400

I can feel a little pull or tightness in my back, but doesn’t seem like I tweaked it yesterday. Was out in the garage after 10:30.

Warm-up

3:00 Airdyne

Went a little faster each minute. Ended up with 90 cals and 1.82 km.

Year of the Engine – Time Trial

10:00 Airdyne (aka 300 FY)

My PR was 387 calories during month three of the program, so it’s been a while. Following previous strategies I started out hot for the first minute and then tried to settle in, holding 85 RPMs through the middle. Mentally it gets hard after 5 minutes. Then I try to pick the pace back up for the last 90 seconds and keep pushing harder each 30 seconds if I can. A couple of years ago when I first went over 350 calories I wondered if 400 was possible and today I hit it exactly! That’s a big 13 calorie PR. The distance was 6.97 km.

10-min-airdyne-history.png

Year of the Engine – Endurance

32:00 Run

After recovering for about 30 minutes I went out to run. I went 3.19 miles and definitely did not hold a steady pace.

2019-08-31-run-pace

According to WHOOP, my heart rate was perfectly in zones 2-3 and according to my Garmin watch, I was getting in to zone 4 near the end of the run.

Where Did That Come From?

I walked 18 holes yesterday. My biceps and lats are still sore from Tuesday. The muscle-ups on Wednesday may have contributed to that too. Out in the garage before lunch. Warmed up with a two minute row for 520 meters.

Year of the Engine – Rocket Race

18 Rounds

  • 15s Row
  • 45s Rest

This is the start of phase 3, differentiation, where we work on speed and power, now that we’ve built up a solid capacity. Looking forward to an even better engine!

There were some 20 second intervals in phase one with 1:40 rests, so I wasn’t sure what kind of pace to go for these. I thought 1:26-1:28/500m might be good, but was worried about the short rest. Since there is a minimum interval time of 20 seconds on my rower I set it for 20/40, didn’t use the first interval, and waited until there was 16 seconds left before I grabbed for the handle each time. This makes the average pace and stroke rate useless though. My meters were:

82-84-85-83-86-88-86-86-87-
88-86-87-87-87-87-87-88-88

As you can see it took several intervals to get a feel for the short time duration. After finding myself, I was hitting 1:21-1:23 by the fourth pull and holding it. Using the pace calculator, 86-88 meters would be an average pace of 1:25.2-1:27.2, so I was pretty close with my guess. On BTWB I saw a guy, who I consistently beat on every other type of interval, post an average of 107 meters for this. Come on buddy, that would be an average pace of 1:10/500m!!! Not a chance. If I started at the beginning of the 20 second intervals, stopped at 15, and included the rollover meters I would have done that, so that’s probably what he did.

Went to the 4pm class.

Warm-up

  • 16 cal Assault Bike
  • 2 Rounds
    • 20 PVC Passes
    • 8 DB Shoulder Presses (25#)
    • 10 Ring Rows

Strength

Shoulder Press

  • 5×45#
  • 5×95
  • 5×115
  • 3×135
  • 1×150
  • 1×160
  • 1×170
  • 1×180

Going in I was hoping to hit 165 pounds because I haven’t done much shoulder pressing in the last two years. Basically since I hit my all-time best of 185 I haven’t had an estimated max come close to that, as you can see below.

last-2-years-shoulder-presses.png

I have no idea where this 180 lift came from, but it sure was a nice surprise. Must be a lot of carry-over from the bench program. That last rep may have gotten my back though, with over-extension, even though it went up pretty smooth. Should have wore my belt! Hopefully I’m ok when I wake up tomorrow.

Conditioning

E3M – 6 Rounds

  • 10 Push Jerks (115#)
  • 10 Pull-Ups
  • 10 Handstand Push-Ups
  • 10 Power Cleans (115#)

We did something very similar almost 4 months ago and it wrecked me because I increased the reps by one each round! It was jerks, t2b, hand power cleans, and HSPU. Today actually had SDLHP, so I subbed in power cleans since I’m not risking a shoulder impingement on that stupid movement. This time instead of cutting back to 95# and increasing the reps by 1 each round I stuck to the Rx weight.

My goal was to do everything unbroken. I didn’t even come close! After 3 rounds I took the tens off and was down to 95#, just in time to start round 4. Then I was off pace the rest of the way. I was able to do every set of pull-ups unbroken, but the quick turn-around from jerks to HSPU is what really got me. They were so slow and then I had to start breaking them up in the 3rd or 4th round. I did a whole bunch of singles on the cleans because I was so blown. I kept going to finish my full 6 rounds after the clock, so it was probably 19:00-19:30. I should have gone 95# the whole way like last time.

