this session, I don't mind working hard. On the final 3+ set of deadlifts I got 3 down and up. Stepped away, refocused and pulled one more. 


I am going to increase the amount of GHD sit ups every week. I don't want to over do it and leave myself too sore. I feel fine today so I can make a significant jump next week.

Monday, December 6, 2010

The Weekend

I was still feeling the effects of Tuesdays deadlift session, really feeling them. My back was sore. I started squatting and it kept getting tighter and tighter. I have actually never experienced a feeling like this before. I continued to stretch and at the least, I wanted to finish my squat session successfully.

Friday

Backsquat
1x5 @ 250#
1x5 @ 290#
1x5 @ 325#

Assistance Exercises:
*Did Not Attempt*

I was able to get 5 good reps with 325# and I probably could have got a sixth but I decided to play it safe. After I racked the weight I couldn't move! My back had tensed up to the point where walking was a challenge. I went over and grabbed a bar to do cleans with, yea, not happening, went over and grabbed a box to jump on, again, no chance. I struggled to pack up my bag and I left.

Saturday

My back started feeling much better as the day went on Friday. I went to a wedding and was able to tear up the dance floor with no pain or tightness but thats a different story. Once I returned on Saturday, Louis and I were excited for our first benching session of the 5/3/1 Program.

Bench Press
1x5 @ 176#
1x5 @ 196#
1x11 @ 226#

Assistance Exercises

Strict Pullups
1x10 @ bodyweight
1x11 @ bodyweight
1x12 @ bodyweight

Incline Bench Press
1x10 @ 135#
1x10 @ 155#
1x10 @ 165#

This session was fun and I am quite sore from it. I really enjoyed the strict pull ups. After my first week of the 5/3/1 Program I would say I am excited and satisfied. I will be making a couple tweaks to the programming (adding squats as an assistance exercise on Tuesdays so I can squat twice a week) and hopefully I wont be as thrashed in the future so I can complete all that is prescribed.

Deadlift from Competition


Thursday, December 2, 2010

I'm Back

Okay, I took about a week and a half off to recover from the Maryland States Powerlifting Meet. The day was incredible and it not only validated my training thus far but really spiked my motivation to continue to train hard and get strong(er). I started my next programming session, John Wendler's 5/3/1 Program, which is the first REAL program I have followed for powerlifting (by real I mean, its a documented program used by many, previously we were programming our own routines). Here are the last (first) two days of training.


Tuesday
Deadlift:
1x5 @ 330#
1x5 @ 380#
1x7 @ 430#


Assistance Work:
Cleans
3x5 @ 135#


GHD Sit ups
3x10


Since I took a good while off with little to no serious exercise (I played hockey one time) I didn't want to over do it. The last set of deadlifts were difficult and I probably should have stopped at 6 reps. The seventh rep was rather ugly and I ran a risk of injuring myself, which I thankfully, did not. Since I had a bit of a scare and I was sure I did a number on my back I took it easy on the cleans. My original plan was to use 155#, still rather light, but opted against it, which I ultimately think was a good idea (because my back is thrashed!). As for the GHD sit ups, I knew that any number of these would leave me sore. I thought 30 reps would be the ultimate max-to-min ratio of benefit-to-soreness. I think I nailed this one, my abs are sore! Luckily, they are not going to put me out of commission. I will increase the reps as my training progresses.


Wednesday
Shoulder Press:
1x5 @ 120#
1x5 @ 140#
1x7 @ 160#


Assistance Work:
Barbell Shrugs
3x10 @ 275#


Dips
3x10 @ bodyweight


Again, its so hard for me not to give all I have on a set, I probably should have stopped after 6 reps but going into this program I wanted to shoot for 7 reps on my last set of 5. The shrugs were fine except my thumb has been out of the game (with regards to the "hook grip") for almost two weeks and the deadlifts and shrugs have beaten them up. Soon my calluses will be back. Dips went well also, I need to make sure I switch between rings and stationary dips to save my shoulders and elbows.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Squat

Here is my final attempt at the squat. It was 402.2 # and it was a good lift. My attempts were 368#, 385# and then this 402.2/ I went 3 for 3.

Monday, November 22, 2010

USAPL Maryland States


This past weekend was the meet and the only way I can describe it is UNREAL. It was certainly my best performance in a competition to date. I exceeded my expectations in two lifts and met them in the third. I couldn't have asked for anything better, I totaled a 1206 which was good enough for the silver medal in the 220 # Open Class.

Squat
1st Attempt: 368# (good lift)
2nd Attempt: 386# (good lift, PR)
3rd Attempt: 402# (good lift, HUGE PR)

Bench Press
1st Attempt: 253# (good lift)
2nd Attempt: 275.5# (good lift, PR)
3rd Attempt: 286# (no lift)

Deadlift
1st Attempt: 468# (good lift)
2nd Attempt: 501# (good lift, PR)
3rd Attempt: 529# (good lift, HUGE PR)

I went 8 for 9 in total and couldn't be happier (well maybe if I went 9 for 9 but...). Louis also PR'ed in the squat with 296# and in the deadlift with 418#, welcome to the 400# club son! CMo had one hell of a day also, PR'ing in the squat with 402#, PR'ing in the bench press with 248# and PR'ing in the deadlift with 507#. His total was 1157# which was good enough for a silver medal in the 198# Junior Class. I will be uploading video and posting them throughout the next few days, since, I will not be training again until around Thanksgiving, my back is screaming!

Friday, November 19, 2010

LAST WARM UP DAY!!

Well folks, as Bruce Buffer says in the octogon before a WEC night of fights "ITSSSSSSS TIIIIIIIMMMMMEEEEEE!!"

The butterflies feel like its mating season in my belly. I can't wait for tomorrow. I had dreams about putting 182.5kg (402.2#) on the bar and attempting my third squat. I think I failed in my dream....I digress. I just want to get there and start! Today we just went through the movements to sort of get an overall idea on how we felt.

Backsquat
3x5 @ 135#

Bench Press
2x5 @ 135#

Deadlift
3x5 @ 135#

My knees are a little sore but I am fine with that, it wont stop me tomorrow. Otherwise I feel great and ready. I think I have my bench form down also. LETS GO!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Last Half-Real Day

With the meet less then 5 days away, our tapering schedule called for working up to our last warm up with squats. We decided to press a couple light bench presses to continue to get used to our new found ways and pull a couple light deadlifts just to stretch out.

Backsquat:
Worked up to 315# 2x1

Bench Press:
1x5 @ 135#
1x5 @ 185#

Deadlift:
1x5 @ 135#
1x5 @ 185#
1x5 @ 225#

The squats felt nice. My knees are a little sore from previous training but I am confident that they will be fresh come meet time. The bench press also went well. I think I figured out how to remember where to place my feet. I think I could have done 185# for 15 reps no sweat. Deadlift felt good to stretch out. Overall this was a relaxing and easy day. I am so excited.

