Oh My Quad

Where have I been? Recovering! It’s now been 4 days since the 32 round tabata thrusters and my quads are still sore to the touch. Turned out my back tweak was not just an innocent one. So, yeah, I haven’t really been motivated to workout, especially with walking being a challenge. On Monday I did do some yard work, because I had to before trash pickup on Tuesday. Yesterday was a busy day with work and my body just didn’t feel up for moving much. I was hoping (though not really) that I’d be able to do the IWT today, but it wouldn’t be smart to push my back. I have actually have a scheduled chiropractor appointment today so hopefully I’ll be feeling better tomorrow. Out in the garage around noon.

Warm-up

  • 1,000m Ski Erg
  • 1:00 AirDyne AD2

Conditioning

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Seemed like I was getting a high HR alert the entire workout

30:00 AMRAP

  • 1:00 AirDyne AD2
  • 15 Push-ups
  • 250m Ski Erg
  • 40 Double Unders

Good thing I didn’t try to go the 40 minutes I was originally thinking. Much harder than I expected and was really losing it in the last third. Managed to get 8 rounds plus the minute of AD. Total of 220 calories and 3.01 miles on the AD.

I’ve hated the computer on the AD2 since day 1. The display cycles through 5 pieces of data every 6 seconds, so I can never use calories or distance in an AMRAP like this. A few days ago I got an idea for a winter project to try to read in the data and create my own user interface using a Raspberry Pi and tiny LCD screen. Some of the parts will be here today.

No Go

Legs are tight all over from 256 thrusters. Out in the garage at 12:30. Started warming up to hit the IWT for the second time. Did power cleans of 5×45#, 5×95, and 5×135. When I went to unload the second side of the bar to put on the 55# plate, my back seized up. I’m hoping it was mostly because my body was tight and this isn’t a tweak that will bother me for several days. Guess I should have warmed up the body overall first.

So a change of plans. Jumped on the Air Dyne (AD2) for 30 minutes and went 9.54 miles.

Heading to Iceland

Wanted to get in something before I head to Iceland this afternoon, especially since I don’t plan to do much during the week. Out in the garage to try something different…

Interval Weight Training

I’ve been hearing about IWT for about a year now and have looked it up a few times. Has always looks nasty from the few examples I was able to find and the science/theory behind it makes sense. After seeing it come up again last week I did a little more digging and found an article on Breaking Muscle of all places with some great info and what looked like a good way to get started. I warmed up with some power cleans, 5 touch-n-go each with 45-95-135 pounds.

  • Part 1 – 3 Rounds
    • 8 Power Cleans (155#)
    • 2:00 Ski
    • Rest 2:00
  • Rest 5:00 (total)
  • Part 2 – 3 Rounds
    • 8 Back Squats (205#)
    • 2:00 Air Dyne
    • Rest 2:00
  • Rest 5:00 (total)
  • Part 3 – 3 Rounds
    • 10 Mountain Climbers
    • 10 Push-ups
    • 10 Burpees
    • 10 Air Squats
    • 10 Box Jumps (24″, step down)
    • Rest 1:00

Something I really struggle with is steady state cardio, when fatigued, like the working this week with running. As soon as I got into round 2 of part 1 that couldn’t have been more clear. My meters on the ski erg went from 554 to 530 to 509. I think there is a lot of room for improvement there. All of the cleans were TnG.

When I got to the Air Dyne I was able to stay consistent or maybe I paced too much in the first two rounds. I got 63-62-63 calories on my AD2. The body weight circuit was pretty consistent two with splits of 1:30-1:30-1:33.

Other than trying to keep up a pace on the erg, the hardest part was the first box jump each round. Hopefully I can repeat this each week for a month or two (maybe switch up the movements after a month) and see where it takes my conditioning.

I better shower and pack so I can make my flight!

The Day Before

Out in the garage after 11.

30:00 Clock

  • 0:00 – 25 Push-ups
  • Air Dyne
  • 10:00 – 25 Push-ups
  • Air Dyne
  • 20:00 – 25 Push-ups
  • Air Dyne
  • 29:30 – 25 Push-ups

All sets were unbroken and went 8.59 miles for a nice recovery. Hopefully can do the mile test tomorrow since it looks like the warmest day of the week by a lot.