Ten Without a Problem

My biceps and lats are sore from yesterday. Out in the garage during lunch.

Year of the Engine – Polarized

45:00 Airdyne
** Endurance with 7s sprint @ 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42

I did 1,240 calories and 26.26 km on my AD2.

2019-08-28-airdyne-hr

That wraps up the second phase (polarization) of the program. I really enjoyed the polarized workouts and am glad to see some of them continue in the next phase. I made it through the first 24 weeks of the program and can’t wait to see what progress comes during the next phase.

Went to the 4pm class.

Warm-up

  • 3 Sets
    • 10 Reverse Hypers (160#)
  • 400m Run
  • 2 Rounds
    • 10 PVC Good Mornings
    • 10 Lunges
    • 5 Ring Rows
    • 5 Inch Worms

Strength & Gymnastics

Deadlift

  • 10×45#
  • 10×115
  • 10×165
  • 10×195

3×10 Bar Muscle-ups

After the dumbbell snatches and box jumps my back was tight from yesterday, so definitely wasn’t pushing deadlifts today. There was an option to do muscle-ups in between sets, so I focused on those instead. I’ve never tried more than 6 before so it seemed like a good day to go for it. I got three unbroken sets of 10 without a problem, which in my new max set. I bet I can get 15+.

Conditioning

  • 2 Rounds
    • 20 cal Assault Bike
    • 20 cal Row
    • 20 Front Rack Lunges (115#)
  • 15 cal Assault Bike
  • 15 cal Row
  • 10 Front Rack Lunges (135#)
  • 15 cal Echo Bike
  • 15 cal Row
  • 10 Front Rack Lunges (135#)

So in reality it was 2 rounds of the second part as well, but the Assault bike was in use when I got there so I finished out on the Echo. Looks like the Echo knocks out the calories quicker. Noted for future workouts! I started out hotter on the first row and was able to keep over a 1,200 cal/hr pace on them all and pushed that last one extra to give myself time to finish under the 15:00 cap. Barely got it, in 14:59! I never dropped the bar during any of the lunge sets.

Back in the Gym After a Lot of Golf

It was a fun golf weekend and then I walked 18 holes yesterday as well to play four days in a row. Should have exercised yesterday instead because I couldn’t string together good shots! Out in the garage during lunch today.

No B.S. Bench Press

  • 9×45#
  • 6×95
  • 6×135
  • 3×175
  • 3×205
  • 3×225
  • 5x3x240

Haven’t got in a workout from the program since last Sunday, but did get a little benching in during a metcon least week. This second cycle doesn’t seem to be progressing as well, which may have something to do with my inconsistent training lately because of so much golfing. Today’s working sets should have been in the 240-245 range but I stuck with the low end and it was plenty difficult. I’d probably feel more confident with a spotter instead of just spotter arms on the rig.

Went to the gym at 4pm. Hadn’t been there since Thursday!

Warm-up

3 Sets

  • 10 Reverse Hypers (160#)

2 Rounds

  • 5 Strict Pull-ups
  • 10 Box Jumps (20″)
  • 15 Sit-ups
  • 20 PVC Pass Throughs

Strength

  • 5 Split Jerks
  • 5 Weighted Pull-Ups (15#)

Since it was set for 5 working sets, I did the pull-ups after the first five sets of jerks to get them out of the way. All TnG sets on the jerks where I went right in to the dip when lowering the bar. Wore my belt for 155# and up, doing 45-95-115-135-155-175-195#. Obviously could have gone heavier since I was still able to TnG them, but that was enough after bench pressing earlier.

Conditioning

15:00 AMRAP

  • 8 Pull-Ups
  • 8 Alt. DB Snatch (50#)
  • 8 Box Jumps (30″)

The Rx was a 70# dumbbell for the snatches, which we don’t even have and isn’t necessary unless you’re a Sanctionals type athlete.

I wore grips and didn’t use the holes so I could easily flip them around for the snatches. Was able to do every set of pull-ups unbroken. I bitched out on a set or set and a half of snatches during the first half of the AMRAP and changed hands at the ground for those. Otherwise I switched hands in the air for the rest. The box jumps were just slow because I was stepping down and then would take a step back from the box as well. Got through 8+18.

I thought about doing one of the Year of the Engine workouts in the evening, but I was tired.

Time for Golf

I was in bed by 10 and got a great night of sleep. My legs feel tired today. Out in the garage by 11am.

Year of the Engine – Interval

15 Rounds

  • 30s Row
  • 1:30 Rest

Came up with a goal of 1:28/500m. As the rounds went on I could really feel the tightness in my low back from the heavy swings yesterday. This is noteable because with such short intervals, it’s very important to get out hot with a good start in those first 4-5 pulls or else you’re fighting to get to your average pace and the back is really important in that very first pull. I got 171-172 meters every round.

