Roll Over, Fall Out of Bed

It was rough rolling out of bed this morning. My low back is smoked and just overall body fatigue. Went to the 9am class, but I really just wanted to stay home in bed.

Warm-up

  • 20 Arm Circles (each direction)
  • 20 Zombie Kicks
  • 10 HR Push-ups
  • 30s Bottom Squat Hold
  • 10 Air Squats
  • 20 PVC Pass-thrus

Strength

Bench Press

  • 10 @ 45#
  • 8 @ 115#
  • 6 @ 135#
  • 5 @ 155#
  • 5 @ 175#
  • 5 @ 185#

They were doing a 5×1 but I’m nowhere near ready for maxing out. I still need reps to try to build up some muscle and strength.

Tabata Diamond Push-ups

I did sets of 10 the first 3 rounds and got more rest. Sets of 8 the next two rounds and then I think sets of 6 or so. Totaled 73.

Strict Pull-ups

3 x 8, resting 90s

WOD

10-20-30-20-10

  • Wall Balls (20# MB, 10′ target)
  • KBS (53# KB)
  • 400m Run

I did all of the wall balls unbroken and only broke up the 30 KBS into 18-12. My runs were too slow and paced though. Picked it up a bit on the last run. Finished in 19:09 and then walked about 130m.

Definitely a rest day tomorrow and hopefully a 90 minute massage at some point.

A PR Morning

Took a rest day yesterday and walked 18 holes of golf. Woke up today feeling more beat up than I should. In at 10am to test my deadlift.

Warm-up

3:00 Row

Olympic Lifting

Snatches

  • 45# Position Work for 5:00
  • 95# x 2
  • 115# x 2
  • 135# E30S 3:00
  • 155#
  • 165#
  • 175# (PR)

My snatch is feeling really good lately. I was planning to do 135# for 5:00 but it was feeling good so I stopped and started bumping up the weight. That was a 10# PR. Looking forward to trying more.

Strength

Deadlift

  • 185# x 8, rest 2
  • 275# x 5, rest 2
  • 325# x 3, rest 3
  • 375# x 1, rest 3
  • 425# x 1, rest 10
  • 475# x 1 (PR), rest 12
  • 500# x 1 (PR)

My old PR was 455# in April, so this was a big jump. The 425# lift hit me hard for some reason, even though I’ve pulled it for 3 several times before. I saw sweating and light-headed, so took a long rest before the 475# attempt. If Kevin and Matt weren’t there pushing me I was going to go for 485# or so next, so I’m glad they talked me into the 500# attempt.

Back to Survival Fitness at 5pm for a class.

Warm-up

  • 30 Air Squats
  • 20 PVC Pass-thrus
  • 30 PVC OHS

Strength

Front Squats

  • 5 @ 115#
  • 5 @ 145#
  • 5 @ 165#
  • 5 @ 185#
  • 5 @ 185#

Kept it light and fast. Didn’t need any more heavy weights after the morning session.

10:00 EMOM

  • Odds: 5 Strict HSPU
  • Evens: 8 Box Jumps (32″)

The HSPU felt good today. Probably should have done a deficit, but I already put in a lot of work and had an idea of how bad the WOD was going to be, so I backed off a bit.

WOD

  • 30 Hang Squat Cleans (95#)
  • 30 Push-ups
  • 30 Thrusters (95#)
  • 30 T2B
  • 30 OHS (95#)
  • 30 Burpees
  • 30 Shoulder to OH (95#)

The burpees were horrible. Slowest ever! Finished in 19:12.

Back to Classes

I’m hitting up classes again for a couple of weeks for a change of pace. Went to 9am today.

Warm-up

  • PVC Pass-thrus
  • PVC Snatch position work

Olympic Lifting

10:00 to work up to heavy power snatch for the day.

  • 45# – Position work and progressions
  • 95# x 3
  • 115# x 2
  • 125#
  • 135#
  • 145#
  • 155#

Felt damn good today. Took about 70% of that heavy power snatch for the following…

EMOM 10:00

  • 3 TnG Power Snatch (105#)
  • 3 Strict Chin-ups

Again felt solid on all 30 and didn’t have trouble with the chin-ups.

Strength

Did 5 x 105# and 3 x 185# back squats to get the muscle firing.

EMOM 10:00

  • Odds: 5 Back Squats @ ~80% (225# 235# 235# 245# 255#)
  • Evens: MAX DB Strict Press (45# DBs)

The back squats were tough, but I think my body responds better to this type of volume. Torso was pretty damn good today but could feel it drifting forward at the end. I did 10/10/8/6/5 on the presses. This was also really tough on the cardio.