100% Open

Trip to the gym before lunch.

Warm-up

  • Crossover Symmetry Activation
  • 5:00 Air Dyne – 1.5 miles
  • 5 OHS (45#)
  • 5 OHS (95#)

Open Workout 11.4

10:00 AMRAP

  • 60 Bar-facing Burpees
  • 30 OHS (120/90#)
  • 10 MU

I’ve had this one on my list for quite some time, especially since it was the lone remaining Open workout I hadn’t attempted. Without being able to do muscle-ups for 8+ months, it’s been on hold. Finally got to it today.

I was able to stick with my new BFB technique pretty much the whole time and felt pretty good. Finished them in 4:59, took a breather to put on the belt and then did the overhead squats in sets of 8-8-8-6. They went much better than I expected. Could have pushed for 3 sets, maybe 11-10-9. Finished the squats at 7:59. I planned to try going 3-3-2-2 on the rings, but had to go 3-2-2-2-1 instead. Had enough time left to get in 1 burpee.

Achievement unlocked… 💯% CrossFit Open Workouts!!

Midline / Skill / Conditioning

img_8092“Annie Up”

  • 50-40-30-20-10 Zeus DU
  • 25-20-15-10-5 GHD Sit-ups

I kept playing around with different rep schemes when planning my workouts for the week, mainly focused on getting in a bunch of GHD volume. At the last minute I decided on this upgrade to an already upgraded “Annie” I’ve done a couple of times with a regular rope. My best time had been 6:04 just over a year ago when I did it last. It’s a lot different with the Zeus rope and I have to admit I didn’t put the pedal to the floor today on this.

I did start off with a PR unbroken set of 35 Zeus dubs and then 15 to finish the 50. In the round of 40 I went 13-15-12 and then the 30-20-10 were each done unbroken. I never stopped when I was on the GHD but wasn’t going very fast either. Ended up taking 7:44.

Now I think I’ll hit the golf course (rode a quick 9 holes before leagues) and do a 23 minute ROMWOD tonight.

Clarkless

When I got home from golfing last night my legs were like jello. I rode in the cart too so the 2 hours at the gym really caught up to me. Out in the garage at 11 to finish up the 2nd half of lifts I did before class yesterday.

Warm-up

  • Crossover Symmetry Activation
  • 5:00 Air Dyne (1.48 miles)

Tall Clean

  • 4×45#
  • 4×95
  • 2×135
  • 2×165
  • 2×185
  • 2×195
  • 2×205
  • 2×215
  • 2×225

I put on the belt starting with 185, but gave the knee sleeves a rest. No “Clarking” today! Got that double at the end without dropping it.

Clean Lift Off

  • 2×255#
  • 2×285
  • 2×305
  • 2×315
  • 2×325
  • 2x2x335

All hook grip. Kept wearing the belt. After each set I jumped on the GHD for 10 weighted reps with the 20# medicine ball. Since I missed out any GHD work last week I stepped it up with the 70 reps; I have always stuck around 50 reps when doing weighted. I actually kept the belt tightened up on the sit-ups and it felt good.

Yard work after lunch for a couple hours and then over to the gym by 6pm. I did end up returning those On shoes in exchange for a pair of Saucony, which I had never tried before. First day wearing them.

saucony-everun

Aerobic Capacity – Aerobic Threshold

  • 30:00 Easy Aerobic Run
  • 5:00 Rest
  • 6x
    • 10s Sled Pull Sprint
    • 1:30 Rest
  • 2x
    • 20s Sled Pull Sprint
    • 2:00 Rest

Don’t know if I’ve ever tried to sprint with a sled behind me. Was supposed to use a weight that would take 8-10 seconds to go 30 yards. Made a big guess and loaded 90# on the 25# sled for the pull sprints. With how long the grass was it ended up being too much resistance.