Monday, November 15, 2010

5 Days

This is the final week of tapering. Most of it will be spent working up to last warm up sets in the lifts, relaxing, healing and getting focused for Saturday. Friday was our last serious session.

Backsquat:
1x5 @ 315#
2x5 @ 325#

Bench Press:
3x3 @ 260#

My body was still feeling the effects from my 3x1 @ 370# squats from Tuesday. My form was nice and tight but 325# x5 was difficult. The benching went very well, I became more comfortable with our new technique and I am excited to see how much I can bench at the competition. Saturday and Sunday I played some rounds of Disc Golf to get some light exercise.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Winding Down

The competition is just around the corner, 11 days to be exact. The tapering is going well, moving up to the 220# weight class was one of the best ideas I have ever had. I am feeling great during my training (except for the met-cons *airs out collar*). We are starting to taper even more now.

Back Squat
3x1 @ 370# (PR)

Shoulder Press
1x3 @ 135#
2x3 @ 155#

Deadlift
1x5 @ 405#

Well, after having two successful weeks squatting 365# I decided to go up. It was a good choice, although difficult, I got all these reps significantly below parallel and up. I am confident I can go higher but I will save that for the meet. The shoulder presses were meant just to get some movements in with the press. The deadlift was meant to be a medium pull in order to rest the body for my attempt at 500# + on the 20th.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Totally Forgot...

...to update my Friday session, it was a good one. I was a bit apprehensive before this routine because I had chosen to stop cutting weight for the powerlifting meet with hopes of bringing my training back up to par. If I were to crap out on this workout, I don't know what I would do. Luckily, that was not the case.

Backsquat
1x5 @ 315#
1x5 @ 325#
1x5 @ 340#

Bench Press
1x5 @ 225#
1x3 @ 245#
1x1 @ 275# (PR)

The back squats were great, I did not feel like going to sleep after rep one, which is how I felt when I weighed 205#, and 340# went up well enough that I will be going up to 345# next Friday. I was also able to keep a good back angle throughout each rep which is something I have trouble with sometimes.

The bench press was exciting! Since I have never been taught how to bench, I decided to do some research. After watching a video by Dave Tate, he is a super d-bag but a man that knows how to bench and teach the bench. The short video I watched increased my current knowledge of bench pressing, immensely. In fact, I feel like a fool. When I would bench press before, anyone who actually knew how to bench press probably thought I was a joke, as they should, because I was (still kinda am). Okay so after practicing with the setup and finding a position I was comfortable with I started pressing some weight. My technique still has a way to go, I am a little shaky and awkward right now but that will be fixed with practice. Just to show that this new found technique works, I was able to set a PR with 275# which is a weight I have failed with several times in the past. I am looking forward to my next session.

Hopper Saturday

Louis and I attended the Hopper this weekend only to feel mixed emotions of motivation, excitement, disappointment and salacity. Everyone did such an excellent job especially all my friends from Crossfit DC and Balance Gym.

As if we were not tired enough from watching, Lou and I knew it was our conditioning day as well. With a couple issues hampering Lou, we were able to find a somewhat similar met-con to embark on.

500m run
2 rounds:
10 burpees
10 pull ups
500m run
2 rounds:
10 burpees
10 pull ups
500m run

11:44

Unfortunately, due to the cold weather and some other factors, I was able to enjoy mild asthma for this whole workout. Running while not being able to breath is one of my favorite past times. Regardless, I think I was able to post a decent time, I completed all the burpees and pull ups unbroken and I was able to "sprint" for the final 200m of the run. Good day.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Muscle Ups

I only do conditioning twice a week so when I do, I like to work on things I neglect in my strength training. This consists of oly lifts and a lot of gymnastic techniques. Although my met-cons typically have similar movements in them I try to mix a unique flavor together every time.

5 rounds:
3 muscle ups
20 sit ups (with Ab-Mat)
30 double unders

11:43

Well, I will be honest and tell you that this was a very frustrating WOD for me, not because of the WOD itself but because of the condition I was in. I performed this WOD in the "performance room" (I use parenthesis because it is a pretty low grade room, but, it has rings, prowlers and some other cool stuff), I am not sure why, but I had trouble breathing. I used to get asthma daily when I was younger, every once and a while it comes back. Secondly, my stupid/beautiful hair kept coming out of my pony-tail during the double unders. With both of these factors I ended up wasting some time fixing my wig and gasping for a deep breath. Either way, I was able to get the muscle ups (at a comfy 212#) and sit ups unbroken while successfully getting the first and last set of double unders unbroken. The middle three sets had one break early. Definitely could have done this under ten minutes if my mind was right.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Its Amazing.....

....how much of a difference an extra 1000 calories makes. After my embarrassing display of fitness, or lack thereof, last Friday, I upped my calorie intake and I was a new man yesterday. I felt great.

Backsquat
3x1 @ 365#

Shoulder Press
3x5 @ 146#

Deadlift
2x1 @ 475#

The squats felt better then ever with this much weight. My back angle stayed stationary and my hips rose in good timing with the rest of my body. Although the lift was slow out of the bottom, I was steadily rising the whole time, even on the 3rd rep.

I chose to do light presses in order to keep my shoulders fresh for benching on Friday. A friend from the gym, a former Crossfitter turned power lifter like yours truly and one of the few patrons who doesn't humiliate themselves with their training regimen, showed me how to keep a good arch in my back during bench press. Considering I SUCK at bench press, partially do to the lack of knowledge I have for it, partially because I am not strong (yet), I am looking for any advice I can get. I have tried to arch my back before and only found it becoming flat during my set. I am hoping, if I can figure out how to get this arching down that not only will my bench improve but I will be able to wear a belt (I have tried a belt before and it adds no help to my makeshift bench form) and further progress my lift.

I am going to say that I was not fully healed from my previous 3x1 with 475# on the deadlift. Although the weight went up fairly routinely, I felt my back slightly rounded and my fatigue set in more then last Tuesday. This is why I chose to only do 2 reps instead of 3. That is going to be my last heavy set before the competition.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Weekend Update With JMo

Lots of s*#t went down since Friday. With this competition looming, I have been satisfied with my lifts even while cutting weight. This was not the case on Friday. I died, had no energy, only completed 4 reps on my first set of 5 for the first time in my life. 350# felt way too heavy, that was all I needed, I am done cutting weight. It is kind of disappointing because part of me feels like I am letting myself down. However, this feeling of remorse is strongly outweighed by my feeling of relief. My goal for the competition now is to try and PR in all my lifts and not worry about actually "competing."

