Month: July 2014

Survive

2014-07-19-weight-chartWhen I woke up yesterday I was glad it was a rest day from training. Walked 18 holes of golf. Shoulders are feeling a little sore in the front. Hit a class at Survival Fitness for the first time in over 3 weeks. Saturday at 10am is always good for a partner WOD. My weight continues to drop (check the chart) with clean eating and cooking all of my meals. I’m feeling great too! Today will be a cheat/refeed day though because I’m going to the Survival Fitness Luau to drink some beer and eat all kinds of food. Should be a fun day, but that means DO WORK first!

Warm-up

  • 10->1 Russian KBS (53#)
  • 1->10 Burpees

Strength

1RM Thruster

  • 2×95#
  • 1×135#
  • 1×165#
  • 1×185#
  • 1×205#
  • 1×225#
  • 1×240# (PR)

I could have sworn I did 235# before but it was 225#, which I found out when I got home and looked at my logs. 15# PR! Pretty soon my thruster will be the same as my C&J, which is pathetic.

Conditioning

14:00 Partner AMRAP

  • 3-6-9… Thrusters (95#)
  • 3-6-9… C2B Pull-ups

* One partner does both movements and then rests while the other person goes.

I paired up with Joe, who did every round of C2B unbroken! Fucker didn’t barely give me any rest. I started us off and got through 18 thrusters and 14 of the 18 C2B pull-ups. Rounds of 3-6-9 thrusters were unbroken, then 7-5, 6-5-4, and 7-6-5. Pretty much kept C2B in sets of 3 with the exception of the round of 6 and did 5 to start my last round. Need to figure out why I lose my kip on C2B but not on other pull-ups.

Sat around at home and then at noon it was back out in the garage.

  • 10×45# Back Squats
  • 5×45# Shoulder Presses
  • 5×135# Back Squats
  • 5×95# Shoulder Presses
  • 3×205# Back Squats
  • 3×115# Shoulder Presses
  • 10:00 EMOM
    • Odds: 5×255# Back Squats
    • Evens: 5×130# Shoulder Presses

IMG_4771

I’d already have squats and presses planned, but was second guessing it after the SF class workout with the thrusters. Decided to dial back the squats a bit from the 275# I had planned and go for it. Sucked, but made it through all of the reps.

Loaded up the sled (25#) with 75# of bumpers and took off around the neighborhood. Went 1.04 miles in 22:22. I fucking hate the pavement on these streets. Makes it feel twice as heavy as it is.

Mini Cindy

Still feeling the effects of “Annie” on my core. Have been getting solid sleep lately and starting eating clean last Friday. Dropped 6 pounds already, down to 194#. I’d love to get back to under 190, which is golden for my conditioning.

Warm-up

  • Crossover Symmetry Activation
  • Dynamic Toe Touches
  • 5 Inch Worms to Cobra
  • Zombie Kicks
  • 6×155# Deadlifts
  • 2 Box Jumps (30″)
  • 6×245# Deadlifts
  • 1 Box Jump (36″)

XWOD

  • 6-6-6-6-6-6 Deadlifts (335#)
  • 2-1-2-1-2-1 Box Jumps
    • 2s: 36″
    • 1s: 40″

Should have pushed it higher in weight and box height.

Conditioning

3 Rounds

  • 3:00 “Cindy”
    • 5 Pull-ups
    • 10 Push-ups
    • 15 Air Squats
  • 1:30 Rest

We started each 3:00 where we left off the last one. I got exactly 4 rounds the first time through, 3 rounds plus 5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, and 8 air squats the next time, and finally 7 air squats, 3 rounds, and 5 pull-ups. Push-ups started to go at the end of the second 3 minutes. They always get me.

We jogged an easy mile right after.

Another afternoon workout in the garage. Warmed up with Crossover Symmetry Activation.

3 Rounds

  • MAX Strict HSPU

I got 7-7-5. According to my records, over 2 years ago I got 10, but I tip the scales 20 pounds heavier these days. Not like I don’t know that overhead pressing is a weakness of mine though.

3 Rounds

  • MAX L-Sit on parallettes

Also a weakness. Not even true l-sits, but my feet were off the ground. I managed 14-21-15 seconds.