Went 3.03 miles on the run. I paced off 50 steps (about 50 yards or 45 meters) after the final 20 second sprint. Better than being too easy? Who knows, but it was tough so probably did the trick.

Will knock out a 20 minute ROMWOD and do some e-stim on my back, which has been tight all day.

Snatch Day

Will take a few days to get adjusted back to Eastern time. Little sore in some odd places today. Not as bad as I was expecting though. Out in the garage before noon and warmed up with Crossover Symmetry Activation. Day 2 of week 1 on the lifting program.

Snatch Push Press + 3 OHS (3s pause in bottom)

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

Was supposed to keep it below 80% (175), which wasn’t a problem. 😉 Little shaky with my OH stability after the time away from the bar, but made all of the reps. Dropped the bar to my back trough 135, then tried with 145 but I was too wobbly and didn’t commit. Dropped it down my back and then didn’t try with 155.

Tall Power Snatch + OHS

  • 45#
  • 75
  • 85
  • 95
  • 105
  • 115
  • 125
  • 135

Yay!! Wasn’t expecting that much. Haven’t done much more than this when dropping into the squat (triple with 145 I think). Actually it was the first time doing the power variation of tall snatches. Thankful for powers to save my legs a bit while I adjust to squatting again.

Snatch Deadlift (3s pause at knee on descent)

  • 5×135#
  • 5×185
  • 5×200
  • 3x5x210

Horrible, but did the assigned %. Wore lifting straps. How did I ever snatch more than this? haha

Meant to start back on ROMWOD yesterday but it was a long day and I didn’t finish with the lawn until late. So today I’ll do a double. First 20 minute session after lunch.

Had a chiropractor appointment at 5 and then went to CrossFit Intuition.

Warm-up

2 Sets

  • 5s of StrongFit Triceps & Biceps Openers (5#)

Went light since I haven’t done them in weeks and I never really liked the 10# DB at the gym anyway.

Midline & Gymnastics

E2M – 10 Sets

  • 10 GHD Sit-ups
  • 3 Strict Pull-ups

I’m sure I’ll be sore for the next couple of days after not getting in my GHDs last week. No pain doing the pull-ups!! Finally. 🙂 They were actually really easy but I didn’t want to push it with too much volume. Patience.

Conditioning

3 Rounds

  • 30 Zeus DU
  • 10 Burpees

The heavy Zeus rope is no fucking joke! It wants to fly out of your hands and is so much more work on the shoulders and grip. My biggest set was 17 unbroken I think. Took me 4:28 to finish. I think I went 11-17-2, 8-8-8-6, and 12-12-6. Forced myself to break after the first round because missing did not feel good. I’m interested to see if this helps the shoulder fatigue that comes in to play with regular dub on large sets or if it completely messes up your rhythm.

Did an easy 5:00 cool down on an old Air Dyne someone brought in and then did Crossover Symmetry Iron Scap. Knocked out another 20:00 ROMWOD at home.

Go Unbroken

Yesterday walked the golf course and the app said I was close to 7 miles. I guess I spent more time than usual walking back and forth trying to find my ball. First time of the year where we really got to feel the heat of the back 9 at Sawmill when you get out there in the trees with no breeze. Drank a lot more water than I have been and wore my Oakley’s instead of cheap sunglasses. Seemed to help prevent getting one of those sun headaches I often have trouble with. Also did a 45 minute ROMWOD at night. My legs were feeling a little tired all day after the Sunday workout and run.

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Pre-workout

I was coaching this morning so got in early for my warm-up and snatches before class started.

Warm-up

  • Crossover Symmetry Activation
  • 2 Sets
    • 5s of StrongFit Tricep & Bicep Openers (10#)
    • 10 Reverse Hyper (210#)

Weightlifting

E2M – Squat Snatches

  • 4×45#
  • 4×75
  • 4×95
  • 2×115
  • 2×135
  • 2×155
  • 6 sets of 2×175

I wanted to get in 10 total sets, so planned on 4 sets with 175#. Set the clock for 12 rounds just in case it was feeling good. It was, so I kept going. Of course then I rush the 2nd rep in the 5th set and don’t get it pulled into the slot. Stepped right back up and hit it though. That was the only miss. When I exaggerate those knuckles down it really helps me keep it close and feels so much more solid. I did power snatch the final rep, but then stood up and did an OHS with it. Feeling a lot more solid snatching lately.

