Pre-Labor

Glad I took it easy yesterday.

Warm-up

  • 3×10 Reverse Hyper (160#)
  • Crossover Symmetry Activation
  • Bottom Squat Hold
  • Shoulder Stretching

Accessory

6 Sets

  • 3 Weighted Pull-ups (35-40-45-50-50-50#)
  • 10 Decline Push-ups (2×12, 4×16″)

Can’t remember the last time I’ve done a weighted pull-up. Seemed harder than it should have been. The push-ups weren’t very hard, but something different.

Weightlifting

E2M 20:00

  • Power  Snatch
  • Hang Squat Snatch
  • OHS

Warmed up with a little work at 45-75-95#. Started with 105# on my first set. Increased by 10# up to 155#, then 160#, and finally the final 3 sets with 165#. Bringing the bar back down and getting a solid grip on it for the hang snatch was probably the hardest part; really felt it in that thumb area. I think the tempo overhead squat work is helping already. Felt more comfortable in the bottom position and the OHS felt like butter.

Conditioning

  • 200m Run
  • 40 T2B
  • 200m Run

Quick one. I went with sets of 5 toes to bars without much rest between, which served me well up until the final 5 reps where I went 1-2-2 I think. Finished in 3:38 with enough in the tank where I could still run hard the 2nd time around.

Midline

4 Rounds NFT

  • 30s Hollow Hold
  • 50 Double Unders

First hold was rough but was able to do each one without breaking. Each set of dubs were done unbroken too. Rested about 60-90 seconds between rounds. Abs are pretty sore from the weighted GHDs yesterday.

Got in some solid work but nothing crushing. Will be thankful for that with the workout that is planned for tomorrow.

Working Little Things

My plan for the week went out the window when golf was rained out on Thursday. Felt like I needed a recovery day so skipped the 10am class. Out in the garage around noon for accessory work.

Warm-up

  • 3:00 Ski Erg (640m)
  • Crossover Symmetry Activation

OHS – 33X3 Tempo

  • 3×45#
  • 3×75#
  • 3×95#
  • 3×115#
  • 3×125#
  • 3×135#
  • 3×145#
  • 3×155#

Started just inside of jerk grip at 45# and does that ever feel terrible. I can tell the bar is way forward but I can’t get it back. Hopefully as I keep doing this it will improve. Slowly inched out my hands each set. Fewer sets today so didn’t even make it out to the collars like I have been. Here’s the final set (not slomo).

Accessory

6 Sets

  • 10/10 Single Leg RDL (75-75-95-95-95-95#)
  • 10 Decline DB Bench (50# DBs)
  • 10 Weighted GHD Sit-ups (20# MB)

Used a barbell for the RDLs today so I could go heavier. I could have used 2 DBs but I didn’t feel like having to change the weight going back and forth between the bench. Doesn’t look like much but I was sweating buckets through this.

Finished up with Crossover Symmetry Iron Scap.

Only 1:00 Rest

Sore in a few places from the last couple of days. Deadlifts got my hamstrings, both days got my shoulders, all of the pressing yesterday got my traps, and I think the heavy squats followed up by the set of 35 squats in the metcon got the rest of my legs. Went in around 5pm to get in my rowing.

Warm-up

3 Rounds NFT

  • 10 Reverse Hyper (160#)
  • 1:00 Air Dyne

Row: Power Intervals

  • 1:00 @ 24 s/m
  • 1:00 Rest
  • 1:00 @ 26
  • 1:00 Rest
  • 1:00 @ 28
  • 1:00 Rest
  • 1:00 28+ (must be rowing full length)
  • 1:00 Rest
  • 1:00 Flat-out (full length not required)
  • 15:00 Rest then repeat

Oh my! From 2 minutes of rest, to 1:40, to 1:20, and finally down to a minute. Big improvement during both sets on the 24-26-28, but I had no power left for the final 2 minutes of each set. I was still able to set a new best for the first set and total though. Total of 3,181 meters this week, up from the first week of 3,088, the second week with 3,166, and last week with 3,174. Same work time every week just less rest between each minute of work. I stuck to the same 15 minutes of rest between sets, which was definitely needed.

