The Burpees

In at 9am with the day off work since I’m heading to Kalamazoo for a wedding.

Warm-up

  • 20 PVC Pass-thrus
  • 10 HR Push-ups
  • 20 Air Squats
  • 10 HR Push-ups
  • 20 PVC Pass-thrus

Strength

Bench Press

  • 10 @ 45#
  • 5 @ 95#
  • 3 @ 135#
  • 3 @ 155#
  • 3 @ 175#
  • 3 @ 195#
  • 3 @ 200#

Still struggling with the right arm. 200# went up easier than 195# though when I focused on keeping the elbow in a better position.

OHS

  • 5 @ 45#
  • 5 @ 105#
  • 5 @ 125#
  • 5 @ 145#
  • 5 @ 160#
  • 3 @ 190#

Looks like my OHS are back. I was in the hole on the 4th rep with 190# but lost it coming up.

WOD

  • 100 Burpees

I’ve actually been thinking about testing this one. It’s been over a year since I did a 6:44, which was actually my first time doing it. Did a 6:16 today and it didn’t feel that bad once it was over. I was shooting for something close to 20 burpees in the first minute and got 17, which I thought I could sustain. Slowed down a bit, but should have pushed harder.

Finisher

5:00 EMOM

  • 10 T2B

Struggled on the last set.

180 Pounds of Snatch

In at 10am by myself this morning. Everyone else bailed.

Warm-up

  • 3:00 Air Dyne
  • Behind the Neck Band Pull Aparts (purple)

Olympic Lifting

Did 5:00 of snatch position work with 45# on the training bar, a couple of quick snatch singles with 95#, and then started doing a snatch single EMOM. Not a big fan of snatching heavy without anyone around, but oh well.

  • 115#
  • 125#
  • 130#
  • 135#
  • 140#
  • 145#
  • 150#
  • 155#
  • 160#
  • 165# (Fail)
  • 165#
  • 170#
  • 175#
  • 180# (PR)
  • 185# (Fail)

Had 185# up over me but was too soft and too far forward. Rested 3:00 and gave it another shot with a similar result, but the first attempt was better. I’ll get it next time.

Strength

Shoulder Presses & Chin-ups

  • 5 x 85#
  • 10 Strict Chin-ups
  • 5 x 105#
  • 10 Strict Chin-ups
  • 5 x 115#
  • 10 Strict Chin-ups
  • 5 x 130#
  • 10 Strict Chin-ups

Pendlay Rows

  • 5 x 115#
  • 5 x 135#
  • 5 x 155#
  • 5 x 165#

I should have went for more here, but haven’t done them in weeks.

WOD

4 Rounds

  • 200m Row
  • 30s Rest

Felt solid on the rower. Didn’t want to over do it, with plans to go to class at night.

20130912-121928.jpg

Went to the 7pm class.

Warm-up

3 Rounds

  • 1:00 Bottom Squat Hold
  • 15 PVC Pass-thrus

Strength

Back Squats

Warmed up with 10 @ 45#, 5 @ 95#, and 5 @ 135#.

  • 5 @ 185#
  • 5 @ 225#
  • 5 @ 225#
  • 5 @ 265#
  • 5 @ 265#

Ass To Grass! Back using the weightlifting shoes today to help me out with my squats and stuff. Squats are feeling better finally.

WOD

15-12-9

  • Deadlifts (225#)
  • HSPU

Finished in 4:10. This was just 9 reps of each short of being “Diane” but 9 reps of each more than the 12-9-6 I did in 5:18 back in November. Over a minute faster with 18 total reps extra. I’ll take that improvement! I can probably finally knock out the real “Diane” in a respectable time now.

Rest 4:00

15-12-9

  • One-arm Snatches (45# DB, alternating)
  • Burpees

Did this one in 3:41. Liked these WODs!

Core

3 Rounds

  • 5/5 Turkish Get-ups (increasing each round, 30#/35#/40# KB)
  • 90s Rest

Good work to improve shoulder strength and stability.

Tuesday Times Two

Scorching high in the 90s today and was already about 80 out at 10am when I went in.

Warm-up

  • Run 300m
  • 2:00 Air Dyne

Olympic Lifting

Snatch Balances

  • 2 @ 95#
  • 2 @ 125#
  • 2 @ 135#
  • 2 @ 155# (Failed first attempt at 2nd rep, then made it)
  • 1 @ 165#
  • 1 @ 170#
  • 1 @ 175#
  • 1 @ 180#
  • 1 @ 185# (Failed first try, then made it)

Once it gets heavy I don’t drop under enough. It turns into more of a snatch push press and an OHS, but I’m getting more comfortable under the weights.

Snatch Deadlifts

  • 3 @ 165#
  • 3 @ 175#
  • 3 @ 185#
  • 3 @ 195#

Wore lifting straps this time to save my thumbs. Feels so heavy!

Strength

Warmed up back squats with 5 @ 185# and 3 @ 225# and did a quick set of 5 snatch presses with an empty bar.

