Year: 2013

Playground as a Box

Drive over to Hinks School a little before 8am to beat the heat.

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For a warmup I did a 400m run, band pass-thrus, Band pull aparts, and band walks with a red band.

Then I was going to do a bunch of muscle-ups and try stringing 2 together. But on my first try at a double a had an awkward fall out forward and got scared to commit after that. Only managed to do 3 total MU. Just not my day for them.

10:00 EMOM

  • Odds: 5 Fat bar chin-ups (strict)
  • Evens: 10 Bar dips (feet on ground)

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“Brenton”
5 rounds

  • Bear crawl 100 feet
  • Standing broad-jump, 100 feet.
    Do three Burpees after every five broad-jumps.

Did this in a field next to the school and measured out 100 feet with a tape measure. Was starting to heat up so hurried to get it over with. Finished in 9:23, besting the 10:16 from a year ago. Big difference being able to go 100 feet straight Instead of looping back and forth on 25 feet. I only had to do 6 burpees each round.

This was the first WOD where I felt normal since the Tough Mudder.

Around 3pm I jumped on the Air Dyne for some intervals. Warmed up with 5:00 easy first. This is another form of MAP.

10 Rounds

  • 30s @ 90-95%
  • 30s @ 50%

At high intensity I was going 90+ rpm and 45-50 at low intensity. Racked up 286 calories and 3.5 miles.

After golfing 9 holes with Dad (we ride due to heat), I went out for a sled drag after 8pm. Only loaded 125# because the 10# bumpers were on the bar and I didn’t feel like messing with it. Went 0.58 miles in 17:03 with only a short water break at the turnaround point. Was much easier than a couple days ago.

Vacation Monday

Does a vacation officially start before this first week day? I never work weekends anyway. Legs are feeling a little sluggish from yesterday. Went to bed at 10 because I was exhausted from all of the sun and 3 training sessions. Still have night sweats though.

Jumped on the AD2 just after 7am.

  • 5:00 warmup
  • Reverse Tabata (8 rounds)
    • 10s Sprint
    • 20s Rest
  • 5:00 cool down

My best calories for a regular Tabata was 77 and I got 107 here, which is another one in the books confirming the AD6 is much harder to rack up calories on. Nice workout for being so quick. I really like switching up interval periods. Hopefully it pays off.

Around noon I setup for the big training session of the day.

Warm-up

4x

  • 50m Run
  • 50m Run backwards

2x

  • 20 Good Mornings (green)
  • 20/20 band walk (red)
  • 10 press band (red)
  • 10 band pull aparts (red)

Strength

Shoulder Press

  • 5 @ 75#
  • 5 @ 85#
  • 5 @ 95#
  • 5 @ 105
  • 5 @ 135
  • ME @ 145 (3)

WOD

A little max aerobic power (MAP) training in the hot sun. Object is to go at 80%. Three minutes of rest between each AMRAP.

3:00 AMRAP

  • 135# Bear

8

3:00 AMRAP

  • 10 Front Rack walking lunges 135#
  • 8 OTB burpees

2 full rounds

3:00 AMRAP

  • 10 HR push-ups
  • 15 Russian KBS 53#

3 full rounds

3:00 AMRAP

  • 6 OHS 95#
  • 12 sit-ups

2+3

3:00 AMRAP

  • 5 thruster 95#
  • 10 sumo deadlift high pull 53#

2+12

Much harder than expected!

Air Dyne for Breakfast and Sled for Dinner

Sleeping better each night because the night sweats are slowly disappearing.

Started the morning with “Air Dyne Hell” at about 8:20.

  • 5:00 warmup
  • 10 Rounds
    • 15s @ 100%
    • 1:45 Rest
  • 5:00 cool down

Did 419 cal and went 4.45 miles. The AD2 seems much easier or has a different way of counting calories because I did about 230cal by myself in the interval portion and Kevin and I combined only got in the 280s on the AD6.

Worked on some snatching before lunch.
30:00 E3M

  • High hang snatch
  • Hang snatch
  • High hang snatch
  • Hang snatch

Had 95# loaded on the bar and used lifting straps to stay connected. I’ve always had a lot of trouble meeting my hips from the hang, but I hit every single rep today! Here’s a video of the last set.

Before dinner it was time for more sweating.

10 Rounds NFT

  • 10 Deadlifts (185#)
  • 50m Sprint
  • 50m Walk back

After every two rounds I took an extra little break to drink some water. Solid little WOD.

