Stayed Home

Woke up this morning with no improvement in my low back. The morning is the worst part of the day though because it’s hard to get out of bed. Have been icing a few times a day to try and help. Planned to go to the class at CrossFit Intuition today, but decided to stay home so I wouldn’t try to deadlift in the programmed metcon. Went out to the garage around 5pm and warmed up with Crossover Symmetry Activation.

Strength

5 Sets

  • 10 Seated DB Press (50# DBs)
  • 10 JM Press (60# – safety bar)

I had looked up this video but forgot how to properly set up with that bar. Oh well, I’ll fix it next time. I’m sure I still got some use out of it. Those seated presses were rough for the 10 reps.

Conditioning

Saw a neat VO2 Max workout on Aerobic Capacity this week with options for running or rowing. Easy enough to use on the Ski Erg as well, so that’s what I did.

  • Part 1 – 4 Sets
    • 500m (@ 2k PR pace)
    • 1:00 Rest
  • 5:00 Rest
  • Part 2 – 4 Sets
    • 125m (@ 100%)
    • 15s Rest
  • 5:00 Rest
  • Part 3 – 4 Sets
    • 250m (see below)
    • 30s Rest

The meat of this workout comes in part 3. To figure out the pace, you take the average pace from part 1, add the total time from part 2, and divide by 2. So for me it was 1:55.3 + 1:40.3 / 2 = 1:47.8.

My 500s were 1:55.3, 1:55.1, 1:55.3, and 1:55.3. I went below my best recorded 2k because I’m sure it’s not very accurate. The 125s were 24.7, 24.7, 25.5, and 25.3. Those 15 second rest periods were way too short! Finally the 250s were 53.8, 53.7, 53.7, and 53.5, all below the goal pace. I thought I might end up outside puking. This workout was much harder than I was expecting. Didn’t adjust the rest periods though maybe should have since can’t go as fast as the rower.

Finished up with 2 sets of 10 Heel Drives on the GHD.

Ten By Tens

Last night my tight back started to turn into a back tweak. Grrr! I could barely get out of bed this morning. So much for doing Open workout 13.2 like I’ve been trying to plan and looked forward to. I even got to the gym about 30 minutes early to do some mobility and see if I could loosen things up enough to be able to do the deadlifts and box jumps.

Warm-up

3 Rounds

  • 10s Bar Hang
  • 5/5 Bar Taps (tight/dynamic)
  • 10 Heel Drives
  • 20s HS Hold
  • 30 DU

The dubs were not fun so I knew right there I should not attempt the workout. So I jumped in with Bryan on some bench while everyone did the metcon. I also did some mobility stuff I’ve found for relieving low back pain.

Strength & Accessory

Bench Press

  • 10×45#
  • 10×95
  • 10x10x155

Barbell Curl

  • 8x10x45#

The curls were alternated with the sets of bench.

Midline

5 Rounds

  • 20s L-hang
  • 20s Rest
  • 20s HS Hold
  • 20s Rest

Skill / Midline

3 Rounds

  • 1:00 Shotguns
  • 1:00 Rest
  • 1:00 Pistols
  • 1:00 Rest
  • 1:00 Step-ups (20″)
  • 1:00 Rest

I didn’t think I’d be able to do the pistols because they usually put a lot of stress on my back, but they were fine. Subbed in step-ups instead of the double unders I had programmed. I did 37-39-37 shotguns, 20-22-20 pistols, and 22-24-25 step-ups.

Wanted to get my heart rate up a little so I stayed after.

Conditioning

10 Rounds

  • 200′ Shuttle (4×50′)
  • 10 Shoulder Press (65#)

Oh boy, my shoulders and chest are going to be feeling it after these and the bench press sets. I did the first 5 sets unbroken, then broke up the sets in half until grinding out the final set. Took me 9:24 to finish.

Did a little more mobility work before heading home.

Triple Digits

Big day! Alex got a few guys together to throw down before his meet next weekend.

Warm-up

  • Crossover Symmetry Activation
  • 3 Sets
    • Bottom Squat Hold
    • 8 Reverse Hyper (210#)
  • 2 Sets
    • 5 Muscle Snatch (20kg)
    • 5 OHS (20kg)
    • 5 Snatch Press (20kg)

Snatch

  • 3x40kg
  • 3×50
  • 2×60
  • 2×70
  • 75
  • 80
  • 85
  • 90
  • 95
  • Missed 2x @ 98
  • 100 (PR!, had to be around 8 attempts before finally getting it)

I was getting the bar overhead without a problem and almost had it locked in several times. Finally nailed it!