Friday
Backsquat
1x5 @ 340# (failed on fifth rep)
1x1 @ 350# (felt terrible)

Pause Bench Press
1x1 @ 275# (fail)
1x1 @ 275# (fail)
1x1 @ 265# (PR)

Saturday
5 rounds:
5 cleans @ 155#
10 pull ups
20 kettlebell swings @ 1.5 pood

12:30

The WOD on Saturday was pretty tough! I was able to do everything unbroken but I took my fair share of rest between the sets. To my surprise, the part of my body (and Louis's because he did this WOD after me) to lose all strength and gain all pain, were our forearms! By round three they were on fire! At the end of the workout I couldn't even get the top of my water bottle unscrewed.

Back to high calorie intake with hope of being strong again someday. My goal is to look like Vince Wilfork before the year is over.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Conditioning Wednesday

Wednesday and Sunday are my conditioning days. My only requirement is that I elevate my heart rate for an extended period of time. Obviously, Crossfit WODs are my go-to, but I also play on a hockey team so any time my games fall on a Wednesday (which has been the last two weeks) I count them as my conditioning. Unfortunately, the games this season (and many prior seasons) start at 10:00 PM (just imagine the numbers are in caps as well, I was shouting when I wrote that). At my old age of 26 and 5/6 years, when 9:00 pm rolls around I am ready for a beer and the couch. With these games starting an hour after my IPA-Time (its a play on Miller-Time because Miller is crap), its tough. But, if you read my post on VulcanFit.com, there are two different times to listen to your body, my body was feeling good and Training Is Training. To sum it up, yesterday my conditioning was skating for an hour and a half.

Here is what the best player in the world does to the biggest chump in the world on the worlds biggest stage, the Olympics.



Watch it again.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Tapering

I have started my taper for the meet on November 20th. My weight is currently 207# and dropping. I am constantly hungry and my precious belly is gone. I am looking for an excuse to stop cutting weight and just settle for gettting SMOKED in the 220# weight class. Yesterday was going to be a good measure to see if this weight cutting had any effect on my strength.

Backsquat
3x1 @ 365# (PR)

Shoulder Press
1x3 @ 155#
2x3 @ 175#

Deadlift
3x1 @ 475# (PR)

Well, crap. The damn lifts were not a struggle. In fact I could have thrown more weight on! The back squats went down and up with barely any slowing down. The 400# squat I am striving for is looking more and more to be in my grasp! The shoulder presses were fine, nothing special, wasn't entirely focused on these, the excitement in my stomach (and growling) for the deadlift (and food) were what was on my mind. I had pulled 475 once before during CFT when I was "90's Small", 185#. It was terribly ugly, I hitched the whole way, it took me about five minutes, I don't think I locked it fully out and I am pretty sure I shit myself. Today, wow, It felt like 405#. Up with relatively no sweat! All three reps! To try and fix my slightly rounded back I moved my shoulders even more in front of the bar, raising my butt another inch or two. This really felt good and I even got some props on my form from some veterans of powerlifting competitions. Yesterday was a good day.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Beautiful Sunday

This weather is so freaking great. I love it, nice breeze, green grass, sun shining, birds chirping.... want to recite me a poem, easy. Another thing I love to do in this weather is ride my bike! Since I have no where to go except, well, the gym (meathead), I have been riding my bike about 9 miles round trip to the gym on Sundays, conditioning day. The gym is especially awesome on Sundays because it is recently cleaned and there are very few patrons, meaning, I get all the damn space I need to swing from the pullup bar and throw barbells around. When the weather is as wonderful as it has been the last couple weeks, they have the doors open and it puts me in the mood to train! Yesterday Louis rode with me to the gym! A little apprehensive at first after not being on a bike in over a decade, I think he felt pretty comfortable towards the end, well accept for the whole ass pain thing from the seat.

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

Power snatch @ 75#
Pull ups
GHD sit ups

JMo: 10:33
Big Lou: 12:56

This was another good workout! I really wanted to get sub ten but completing all my sets unbroken was more important and garnered more rest from me between sets. My plan was successful but I feel like I took a little too much time before the pullups. Overall, and I can say this a million times, being stronger is such an advantage. I have dwindled my conditioning down from once or twice a day to twice a week to make room for strength training and adequate rest. Even with this drop in metabolic conditioning, my work capacity is relatively high and the weight doesn't fatigue me nearly as fast. My pullups are not as good as they used to be but banging 20 in a row is still not an issue. Louis was also successful in completing all the sets unbroken. Mad props.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Friday

Today was tough! I am still cutting weight, eating straight Paleo and I can tell that the lack of calories (compared to what I have been consuming for the past 6 months) is effecting my strength. However, I am not getting weaker, I just don't see myself setting 5 lb Pr's every time I squat. Today I tried to tie my 3x5 PR.

Backsquat
3x5 @ 340#

Bench Press
3x3 @ 260#

The squats were EXHAUSTING! I was about to lay on the floor and go to sleep after my first set. I also started to come forward (butt raising to fast) on rep 3-5 on my first set. I was able to correct this on set two and three. Although, I had serious doubts that I would succeed going into set three. That is definitely not the mindset I want beforehand. After rep three of set three, I again felt like laying on the floor and going to sleep. I was able to bang out the last two with fairly good form. All fifteen reps were below parallel. I can't wait until this competition is over and I move up to the 220# weight class. This dieting sucks.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Vids

Here are some Vids from Tuesdays session. My brother is a beast!

CMo 345x3



JMo 455x5



CMo 435x5



Other then the fact that this cutting weight thing has resulted in me swimming in my t-shirt, I am satisfied with these video's. Notice that my brothers back is less rounded then mine. I have not figured out why I have a curve in my back when I deadlift. All I know is that I feel tight and mostly straight during my pull. It is not something I am worried about but it is something I would like to correct. My first thought is to get my butt lower before each pull.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

ENERGY LEGS!!!

Okay, I think I figured out the reason for my fatigue, "going paleo"! I forgot about the crap period you must endure before the awesome hits. Yesterday, like a damn light switch, I woke up with a ton of energy and it is here with me again today. I have been eating strictly paleo with milk for almost a month now and my body has finally learned how to use what less calories and carbohydrates efficiently. I feel great!

I am 208# (down from 216#) and I still have 10# to go to make weight. Basically, my feeling is this, I have to at least try to get to 198#, because, if I am successful, I have a real chance at competing at the meet. However, it is my first powerlifting meet and I am not going in it to win. With that being said, if I don't make 198#, I will just be in the 220# class and get stomped! But, I have goals to reach and the weight class I attempt to reach them in is irrelevant.

Since I felt so good today and had little to no pain in my knee or iliacus, I decided to go heavy again. My brother and I train on Tuesdays and he is strong.