With Class Warm-up

3 Sets

  • 20 Push-ups
  • 10 Band Pull Aparts (green)

Gymnastics

  • Max Set – Pull-ups
  • 2:00 Rest
  • 3 sets
    • 50% of Max
    • 2:00 Rest

Regular kip again and wore the leather grips. I’m going to look for some new type of grips at Regionals this weekend. I knocked out 30 reps much easier than the 26 a couple weeks ago. That was good, so dropped off the bar; I’ll take the 4 rep PR. Did the 3 drop sets at 15 reps without any trouble. Really happy with how fast pull-ups came back. I think spending some time on ring rows when I was scaling helped out, not to mention more of the Pendlay and landmine rows lately. Wish I could butterfly though. 😦

Conditioning

4 Rounds

  • 200m Run
  • 10 Power Snatch (95#)

Holy shit did I underestimate this one. Went out running fast thinking it would be a quick one. Goal was unbroken on the snatches every round and that jacked my heart rate sky high, making it difficult to push the runs. Really wanted to put the bar down in the last 2 sets but held on. Finished in 7:20 and I guess I ripped open a finger in the process. Dammit!

Cooled down and did Crossover Symmetry Plyo.

Out in the garage for a quick afternoon session to catch up on Monday’s strength work.

Warm-up

  • 3 Rounds
    • 1:00 Air Dyne
    • 30s Bottom Squat Hold
  • 10 Back Squat (45#)
  • 8/8 Landmine Rows (45#)
  • 10 Back Squat (135#)
  • 8/8 Landmine Rows (55#)

Strength

E3M – 6 Sets

  • 12 Back Squats (185#)
  • 8/8 Landmine Rows (65#)

It’s hot in the garage now that summer has finally arrived. This combo wasn’t easy today but not as hard as I was expecting.

Murph Work

7 Sets

  • 20s Push-ups
  • 30s Rest

Went 20-20-17-17-13-12-12 for 111 total with all reps being chest-to-deck. Might as well do the extra work now so it seems easy during Murph on Monday. Already had done 3×20 this morning too.

Need to ROMWOD tonight after all of that work.

“Cindy” Cycles

Walked 18 holes yesterday and did a long ROMWOD. I think I was feeling those Bulgarian Split Squats in my legs and hips.

Out in the garage today before lunch to get in some work I missed yesterday at the gym.

Warm-up

  • Crossover Symmetry Activation
  • 3 Sets
    • 1:00 Air Dyne
    • 10 OHS (45#, close grip)

Amazing how much easier those close grip overhead squats get after the initial set. My shoulders really open up.

Conditioning

6 Cycles

  • 3:00 AMRAP – “Cindy”
    • 5 Pull-ups
    • 10 Push-ups
    • 15 Air Squats
  • 1:30 Rest

6-cindy-3min-cyclesEach cycle starts fresh with the pull-ups.

Still no butterfly pull-ups for me so all regular kips. All go in the first 3 minutes with quick squat cycling. Squats slowed a bit in cycle 2, and then push-ups also started to slow mid 3rd cycle. Scores were 4+5, 4+1, 3+26, 3+17, 3+15, and 3+15. Comes to a total of 126 pull-ups, 240 push-ups, and 313 squats. #volume

I got a little blood blister on my left hand near the crease of the pinky and it popped. Didn’t even noticed until a rest period when I felt blood dripping down my fingers. Was no issue continuing since it wasn’t a rip and wasn’t going to get any worse; just meant I kept leaving blood on the bar. Whoops!

Strength

E2M – 6 Sets

  • 11 RDL (185#, standing on 55# competition plates)

My back was feeling pretty tight after these so decided to skip the GHD work I had planned. I’ll get in some midline tomorrow. That was enough reps for one day anyway!

ROMWOD tonight.