Back Squat

60 Day Lifting Challenge – Week 2 Day 5

I’m doing the 60 Day Lifting Challenge from Columbus Weightlifting. Hit up the garage gym around noon.

Warm-up

5:00 Jump Rope and DU
45# Snatch Positions

First try using my new 9’4″ Rx Jump Rope (1″ shorter than I’ve been using since this summer) and I nailed 100 unbroken DU! Finally hit the century mark! 🙂 Reeled off a set of 73 the next try.

Muscle Snatch

2×75#
2x2x85#
3x2x95#
2×105#

Muscle Clean

3×105#
2x3x125#
3x3x135#

Power Snatch from above the knee (Demo Video)

2×95#
2×115#
2×135#
1×145#
1×155#

These felt really good! I’ve never tried 155# from a hang position before and it was easy. I think I might have done 145# from blocks with the bar starting at the knees, but not a power snatch.

Power Clean from above the knee (Demo Video)

2×125#
2×150#
2×175#
1×190#
1×205#

Not as good as the snatches, at least in terms of feel.

2×205#
2×240#
2×270#
2×290#
2x2x305#

Grinder in those last two sets. Doesn’t look as bad on video as it felt when doing the reps.

GHR

4x with only bodyweight
2×4 holding 5# plate
4x holding 10# plate
4x holding 15# plate

Either I finally figured out how to do GHRs or my hamstrings have gotten significantly stronger in the last two weeks from all of the lifting. I could barely do 5 reps without holding any weight before.

Took a quick shower and headed over to Survival Fitness for open gym.

Conditioning

Warmed up on bench press with:

10×45#
5×95#
3×135#

Then jumped into this workout:

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Bench Press (165#)
4 C2B Pull-ups

Going unbroken for the set of 10 was a mistake. I think I went 5-4, 3-3-2, 4-3, 3-3, 3-2, 2-2, 3, 2, and 1 on the rest of the bench press sets. Managed to do all sets of C2B unbroken which was the goal. Would have been doubtful to do had I chosen 5 reps instead of 4. Took me 10:47 to finish because of so many breaks in the bench press. This wasn’t part of the 60 Day Challenge programming, but since there no jerks today, I was feeling good, and tomorrow is a rest day I added in the extra work.

12 Rounds

20s Row for calories
10s Active rest (keep the flywheel moving)

As you can see below I screwed up on the 4th work interval, so made so to go for 13 total intervals. Didn’t feel like I pushed hard enough, but that was a solid 3 hours of work.

The program called for “Establish Max Height Box Jump” but I have a mental block that prevents me from making an attempt once I get to a certain height. So I tested my vertical jump instead. On concrete, with no step it was 24″ and taking a step into it with one foot I could get 26″. I wish I could remember what it was back in high school.

Week 2 is in the books, so that’s about 25% done with the challenge. Can’t wait to see what the programming for week 3 looks like.

60 Day Lifting Challenge – Week 2 Day 1

I’m doing the 60 Day Lifting Challenge from Columbus Weightlifting.

I definitely needed a rest day yesterday when I saw what was programmed for the start of week 2 and I’m glad I took it even though I’m now a day behind in the program due to the CrossFit competition on Saturday. Oh well. I went out in the garage by myself today around 4pm.

Warm-up

45# Snatch Positions

Didn’t feel like spending a lot of time warming up since I could do that with the muscle moves.

Muscle Snatch

5×65#
3x3x85#
2x3x95#

Muscle Clean

5×95#
5x2x125#

Snatch

2×95#
2×115#
2×135#
1×145#
1×155#
1×165#
3x1x170#

Clean & Jerk

2×125#
2×150#
2×175#
1×190#
1×200#
1×215#
3x1x225#

Back Squat

2×205#
2×240#
2×270#
2×290#
2x2x305#

Felt good to redeem myself after not being able to get 290# up once on Sunday with the whole squat fiasco. The second rep on each set with 305# was a fight.

I sure am not used to doing all 3 of those lifts with multiple reps at 90%. I think I’ll be feeling this for a few days, but I hope not because I have to do the same thing on day 3!

60 Day Lifting Challenge – Week 1 Day 5

I’m doing the 60 Day Lifting Challenge from Columbus Weightlifting.

Today is supposed to be a rest day before starting week 2 tomorrow, but the throwdown yesterday forced some reshuffling. I’ll skip the CrossFit stuff they programmed for today since I some metcon work in the competition.

Feeling a little beat up from yesterday. My ass, hamstrings, low back, and shoulders are sore and fatigued.

Warm-up

2:00 Air Dyne

Jerk Balances (Demo Video)

4×75#
4×95#
2×115#
2×125#
2×135#
2×145#
2×155#

Cleans from Below the knee (Demo Video)

2×115#
2×155#
2×195#
6x2x215#

Damn! Those doubles were tough.

Split Jerks

2×125#
2×150#
2×175#
1×190#
1×200#
4x1x215#

Tough too, but got through it.

The Rogue jerk blocks worked great. Solid. No movement so you really have to be careful the bar doesn’t mess up your hands when it lands.