WOD

8:00 AMRAP (Partner)

    • Prowler Sprint – 25m High, 25m Low (180#)
    • Weighted Plank (45#)

Keep switching between each with your partner. Not easy after the squats and you couldn’t catch your breath on the planks.

I stayed after and did 5:00 on the Air Dyne for a cool down and then 0.46 miles of sled drag with 115#.

Hotshots 19

Today we did the “Hotshots 19” Hero WOD.

6 Rounds

  • 30 Air Squats
  • 19 Power Cleans (95#)
  • 7 Strict Pull-ups
  • 400m Run

The Rx weight was 135# but I didn’t feel like destroying my body for the week and ruining any of my Oly progress I’ve made. 95# allowed me to keep a high intensity and still use decent form. I did all of the air squats unbroken, cleans as 11-8 (except the last round where I had a mental error and dropped the bar with 3 reps to go), and pull-ups as mostly 3-2-2. Finished in 32:41. Really glad I scaled it.

Snatchin’ Sunday

Trained out in the garage tonight for a couple of hours. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish by yourself without talking to anyone. Solid night of work.

Warm-up

0.45 Mile Sled Drag (115#) around the block

Olympic Lifting

Thacker Warm-up

After hearing them talk about a better snatch warm-up on the Barbell Shrugged Podcast, I had to check out the Thacker snatch progressions. Let me tell you, they are no fucking joke. I was sweating my ass off and breathing hard halfway through each part. I’m going to try to do this once or twice a week.

Snatches

3:00 EMOM

  • 2 Snatches (95# 115# 125#)

Rest 4:00

10:00 EMOM

  • 1 Snatch (135# 135# 145# 145# 155# and then repeated)

I completed every snatch today. Feeling more and more comfortable with the improved technique.

Snatch Deadlifts

  • 2 @ 165#
  • 2 @ 165#
  • 2 @ 175#
  • 2 @ 175#
  • 2 @ 185#

Figured it was time to start feeling the correct positioning with higher weights. Felt good, but hard on the thumbs. Might use straps next time.

Strength

Back Squats

  • 5 @ 135#
  • 5 @ 165#
  • 5 @ 195#
  • 5 @ 195#

Light squat day. Key thoughts for were to lead with the hips back first, push knees out, and keep a vertical torso.

Shoulder Press

  • 5 @ 85#
  • 5 @ 105#
  • 5 @ 115#
  • 5 @ 125#

These felt really tough.

4 Rounds NFT

  • 20 GHD Sit-ups
  • 20 Back Extensions
  • 5 GHR
  • 5 Snatch Press 95#

Took a short rest after 14 sit-ups in the first 3 rounds and then did all 20 unbroken in the last round. Mid back had something going on in those last 6 reps which didn’t feel very good. Trying to not lead up with my ass on the GHR but it’s really tough. Maybe I should try static holds in the straight out position. I have a hard time getting 95# moving but then it’s not that bad. My neck gets sore from these from having to push it forward so I don’t bang my head with the bar.

Cool Down

Walked 0.53 miles around the neighborhood.

Row and Run Intervals

Feeling really beat up today, which shouldn’t be surprising after 4 days in a row. Heading out-of-town tomorrow for a bachelor party, so will be a weekend of rest. In at 10am to finish out the 2nd 5/3/1 cycle.

Warm-up

  • 400m Run
  • PVC Pass-thrus

Strength

5/3/1 Bench Press – Cycle 2 Week 3

  • 5 @ 85# (40% of Training Max – warm)
  • 5 @ 110# (50% – warm)
  • 3 @ 130# (60% – warm)
  • 5 @ 160# (75%)
  • 3 @ 185# (85%)
  • 1+ @ 205# (95%)

Only 3 reps and the last one was an ugly struggle. Estimated max of 225.5#.

5/3/1 Front Squats – Cycle 1 Week 3

  • 5 @ 110# (40% of Training Max – warm)
  • 5 @ 135# (50% – warm)
  • 3 @ 165# (60% – warm)
  • 5 @ 205# (75%)
  • 3 @ 235# (85%)
  • 1+ @ 260# (95%)

Right in that sweet spot of 5 or 6 reps again, with 5 reps today. Estimated max of 303#, which should be pretty accurate. Tried to cycle the reps a little faster in the early sets and keep an upright torso, although I started to hunch over in that last set.

