Author: Nick Momrik

I'm searching for my first hole-in-one. I enjoy being active and making things. I work for Automattic.

In Pain

My back is not feeling very good last night and this morning. Was out of bed at 6am again and went to the gym at 10am.

Warm-up

  • 20 cal Echo Bike
  • 20 PVC Passes

Strength

7 Sets

  • 6/6 Bulgarian Split Squats (2×35# KBs)

Had to really concentrate on my positioning to avoid pain.

Midline

6 Sets (each side)

  • 30s Side Plank
  • 30s Single Leg Balance Hold

Took almost 15 minutes to get through this boring shit!

Conditioning

18:00 EMOM (alt)

  • 12 cal Echo Bike
  • 40s Single Arm Front Rack Carry (R – 26#)
  • 40s Single Arm Front Rack Carry (L – 26#)

Averaged about 442 watts on the bike. Was probably walking 150-200 feet on the carries.

I hope I start getting some relief from this back tomorrow and can do some of the rehab stuff.

Move for 40

I’m switching back to Monday and Thursday rest days. Yesterday I felt my back a little in the morning and then was really favoring it when I shoveled snow. It kept getting worse through the day. Today I was awake early and my back was in full-on tweak mode. Sneezes and coughs sent a shockwave through my body, so this is the worst it’s been in a long time. Finally decided to see the Doctor about my back and got in this morning. He said it’s a classic low back issue and isn’t concerned about anything serious. Got an injection in the area to block the pain and some exercises (which are a very light version of the work I’ve already started doing). Went to the gym at 4pm and did my own thing.

40:00 AMRAP

  • 5 Strict C2B Chin-ups
  • 10 Push-ups
  • 15 cal Echo Bike
  • 20 Walking Lunges

Slowed on the bike from around 65 RPM to 58-59 and maybe took a little more transition time getting up on the bar. Finished 13+24. Forty minutes is a long fucking time!

Becoming Myself Again

Another good night of sleep and I’m feeling a lot more like myself today. Went to open gym at 10am.

Accessory

4 Sets

  • 8/8 Concentration Curls (30#)
  • 8 Lateral Raises (10-12-12-12#)
  • 8 Front Raises (10-12-12-12#)

Gymnastics

15:00 HS Walk

I was having a rough time feeling comfortable even kicking up after not doing any for 2.5 weeks. I made it out to 25 feet for the first time though!!!! Then I came back with what felt like my most comfortable run and got to 20 feet.

Conditioning

  • 3:00 AMRAP w/ partner (I go, you go)
    • 3 Unbroken Power Snatches (115#)
  • 3:00 Rest
  • 3:00 AMRAP w/ partner
    • 3 Unbroken C&J (115#)

I haven’t really touched a barbell in a month or so. I warmed up snatches with triples at 45, 75, and 95 pounds. I started and got through 9 sets of snatches. So B started the second AMRAP. We both got through 9 sets and B got 2 more reps. I actually did push presses instead of jerks for most of the rounds to increase the speed.

Accessory

5 Sets

  • 100′ Single Arm Farmer Carry (88#)
  • 20s RKC Plank

I also did an InBody scan after.

Draggin’ Ass

On Thursday I had an early flight at 6:40am Dubai time for about a 29 hour travel day. Got home just after 11pm Eastern, showered, and went to bed. My back felt a little odd after setting so much on the planes. I slept until almost 9, shoveled the driveway, and took a 2+ hour nap. Decided not to workout. Slept pretty good, but wasn’t up early enough to make it to class. So I made pancakes! Didn’t feel like it, but I was out in the garage at 2:40.

30:00 EMOM (alt)

  • 40s cal Ski Erg
  • 40s cal Row
  • 40s cal Airdyne (AD2)

I had planned on 45 minutes, but I was dying. Ten rounds was enough.

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Smoked in Dubai

My legs felt tired last night and even though I was up past midnight, I slept better. Ass and quads are feeling a little sore today. Was in the hotel fitness center just after noon. I did the back rehab work, which is getting a little easier.

Accessory

10:00 EMOM (alt)

  • 10 Lat Pulldowns (77 kg)
  • 10 DB Bent Over Reverse Fly (12 kg)

Third set got real nasty and then I just survived.

Conditioning

20:00 Stationary Bike

Went 8.96 km and did 244 calories. My legs are smoked from yesterday! Early flight and a long travel day tomorrow, but I’ll be home by 10pm Eastern. Can’t wait!

Skip the Beach

Yesterday was a full work day so I didn’t workout out. Sleeping a little bitter. I went to the hotel’s fitness center just after noon when a big group went out to the marina beach area, where I’d already spent many hours.

Accessory

5 Sets

  • 20 Hammer Curls (16 kg, alternating)
  • 10 DB Shoulder Presses (16 kg)
  • 20 Death March (16 kg DBs)

Then I did the back rehab work which is probably taking a little under 40 minutes now.

Conditioning

12:00 Stationary Bike

Nothing crazy again. Did 5.33 km and 159 calories.

All I Want is a Night of Sleep!