A few minutes after I went out for a sled drag. Loaded it up with standard 135#, going 0.68 miles in 19:03. I paused RunKeeper at the turnaround point but didn’t pause during the two breaks on the way back. Not going to lie…that was rough! Didn’t help that I was actually going a little uphill on the way back.

Open Gym Friday

Headed in at 5:15pm today for a long spaced out session. Feeling pretty good after the last few days.

Warm-up

  • 450m Run
  • PVC pass-thrus
  • DU

I got streaks of 40+, 70+, and 60+. Ordered the thinner cable from Rx, so I’m excited to see if it fatigues my shoulders less.

Conditioning

Easy 20:00 row. My pace was between 2:15 and 2:20/500m pretty much the whole way and about 20spm. Made it 4,420 meters and felt good.

Olympic Lifting

Warmed up with some C&J at 135#.

5:00 EMOM

  • Squat C&J (185#)

Rest 3:00

5:00 EMOM

  • Squat C&J (205#)

I was planning to do another round with 225#, but at the end of the 205# reps I could tell I was starting to hit a wall. Just not anywhere close to being back to myself yet, so I shut it down there and did a couple sets of back squats.

Strength

Back Squats

2 Sets of 5 with 205#

Strongman / Road Work

Laura, Brent, Kevin, Ellen, Casey, and I did a big circuit. Just kept moving, nothing too intense.

2 Rounds

  • 150m Sled Drag (135#)
  • Plank (while partner does sled drag)
  • 150m Wheelbarrow Push (200# first round, 230# second round)
  • 10/10 DB Curls
  • 150m Prowler Walk (210#)
  • Grip Twist with a 5# plate hanging on it

We paired up the push/pull with a stationary movement and paired up in teams. Each team did both movements in the pairing and then rotated to the next spot. Took us about 30 minutes to finish

The Road Back

I made it through 2 naps today without any sweats, so figured I could get back in the gym. Went it at 8pm for open gym.

Warm-up

  • 450m Run
  • PVC pass-thrus
  • Banded Good Mornings (green)

Strength

Warmed up with 5 deadlifts at 135#, 5 Pendlay rows at 115#, 5 deadlifts at 225#, 5 Pendlay rows at 135#, and 3 deadlifts at 315#.

10:00 EMOM

  • Odds: 3 Deadlifts
  • Evens: 5 Pendlay Rows

The plan was to use 85% of 1RM for the deadlifts, so I threw 385# on the bar and used 145# for the Pendlay Rows. Got through the first round and the first deadlift of round 2, but had to drop weight. Went down to 345# the rest of the way, which was plenty hard enough. I need to get back into deadlifting more. Being sick has some to do with being weak, but my body just isn’t used to the weight either.

5×3 OHS

  • 3 @ 95#
  • 3 @ 125#
  • 3 @ 145#
  • 2 @ 165#
  • 2 @ 165#

Ugh, so frustrating! Nowhere near my 3 rep max and I failed on it in two attempts.

Core

5 Rounds NFT

  • ME Ring L-hold (knees up)
  • 10 V-ups

Felt pretty good on these but could tell I was getting a little tired. It’s hard, but I have to realize it’s probably going to take a week or two to get myself back to pre-MudCrud fitness.

Take It Easy

Doctor thinks I have bronchitis, maybe with a touch of pneumonia. The chest x-ray at the ER last week was clear for pneumonia, but he said I could still have it or have developed it since then. I got a shot of penicillin in my ass, an antibiotic (which will help bronchitis and pneumonia), cough syrup, and a cream for the rash on my leg. Hopefully this all clears up before I go on vacation Saturday.

Decided I better take it easy until the night sweats go away, because they are a sign by body is trying to fight something off. Also don’t want to spread my germs all around the box at SF.

Jumped on the Air Dyne in the garage tonight though and went for 20 minutes at a steady pace. 467 calories and 10.81km, averaging just under a pace of 70 rpm. Felt good!

Know When to Fold ’em

Still not getting a full night of sleep and night sweats seem to be getting worse. Going to see my Doctor this afternoon and hopefully figure out what is wrong with me. Went it at 10am to workout with Kevin and Ellen.

Warm-up

  • 500m Row
  • 2/2 World’s Greatest Stretch
  • Various other stretching

Strength

Hadn’t done Super Squats in nearly two weeks, but today was the day to get back on it. With a week off I decided it made sense to still go up 10#. Warmed up with 10 @ 45#, 5 @ 135#, 3 @ 185#, and 3 @ 225#. Took a nice rest and then went for it with 255#. Right out of the gate, I could tell the reps were way too hard. I started leading with my ass, sort of doing some type of good morning squat. I got through 8 reps, and then coming out of the hole on the 9th, I decided to bail before I got hurt. Dropped to 225# and did a set of 5 for some extra work.