Backsquat:
3x3 @ 350#

Shoulder Press (de-load for me):
2x5 @ 135#
1x5 @ 155#

Deadlift:
1x5 @ 455#

Monday, October 18, 2010

Double Update!!! (said in "Double Rainbow" voice)

So this weekend turned out to be one that I will remember for a long time, and thats not necessarily a good thing. Friday night shot a hypothetical bullet into my being and left me worthless for the next 24-36 hours. The seven man party we had at my house included, but was certainly not limited to, 1500 ml of Bulleit Bourbon, guitar playing, singing and juggling and adjourned around 5am Saturday morning. I spent Saturday trying to eat my breakfast while debating the pro's and con's of living.

Okay, back to the purpose of this blog. Since I did not update my Friday session I will hit you with a Double Update! of both Friday and Sunday.

Before I give you my stats, let me explain that I am dealing with a sore iliacus and my patella-tendenopothy seems to be flaring up a bit more then usual (soreness of my patella tendon). This is probably due to the stress I am putting on my body to prepare for the USAPL Maryland States. I just want a 400# squat damnit!! Due to these annoying ailments, I decided to take a minor de-load week with my squats. Without further adieu, here are the two workouts you missed.

Friday (semi-de-load)
Backsquat
3x5 @ 275#

Bench Press
1x5 @ 250#
1x3 @ 260#
1x5 @ 245#


Sunday
3 rounds:
15 hang cleans @ 135#
15 burpees
15 pull ups

8:58

The WOD on Sunday was terrible! I think I still had some lingering effects from Friday. I was able to do every set unbroken but around rep 8 of the cleans and pull ups I was ready to drop the barbell or drop from the pull up bar. I made a lot of noise getting the last seven reps and I think it might have annoyed the bodybuilders on the leg press machine. Regardless, of them and their stupid feelings, I was able to finish strong. It felt good to feel bad (after the workout, not on Saturday, that sucked for many reasons). Hopefully this week will be positive with regards to my preparation and injuries. Thanks for reading.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Whats Wrong With Me?

Thats all that I could think about today during my session. It is days like these, that if I can get through them and somehow still have a positive outlook on my progression, then I will succeed. Basically, today was a total bummer. I felt like crap and performed below the level I wanted. Maybe I am jet-lagged, maybe I ate too much beforehand (its possible, I slammed a ton of meatloaf for lunch, remember, we don't judge here on my blog), maybe I am just tired, maybe starting to squat without a mirror had more of an effect then I originally thought, or maybe I should stop trying to make excuses. The bottom line is, I had to work hard as f*#k today because my body did not feel spry and my mind was not in it. I guess you need days like this every once and a while to show yourself how to persevere even when its hurts or you want to stop, cry and suck your thumb (okay maybe thats just me). Whatever the case, I'm going to keep my head high and continue on the path I have set for myself.

*Don't let the PR's fool you, I felt crappy as hell and that outweighs the gains I made*

Backsquat
2x3 @ 350# (PR. Ugly and poor, but, below parallel)
1x3 @ 340#

Shoulder Press
1x3 160#
1x3 170#
1x3 180# (almost pulled something on my third rep)

Deadlift
1x5 @ 430#

Luckily the deadlift and shoulder press felt pretty okay compared to the squats. Although the shoulder press felt very heavy. Surely, my head was not fully in these lifts today. I am going to rest and hope Friday goes better.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Sometimes I'm Stoopid..... But I Like It!!!!

I am in San Diego right now and made a point of finding a gym to get a squat workout in while I was here. There is a World Gym about 5 minutes away from where I am staying with a ten dollar day pass. I dropped my friend off at work this morningso I could use his car and I drove myself to the gym. My original plan was to PR in squats with 330# 3x5. Due to the fact that I can be embarrassingly stoopid sometimes I loaded the bar with 340# on accident. After the first set went up, hard as he'll I might add, I decided to leave it!

Backsquat
3x5 @340# (PR)

Bench Press
1x5 @ 250#
1x4 @ 260# (PR)
1x3 @ 270# (PR)

So as you can see it was another great day. I rested about 8 minutes between my squat sets and it really seemed to help. I am exhausted as hell, gonna go drink some beer.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

PR City

Yesterday was fun. I have increased my rest and decreased met-cons for these last 1.5 months leading up to the USAPL Maryland States powerlifting competition. I have some goals in mind that part of me believes are reachable and I want to make sure I am putting 100% into my training efforts. Today was a good day.

Backsquat
3x3 @ 345# (PR)

Shoulder Press
1x3 @ 155#
1x3 @ 175#
1x3 @ 185# (PR)

Deadlift
1x5 @ 455# (PR)

As you can see I set a PR in each of my lifts today. I felt really spry (I have always wanted to say that) and it showed. The squats were great, depth was below, below parallel and I feel like I could have done the first set for 5 reps. The shoulder press PR was a little sketchy on the third rep, my left arm straightened before my right, I resembled that of a Saguaro Cactus, but I locked it out. I haven't mentioned this before but about a month ago I changed my deadlift stance to a much more narrow feet placement. this also brought my hand placement in closer. It took some time for me to get used to but I am able to get my body tighter during my pull and I feel much stronger this way. The 455# went up good, my back was a bit curved but nothing for me to worry about or try to change. For the first time ever, my grip was starting to give out around rep 4. I may have needed more chalk, but regardless, I finished the set of 5 with no issues.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Saturday

Sorry, with the Ryder Cup and Football I got distracted. I typically only train once on the weekend, so here it was.

Rode my bike about 5 miles to the gym, the weather was beautiful.

AMRAP 15
3 power snatches at 135
5 pull ups
7 toes to bar

8 rounds

At the start of round 5 I felt something strain slightly in my shoulder during a snatch. It was a lazy catch on my part. A little worried, I walked around, rubbing my arm and debating whether or not I should stop to prevent further injury. After stretching and rubbing my shoulder decided to continue. This wasted about 1:30. Without any further trouble, I was able to get 8 rounds, certainly could have done more without the delay. Pretty good workout but I wasn't thrashed like I should have been.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Friday

Well, my plan worked, I felt fresh going into todays volume session.

Back squat
3x5 @ 325# (PR)

Bench Press
1x3 @ 225#
1x3 @ 240#
1x3 @ 260#
1x1 @ 275# (PR)
1x5 @ 245#

Felt great during the whole routine, setting PR's is always great. I got plenty of sleep last night and the DOMS has yet to set in and the knee feels great. Saturday is for met-cons!

Friday, October 1, 2010

I Train Hard I Promise

Okay, so just because I am not on the "3 on 1 off" training schedule does not mean I am slacking. I am just really focused on building my powerlifts for this upcoming meet and to assure strength gains I need more rest. It is crunch time right now, I need to gain strength and lose weight before November 20th. Last week, as I mentioned in a previous post, I was thrashed going into my Friday session, volume day, and it turned into one of the hardest squat days of my life. I am going to attempt to PR today in the squat so I gave myself a little extra rest this week. Yesterday, Thursday, I got into the gym and did two met-cons, don't worry, the total time for both combined was 7:49.