2,000m SkiErg

The fun part! First time trying long distance for time. From some rough comparisons with rowing I figured a pace of 2:10/500m would be a good place to start. That went out the window 5 seconds in after a 2:06-ish felt pretty good. I finished in 8:26.2 with 500m splits of 2:07.1, 2:07.0, 2:07.4, and 2:04.7 with a stroke rate of 35 for each split, so very consistent. I picked up the pace in the last 150m, which seemed like it should have gotten me more than a few seconds! Something to shoot for next time I guess.

4 Rounds

  • 30s Hollow Hold on hands/feet
  • 30s Rest

Wow! These were a bitch after the other stuff. They seemed pretty easy when I did them at SF before.

Finished up with Crossover Symmetry Iron Scap.

Punch to the Gut

As expected I can feel the 150 sit-ups from “Annie” yesterday. She always gives me DOMS in the abs. In to CFi for the 9am class. Got Crossover Symmetry Activation done before class started.

Warm-up

3 Rounds

  • 300m Row
  • 1:00+ Bottom Squat Hold (while someone else rows)

Skill

4 Rounds NFT

  • 3 Wall Walks + 10s Handstand Hold w/ each
  • 5 Push-ups

OMG, I worked up a sweat like it was a metcon. Wall walks are so deceiving.

Conditioning

  • 1:00 Box Jumps (31″)
  • 1:00 Rest
  • 1:00 Thrusters (75#)
  • 1:00 Rest
  • 1:00 Burpee Over the Box Jumps (31″)
  • 1:00 Rest
  • 1:00 Thrusters (75#)
  • 1:00 Rest
  • 1:00 Air Squats

I did 21 box jumps, 20 thrusters, 10 burpee box jumps, 15 thrusters (horrible), and 43 air squats. Never put the bar down during the thrusters. In the first round of them I held in the rack position for a couple of breaks and in the second one I even put it on my back a couple of times. Those air squats were a hell of a burn in the last 20 seconds.

Midline

3 Rounds

  • 20 Russian Twists (53# KB)
  • 45s Plank

Pushing myself with the 53# KB is making them a lot easier. I used to always go for something in the 30-40# range.

Knocked out Crossover Symmetry Plyometrics before leaving the box.

Took an afternoon break around 4pm for a garage workout. Warmed up with 3 minutes of jumping rope.

Cleans

Every 90 seconds a new set started:

  • 3×95#
  • 3×115#
  • 2×135#
  • 2×155#
  • 2×185#
  • 1×205#
  • 1×225#
  • 1×235#
  • 4x1x245#

12 sets total. I really like using the clock for pacing rest time when weightlifting, otherwise it can drag on for longer than it needs to. Made every lift. Those singles at 245# are over 94% of my 1RM. Getting more confident up in that range with the 235# singles EMOM on Saturday and this work today. I hope to continue it. Obviously I’m well below my potential max since I don’t really ever miss below 95%. Fucking mental game!

Just look how high I’m under the bar with those weights at the end. Well above parallel. I’m excited to keep working it and see the XWODs pay off too.

Conditioning

3 Rounds

  • 3:00 Air Dyne (AD2)
  • 2:00 Rest

Went out way too hard in the first round and fell off before a minute was up. Had much better pacing in the 2nd and 3rd intervals. Racked up 123, 113, and 116 calories.

Unbroken

Was definitely fatigued yesterday after all of the training on the weekend. Walked 18 holes on the golf course though. In to CFi early this morning to max out the shoulder press. Started off with Crossover Symmetry Activation.

Shoulder Press

  • 8×75#
  • 5×95#
  • 3×115#
  • 1×135#
  • 1×150#
  • 1×165#
  • Fail 172.5#
  • Fail 170#

Damn! Matched my PR from last May and it felt pretty good. I was expecting more after the Smolov Jr. cycle, but I guess I have to remember that I went 3-4 months without working my shoulders. Maybe after vacation I’ll do another cycle.

Warm-up

  • 15 Russian KBS (44# KB)
  • 5 Burpees
  • 10x CS ATYT
  • 4×135# Pendlay Rows
  • Kneeling Jump to 45# plate
  • 4×165# Pendlay Rows
  • Kneeling Jump to 2×45# plates

XWOD

  • 4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4 Pendlay Rows (185#)
  • 2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1 Kneeling Jumps
    • 2s: 2×45# plates
    • 1s: 2×45# + 35# plates

Shoulders and upper back are getting stronger. I used to struggle with this weight. Need to step it up more the next time I do the kneeling jumps.