Disappointing, but not surprising with the week I’ve had. I should have been smarter and maybe went for 235#.

Did 3 sets of 20 pullovers after with 45# dumbbells. I’ve been using a 60#, but didn’t think that would be a good idea.

Core

3 Rounds (NFT)

  • 10 Evil Wheels
  • 45s/45s Side Plank

It’s been so long since I’ve done side planks I don’t even remember.

Conditioning

1/2 Mile Sled Drag/Pull (135#)

I did half walking forward dragging the sled behind, and half walking backwards pulling it along. At the gym it’s 6 laps, so I alternated each lap.

Heading to the Doctor this afternoon to hopefully figure out what’s wrong with me. Just want to get back to normal.

Monday Blues

These damn night sweats are killing me. Can’t get a decent night of sleep. Canceled golfing early this morning because of the lack of sleep, but went in at 10am to train. Kevin had to bail for work after the shoulder presses, but Ellen stuck around and did everything with me.

Warm-up

  • 450m Run
  • PVC Pass-thrus

Strength

Shoulder Press

  • 5 x 45% Training Max (1:00 Rest)
  • 5 x 55% (1:00)
  • 5 x 65% (1:00)
  • 5 x 75% (2:00)
  • 3 x 85% (3:00)
  • ME x 95%

* Training Max is 90% of 1RM.

I based my numbers off my 165# shoulder press. The percentages were a bit goofy, but I ended up using 75#, 85#, 95#, 110#, 125#, and then 140#. I managed to get 5 reps on that last set. Tried to get a 6th, but just didn’t have it.

HSPU

10:00 EMOM

  • 5 Hard HSPU

I went with 25# plates for a deficit. Had to switch to kipping in the 5th round and then ran out of gas, only able to get 4-3-3 in the last 3 rounds. Shows how weak I am now because a few weeks ago I did all 10 rounds.

WOD

5 Rounds

  • 20 DU
  • 10 Pull-ups
  • 10 KBS (62# KB)

Don’t have the gas I’m used to having. Way too much resting. Was only able to get the first round of pull-ups unbroken. Finished in 8:12.

Finisher

5 Bent Over Prowler Drags Between Legs, about 25m down and 25m back. I used 225#, 240#, 255#, 270#, and 300#.

Solid session. I can feel myself coming back each day, so hopefully I’m back to normal by the weekend when I’m heading on vacation, because I plan on doing 2-3 workouts a day and becoming a metcon monster for that week.

Dive Back In

I started to feel so much better last night after going to hang out for the fireworks in Bay City. Feeling pretty decent today too, so went in to workout with Kevin and Ellen at 3pm.

Warm-up

  • 3:00 Air Dyne
  • 20/20 Band Walks (purple)
  • 10 Band Presses (purple)
  • 10/10 Flamingos
  • Squat Hold

Strength

I wanted to get in some light squats to easy my legs back into things and hopefully get back on track for Super Squats this week.

2-3-X-1 Tempo, 90 seconds between sets

  • 5 @ 45# to warm-up
  • 5 @ 105#
  • 5 @ 120#
  • 5 @ 135#
  • 5 @ 165#
  • 5 @ 180#

Wow, was it humid in the box today. I was sweating buckets after only a few sets. These weren’t particularly easy or hard, so solid work for me coming back. Three seconds in the hole is deceiving and I recommend everyone try some. You can’t use the bounce to come back up at all, so it’s all drive.

WOD

10:00 EMOM

  • Odds: 20 Wall Balls (20# MB, 10′ target)
  • Evens: 10 Over the Box Jumps (28″)

Did all of the wall balls unbroken without any trouble. Was a bit wiped out for the box jumps though, which is my specialty, so you know I’m still fatigued.

Conditioning

1/2 Mile Sled Drag (135#)

Stopped for water every 2 laps (1/3 of the way). Should have maybe mixed in some backwards pulling, but just wanted to keep going.

Finisher

10:00 Row

Nice and slow. I think I was at 16-17 spm most of the way. Not trying to kill myself, just sweat and get the heart beating.

Was there about 2 hours and felt so much better than the “Hope” WOD yesterday. I bet I lot at least a few pounds through sweating, so tried to keep drinking water.