Race with Louis, first to 100 double unders:
I squeaked out the victory!

1:23

I am satisfied with this although I am sure I can get it under a minute, especially since I started off 1, miss, 2, miss....

50 burpee-pull ups

6:26

My original plan was to do the pull ups strict, that lasted until rep 15, then I used a slight kip for the rest of the way. I did not stop and made sure I was at dead hang before each pull up. The one downside to the gym I use now is the pull up bar. It is across the top of a 7 ft cage. If I want to hang from it I have to bend my knees so my feet don't touch the ground (not to mention that my fat ass shakes the cage on every swing). This adds a bit of difficulty to kipping. Overall I feel pretty fresh today and ready to set some PR's!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

I Am Spent

Today was a busy day. Alarm didn't go off this morning so I was late to work (not too bad cus I got to sleep in an extra half hour). Had a client after work then trained myself. I arrived at the gym around 7pm. I was not feeling 90% (remember 90% is the new 100%) so I was a bit apprehensive about the weights and scheme I was going to attempt, but I ended up doing what I should have, go heavy (or go home (wink)).

Backsquat
3x3 @ 340# (PR)

Strict Press
1x3 @ 175#
2x3 @ 180# (PR)

Deadlift
1x5 @ 450#

I was feeling strong once I got into it. Before I arrived at the gym I was contemplating using today as a "de-load" day because last Friday my body had not recovered (Friday is my volume squat day). I blame the sandbag runs from Wednesday 9/22/10 for leaving my back so thrashed. I will not make that mistake this week for my met-con tomorrow will be all body weight exercises. Always happy when I set PR's and I am really looking forward to competing in November.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Yesterday

Saturday was spent doing yard work and attending a friends jiu jitsu competition, oh yea and recovering because I was sore as funk. Sunday, before football and my weekly double whopper (don't judge me), I was able to get some lifting in.

I hadn't done heavy power clean and jerks outside of a met-con in quite some time. I decided that even though I didn't feel 90% (90% is the new 100%), I would give them a shot. I worked up to 225#. On this last attempt I was able to get the weight up but as I caught the bar in in my rack position, my body resembled that of a Torrey Pine Tree, bending and curving in places it shouldn't. My stance was wide, weight on the inside of my feet an my back arched to the extreme. I was so ashamed of this that I couldn't help but laugh at myself with 225# racked on my shoulders. Jerking 225# is not that difficult for me but with the clean as it was, one might say I wasn't entirely focused. I jerked the weight, got it overhead, locked my arms out, but a the bar was too out in front of my face. I am pretty confident I could have stepped under it but that would have caused me to trip over the "oh so important" leg press machine (1 of 2 of them in the gym), so I dropped the weight "no lift."

1x3 95# p clean and press
1x3 135# p clean and p press
1x3 185# p clean and p press
1x3 205# p clean and s jerk
1x1 215# p clean and s jerk
1x1 225# p clean and s jerk (fail)

*15 minutes after

5 rounds:
10 GHD sit ups
10 pull ups
20 double unders

8:23

This was a good one because even at a fat 215# I was able to go non-stop. Nearly everything was unbroken, missing only a couple double unders. Pull ups were easy and GHD were not. My met-con speed has decreased but thats what comes with my current strength bias program, the fact that things take less out of me then before is comforting.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

ITS BEEN A WHILE

Well I just spent my Friday using any energy I had left in the tank at the gym, followed by a cheeseburger and a bottle of Malbec. Thought it might be time to start documenting my training again. I'll do my best to catch you up in the least amount of words possible.

After sectionals I decided with Louis that I want to be the fittest man on the planet. To get there I need to first get stronger. I have dedicated this year of my life to strength training (primarily). Taking it one step at a time, I see my peak from age 29 to age 47, give or take.

I started my own business in March, a personal training and nutrition consultation company that makes you the shit. We are trying to grow, learn, build a nuclear bomb and take over the world (okay I made some of that last part up, we hate learning).

Other then that I have another full time job and don't have enough time to spend time with the people I care about, henceforth erasing my value as a friend, for this I am sorry and upset.

My training schedule is basically like this on a weekly basis. (NOTE: We are training for the USAPL Maryland States on November 20th). Day 1: squat, bench deads. Day 2: Met-con. Day 3: rest. Day 4: squats, bench. Day 5 met-con. Day 6: something. Day 7: rest. Here is last weeks training.

Saturday
5 rounds:
3 clean and jerks @ 185#
10 pull ups
500m run

24:25

Sunday
Watch football and eat a Double Whopper (rest day)

Monday
Teach Vulcan Fitness at Amherst House (rest day)

Tuesday
Backsquat @ 335# 3x3
Deadlift @ 450# 1x5
(pause) bench press @ 250# 3x3

Wednesday
5 rounds:
3 muscle ups
3 power snatches @ 135#
200m run carrying 60# punching bag

15:25

Thursday
Rest Day

Friday
Backsquat @ 320 3x5
(pause) bench @ 265 1x1

....and thats pretty much the jist of my training. I weigh 215# and I am a lot stronger and fatter. Still got a long way to go to be STRONG, but I'm basically there for being fat. Ill try to post regularly. Gonna sleep now. I love you all.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Injured

My original plan was to do some tapering for the Superfit Games Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Then take Wednesday, Thursday and Friday off. Well, after we thought of this amazing strongman WOD on Sunday that included rope climbs, atlas stone lifting, kettlebell carrying and GHD sit ups, I sprained my ankle warming up on the rope. How awesome is that? I spent the rest of Sunday and Monday unable to walk. Tuesday I felt significantly better. I happened to have an acupuncture appointment on Tuesday as well and she did some stuff to get the swelling down. Wednesday I could jog and hop on my foot with just a little tenderness. Needless to say, my tapering plan went out the window. I had to get in the gym on Wednesday because my muscle was disappearing! I needed chalk on my hands and perspiration down my face!

Wednesday Evening:

21-15-9
GHD sit ups
Push ups

sub 5, forgot to time

"Unbroken"
20 pull ups
500m row
20 pull ups
500m row
20 pull ups

If you cannot do everything unbroken then you must start that set over.

6:30, no failures.