Conditioning

5 Rounds

  • 8 Deadlifts (225#)
  • 8 Burpees
  • 8 Pull-ups

Everything unbroken to finish in 6:44. Pull-ups are improving a lot with the shoulder work and focus on body positioning. Need to get up the speed of the burpees when fatigued though.

When I got home I took a bit and then back out in the garage for some quick work.

“Annie”
50-40-30-20-10

  • Double Unders
  • Sit-ups

Anchored my feet under 50# DBs and tried to set my area so I wouldn’t be sliding back so much on the sit-ups, but that still happened. I finally got through this bitch without missing a DU and it made a big difference, giving me a 27 second PR with 6:28. If I’m going to get better I have to figure out how to do sit-ups without sliding backwards. By the time I get around 15 reps I have to move the AbMat back up and probably waste a second each time I do that. Really happy about this PR!

Did Crossover Symmetry Iron Scap.

Later in the day I felt like getting in some intervals. Warmed up with 500m on the skierg in 2:34.

10 Rounds

  • 30s @ 90%
  • 30s @ 75%

* % based on 500m PR pace (90% is 2:03 and 70% is 2:38 for me)

My pacing was consistent through each half. Went 1,098m in the first 5:00 and 1,100m in the last 5:00 with an average pace around 2:16/500m. I was actually kind of hard to go as slow as a 2:38 unless I was doing just about nothing, so I was usually more in the low 2:30 range on the low intensity intervals.

New Toy

Yesterday afternoon I put up another sheet of panel board in the garage and installed my new Concept2 SkiErg. Isn’t she pretty?

ski-erg

I thought so, until I used it this morning. Out in the garage around 8am for the first training session of the day. Started with Crossover Symmetry Activation.

SkiErg

  • 1,000m Warm-up (5:14)
  • 2:00 Rest
  • Max effort intervals
    • 60m (0:13)
    • 2:00 Rest
    • 60m (0:13)
    • 2:00 Rest
    • 100m (0:21.5)
    • 2:00 Rest
    • 100m (0:21.1)
    • 2:00 Rest
    • 150m (0:31.6)
    • 2:00 Rest
    • 150m (0:30.8)
    • 3:00 Rest
    • 150m (0:30.7)
    • 3:00 Rest
    • 200m (0:41.0)
    • 3:00 Rest
    • 500m (1:50.8)

Although this is programmed as a continuous series of intervals, it really should be treated as 2 sections. The 1st 3 intervals (2×60, 2×100, 1×150) and the 2nd 3 intervals (1×150, 1×200, 1×500). The 1st intervals are short and very explosive efforts that will recruit your fast twitch muscle fibers. The 2nd 3 intervals are all gearing up to that final 500m max effort. The final 3 intervals are focused on creating endurance while your fast twitch fibers are fatigued.

Holy shit! The skierg smokes your arms, especially the biceps. Walked 0.43 miles around the block to cool down.

Midline

10:00 EMOM

  • 10 Hollow Rocks
  • 10 Superman Rocks

Did them back to back, so had about 30-35 seconds of rest after the reps.

Kicked back and rested until noon, when it was back out to the garage. Started with Crossover Symmetry Activation again and then did an easy 5:00 on the Air Dyne.

IMG_4746EMOM

  • Odds: 3 Weighted Chin-ups (increasing weight each round)
  • Evens: 2 Strict Pause Ring Dips (unweighted, 2s pause)

* Continue until failure at one movement and then do max reps for one final set with the other movement.

I started the chin-ups with 10# on the belt and went up 5# every round. Only managed 1 at 60#, but even the 3rd with 55# probably was a bit short if anyone had been watching. So that was 10 sets of 3 before failure. I managed to get 6 dips on the max round at the end to total 26 strict pause ring dips. Those were a nice challenge.

Warmed up my front squats with 10×45#, 5×135#, 3×185#, and 3×205#.