Back Squats

2×205#
2×240#
2×270#
LOL @ 290# (see below)
5x2x255#

The 270# reps weren’t very easy so I figured I’d put some blocks under me for 290#. Got it in my head I was going to hit them, so I pretty much stopped at the bottom anticipating it, then couldn’t get moving up with the weight. Took the weights off, got it back on the rack, and went again. Went to bounce out of the hole and hit the blocks this time. Fuck! So I took off the tops (2.25 inches shorter) and then couldn’t stand up the weight on the next try. So I dropped the weight and did a 5×2 instead of the programmed 3x2x290#.

A 5×5 of good mornings were programmed, but I skipped them. I got plenty of low back work in the competition yesterday and the above took plenty long enough. I’m not really sure how I got through everything and made all of the lifts before the squats.

Week 1 is in the books I really liked the programming and can feel some improvements in my lifts. Looking forward to week 2.

60 Day Lifting Challenge – Week 1 Day 3

I’m doing the 60 Day Lifting Challenge from Columbus Weightlifting. Yesterday was a rest day. Went oven to Kevin’s garage after 6pm to lift tonight.

Warm-up

Jumping Jacks
PVC work
15# Snatch Positions

Muscle Snatches

4×45#
2×75#
3x2x85#
2x2x95#
2×105#

Muscle Cleans

3×75#
3×105#
3x3x125#
3×135#
3×145#

I think these muscle movements are really helping my turnover. Bumped the weights up a couple notches from the other day and still felt good on these.

Snatches

2×95#
2×115#
2×135#
1×145#
1×155#
4x1x160#

I was going to do the last 4 singles with 165#, but 155# felt bad, so I stuck to 160#. Stopped thinking in the last couple of reps and was much better. The last rep felt the best of the day.

Back Squats

2×205#
2×240#
2×270#
3x2x290#

First set at 290# was ugly, especially the 2nd rep. Second set too! Stopped thinking and nailed the 3rd set.

Seated Good Mornings

5×155#
5×175#
5×185#
2x5x195#

Have never done this much volume with them. Will probably be feeling them tomorrow.

After a 2 Month Hiatus

My legs are sore from the 2 days in a row of front squats and my low back is real spicy from a combination of things yesterday. Brent convinced me to do the 10am class today with him. I haven’t been to a class at Survival Fitness in 2 months!

Warm-up

10 Rounds of Tabata Choice

Partner WOD

1 person working at a time

100 C&J (115#)
100 DU
100 Back Squats (115#)
100 Burpees
100 Hang Power Cleans (115#)
200 Bulgarian Split Squats (100 each leg)

Record time, rest 5:00, and continue to bonus rounds.

1:00 MAX HSPU
1:00 MAX Deadlifts (115#)

Rest 1:00

1:00 MAX C2B Pull-ups
1:00 MAX Bench Dips

For each rep completed in the bonus rounds, subtract a second from the recorded time.

We finished the 100s in 33:18. I did 18 HSPU, Brent did 46 deadlifts, I did 19 C2B, and Brent did 51 dips, so our score time would be 31:04. I like these partner workouts with the rest because it turns them into intervals and you push hard for each other. My wind held up pretty good, so my training must be working at keeping my conditioning at an acceptable level.

Cleaning up My Plate

In at 10am with Matt. Have a headache today. Cleaning up my eating starting today and trying to get back down to 195# by December.

Warm-up

1,000m Row

OLY

3 Position Halting Clean Deadlifts

2 x 3 @ 115#
2 x 3 @ 145#
3 @ 165#

High Hang Power Cleans w/o dip

3 x 2 @ 135#
2 @ 145#
2 @ 165#

Power Cleans

2 x 2 @ 165#
2 x 2 @ 185#
2 @ 205#

Strength

Back Squats

5 @ 135#
5 @ 225#
5 @ 255#
5 @ 285#
5 @ 305#

That’s a 10# PR for my 5 rep squat. Last rep was a struggle.

5 Sets NFT

5 Snatch Presses in a squat hold (45-65-70-75-80#)
20 Sit-ups

Conditioning

E2M 20:00

30s Row

So basically 10x :30/:90. After hitting the start on each interval I tried to keep a 1:25 pace. Was able to stay pretty consistent throughout.

CrossFit Swell in Dorado, Puerto Rico

Had a couple of rest days since I came down to Puerto Rico for a work trip. Hit up CrossFit Swell in Dorado this morning for the 7:30am class. It’s just a place in someone’s back yard that has slowly grown into a cool little box. They started as two guys in this little space.

Warm-up

3:00 Jump Rope (5 burpees each time you miss)
20 PVC Pass-thrus
10/10 PVC Around the Worlds
20 PVC OHS
10 PVC Good Mornings w/ side to side twist

Luckily I’m pretty damn good at jump rope singles when I concentrate. Went the entire 3 minutes without a miss.

