Month: September 2019

My Take on Frantasy Land

Had great night of sleep and didn’t wake up until ten after 8. Went to open gym at 10am.

No B.S. Bench Press

  • 10×45#
  • 10×95
  • 5×135
  • 5×175
  • 5×205
  • 5×225
  • 4×240
  • 2x5x235
  • MAX @ 225 (7)

I’ve been struggling through this entire second cycle of the program. I couldn’t even hit one full set of 5 at the recommended 240-245 and then the max reps was seven again, which is what I got during the first two times of this cycle. Maybe it’s time to try benching in the evening. Or maybe I’m not eating enough. Or maybe all of the cardio is affecting my ability to get stronger.

Conditioning

  • 9-6-3
    • Thrusters (95/65#)
    • Bar Muscle-ups
  • 2:00 Rest
  • 12-9-6
    • Thrusters (75/50#)
    • C2B Pull-ups
  • 2:00 Rest
  • 15-12-9
    • Thrusters (55/40#)
    • Pull-ups

This is my take on Frantasy Land for an everyday CrossFitter. When I came up with the rep schemes I was wondering if I could go unbroken through the entire thing. Hahahaha!! I did go unbroken (very slowly) on all of the thrusters, but the dream was crushed early when I had to go 5-4 on the first muscle-ups. I went 3-3 on the 6 and did the final 3. First part took me 3:46. I almost quit the workout right there. I started with a set of 7 C2B, but after that I don’t remember. I do know I was doing a bunch of singles to end the 9 and then all of the 6. Took me 5:09! I felt better for the final couplet doing 3×5, 3×4, and 5-4 for my pull-ups. That took me 4:47 to finish. End time on the clock was 17:42. I am just not comfortable with a bunch of barbell work in a metcon right now. 😦 Stood around resting way too much in between sets and movements.

I don’t know if I’m coming down with something or what, but I wasn’t feeling great the rest of the day and skipped out on an engine workout again.

Switching to Fall

Would have liked to sleep in longer this morning, especially with a WHOOP recovery down to 26%! Out in the garage by noon.

Year of the Engine – Rocket Race

8 Rounds

  • 1:00 Row
  • 2:00 Rest

Two months ago I did 1:34.9/500m for 10 rounds. Nice improvement in the pace for today’s 8 rounder, getting 319-322 meters per round.

2019-09-28-row

Then I headed out for a run after 4pm.

Year of the Engine – Endurance

38:00 Run

Went 3.95 miles with better pacing.

 

Been a Long Week

Yesterday I walked 18 holes. As expected, my legs got sore from the squatting. My back was really tight from the C&J and all of the deadlifts, so I’m staying away from the weights for a couple of days. I was tired after mowing the lawn during lunch, so I waited until around 4pm to head out to the garage.

Year of the Engine – Rocket Race

10 Rounds

  • 2:00 Row
  • 1:00 Rest

A month and a half ago I averaged 1:46.6 for 12 rounds of this. My WHOOP recovery is 33% for today and it’s been a long week at work with many days online until 9pm, so I wasn’t going for any PRs. Just get in the work, even though it’s only 10 rounds. I got from 551 to 554 meters.

2019-09-27-row

Four Sections

I got just over 9 hours of sleep last night! I think my legs are going to get pretty sore from all of the squats yesterday. No time again for a Year of the Engine workout today. Went to the 4pm class.

Warm-up

4 Rounds

  • 10 Jumping Jacks
  • 10 Pass Throughs
  • 8 Air Squats

Power Clean & Push Jerk

  • 3×45#
  • 3×95
  • 3×135

Conditioning

  • 0:00-5:00
    • 1k Row (3:27.8)
  • 5:00-17:00 – Power Clean & Push Jerk
    • 135
    • 165
    • 185
    • 205
    • 225
    • 235
    • 245
  • 17:00-22:00
    • 1 mile Echo Bike (2:21)
  • 22:00-35:00
    • 21-15-9
      • Deadlifts (225#)
      • Handstand Push-Ups
    • AMRAP
      • Strict Handstand Push-ups

I thought about holding a 1:40/500m pace on the row, but didn’t want to completely destroy myself for the next 30 minutes of the workout. Only 16 seconds slower than my PR. I’ll take the push jerk considering my PR is 255! That bike started to burn before the half mile and then it was just holding on. My back was a little lit up from the last two C&J, so I took it nice and slow on the deadlifts. I went 6-5-5-5, 5-5-5, and 5-4. On the HSPU I went 6-5-5-5, 5-5-5, and 9. It took me 9:12 to complete, which would be a really slow Diane time. I rested until there were three minutes left when I decided to start doing strict HSPU. I started with a set of 5, then maybe a triple, some doubles, singles, and a double to finish, getting 21 reps.