The 21-15-9 was a nice warm up. Really felt it in my core! For the next WOD I averaged about 1:50 on the rower plus or minus a couple seconds. The pullups sucked, my "pull" was definitely fatigued. I felt great afterwards and ready to do more. I plan on getting in the gym Thursday and just fooling around with a couple things. My ankle is not fully healed yet so I still want to rest it. I am so excited for the Superfit Games!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Excuses

***WARNING, WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ IS FILLED WITH EXCUSES***

Today I did not perform to my potential in my first workout, in fact, I am quite emabarrased by it. I think I redeemed myself for the second WOD, but I have plenty of excuses for my lack of strength. Here they are, enjoy =)

I ate some pork yesterday that I had left out for 24ish hours. It was already cooked and it didnt smell bad so I decided to eat it. I think this turned out to be a bad idea. I woke up this morning feeling pretty crappy (no pun intended). I was late to work because I had to keep answering my phone, nature wouldn't stop calling me. I felt a little nauseas and uneasy for the rest of the day (although I felt better as the day went on). To add to my discomfort, my legs were still extremely sore from the muscle up-squat WOD we did on Tuesday. As my stomach became less of an issue, my legs made sure I still had a reason to complain.

AM: Squats
1x5 135#
1x5 185#
1x5 225#
1x3 255#
1x3 275#
1x0 300# (massive fail!!)
1x3 275#

So I couldn't even get 300# for 1 rep this morning. I can think of several words to describe this, here is one, pathetic.

PM: 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 reps:
Power Clean, 155#
Dumbbell swings, 70#
Push ups

12:03

I was much more satisfied with my performance on this second WOD, that is of course, after I stopped feeling exhausted and terrible! This WOD kicked our asses! Its not enough reps on any exercise where I feel I can take a legitimate rest during a set. I definitely rested throughout the cleans, but, I did not take my hands off the bar, so, each rest was minimal. All of the swings and push ups were unbroken. The swings were probably the worst due the the fatigue of my lower back and the inability for me to find a reason to put the weight down mid-set. Reps 10 through 7 for all exercises took a long time it seemed. Reps 6-2 sucked and the final 1 rep of each exercise was my favorite.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Working Out with Cookies

No, not edible Cookies, unless, you are a cannibal. Cookies = Maiko.

Push press
1x5 135#
1x5 155#
1x5 165#
1x5 185# (PR)

*5-10 minute rest*

"G.I. Jane"
100 burpee to pull up

10:19

I didn't stop during the met-con. I was keeping a solid pace. Not really flying but never standing still. This is a total mental workout. The second you take you mind off of continuing or something other then doing burpees and pull ups, you will stop. I watched the basketball game, thought about anime and focused on my pull up so that I wouldn't be distracted with the idea to take a break. I am at the point in my training where I can do a lot of workouts unbroken. To get faster, I need to pick up the pace during the unbroken sets. This is quite a daunting task that I am working on.

Maiko crushed these workouts also. It was only her second and third workouts of the day, slacker! Mad props to starting let alone finishing! Great job!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Enjoying the warmER weather

My brother and I decided to take advantage of the non-arctic weather we are currently having in MD. Both WOD's were outside.

AM: 4.5k run

22:42

This was a nice leisurely jog with a sprint up the final 400m hill. After running 7 miles a couple of weeks ago, in tough conditions, runs of this length don't scare me anymore.

PM: 3 rounds
12 muscle ups
75 squats

15:35

We did this WOD outside in the dark. It was colder then this morning and seeing was a bit of an issue. I say that only because, that the lack of visibility, added an extra challenge to the muscle ups. I can't explain it well. We put our rings on the same tree branch that we have been using for years. I guess, subconsciously I use guides in my line of site when I do multiple muscle ups. Maybe certain parts of the terrain in front of me help me stay in rhythm, I am not sure. But, whatever it was, I felt like I was doing the MU's blindfolded. The overall distraction was low, but I had to concentrate harder on my kip to execute several in a row, successfully. Overall, with the slight fatigue I felt felt from the run, I only failed on four muscle ups, 2 failures were at the end of sets of 3-5 and the other 2 failures occurred on my final muscle up. Talk about wasting an extra 30 seconds! The squats got better as I became warmer (one of these days I will learn how to warm up properly so I can START well also). I broke the squats into 50-10-15, 35-21-19 and 75 straight through on my final set. I am a little disappointed in this time. I would have really liked to go sub 15 if not lower, oh well.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Weekend

Well, "Lynne" left me sore.

Saturday

Overhead Squat
1x5 95#
1x5 115#
1x5 135#
1x3 155#
1x1 175#
1x1 185# (fail, could not get it jerked over my head)
1x1 185# (I got it but I don't think I went below parallel, probably just to it)

*10 minute rest*

50 double unders
30 clean and jerk, 155#
50 double unders

7:47

The overhead squats felt great until 185#. I just need to work on my stabilization at the top. I also need to trust my squat at the bottom. I feel, if I was more in control over my head, breaking parallel would not be an issue.

For the met-con, the rx'd weight was 135# but I wanted to stick with my plan and "up the weight." 155# currently feels like 135# used to feel. I only had to take a breather twice during the ground to OH. I am also ninety percent sure that I did 31 reps. The first 50 double unders were 35-15 due to human error and the last 50 were 0-0-30-20 due to fatigue.

Sunday

On Saturday, Amazing Dan asked if I wanted to train two WODs with him on Sunday, he told me what they were, I forgot them immediately, and obliged to his offer. I showed up at 11am, as we had decided and there was no Dan. After waiting a little while, fraternizing with Crossfit DC and working on my handstands on the parallettes, I figured he wasn't coming and I was forced to think of a WOD on the spot. By this time the "Lynne" soreness had almost completely set in (I say "almost" because by the time I went to bed on Sunday, it was at its peak), so I wanted to do a WOD that sparred my lats and pecs, at least a little bit. I chose to do the WOD from the 09' Crossfit Games. At the Games it was an AMRAP 12, I was worried I would suck at it so I did AMRAP 15.

AMRAP 15
4 HSPU, head to stacked weights, on parallettes with a 1" elevation
8 kettlebell swings, 2 pood
12 GHD sit ups

7 rounds + 2 HSPU (6 rounds in 12 minutes)

This went well. About as good as I expected. I got through at least the fourth round if not the fifth without breaking up a single set of HSPU. This was very exciting, previously on the paralletes, I could barely do one HSPU to parallel. The swings and GHD were rest periods for the HSPU, all unbroken.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Recipe for soreness

AM: Interval Row
10 rounds
250m row
rest 2 minutes

time/average watts
1. 46.2/ 444
2. 45.6/ 461
3. 45.2/ 474
4. 45.6/ 461
5. 47.2/ 416
6. 45.2/ 474
7. 47.2/ 416
8. 47.5/ 408
9. 47.9/ 398
10. 46.6/ 432

So exhausting. These interval rowing workouts are so terrible. After a few rounds you pull and you push and nothing seems to have any power. Even for this short period of time, its pretty amazing. Before my last round I stood up to rest, this proved to be a great idea, wish I would have done it on my previous trials, better luck next time!