10:00 EMOM

  • Odds: 5 @ 100# Snatch Press
  • Evens: 2 @ 275# Back Squat

In the first couple of sets I was coming forward in the descent on my back squats, causing me to be leaning forward and toe-sy on the drive back up. By focusing on it I was able to correct it for the rest of the sets.

Cooled down with 5:00 on the Air Dyne. Back at 5pm for class…

Olympic Lifting

20:00 to work on:

  • 1 Muscle Snatch + 2 Snatch Balances

This was our warm-up. Started with a training bar for some reps, then a women’s bar, and finally a men’s bar. Started adding 10# at a time and got up to 105#. First time really ever doing muscle snatches. I really focused on dropping fast on the snatch balances.

WOD

10:00 AMRAP

  • 30 DU
  • 15 Power Snatches (75#)

I really tried to hit my hips, but it was a struggle when you have so many reps and are really fatigued. Completed 4 + 37 (30 DU and 7 snatches). Sweating like a pig. High reps on the barbell killed me as usual.

Finisher

50-40-30-20-10

  • Sit-ups (Anchored with DBs)
  • Russian swings (53# KB)

My core was still sore from the GHD and T2B I did a few days ago. This fired those abs right back up. Talk about a burn and not being used to the anchored foot position really worked the hip flexors a lot more. I had a nice puddle of sweat under my back after this.

Rest day tomorrow!

Monday Morning

Went to the 9am class.

Warm-up

  • 300m Run (before class started)
  • 4 Rounds
    • 15s Air Squats
    • 15s Zombie Kicks
    • 15s PVC Pass-thrus
    • 15s Jumping Jacks

Strength

Front Squats

  • 5 @ 45#
  • 5 @ 135#
  • 5 @ 165#
  • 5 @ 195#
  • 5 @ 225#
  • 5 @ 245#

Squats felt good for the 2nd consecutive day. Didn’t try to get crazy and stayed below my 260 5RM from a couple of weeks ago.

3 Rounds NFT

  • 12 Lunges (135#)
  • 12 RDL(135#)
  • Rest 60s

Good burn with little rest.

WOD

20:00 Time Cap

  • 10 OHS (135#)
  • 10 Box jumps overs (24″)
  • 10 Thrusters (135#)
  • 20 Power cleans (135#)
  • 10 T2B
  • 10 Burpee C2B Pull-ups
  • 10 T2B
  • 20 Power cleans (135#)
  • 10 Thrusters (135#)
  • 10 Box jumps overs (24″)
  • 10 OHS (135#)

This is why it’s good for me to go to classes now and then. We rarely program this much barbell work in our WODs and ever more rare at this time domain. I decided to go Rx even though I knew it would suck. Finished in plenty of time at 19:56. LOL!

Shouldering Sunday

Yesterday was a much-needed rest day, but got up early and golfed 18 holes in a cart, then had a 90 minute massage in the afternoon. Got a solid 10 hours of sleep last night. Headed over to Kevin’s at 11.

Warm-up

  • 4:00 Row
  • PVC Pass-thrus

Olympic Lifting

Snatches

Did doubles with 10-15 seconds between each rep.

  • 95-115-135-145-155-160

I missed on the 2nd attempt at 160 and then went again for what felt like my best attempt of them all.

Block Snatches (mid-thigh)

I did a double of snatch + OHS, again taking 10-15 seconds between each rep.

  • 95-105-115-125-135

Felt a lot more explosive off the blocks then I did from the floor. Didn’t try to get super heavy here, even though I’ve done 145# before.

Strength

Back Squats

  • 5 x 135#
  • 5 x 160#
  • 5 x 190#
  • 5 x 225#
  • 3 x 260#
  • 8 x 190#

Squats felt great today. No forward lean and legs were steady.

Incline Bench Press

  • 8 x 45#
  • 8 x 95#
  • 8 x 115#
  • 8 x 115#
  • 5 x 125#

We had the bench set at a pretty aggressive incline. Hopefully these will help out with both my shoulder press and regular bench press.

Incline Bench Press w/ Earthquake Bar

  • 8 x 50#
  • 10 x 60#
  • 5 x 70#
  • 10 x 70#

First tried to go with a 35# KB on each side of the bar, but I was all over the place and racked it after 1 rep. Dropped to lower KBs and got a lot more comfortable with it, allowing me to knock out a big set with the 35s at the end.

Core

During halftime of the Lions game I went out to the garage.

4 Rounds NFT

  • 15 GHD Sit-ups
  • 15 Back Extensions
  • 10 T2B

I had to drop off the bar after 9 in round 3 of the T2B and then the last round did them 6-3-1, but everything else was unbroken. Haven’t used my pull-up bar in a long time and it’s a lot different feel compared to the bars at Survival Fitness.

Conditioning

Went over to the track at Heritage around 7:15 to run some sprints with Michelle. Jogged 800m to warm-up and then walked 600m to cool down.

E2M 20:00

  • 100m Sprint

Hamstrings on fire!

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.