Back Squats

5 @ 45#
3 @ 135#
3 @ 205#
3 @ 235#
3 @ 275#
3 @ 305#

We were supposed to go 60%-70%-80%-90% and I came pretty damn close by winging it. Squats felt really good!

WOD

15:00 AMRAP

20 Goblet Squats
15 KBS
10/10 One-arm KB OHS
5/5 Turkish Get-ups

I went with a 53# KB for everything since they didn’t have a ton and didn’t want to hog two of them. The OHS and Turkish Get-ups with 53# were rough! I went 3/3/2 in the second round of Turkish Get-up, so was 2 reps shy of completing a 2nd round. Did the 2 extra after the clock was done to even out the sides. 🙂 The humidity adds another element to the workout. I’m just soaked to the bone with sweat. Very friendly and welcoming community of people.

Three’s Company

Over to Kevin’s garage to train with him and Alex tonight.

Warm-up

5:00 Air Dyne

OLY

Blocks at the knee:
- 2 x 2 Snatch Deadlifts + 2 Power Snatches @ 95#
- 2 Snatch Deadlifts + 2 Power Snatches @ 115#
- 2 Snatch Deadlifts + 2 Power Snatches @ 135#
2 Power Snatches @ 145#
EMOM 5:00 – Power Snatch @ 155#
EMOM 5:00 – Power Snatch @ 165#
EMOM 3:00 – Power Snatch @ 170#

The EMOMs were a little longer because there were 3 of us rotating through each lift. I missed the 2nd one at 170, even though it was OH just fine.

Strength

Pendlay Rows

7 @ 170#
8 @ 185#
8 @ 200#

3 Rounds, paced with 3 of us going

5 Strict HSPU
5 Kipping HSPU
5 C&J @ 135#

The HSPU were on 55# competition plates with an AbMat, so a bit of a deficit. Wanted to get the feel for some touch-n-go C&J for Barbells for Boobs on Saturday.

Back Squats

5 x 3 @ 255# for speed

Conga-line style, so very little rest between sets.

It’s pretty nice having the three of us being so close in a lot of lifts, makes it really easy to cycle through stuff without changing plates all the time. Kevin and Alex were done for the day after this.

Conditioning

5 Rounds

30s Row
1:30 Rest

Would have done 10 if it wasn’t already approaching 2 hours for the session.

For the first 2 intervals I was doing a few short fast pulls to get the erg going. Then for the last 3 I went back to a full pull to start. I think I know which one I’ll be sticking with. Is that consistency or what?

Langford Squat Couplets

In at 10am. Feeling spicy in the back and shoulders.

Warm-up

Jump Rope and DU for about 3 minutes.

Squats

Warmed up with 5 front squats @ 45# and 5 back squats at 45#, then into doing Langford Squat Couplets, which are 2 front squats, rack it, immediately into 5 back squats with the same weight.

2/5 @ 95#
2/5 @ 135#
2/5 @ 185#
2/5 @ 225#
2/5 @ 255#
2/5 @ 275#
2/5 @ 285#

Was hoping to hit 275# when I started, so really happy with 285#.

EMOM 10:00

10 DB Bench Presses (45# DBs)

Felt pretty good and right arm wasn’t lagging behind. Didn’t think I’d be able to stick with the 45s all the way, but wasn’t too bad.

3 Rounds NFT

5 Box Jumps (32″)
10 T2B

I haven’t done box jumps since before the knee issue, so was good to test it out.

Got on the rower and did an easy 15 minutes for 3,365m, holding about a 2:10 pace.

The squats were a challenge, but overall a pretty light session. No need to kill myself after just training 13 hours ago though.

All Over the Place

In at 10am with Matt and Alex.

Warm-up

3-4:00 of Jump Rope & DU
45# Snatch Positions and some Klokov Presses

Power Snatches

Positions and some doubles with 95#
2×2 @ 115#
E30S 5:00 1 @ 135#

Back Squats

5 @ 135#
5 @ 185#
3 @ 225#
3 @ 255#
2 @ 275#
2 @ 295#
1 @ 305#
1 @ 315#
1 @ 325#

Matt and Alex were doing some 7 rep TnG Bear Complex, so I jumped in at 145# for a go. That’s a 20# PR. I actually forgot to do a front squat (power clean right to jerk) on the 2nd or 3rd one, so did an 8th for it to be legit.

I grabbed an empty bar and did a set of 20 shoulder presses.

10 Rounds

30s Row
30s Rest

Felt pretty rough today on this, but looking back, that’s 5m more than October 4th, which isn’t all that easy to do when you’re sprinting anyway.

nov-4-2013-row-1

nov-4-2013-row-2

Grabbed an empty bar for 20 more shoulder presses.

Came back at 8pm to do a little more with Matt.

3 Rounds NFT

100m Sled Drag (25# sled + 270#, 50 down and back)
30s Battling Ropes waves
30s Battling Ropes slams
30s Battling Ropes circles

Holy fuck! Tried to do big steps and full foot on the ground for all of the sled dragging. We’ve done 5 plates before, but never 6. Really burned the ass. Those battling ropes are no fucking joke either.