WOD

5 Rounds

  • 250m Row
  • 150m Run
  • 2:00 Rest

I didn’t realize we were resting after each round, so I had paced my first round. My rounds were 1:28/1:16/1:16/1:15/1:16 and my rower splits were 49.7/47.2/49.6/49.3/48.9. After the first two rounds I stopped stropping in my feet and although it slowed down my pace, it was better overall because I was able to jump right out and get on my run. After the final run, my time was 14:31 (including the 8:00 of rest). Really liking this interval stuff for conditioning.

Double Day

Feeling good this morning. Hamstrings a little tight from squats on Tuesday, but body feels good. In at 10am.

Warm-up

1/2 Mile Sled Drag (115#)

Olympic Lifting

Every 1:30 to 2:00

  • Snatch
  • Hang Snatch
  • High Hang Snatch

I did it with 95#, 105#, 115#, 125#, 135#, and 125#. No misses on any of the lifts. I think 135# in a new high for the high hang, by 10#. Getting better!

Strength

5/3/1 Deadlifts – Cycle 2 Week 3

  • 5 @ 165# (40% of Training Max – warm)
  • 5 @ 210# (50%)
  • 3 @ 250# (60%)
  • 5 @ 315# (75%)
  • 3 @ 355# (85%)
  • 1+ @ 400# (95%)

Pulled 8 reps @ 400# for an estimated max of 505.5#. Booyah! Looking forward to testing 1RM next week. It won’t be close to 500# but I should see a nice improvement over 455#.

WOD

5 Rounds

  • 10 OH Lunges (45# empty bar)
  • 10 Goblet Squats (53#)
  • 5 C2B Pull-ups

I used a clean grip on the OH Lunges. First time doing those with a barbell. Did everything unbroken and finished in 5:56. Not a killer WOD, but did make my legs shaky when I was done.

Core

  • 100 Sit-ups

Was hoping for a sub three and was on pace, but died a bit in the 3rd minute to finish at 3:06, 4 seconds off my best. I need to figure out how to stop moving backwards because I have to adjust the AbMat every 10-15 reps.

3 Rounds NFT

  • 10 T2B
  • 5/5 Side Bends (80# KB)

Grip may have been the toughest here after deadlifts and C2B pull-ups.

Went back at 8pm. Warmed up with 3:00 on the Air Dyne.

Conditioning

6 Rounds

  • 40 yard Prowler Sprint (High, 210# total)
  • 60s Rest
  • 40 yard Prowler Sprint (Low, 210# total)
  • 60s Rest

We took this from a challenge posted by Jim Wendler, but 3 rounds (6 sprints) was too easy so we doubled it. Ended up being pretty perfect.

I also did 3 sets of 10 wall squats to work on my vertical torso.

Grace-Off

Last day of our group’s golf tournament this morning, so I walked 18 holes. With the humidity lately this has been fatiguing me more than expected. Went in around 7:30 for open gym.

Warm-up

3-4:00 of DU practice

I reeled off a nice streak of 71 right off the bat and then got a bunch in the 30s. I need to get better at being able to do long streaks when I lose some breath and I want to hit that 100 so bad!

Strength

5/3/1 Shoulder Press – Cycle 2 Week 3

  • 5 @ 60# (40% of Training Max – warm)
  • 5 @ 75# (50% – warm)
  • 3 @ 90# (60% – warm)
  • 3 @ 115# (75%)
  • 3 @ 130# (85%)
  • 1+ @ 145# (95%)

I went for it and couldn’t even get one rep. Wow. Took a minute to regroup but was only able to get 2 reps. What the fuck is going on with some of my lifts? Last week I did 6 @ 140# and now this bullshit? Puts my estimated max at 154.5#, well below my 165# PR.

Snatch Press

  • 10 @ 45#
  • 10 @ 75#
  • 10 @ 85#

WOD

Warmed up clean and jerks with 45# x 3, 95# x 3, 115# x 3, and 135# for one.

“Grace”

  • 30 C&J (135#)

I’ve been wanting to Rx this bitch for a long time. Brent came in to throwdown with me. My last “Grace” attempt was 125# back in November, which I did in 4:16. Only took me 3:03 today and I probably lost 10-15 seconds with the damn collars. Somewhere between 15 and 20 I was wondering why it was so hard to get my right arm up. I finally looked at the bar and the 45# bumper was nearly off the bar. Ugh!