Pretty sure this is the first week where my pace/500m has actually gotten slower in the final minute. In the first set I actually kind of stopped for a second or two before I slapped myself and kept going. So much lactic acid build up after the first four minutes.

rowing-wod-w5s2

Next week is a retest so I’m excited to see where I’m add. Should see a nice improvement if this power intervals are any indication. Timing is good too since I’ll need to get in the Team Series workouts.

I think tomorrow is going to turn into a light day instead of going to the 10am class. Feeling a little rough from this week and don’t want to go into testing and the Team Series beat up.

Gold Star

Had taken the day off work to play our end of the year golf tournament. We only got through 7 holes before storms rolled in and it rained all day. So back home and worked out in the garage before 5pm.

Warm-up

  • 3×10 Reverse Hyper (180#)

Was pretty easy to setup and take down my contraption.

Strength: Safety Bar Squats

  • 10×65#
  • 6×135#
  • 3×185#
  • 3×225#
  • 3×245#
  • 3×255#
  • 3×265#
  • 3×275#
  • 3×285#
  • 3×295#

Lifting shoes but no belt. Second to last rep was a struggle so I started thinking too much and made my final rep pretty squirrely.

Warmed up for the metcon with 5 shoulder press + 5 overhead squats with 45# and 95#.

Conditioning

  • 10 Shoulder Presses (115#)
  • 15 OHS
  • 20 Push Presses
  • 25 Front Squats
  • 30 Push Jerks
  • 35 Back Squats

Same bar and load for each movement. One of my favorites to come back to because it tests you in many different ways. I’ve done it three times now, getting better each time.

  1. 4/15/13 – 14:03
  2. 7/21/14 – 13:34
  3. 9/3/15 – 10:33

Over a 3 minute improvement in the last year! I went 7 shoulder press, 3 presses then on to my back and in to 9 overhead squats, and then finished the last 6 OHS. Push presses were done 9-6-5, front squats 10-10-5, push jerks with 3 sets of 10, and didn’t put the bar down for the 35 back squats. Tried not to rest too much when I dropped the bar in between sets.

Jumped on the Air Dyne for a very easy 10 minutes to flush out the legs.

Check out some CrossFit elite doing this one…

Push It

In bed early. Not a fan of this heat wave. Bring back the 70s. Made it to the 9am class.

Warm-up

  • Bottom Squat Hold
  • 2×10 Reverse Hypers (210#)
  • 10 Air Squats
  • 10 Good Mornings (45#)
  • 5 Burpees
  • Deadlift
    • 6×155#
    • 5×205#
    • 6×245#

Strength-ish

12:00 EMOM (alternating)

  • 6 Deadlifts
  • 6 Burpees

I went 275# for the first 3 sets, 295# for 2 sets, and 325# for the final. No belt. Felt good.

Accessory

4 Sets

  • 8/8 Kroc Rows (70#)
  • 8 Barbell Curls (75#)

Little heavy for the curls, but tried hard not to cheat the reps. By this point I was nearly soaked with sweat already.

Conditioning

  • 3:00 AMRAP
    • 8 Thrusters (95#)
    • 8 Push-ups
  • 2:00 Rest
  • 5:00 AMRAP
    • 8 Wall Balls (20#, 10′ target)
    • 8 OH Lunges (45# plate)

Push, push, and more push! I couldn’t do push-ups after the thrusters. Struggle-bus through 3 rounds plus 12 reps. Arms didn’t want to work going into those first wall balls. Lunges were in done in place. Got through 5 rounds plus 6 reps.

On Target

Felt fatigued this morning, especially in the lower body. Skipped out on CrossFit in the morning. Between golf and mowing the lawn, went over 11.5 miles on foot yesterday according to the iOS Health app. I think it had a cumulative effect in addition to the weekend workouts.

2015-08-31-on-foot

Made it to CFi in the afternoon when I needed a break from work.

Warm-up

3 Sets

  • 10 Reverse Hyper (210#)
  • 1:00 Air Dyne (AD2)

Row: Pacing & Engine

  • Interval 1
    • 4:00 @ 20 s/m
    • 4:00 @ 22
    • 2:00 @ 26
    • 2:00 @ 28
  • 6:00 Rest
  • Interval 2
    • 4:00 @ 22
    • 3:00 at rate 24
    • 2:00 @ 26
    • 1:00 @ 28
    • 1:00 @ 28+ (full length)
    • 1:00 flat-out

Final week before retesting. This was a challenging upgrade to the pacing workouts. Starts to converge on the power intervals at the end. The 4 s/m jump in the first set was interesting. Bumped up the pace @ 20 strokes/min right out of the gate and increased from there. Wasn’t too bad. Looking back I’m a little surprised to see how consistent my pacing was and how I was damn near spot on with the 2 second change for every 2 strokes per minute. Must be getting a lot more comfortable in the seat. The end of the 2nd twelve minutes was pretty damn tough. Went a total of 6,221 meters.

rowing-wod-w5s1

Ruck Funning

Nice relaxing morning before hitting the gym.