2019-08-23-row

Will be playing 9 holes tonight and then heading across the state in the morning for a weekend golf trip. I’ll try to bench press and maybe hit the final polarized workout on Sunday night.

Triple EMOM

I’m sore in my chest and lats from the 100 toes to bars on Tuesday. Went for a run at 11am.

Year of the Engine – Endurance

45:00 Run

I went 4.04 miles and was in zone 2 nearly the entire time other than the start. I should probably pick up the pace and try to get at least half of the time in zone 3.

IMG_3315

Went to the 4pm class.

Warm-up

  • 300m Row
  • 2 Rounds
    • 10 Strict Pull-ups
    • 15 HR Push-ups
    • 20 Air Squats
  • Power Cleans
    • 4×45#
    • 3×95
    • 3×135

My legs felt tired from the run when I was doing those air squats.

Conditioning

  • 10:00 EMOM (alt)
    • 15 cal Row
    • 3 Power Cleans (increasing weight)
  • 3:00 Rest
  • 10:00 EMOM (alt)
    • 15 cal Assault Bike
    • 3 Bench Press (increasing weight)
  • 3:00 Rest
  • 10:00 EMOM (alt)
    • 60 Double Unders
    • Max Russian KB Swings (32kg)

It worked out perfectly for me to use the same loading for both the power cleans and the bench presses. I did 165-185-205-215-225#. I missed once during every set of double unders between 12 and 20 reps, then finished the rest unbroken. Weird. My arms were so sweaty, making it hard to hold on to that heavier kettlebell. I did 27-20-20-20-28 reps.

The first two EMOMs weren’t that bad because you got significant rest. The third was a doozy though.

A Late One

I walked 18 holes today and since I have a golf trip this weekend I was out in the garage at 8:30pm.

Year of the Engine – Polarized

42:00 Airdyne

** Endurance with 7s sprint @ 7, 14, 21, 28, 35

I got 1,164 calories and 24.59 km, which is 91 calories and 0.9 km more than I did on Saturday.

2019-08-21-airdyne-hr
Successfully in zones 2-3.

Max Minutes

Yesterday I walked 18 holes on the golf course. Out in the garage at noon today.

Year of the Engine – Interval

12 Rounds

  • 1:30 Row
  • 1:00 Rest

My goal going in was 1:45.5/500m based primarily on the other day with 10x 1:30/1:30. I beat the goal by a bit, getting 427-428 meters every round and felt good about it. Looking at results on BTWB though, I was much further behind a guy than I usually am.

2019-08-20-row

Went to the 4pm class.

Warm-up

2 Rounds

  • 10 PVC Pass Throughs
  • 10 PVC Good Mornings
  • 10 Power Skips

Gymnastics & Weightlifting

E2M – 10 Rounds

  • 10 Toes-To-Bar
  • 1 Hang Power Snatch
  • 1 Power Snatch

I had on my grips but didn’t use the finger holes. No issue getting every set of T2B unbroken. I went 95-105-115-125-135-145-155 touch-n-go. Then I dropped 165-170-175 in between reps. I had hoped to go 175-185 at the end, but after 165 I knew I didn’t have it in me. No misses though.

Conditioning

4 Rounds

  • 1:00 Max Russian KB Swings (53#)
  • 1:00 Max Burpee Box Jumps (24″)
  • 1:00 Rest

It was American swings, but I’m retired from those. I put on knee sleeves to help protect my knees on the burpees. I did 35-35-36-37 swings and 11-12-12-13 burpee box jumps. Always feels good to increase reps through a workout like this.

Another golf day tomorrow!

Get One More

Played 18 holes in a cart this morning so I didn’t make it to open gym. Out in the garage at 6:30pm.

No B.S. Bench Press

  • 8×45#
  • 8×95
  • 4×135
  • 4×175
  • 4×205
  • 4×220
  • 6x4x235

Every working set but the first was a struggle and several times I considered decreasing the weight. Survived!

Year of the Engine – Interval

10 Rounds

  • 1:30 Row
  • 1:30 Rest

My goal was a 1:43/500m pace. The first one felt good, so I made a game of trying to get one extra meter each round. Almost!

8%

My WHOOP recovery score was 8% this morning. Not surprising with the drinks and late night. I took an hour nap after noon. Jumped on the bike around 4pm.

Year of the Engine – Polarized

42:00 Airdyne

** Endurance with 7s sprint @ 7, 14, 21, 28, 35

Got 1,073 calories and 23.69 km. Good workout for a hangover and enough for the day. Mowed the lawn after.