E3M

  • 2-2-2-2-2 — Front Squats (225#, 33X1 Tempo)
  • 2-1-2-1-2 — Standing Jump & Reach (both hands)

The movements were back to back, so after racking the bar, I walked out to the driveway and jumped up to touch the rim (basketball hoop) as high as I could. Maybe should have put on the weight vest for the single jumps.

Finished with a moderate paced 10:00 on Air Dyne for 242 cal and then Crossover Symmetry Plyometrics.

Muscle-up Triples

Walked 18 holes on the golf course yesterday and seemed to tweak my right elbow on one of the swings. In at 9am and then oversaw the 10am class since Kevin is out of town. Was at the gym for 3 hours. Started with Crossover Symmetry Activation.

Snatch

  • 45# Position Work
  • 3×75#
  • 3×95#
  • 2×115#
  • E30S 3:00 – 1×135#
  • EMOM 5:00 – 1×155#

Couple of sketchy ones for #3 and #4 with 155#, but no misses. Took everything down into the squat.

Clean

  • 2×155#
  • 2×175#
  • 2×195#
  • EMOM 3:00 – 1×215#
  • EMOM 5:00 – 1×235#

Felt great and super easy. 235# is 90% of my max and I’m never really in danger of missing it. Just shows how much more I have.

Back Squat

  • 5×135#
  • 5×165#
  • 3×195#
  • 3×225#
  • 3×260#
  • 3+ x290#

Got 9 reps with 290, which is an estimated max of 376.

EMOM 10:00

  • Odds: 3 MU
  • Evens: 5 GHRs

The most unbroken muscle-ups I’ve done is 3, so making all 5 sets felt awesome. I’m still terrible at GHRs.

IMG_4738

Sled drag

Loaded 180# on the 38# sled.

  • 25m down & 25m back
  • 140m Lap
  • 140m Lap
  • 25m down & 25m back

Took a minute or two rest between each portion. Finished with Crossover Symmetry Iron Scap, using the blue and purple bands.

Jump! Jump!

Ugh!! My shoulder got a little sticky yesterday. Felt it reaching for the garage door button in the Jeep and it definitely sticks when I go through the 90/90 movement. Must be those damn dumbbell snatches! Hopefully it doesn’t get worse or persist.

Feeling those GHDs for sure today. Went in early to get my presses done before the 9am class. Started with Crossover Symmetry Activation.

Shoulder Press

  • 10×45#
  • 5×95#
  • 3×115#
  • 2×135#
  • 10x3x145#

BOOM! Finished off the 3 week Smolov Jr. cycle. I’m so glad I decided to bump up the weights a little more for week 3. I don’t think I’ve ever done more than 145# for a triple, so this was huge. I was planning to take 3+ minutes of rest between sets but did about 1:45-2:00 for 8 and then not much more for the final 2. Thankfully I didn’t have any issues with the shoulder.

Did a little jump rope to warm up the legs since everyone else was already warming up on the rowers and I was late to the party.

Warmed up deadlifts with 4×155#, 2×245#, 2×315#, and 2×365#.

XWOD

  • 2-2-2-2-2-2 Deadlifts (385#)
  • 2-1-2-1-2-1 PVC Jump Course
    • Heights were 12-14-18-24-30-42″

IMG_4733

I guess it’s roughly another inch for each to clear the PVC or dowel. A few times I got off my timing or spacing and bailed before jumping the last one. Those were fun!

Conditioning

  • 10-8-6-4-2 Russian KBS (62# KB)
  • 10-8-6-4-2 Burpees
  • Run 2 laps (~250m)

We did everything outside. Perfect day for it. Finished in 8:22.

My arms haven’t felt this dead in a long long time. Glad to be getting a massage this afternoon and a golf day tomorrow.

Knotted Up

Woke up out of it and still wasn’t quite awake when I got to the box.

Warm-up

3 Rounds of “Cindy” NFT

  • 5 Pull-ups
  • 10 Push-ups
  • 15 Air Squats

I did all strict pull-ups and a chin-up grip for the 2nd round.

Skill

E90S 15:00 (10x)

  • Rope Climb (13′)

Really getting the “hang” of it. Noticing these are going to be really good for grip strength as well as some extra biceps and triceps work.