I went to bed just after 9 last night but woke up around 2 or 3 again. Finally quit trying to sleep around 5:40 I think. Went down for breakfast after 7 and then took an hour nap. Was in the fitness center by 10.

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Accessory

4 Sets

  • 8 Lat Pulldowns (70-70-77-84 kg)
  • 12/12 Kroc Rows (20kg)

Used a machine for the pulldowns and I remembered to keep my shoulder blades pulled down for the rows.

Midline

Side Plank

  • 3 x 20 seconds w/ 10 second rests (all 3 on one side, then switch)
  • 1:00 Rest
  • 2 x 20 seconds
  • 1:00 Rest
  • 1 x 20 seconds

Someone was hogging the adjustable bench, so I moved the planks up in the order.

Strength

10:00 EMOM (alt)

  • 10 Incline DB Fly (16kg)
  • 14 HR Push-ups

Conditioning

10:00 Stationary Bike

I set a higher level so I had to use a lot of leg drive and a lower RPM. Did 4.98 km and 148 calories.

Gymnastics

5 Rounds

  • 40s Handstand Hold
  • 50s Rest

Came back to my room for these since there is no spot in the fitness center. Decided to switch it up and give facing the wall a break, which I think has been making my neck tight. When I kick up I can feel how extremely tight my neck and shoulders are. These got really tough.

F45 – Dubai Marina

I got an hour long deep tissue massage last night and boy did I need it. My shoulders are all knotted up and my calves hurt so good when she worked on them. I really need to find a masseuse back home again. Up at 4:40 again this morning, but I was in bed by 10:30.

I noticed there was an F45 gym right around the corner from the apartment, so I figured I’d check it out, especially since they give one free class. I went to the 8am class.

They did a quick demo of the movements (though they are all on TVs) and then a very short warm-up that was maybe three minutes long.

Today is one of their cardio days and the workout was titled “Empire.”

Empire will have you sweating it out in a team training style, combo-set cardio workout.

  • Empire consists of six combo stations and can accommodate 36 members.
  • This workout follows a racetrack-style movement system. Members move in numerical order through all six combo stations. For example, stations 1a & 1b move to station 2a & 2b, stations 2a & 2b move to station 3a & 3b, stations 3a & 3b move to station 4a & 4b. Members complete one combo set at each station and three laps through the room.
  • The timing is 45 seconds of work and 15 seconds of rest. There is a 50-second hydration break after each completed lap.

In was essentially a FGB workout with 12 stations. Work for 45 seconds and you have 15 seconds for transition. After each cycle through the room, you get a longer 50 second rest.

  • 1A: Row
  • 1B: Holding a slam ball (15kg) do 4 side skaters, slam it, and do a burpee on it
  • 2A: Box Jumps (12″)
  • 2B: Inch worm + 10 Mountain Climbers
  • 3A: Holding a sledge hammer upright in front of you do 4 twists, raise it overhead, and do 2 reverse lunges.
  • 3B: Skipping in place clap hands under the leg that is up
  • 4A: Standing spin bike
  • 4B: Step-up with explosive knee raise (24″)
  • 5A: Holding on to the front of a bench, hop your legs over back and forth.
  • 5B: In a squat keep alternating reverse lunges
  • 6A: Plank hold + feet spread on sliders
  • 6B: Jingle Jangles

I would say it did the trick as a cardio day. I noticed right away that all of the rowers were set to a 10 and the demo video guy didn’t even know how to row!

 

Checking out of the Airbnb today and transferring to the hotel for the work part of the trip. I was able to hit the fitness center in the hotel and do my back rehab work.

Jet Lagged

Shitty sleep again on Monday. I think I finally said enough and got up after 4am. I did take a long 2+ hour nap during the day. It was a rest day from the gym, but I played 18 holes of night golf! After getting dinner it was nearly midnight when I went to bed. I took some melatonin, hoping it would help me sleep through the night.

On Tuesday I woke up way too early again, but didn’t look at the time and stayed in bed until some time after 7. Might have fallen back to sleep here and there. I had a nasty headache (#1 side effect of melatonin) pretty much all day. Tried to take an hour nap before lunch, which it didn’t really work. Decided to make it another rest day from the gym and not push my body. Even took a second nap around 5 because I was still feeling like shit with the headache.

Went to bed just after 10 last night. Woke up and not sure I really fell asleep again, but didn’t “get up” until almost 6:30. After breakfast and getting laundry started, I went to the fitness center around 10am.

Warm-up

5:00 Stationary Bike

Did 87 calories and 3.2 km.

Conditioning

dip-stand5 Rounds

  • 10 Knee Raises (on dip stand)
  • 10 Z-Presses (25# DBs)
  • 20 V-ups (alt)
  • 20 Lunges (25# DBs at sides)

Easy little circuit to get in work and raise my heart rate. Took me 11:45.

Gymnastics

6 Sets

  • 35s Handstand Hold (wall facing)
  • 1:00 Rest

This was getting sketchy, especially since I came back to the apartment to do it. Was worried my hands would slip out on me because of the tile floor.