Warm-up

  • 3 Sets
    • 10 Reverse Hypers (140#)
    • 1:00 Air Dyne
  • Bottom Squat Hold
  • Cleans
    • 5×45#
    • 3×95#
    • 2×135#
    • 2×165#

Conditioning

  • 800m Run
  • 5 Squat Cleans (205#)
  • 600m Run
  • 10 Squat Cleans (155#)
  • 400m Run
  • 15 Squat Cleans (135#)
  • 200m Run
  • 20 Squat Cleans (95#)

Felt fine on the 800 but the rest of the runs were slow once my heart rate jacked up after those first 5 cleans. I just can’t seem to get my breathing under control and push the pace. I had no problems on the barbell, able to do pretty quick singles through the first 3 bars. The sets of 10 and 15 were a bit of a grind and burned the legs. With 95# I went 5-5-6-4 touch-n-go to finish at 19:02. Walked a 200 to recover.

Accessory

24:00 EMOM (alternating movements)

  1. 30s L-sit
  2. 8/8 Single Leg RDL (53-53-60-60-70-70# KB)
  3. 3 Wall Walks
  4. 10 Barbell Curls (45#)

Harder than expected. I had a good sweat going throughout. I broke up the 4th and 5th L-sits into 2 sets.

Quick recovery and hit up the Adventure Park in the afternoon. Use that fitness!

First Amanda

First time I’ve been able to make it for a Saturday class in nearly 2 months I think.

Warm-up

  • PVC Pass-thrus
  • PVC Good Mornings
  • Air Squats
  • Bottom Squat Hold

Strength: 2 Front Squats + 3 Back Squats

  • 45#
  • 135#
  • 205#
  • 235#
  • 3 sets @ 255#

Nothing crazy compared to what I’ve done in the past. Solid positioning though.

Conditioning

“Amanda”

9-7-5

  • Muscle-ups
  • Squat Snatches (135#)

Went 3-3-3, 3-2-2, 2-F-1-1-1 on the muscle-ups. That first round of snatches felt like it took forever; I kept wondering if I missed counting some reps. With the extra rest I had to take during the round of 5 muscle-ups I was able to speed through the final snatches. Snatches were singles the entire way though. Finished in 9:26. My first try at Amanda last December was with a 10 minute cap and I still had 4 snatches left so this was a nice PR even though I haven’t been doing many MU or snatches lately.

Out in the garage around 6pm.

OHS: 33X3 Tempo

  • 3×45#
  • 3×65#
  • 3×85#
  • 3×95#
  • 3×105#
  • 3×115#
  • 3×125#
  • 3×135#
  • 3×145#

Started with the jerk grip again and slowly moved hands wider through the sets until I was touching the ends on the final set. Pretty unstable in those first few sets due to the grip width. Shaky at the end due to the time under tension and the load, but 10# heavier than last week with more sets.

Accessory & Aerobic

5 Sets

  • 10 Decline DB Bench Press (50# DBs)
  • 4:00 Air Dyne (AD2) in Z1

Figured I might as well combine these two to save time instead of sitting around doing nothing between the press sets. Wore the HRM to keep track and make sure I stayed in zone 1. Can you tell where I was pressing? 😉

2015-08-29-hr

Finished up with Crossover Symmetry Iron Scap.

Cut Another Twenty

Didn’t get to the gym early so none of my special warm-ups. 😦

Warm-up

  • Bottom Squat Hold
  • 2 Bar Hangs (30s)
  • Jumping Jacks
  • Air Squats
  • Mountain Climbers

Strength: Front Squats

  • 10×45#
  • 5×135#
  • 3×185#
  • 3×225#
  • 3×245#
  • 3×265#
  • 2x3x285#

Wore a belt for 245 and above. Would have liked another set or two but everyone else rushed through and was done before I even did my first set with 285#.