PM: "Lynne"
5 rounds
Max reps bodyweight bench press
Max reps pullups
rest as needed

BWT: 197#
BP: 200#

BP/ Pull ups
1. 10/ 50
2. 11/ 33
3. 8/ 31
4. 9/ 37
5. 9/ 40
Total: 47/ 191= 238

Well, I couldn't be more happy with this score. Everything was really hard. I lived up to my expectations of pullups and I did better then I expected benching 200#. I was completely drained throughout this workout, to the point, where not moving felt heavy. Un-racking the barbell to start each consecutive set of bench press was intimidating. I think this is a solid score, I hope I never do it again! Bring on the soreness!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

How do you rest a tight and sore posterior chain?

With jumps, running and snatches!?

AM: 3 rounds
walking lunge, 50m
broad jump, 100m
run, 200m

14:32

I did this one early and it was cold outside. My breathing was impaired a bit due to the dry air and my body was not fully awake. This just made the suck more. The broad jumps were the worst. My back was tight as hell from CFT yesterday. I got better as the rounds went on as my body became warmer.

PM: AMRAP 15
3 power snatches, 60kg (134lb)
then
2 rounds
3 pull ups
6 push ups
9 box jumps

***the snatches plus the 2 rounds is one round, get it?***

7 rounds

Another great way to rest a tight back, snatches and more jumps. However, this workout was somewhat enjoyable. Although my snatch is not the greatest, being able to do 21 with this weight, with no real trouble is comforting. I powered them all from the floor. I used about a 4 inch knee bend on my catch. I used to be afraid of snatching this much weight, now I look forward to it. The pull ups and push ups were easy and the box jumps sucked. Especially when I had Maiko chirping at me every time I didn't fully open my hips at the top of the box. I needed it though, she forced me to overextend so there was no mistake that my hips were open.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Crossfit Total

Well, today went better then expected to say the least. I certainly think that increasing the weight in my workouts has made me stronger. I have gained about 4# and I am pretty sure its all muscle. Although, when I look at myself in the mirror, it looks like I weigh about 135#, kinda pathetic.

My last Crossfit Total was on the 9th of November, last year. I scored a 910#.

Back Squat
1x5 135#
1x4 185#
1x3 225#
1x2 275#
1x1 325# (PR)
1x1 335# (fail)
1x1 330# (fail)

Shoulder Press
1x8 95#
1x5 135#
1x1 155#
1x1 175# (PR)
1x1 185# (PR)

Deadlift
1x5 135#
1x4 225#
1x3 315#
1x1 405#
1x1 450# (PR)
1x1 460# (PR)
1x1 470# (PR)

CFT = 980#

I am stoked at our performance. My brother also crushed PR's in all lifts. It was just a great day. We really kept each other motivated. My weakness is still my squat. I know I can make up for some ground with that and get over 1000#. My posterior chain is gone.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Catching Up

So I have been computer-less for my last cycle. Here are my workouts for the last three days.

Friday

AM: 6.77 mile run (10,895 meters), in the snow, wind and cold
1:08:00

PM: Power Cleans
1x5 135#
1x5 155#
1x3 175#
1x3 185#
1x3 195#
1x2 205#
1x1 215#

*15 minute rest*

5 rounds
10 push ups
10 ring dips
10 toes to bar

7:52

This may have been the most exhausting day of my life. This is the furthest I have ever run by nearly 4 miles. My heart rate was low the whole time and I was able to control my breathing quite well. I never felt too tired to continue, in fact, if it wasn't for the disgust for running that I kept dwelling on, I probably could have ran more. Oh, and the fact that I rolled each ankle twice during the run due to the inability of seeing where the path dropped off. Thanks snow. Luckily, only one roll was bad enough to actually bruise and cause discomfort, and that was during the last mile. It pays to have played hockey my whole life.

I think that a 225# power clean would not have been surprising to complete, I wanted to save something for the met-con that I knew would be tougher then it looked. I have the kip on the toes to bar down well so those didn't take me very long, I basically can do them until my grip fails, usually around 16 or so.

Saturday

Shoulder Press
1x8 95#
1x5 115#
1x5 120#
1x5 125#
1x5 135#
1x5 145# (PR)

*15 minute rest*

"Randy"
75 power snatches, 75#

4:46 (PR)

I felt strong on the shoulder press. I have gained about 4lbs and I know its all muscle, I feel stronger on all my lifts. The 145# press was the first time I established a PR, again, I think I could have gone up to 150#. "Randy" sucked. We forgot chalk and wound up foraging through cracks in the wall where chalk was once kept. We found enough to chalk up once, but if we needed chalk during the WOD, too bad. This almost caused me to quit! I got to 30 reps and my hands were sliding on the bar. We also did this WOD at a big box gym, so, we had to use 10# plates that were about 7 inches in diameter. We just brought the bar to mid shin. Unfortunately, I think this made it more difficult because we were not given that instant of rest at the bottom of each rep, or a bounce! We were forced to use our back to lower the bar and snatch it. Regardless of all my excuses, I set a PR by 14 seconds. When I did this WOD several months ago, it was done with ideal equipment, in ideal conditions, with plenty of chalk. Another sign that my training is working

Sunday

AMRAP 10 minutes
1 rope climb
10 burpees

9 rounds in 9:42 (I should have climbed one more time but I am a bitch)

*15 minute rest*

AMRAP 10 minutes
2 muscle ups
4 head to floor HSPU
8 kettlebell swings, 2 pood

5 rounds + 2 muscle ups

It was extremely cold in Balance Gym for some reason today. I usually like it cooler then normal but it was damn near the same temp inside as it was outside! Needless to say, it was hard to get the body warm. The first WOD went well, I was shooting for 9 rounds and I could have got another climb if I wasn't such a chump. Within five minutes of completing the first AMRAP, I was ready to do the next, I decided to wait the entire 15 minutes (an let my body get cold again, idiot). I could tell my muscles were a bit fatigued in this WOD. The muscle ups were harder then normal, I even failed on one. The HSPU's, again, were the time consumers. I am much better at them n then I was say, a month ago, but I am not good enough to excel if I am not fresh. The KB swings were cake and done all unbroken.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Whats Wrong With Me?

So, I am not quite sure what is going on with me but I don't think its bad. Either I am becoming accustomed to heavier workload and my recovery is exactly where it needs to be or I am not pushing myself hard enough. Basically, I have been increasing the weight in each WOD and doing two-a-day, but, my body does not feel worn out. I feel like I could do some three-a-days. I know I am not pushing myself to the max every workout but I am still setting PR's and making good times. I seem to be getting stronger as well. I figure that I am consistently going about 80% in my current workouts and will be able to go 100% at the upcoming competitions. I also feel that the weight will probably be lighter at the comps then what I have been using during my recent training. I am excited and ready.