Felt pretty good though, I stupidly dropped the bar after 3 reps because something just didn’t feel right and then I started doing singles after 9. I wasn’t resting between reps though, I was actually catching the bar on the bounce and resetting right away. Hanging on and controlling to the ground was just taking too much energy out of me and I knew I couldn’t sustain it. I was predicting a time around 3:00 the other day talking to Matt, so I’m pretty happy with that.

Finisher

3 Rounds NFT

  • 5 Strict Deficit HSPU (15# Bumpers)
  • 5 Strict Chin-ups
  • 1:00 Air Dyne

The HSPU were a struggle to complete, but not surprising seeing how my shoulder press sucked today.

My Squats Suck

Yesterday I walked 18 holes of golf in the morning and was exhausted most of the day. It was a long day on Sunday helping out and watching the competition. Needed a rest day anyway after 4 in a row. In at 10am this morning.

Warm-up

3:00 Air Dyne

Olympic Lifting

Started with 7:00 of Snatch Position Drills with 45# on the training bar. Focused on my setup in addition to meeting my hips. Then I started doing snatch singles and resting as needed.

  • 3 singles with 95#
  • Single, miss 2 singles with 115# (first one flew up so fast I almost caught it standing fully upright, so tried to adjust on the 2nd and bar was too far forward when I received it)
  • 2 singles with 135#
  • 2 singles with 145#
  • 1 and 3 fails with 155# (I started thinking too much and then wasn’t committing to the lift)
  • Fail and single at 135# to stop on a make

Felt good up until 155#. Feeling fatigued still this morning though.

Strength

5/3/1 Back Squats – Cycle 2 Week 3

  • 5 @ 120# (40% of Training Max – warm)
  • 5 @ 150# (50% – warm)
  • 3 @ 180# (60% – warm)
  • 5 @ 225# (75%)
  • 3 @ 255# (85%)
  • 1+ @ 285# (95%)

My squat has been disappointing for the last few weeks, but last week Kevin noticed I was really bent over, so I concentrated on that today and did much better at it. But my squats still sucked. I got 3 reps at 285# before stopping. Waited a few more minutes and did 285# again for 2 reps. I was able to do 295# for three a long time ago. My squat has been shitty ever since Tough Mudder. Maybe I’ll go back to Super Squats which is what I was doing before I got sick for 2+ weeks. Something needs to change. I was planning to test my max next week but that is definitely not happening because it’ll just be disappointing to have gone down.

WOD

E4MOM 16:00 (4 rounds)

  • 250m Row
  • 25 Wall Balls

I tried setting the damper to low 4 on the rower today and it felt pretty good. I think I’ll keep experimenting with it. I did all of the wall balls unbroken and finished the combo in under 2:00 each round so had just over 2 minutes of rest before the next round.

Jumped on the GHD when I got home.

Finisher

5 Rounds NFT

  • 10 GHD Sit-ups
  • 10 Back Extensions

Sunday Morning Sprints

I set my alarm and got up early for some sprints. 7am over at Heritage High School.

sunday-sprints

There was a nice little chill in the air. Perfect for running. I warmed up with 800m of jogging.

E2M 20:00

  • 100m Sprint

Eased into the first few sprints so I didn’t pull a hammy or anything. Legs were really feeling it in the last 3 sprints. Walked 800m after I was done.

Spent most of the day helping out at the pro-am at Survival Fitness today and then went over to Kevin’s garage around 7:30.

Warm-up

3:00 Air Dyne

Olympic Lifting

I was using the blocks at mid-thigh again. I’d do 3 snatch deadlifts and 3 snatches. Used 65#, 95#, 115#, 135#, 145# (missed the first snatch), and then 155#, where I failed at 2 snatch attempts not fully committing to them.  Called it quits there because it just wasn’t in me for the day. The two hits at 145# were 10# higher than last week so I’ll take that as a success. Pretty tired from a long day and the sprints in the morning.

Strength

5/3/1 Bench Press – Cycle 2 Week 2

  • 5 @ 85# (40% of Training Max – warm)
  • 5 @ 110# (50% – warm)
  • 3 @ 135# (60% – warm)
  • 3 @ 150# (70%)
  • 3 @ 175# (80%)
  • 3+ @ 195# (90%)

I’m sore and tired from the throwdown on Friday, but managed to pull out 6 reps at 195# for an estimated max of 233.5#, which is just below the most I’d done from back in November. Maybe I’ll PR on bench press once this year yet. 🙂