Blowout

Yesterday I walked 18 holes. I got almost 9 hours of sleep two nights in a row! Work has been really busy, so I didn’t have time to get in a Year of the Engine workout during lunch today. Went to the gym for the 4pm class.

Warm-up

  • 3 Sets
    • 15 Reverse Hypers (90#)
  • 400m Run
  • 3 Rounds
    • 5 HR Push-ups
    • 5 Kip Swings
    • 10 Air Squats
  • Squat Cleans
    • 5×45#
    • 3×95
    • 3×135

Conditioning

2 Rounds

  • 4:00 EMOM – 3 Squat Cleans (165#)
  • 4:00 EMOM – 10 T2B
  • 4:00 EMOM – 3 Back Squats (165#)
  • 4:00 EMOM – 12 cal Row

I haven’t squatted in months, so I wasn’t going to push it in a format like this. Wore my belt through both barbell movements and grips for the T2B, which I was able to get all unbroken today. I was pulling ~1,700 cal/hr for the first four minutes of rowing and then 1,800 for the second.

15

Still not a great night of sleep last night.

IMG_3451

Was at the gym at 10 for open gym.

No B.S. Bench Press

  • 10×45#
  • 10×95
  • 3×135
  • 3×175
  • 3×205
  • 3×225
  • 2x3x245
  • 3×250

The two week break from the program wasn’t ideal, but going from one cycle of the program to the next probably wasn’t either, so I was hoping today would be a good day under the bar. My all-time PR for a triple is 255, though I have done 275 for a double. The second set with 245 felt better, so I went for the 250 on the third set, which was sketchy. Working sets were supposed to be at 245-250, so it was a success.

Gymnastics

After doing 3×10 bar muscle-ups a few weeks ago I was curious how many I could do.

It’s funny how when you set a number in your head, often you end up right on that number. My hips weren’t giving out, but my hands were starting to slide around too much for my comfort and instead of risking a fall on my head I jumped off with 15.

Weightlifting / Conditioning

7 Rounds

  • 1:00 C&J
  • 2:00 Rest

Started with 95# and added 20# every round, so my loading was 95-115-135-155-175-195-215#. We did something like this 2-3 years ago, but I haven’t been able to find it in my logs. I decided to drop every rep and try to pick it up quickly with the light bars. Got 14-12-10-9-7-5-3, wearing my belt the entire time.

Midline

7-5-3 w/ 10 second holds

  • Curl-up
  • Side Plank
  • Bird dogs

Went and picked up pre-made meals from a local place that I’m trying out.

Then went for a run after 5pm.

Year of the Engine – Endurance

38:00 Run

The Garmin watch was reading my heart rate in zones 4-5 the entire run, which I knew wasn’t correct. My WHOOP measured it where I normally am for a run like this. Got rained on for a few minutes, which felt good. Went 3.8 miles, so I’ve kind of found a sweet spot at that 10:00/mile pace.

Weaker Leg Drive

Out in the garage before 9am.

Year of the Engine – Speed/Threshold

30:00 Airdyne

Went 930 calories and 18.6 km. Beats my best for 30 minutes, which was 18.19 km. Wanted to average 80 RPM, but probably hovered between 77-80 most of the time.

Spent about 4 hours helping a friend move, signed online to do a little work, and then was out in the garage around 4:30.

Year of the Engine – Rocket Race

12 Rounds

  • 1:00 Row
  • 1:15 Rest

Checked the drag factor on my rower, which was at 133, so I went down to 130. Tried to use more leg drive, with a 1:36-1:37 goal pace. I just don’t seem to have the leg drive I had a few years ago. I’ve definitely lost lower body strength since I haven’t been able to squat or deadlift heavy in years.

312-312-312-311-311-310-308-306-308-308-308-309m

2019-09-21-row.jpg

Just look at those stroke rates. I used to be able to do something like this around 25 s/m. At least my engine is better now so I’m able to keep a high pace with having to do a lot more strokes.

Time for More Metcons

Yesterday I walked 18 holes of golf. My hamstrings started getting sore last night.