C&J

  • 3x70kg
  • 3×80
  • 2×90
  • 100
  • 105
  • 110
  • 115
  • 120
  • 125
  • 128 (missed clean on first attempt, made next try)
  • 131 (Clarked)

My low back was already feeling really tight from the snatches so I wasn’t expecting much out of the clean and jerk. It wasn’t painful though so I was still able to lift some weight. Figured I’d take one shot at the PR but I didn’t even try to get under it. Guys said the bar was up to my chest. Typical!

A Squat PR!

Went in early so I could start squatting before the 4:30 class so I’d have more time.

Warm-up

2 Rounds

  • Bottom Squat Hold
  • 10 Reverse Hyper (210#)
  • 20 Walking Lunges

Strength – Front Squat

  • 5×45#
  • 5×135
  • 5×205
  • 3×245
  • 2×275
  • 2×295
  • 1×315
  • 1×330 (PR)
  • 1×345 (PR)

Finally a squat PR! That was definitely all I had because I was damn near at a complete stop in the middle, or at least it felt like it to me. PR by 25#.

Conditioning

4 Rounds

  • 3 Handstand Push-ups
  • 5 Overhead Squats (135#)
  • 10 Deadlifts (135#)

This triplet really lit up the low back. All unbroken. Finished in 3:41.

Accessory

E40S – 5 Sets

  • 10 Push-ups

E40S – 5 Sets

  • 10 Push-ups
  • 10 Air Squats

Was supposed to be 30 seconds but the clock was messed up so we got the extra 10. Was going easy so I added the air squats in the last 5 rounds. Every set was unbroken.

Four & A Quarter

Went to the 5:30 class.

Warm-up

  • 20 PVC Good Mornings
  • 20 Walking Lunges
  • Bear Crawl
  • Jump Rope
  • 2×10 GHD Heel Drives

Strength – Deadlift

  • 5×45#
  • 5×155
  • 5×245
  • 5×295
  • 5×335
  • 5×365
  • 5×395
  • 5×425

Hit my goal for the day. That is the highest I have recorded for a set of 5 since using Beyond the Whiteboard. I found a 5×435 in my logs that I did over 2 years ago. It was shortly after I pulled my lifetime max of 515.

Conditioning

5 Rounds

  • 8 Power Cleans (155#)
  • 30 Double Unders
  • 30s Plank

I did two sets of 4 touch-n-go every round on my cleans. Tripped on dubs once in the 3rd round after 18. Did planks on my hands. Finished in 7:40. Felt really good.

Tabatas

  • 8 rounds of Wall Balls (20#)
  • 1:00 Rest
  • 8 Rounds of Ball Slams (30#)

I got 10 wall balls every round. Slacked off on the ball slams because my shoulders were smoked! Did 7 sets of 7 and finished with an 8.

Big Triple

Planned to get in the HSPU workout in the garage in the middle of the day, but that didn’t happen, so I did it at the gym. Going to be my last Skill WOD workout so I can rest this shoulder from muscle-ups and pull-ups.

Warm-up: 3 Rounds

  • 10 Pass-thrus (over & under grips)
  • 10 Straddle V-ups
  • 10 Back Extensions
  • 10 Heel Drives
  • 10s Handstand Hold

Mobility: 5 Sets

  • 10s GHD Hanging Stretch

Test Your Max

Kipping Deficit Handstand Push-ups

  • 2 @ 0.5″
  • 2 @ 4.5
  • 2 @ 7
  • 4×6 @ 9 (70% of max)
  • Max reps at same deficit

Rest was 2:00 between those last 5 working sets. I made it through all the sets of 6 again and got an extra one to make a final set of 6 on the max set. Wore the new Reebok CrossFit Speed TR that were delivered today. The HSPU strip on the heel is really cool.

speed-tr.jpeg
Much brighter than I expected from the pictures.

Strength Accessory: 3 Sets

  • 8 Seated DB Press (53# KB)
  • 20 Barbell Hollow Rocks

Not really cool with the KB, but the 40# DBs we have at the gym aren’t heavy enough. Hard to get the KB up to your shoulders from the floor in a seated position. Cut it back to 3 rounds instead of 5 so I could join Bryan in some stuff.