Conditioning

3 Rounds

  • 1:00 Ball Slams (25#)
  • 1:00 Russian KBS (70#)
  • 1:00 Thrusters (45#)
  • 1:00 Row (calories)
  • 1:00 Rest

Felt good and was able to keep pushing a little harder each round for 84-92-94 reps.

Midline

  • 10-20-30 GHD Sit-ups (parallel)
  • 10-20-30 Russian Twists (55# plate)
  • 1:00 Plank

Kept the GHDs to parallel today because touching the ground seems to aggravate my low back. Did everything unbroken.

Had an appointment at the chiropractor in the evening and then back to the gym for session 2.

Warm-up

  • 3:00 Air Dyne (AD2)

Row: Power Intervals

  • 1:00 @ 24 s/m
  • 1:20 Rest
  • 1:00 @ 26
  • 1:20 Rest
  • 1:00 @ 28
  • 1:20 Rest
  • 1:00 28+ (must be rowing full length)
  • 1:20 Rest
  • 1:00 Flat-out (full length not required)
  • 15:00 Rest then repeat

Same thing as the last two weeks except cut out another 20 seconds of rest between each row.

rowing-wod-week4-session2

Even with the shorter rest periods, I was able to beat the 1,583 meters I got in both sets last week by a comfortable margin. I started to hit the wall in the second pass through but was still able to beat last weeks total with 3,174 meters today. Seems like this program is working really well.

Walked a couple hundred meters outside to cool down.

Match Game

Went to bed early so I could get a solid 8+ hours and actually woke up even later than I’d like. Walked into the gym a couple of minutes late for 9am.

Warm-up

  • PVC Pass-thrus
  • Bottom Squat Hold
  • Shoulder stretching

Strength – Shoulder Press

  • 10×45#
  • 5×75#
  • 3×95#
  • 3×135#
  • 1×145#
  • 1×155#
  • 1×165#
  • 1×170#
  • 1×175# (PR match)

I thought I missed 175 last month but it was actually a PR attempt at 177.5 that I missed. Grrr! Now I’m mad I didn’t look before so I could attempt that PR again today.

Apparently we were supposed to do push press max though. I thought it was odd we maxed out 2 months in a row on this.

Conditioning

  • 10:00 AMRAP
    • 12 Burpees
    • 4 Bear Complex (95#)
  • 4:00 Rest
  • 6:00 AMRAP
    • 8 Deadlifts (95#)
    • 20 Sit-ups

A grind for those 10 minutes. I started out at a comfortable pace and dropped every rep of the bear knowing it was on the long side for those two movements. Finished 5 rounds plus 12 burpees. Thought about increasing the weight for the deadlifts even though it was programmed to use the same weight. Don’t really ever do super light deadlifts, so I stuck with it. It was pretty much a sit-up workout. Started to feel my upper abs in the 4th round. Finished 6 rounds plus 6 deadlifts.

Warm-up

3 Rounds

  • 1:00 Air Dyne
  • 12 Reverse Hyper (210#)

Row: Pacing & Engine

  • Interval 1
    • 3:00 @ 20 s/m
    • 3:00 @ 22
    • 2:00 @ 24
    • 2:00 @ 26
  • 5:00 Rest
  • Interval 2
    • 2:00 @ 22
    • 2:00 @ 24
    • 2:00 @ 26
    • 2:00 @ 28
  • 5:00 Rest
  • Interval 3
    • 3:00 @ 24
    • 3:00 @ 26
    • 1:00 @ 28
    • 1:00 @ Max speed with full length rowing

Week 4 begins. I figured even with the higher intensity I’d try to increase my pace/500m a little over what I’ve been doing for the corresponding stroke rates during these sessions. Worked out well. Total of 6,715 meters for the session and 21 extra meters on the 2nd interval compared to the same 8 minute breakdown last week, though it was 3rd then. Really happy with how I was able to nail the stroke rates and keep right around a 2 second change for every 2s/m.

rowing-wod-w4s1

Strength: Push Press

Was nice and warmed up so I jumped in with Weston.

  • 5×115#
  • 3×135#
  • 3×155#
  • 1×175#
  • 1×195#
  • 1×215#
  • 1×230#
  • 1×245# (PR)

There, got that PR for the day! 🙂 Normally I don’t like to make such big jumps towards the end, but it worked out for this.