It’s less than 3 weeks until Open Workout 20.1 gets announced, so it’s time to kick up my training a notch or 12 and do more metcons after 2 weeks of undertraining. I need to start practicing my handstand walking again too. Was out in the garage during lunch.

Year of the Engine – Polarized

30:00 Airdyne
** Endurance pace with 7s sprint @ 6, 12, 18, 24

Was doing about 72-73 RPM most of the time for endurance pace. Went 811 cals and 17.36 km.

Went to the gym at 4pm.

Warm-up

  • 3 sets
    • 15 Reverse Hypers (90#)
  • 400m Run
  • 2 Rounds
    • Front Rack stretch
    • Chest stretch
    • 10 Air Squats
    • 10 HR Push-ups
  • 5 Bench Press (45#)
  • 5 Power Cleans (45#)
  • 5 Bench Press (95#)
  • 3 Power Cleans (135#)
  • 5 Bench Press (135#)
  • 3 Power Cleans (165#)

Conditioning

19:00 AMRAP

  • 3 Power Cleans (185#)
  • 5 Bench Press (165#)
  • 200m Run
  • 1:30 Rest

It was on a 25 minute running clock, but by the time I got through all the warm-up sets above I was starting my first round at exactly 6:00 on the clock. So effectively a 19 minute AMRAP. I got through 7 full rounds and had 23 seconds left, with very consistent round times of 1:22, 1:27, 1:21, 1:22, 1:22, 1:19, and 1:24. I put my belt on for the cleans each round, did them touch-n-go, and then removed my belt as I moved over to the bench.

IMG_3432

10:00 AMRAP

  • 30 Russian KBS (53#)
  • 30 Double Under
  • 15 Sit-Ups

I missed once on the dubs in my third round and finished 5+30. That was a good burner with no spot to rest because the movements didn’t interfere with each other at all.

I really liked both of those workouts and felt great, considering I haven’t slept worth a shit for the last two days.

A Griptastic Return

Monday was a rest day and yesterday was a travel day. After I got home my legs were feeling rough from the dance floor and long night on Monday. I was exhausted and decided not to workout. Out in the garage during lunch.

Year of the Engine – Time Trial

20:00 Airdyne

My best, though not as a test, was 11.94 km. Figured 80 RPM throughout would be a good goal as a first trial for this length of time. Was probably short of that overall, but could have gone harder. Got 12.73 km and 656 calories.

Went to the 7pm class because I was busy with a project at work all day.

Warm-up

  • 400m Run
  • 2 Rounds
    • 10 Good Mornings (PVC)
    • 10 Pass Throughs
    • 5 Kip Swings
    • 10 Lateral Hops
  • 5 Hang Power Cleans (45#)
  • 5 Deadlifts (45#)
  • 5 Hang Power Cleans (115#)
  • 5 Deadlifts (115#)

Conditioning

2 Rounds

  • 4:00 EMOM
    • 15 cal Row
  • 4:00 EMOM
    • 10 Hang Power Cleans (115#)
  • 4:00 EMOM
    • 10 T2B
  • 4:00 EMOM
    • 10 Deadlifts (185#)

No extra rest other than when you’re done with a movement each minute. I felt good at the beginning and pulled ~1700-1800 cal/hr. Then I did each movement unbroken. The second time through was a different story! I pulled ~1400 cal/hr. I did 2×5 on each minute of cleans, then 3 minutes of 2×5 with the final set of T2B unbroken. I picked up the deadlifts and my grip was shot! After doing the first round through all with a neutral grip, after doing 5, I started doing a mixed grip. I was able to go 2×5 for the first two minutes, but then I just couldn’t hold the bar, so I went 2 and 8 singles, finishing with 10 singles.

Rough one after not touching a bar since the previous Sunday.

Hella Humid

I woke up at 7am to get in an early run.

Year of the Engine – Endurance

36:00 Run

2019-09-15-weather

Check out that humidity! My heart rate was 10-15% higher than an almost identical paced run I did at home last week, so I’m guessing it was due to the humid weather here. I went 3.63 miles. About halfway through the run I could feel a blister forming on the bottom of big toe, in the crease, which seems like a weird spot to get one. I was wearing my Reebok CrossFit Speed TRs, which probably aren’t the best for running any real distance.

After lunch I did the back stability stuff back in my room.

Midline

7-5-3 w/ 10 second holds

  • Curl-up
  • Side Plank
  • Bird dogs