Conditioning

10:00 AMRAP

  • 10 Box Jumps (24″)
  • 12 DB Snatches (40#)
  • 14 K2E

All step downs from the box and I went 6 in a row with each arm for the snatches. Started out with 5-5-4 for K2E, but was down to 5-4-3-2 in the last couple of rounds. Finished exactly 5 rounds just as time ran out.

Midline

4 Rounds

  • 20s Hollow Hold
  • 20s Rest
  • 20s Russian Twists (53# KB)
  • 20s Rest

I stuck around for some extra work.

10 Rounds NFT

  • 10 GHD Sit-ups
  • 10 Back Extensions

Did each round quick, but took my time in between. Focused on explosiveness with each rep. Nice burn after the other midline stuff.

Fresh For Press

Really needed the day out of the gym yesterday. Walked 18 holes of golf and shot my best round of the year. 🙂

In to the 9am at CFi. Did CS Activation and then worked with Kevin trying to get him doing a kipping muscle-up. I probably did 5 MU or so to demonstrate.

Warm-up

  • 10x Squat to Stand Hold
  • 8 Snow Angels
  • 10x CS ATYT
  • 4x15s Hollow Hold
  • Shoulder Presses
    • 5×45#
    • 5×95#
    • 3×115#

XWOD

  • 4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4 Shoulder Presses (137.5#)
  • 2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1 Push-ups
    • 2s: Clapping
    • 1s: Plyo on to three 45s + 35 stack of bumpers

Nailed all 8 sets! One more day and the Smolov Jr. cycle will be complete. My shoulders felt fresh after the day off.

Skill

DU Practice

I did a set of 50 and a set of 102.

Conditioning

3 Rounds

  • 50 DU
  • 21 Russian KBS (62#)
  • 9 Pull-ups

First round of DU was unbroken but I screwed up once in the other two sets. Kettlebell swings and pull-ups (kipping) were all unbroken. Finished in 4:55. Did Crossover Symmetry Recovery when I got home.

In the evening…

Warmed up with some band pulls, 45# snatch position work, and 45# snatch presses. Did a couple of muscle snatches with 40kg and some snatch presses too. Then I started doing snatches. I have no idea how many reps I did at each weight though. Some I did one single and others I did a couple singles. Everything was a power snatch. Around 65-70kg I missed a bunch and then they got easier when I added weight after getting frustrated. Pretty sure the weights I got were 50-55-60-65-70-75-78-80-82-80. One attempt at 84, but was a miss and didn’t feel very good, so I dropped to end on a make.

Back Squat

  • 5×135#
  • 5×165#
  • 3×195#
  • 5×215#
  • 5×245#
  • 5+ x275# (got 11)

I was thinking about starting a Smolov Jr. cycle, but I’m going on vacation in less than 3 weeks so wouldn’t be able to finish. I’ll just take some squat sessions from 5/3/1 on extra squat days for the next couple of weeks, which is where this came from. The max set is a fun mental test.

Back to Back to Back

When you drink alcohol you are just borrowing happiness from tomorrow.

Went over to Survival Fitness Bay City for beering, grilling, and fireworks last night. Didn’t drink much but stomach was rolling a bit through the morning and I had to take a couple of naps. Trained with Kevin and Brandi at 5pm. Started off with Crossover Symmetry Activation.

Shoulder Presses

  • 10×45#
  • 5×95#
  • 5×115#
  • 7x5x130#

Phew! Went up 7.5# over week 2’s day 2. Hardest struggle I’ve had yet. Glad tomorrow is a rest day.

To warm up snatches I did 2 muscle snatches with 95#, 2 power snatches with 115#, and 2 power snatches with 135#.

Conditioning

  • 3 Rounds
    • 3 Snatches (use 70% of 1RM, same bar for all 3 couplets)
    • 6 Burpee Box Jumps (30/24″)
  • 4 Rounds
    • 6 Front Squats
    • 12 T2B
  • 5 Rounds
    • 9 Deadlifts
    • 27 DU

This is an original I came up with yesterday. No rest between couplets. I used 145# and finished in 15:37. My T2B held me back a lot. I could definitely feel the fatigue in my hips from all of the MU yesterday. This would be nice at 75%, especially if you hadn’t been out drinking.

Did Crossover Symmetry Iron Scap when I got home.