Skill

Warmed up snatches with touch-n-go power triples of 45-95-125-135-155 pounds. Felt great!

12:00 EMOM (alt)

  • 3 Power Snatch
  • 10 Pistols

Used 165# for the first 4 sets and it felt really good so I went 175 and then 185! All still touch-n-go too. I’d never even tried 175 before today. Pistols went well and were solid in these new shoes.

Conditioning

6:00 AMRAP

  • 4 Thrusters (115#)
  • 4 Burpee Box Jump Overs

Nasty combo. Quads had a nice burn by the end. Did 7 rounds plus the thrusters and 1 final burpee box over. Rested too much before picking up the bar each round, as usual with me.

Really happy about the new shoes. They are on par with the Nano 5. Looking forward to ordering a pair of the Nike Metcon 2 at the end of the month when they are released.

Safety Ski

Out in the garage after lunch.

Warm-up

  • Crossover Symmetry Activation
  • 3×15 GHD Heel Drives

Strength – Safety Bar Squats

  • 6×65#
  • 6×135
  • 6×205
  • 3×255
  • 3×285
  • 3×305
  • 3×325

That’s the heaviest I’ve had the safety bar.

Conditioning

10 Rounds

  • 0:30 Ski Erg
  • 1:30 Rest

Nothing crazy. Started out relaxed but still a good pace and aimed to increase each round. Meters were 141-144-146-147-147-148-150-152-156-158.

Finished up with the Recovery protocol with Crossover Symmetry.

Too Much Brown Bottle

Didn’t make it to the gym today. Too many beers at the Brew-Ha-Ha last night. 🙂 Hashtag lightweight! Out to the garage to get in work before the start of the Broncos game. Warmed up with Crossover Symmetry Activation.

Strength – Shoulder Press

  • 5×45#
  • 5×95
  • 5×115
  • 5×125
  • 5×135
  • 5×145
  • 5×150 (PR)
  • 3×155 (PR)
  • 3×160 (PR)
  • 3×162.5 (PR)
  • 17×95

Haven’t shoulder pressed in almost 2 months so it sounded good to get in some volume.  Best 5 had been 145 and best triple was 152.5. PR city! Went for max reps on the drop set.

Conditioning

6 Rounds

  • 15 Push-ups
  • 10 Box Jumps (33″)

Initially I planned a 10 minute AMRAP with low reps including strict chin-ups, but I got on the bar for the first rep and my shoulder would not cooperate. So I came up with this and it worked well. Did the push-ups 9-6 for the first 5 rounds and then pulled out the final set unbroken with a slow last 5 reps. Had a step down box next to the jumper and just kept at them. Finished in 8:19.

  • 2:00 DU

Might start doing this once or twice a week to improve endurance with them. Did 4 reps better today with 187.

Midline

  • 4 Tabata Hollow Rocks
  • 4 Tabata Superman Hold

Did 16-15-16-16 on the rocks and held the arches for the entire time each round.

Powerin’

Felt like staying in home after being up late playing video games online with my brother. In at 10am though. The plan for today was to do all power lifts to switch things up.

Snatch

Muscle Snatch

  • 2x5x20kg
  • 2x3x40
  • 3×50

Power Snatch

  • 3x60kg
  • 3×65
  • 3×70
  • 2×75
  • 2×80
  • 85
  • Miss 90 (“Clarked” it)

Was not feeling the greatest on these lifts even when it was light.

Power Clean & Push Jerk

  • 3x60kg
  • 3×70
  • 3×80
  • 3×90
  • 2×100
  • 2×105
  • 110
  • 115
  • 120 (power clean, miss jerk)

I didn’t plan to do a clean-jerk style with no resetting in between, but after I got the double at 100 I wanted to see how far I could go. Was thinking about it too much with 115 so my balance got out of whack. The jerk felt super easy though after the reset. The clean with 120 was ugly. Didn’t get video because I wasn’t going to attempt the transition between the two parts of the lift. Should have though because it would have been a push jerk PR had I made it. That 120 power clean may have not been the best idea for my back.

Back Squats

With short pause in the hole

  • 5×45#
  • 5×135
  • 5×205
  • 3×255
  • 3×285

No pause

  • 3×305#
  • 3×325
  • 3x3x285

Was feeling heavy so backed off for a few sets of volume.