My acupuncturist stuck a total of 10 needles in my knees on Tuesday to try and help my soreness (tendinitis is what I am calling it). Immediately following the treatment they felt great. Then, yesterday, they were kinda sore again. I decided to do low rep, high weight squats anyways because I am not going to let injury get in the way of doing what I love. Today however (Thursday), after I iced them last night, they again feel great! I hope it lasts!

AM: Back Squats
1x5 135#
1x5 185#
1x5 225#
1x5 245#
1x5 255# (PR)

I felt very strong on these sets. With a little more rest I think I could have done 260#, 5 times.

PM: 21-15-9
head to floor HSPU
dumbbell swings, 70#
toes to bar

17:12

The HSPU's took up the majority of the time here. I know I started this entry off with the "I'm not worn out thought," and I didn't feel worn out today, but, I just didn't have the strength in my shoulders that I have had in the previous HSPU workouts. I am sure the 60 push press I did yesterday had something to do with it. All of the swings were unbroken, I did 15 toes to bar the first round, only stopping because my grip was about to break, followed by the rest of the sets unbroken.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Whats worse then going to a Big Box Gym once a day?

...going twice a day

So, I have been spending the last week in Columbia because Louis is back for his break/birthday/intended leave of absence from Princeton. The house he grew up in is vacant for the majority of the year because his mother lives in her late boyfriends home. Therefore, I stay there so we can train together. And, no, we are not bromantically involved.

The only annoying part of training in Columbia is the facility we use. Luckily, they have 1.5 pull up bars (one of the bars is attached to the wall so kipping is impossible and it is as thin as a crayola marker), two squat racks, a squash court (that no one uses) we use for jump rope and miscellaneous, and box jumps up to 2.5 ft. With the addition of my rings and other random equipment we own, we can basically complete all of the workouts rx'd. However, there are no bumper plates, chalk is prohibited (although we still use plenty) and 99.9% of the members are bodybuilding knuckleheads who take up way to much space. We deal.

AM: 2008 Crossfit Games Event
5 rounds
5 deadlifts, 275#
10 burpees

4:02

Let me just get my excuses out of the way. It was 7:30am and the gym was packed with fools walking all around our area. I mean when you do single sets of 5 per exercise, you are going to walk around a lot like the nimrod patrons at this big box gym. Pretty distracting. However, I think I went pretty fast (for me), I am sure I could have got sub 4 later in the day but I was happy with this time. I was very tired afterwards! After checking the 2008 games scores, it seems my time was in the top 30.

PM: AMRAP 15
6 push press, 135#
6 weighted supine pull up, 25#
6 broad jump (3 ft) over 1 ft box jump

10 rounds + 2 press

This was a good workout, I was soaked by the end. We were pretty tired and unmotivated when we started. My performance was certainly not 100%. I was able to do nearly all of the sets unbroken for everything. I think I dropped once from the pull ups.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Weekend!

Still chillin with one of my BFF's Big Lou Dogg Sarry...rrrrrruff rrrrruff

Saturday

At the top of each minute complete 3 power snatches, 95#, until you finish:
50 burpees
50 knees to elbows
100 double unders

12:54 (13 rounds, 39 snatches)

I am a fan of this workout. I would have liked it to be a little heavier but that is my only criticism. Unfortunately, we had to do this workout at Supremely Novice Sports Club: Home of the Sleeveless. Lou and I really felt out of place because our shirts were soaked with something known by athletes as "perspiration,", they each had 2 sleeves, 2 more then every other gym member and we weren't isolating a specific muscle. This really baffled the fools with their weight belts. Luckily, their breaks in between sets were long enough to watch us perform the whole workout without getting out of rhythm.

Unrelated to dealing with the amateur lifters was dealing with the amateur equipment. This entire gym does not have a single straight pull up bar! They DO have 2 lat pull down machines, a shrug machine and a plethora of cables for triceps extensions and other vital isometric trainers. The only pull up bars they do have are two angled bars (on different floors of the gym), with anti-chalk rubber around them, connected to the cable cross machine. Finding a time when someone is not using the cable cross is rare. Regardless, Lou and I managed the K2E's by sharing the angled bar, at the same time (each of us had a cockeyed grip on one side). Thank god we had our own mirrors to stare at ourselves during the workout or I might not have been able to keep going.

Sunday

AM: Interval Rowing
1 minute on, 1 minute off for ten rounds. Every 5m under 3000m at the end of the workout, complete 1 burpee pull up.

Total meters rowed: 3116
Total burpee pull ups: 0

I was a little worried that I would have like 150 burpee pull ups following this routine. When we got to round five (and decided against stopping), I saw that I had completed 1580m or something like that, I knew I was going to complete the WOD as rx'd with no penalties.

On a side note, to add to my disgust with society, especially novice training methods, and those who partake in them. When we went to row it was Louis, Krysta and I. There are 3 rowers, so we occupied them all. While we are sitting there (probably 5 minutes), deciding on how to go about the WOD, an old fat man comes up and says "are you all actually going to workout or are you just going to sit there!" we told him we were about to start and he was pissed. He goes and tells an employee who comes over and talks to us. We tell him we are starting and he leaves. During the final minute of our workout, while I am rowing, the cranky old man sits down next to me and gets in my face saying something along the lines of "you know, there used to be a rule of 20 minutes per machine blah blah blah" out of breath and while I am rowing I respond "this is a twenty minute workout, we are almost done!" Lou chimes in with some appropriate backup. I finish and tell the old man that I will be sure to be rude when he starts his workout. He barks back and this goes on while I gather my stuff. Some other old man feels its necessary to give his two sense, saying to me "if your going to act like this, don't come back! Theres a twenty minute limit!" Although, I realize its his gym (sarcasm), I tell him that our workout WAS 20 minutes. He replies "oh." So, we speak to the employee who came over earlier and he apologizes for how the grumpy old men acted and everything is cool. If there is one thing I love in my life, its the interaction with untrained fools at globo gyms.

PM: Turkish Get-Ups
2x1 20#
1x1 30#
1x1 35#
1x1 40#
1x1 45#
1x1 50#
1x1 55#
1x1 60#
1x1 65#
1x1 70#
1x1 75#

This was my first time doing get-ups in a workout. It was just as much a learning experience as it was a workout. I would have to say that my 75# attempt was better then my 40# attempt. When you are novice at something, your improvement rises drastically at first!

To add to the annoyance of 2010 regarding globo gym members. Some guy (with a pot belly of course) thought it was necessary to come up to us and tell us how we are going to hurt our back and body from twisting like that. I am really glad these people feel qualified to stick their nose into something that they have no idea, experience, qualifications or business talking about. He then continued his sets on the hack squat machine, one of, if not, the best way to work your legs.

Double stuffed props out to Big Lou who successfully completed the same reps and weight as I. The man has a lion heart and it shows in every WOD!