Tag: Bench Press

Double Duty Day

I took the day off from work for Labor Day. Decided to “rest” yesterday though I was going nonstop all day on projects around the house and yard. Out in the garage at 11am for same cardio.

Conditioning

4 Rounds

  • 700m Run
  • 1,500m BikeErg

I planned on 1,400 meters, but I was day dreaming during round one and went too far, so I adjusted. Really happy with my effort on both movements. My runs took 3:22, 3:16, 3:18, and 3:14. My rides on the bike took 2:52, 2:50, 2:50, and 2:42. Each time there was about about 10 total seconds of transition getting on the bike, starting up the computer, and getting off to head back out. Total time was 25:03. I did some math and that was a sub 8:00/mile pace for the running.

Sweet, WHOOP even recognized it was a duathlon(ish)!

Brandi didn’t make it home in time, so I hit a second session solo at 6pm.

Back & Chest

I did 10×45 and 5×115 to warm up my bench press.

4 Sets

  • 10 Seated Cable Rows (double handles, 93-98-104-109#)
  • 10 Bench Presses (165#)

4 Sets

  • 10 Lat Pulldowns (kneeling, 109-115-120-126#)
  • 14 Incline DB Bench Press (50#)

4 Sets

  • 10 Straight Arm Pulldowns (60-65-71-71#)
  • 10 Incline DB Flies (35-40-40-45#)

A lot of increases over last week. The movements are feeling good!

5 Rounds

  • 10 Inverted Bar Rows
  • 10 Clapping Push-ups

This was a nice explosive burner to finish the session. Took me 4:13.

I was kind of exhausted in the afternoon. It’s been a long time since I’ve done a double session and I actually felt much better after lifting.

Bring it Back

Pulled the bikes out on the back patio at 9:30.

Conditioning

30:00 Airdyne (AD2)

I haven’t been on the Airdyne in a long time and always tend to use the BikeErg now. Figured I’d change things up. Went 16.36km with 706 calories.

Chest

6 Sets

  • 20s Banded Ring Push-ups (red)
  • 40s Rest

I did 12 reps each time. This didn’t feel great on the outside of my arms, which were all rubbed up from the straps doing ring dips yesterday.

Bench Press

  • 10×45#
  • 8×95
  • 6×135
  • 4×165
  • 10×195
  • 8×205
  • 6×215
  • 4×225
  • 3×235
  • 2×245
  • 1×255 (fail)

Brought out this 10-8-6-4-3-2-1 bench workout I used to do with my buddy Tom over 15 years ago. The idea is to be near failure on every set. Glad I decided to drop down from my planned starting weight. I gave up mentally before even unracking the bar with 255. Too much negative self talk after being afraid at 245.

Back

5 Sets – EMOM

  • MAX Weighted Strict Pull-ups (40# vest)

Went better than expected, but was really hard! I did 6-4-4-3-3.

3 Sets

  • 12 Straight Arm Lat Pulldowns (60#)
  • 12/12 PVC Parallette Kroc Rows (53# KB)

3 Sets

  • 12 Lat Pulldowns (104#)
  • 12 Seated Bent Over Back Flies (30# DBs)

Used the new pulley system and made it work for today. So nice to have a real weight stack. Now it’s time to take it all back apart and make some more improvements.

Moving Gingerly

My back is tender, sore, and tight after the tweak. Out in the garage at 9:30.

Conditioning

25:00 BikeErg

Went 12,515 meters and felt good, increasing the pace over the time. I really feel good on the bike during these longer sessions.

Back

3 Sets

  • 12 Decline Lat Pulldowns (100#)
  • 12/12 Kroc Rows (on Parallette, 35# KB)

3 Sets

  • 12 Barbell Pullovers (45#)
  • 16 alt Renegade Rows (50# DBs)

5 Sets w/ Drop Sets

  • 8 Incline DB Back Flies (50#)
  • 4 Drop Sets (45-40-35-30#)

Last time, on July 5th, I did 10-8-8-12 with 5# less per set. Today I did 8-8-8-10 for the drop sets. It sucked right from start with the 50 pounders.

Chest

Warmed up by doing 12 supinated bench press with 65# loaded.

3 Sets

  • 12 Supinated Bench Press (135#)
  • MAX Diamond Push-ups (16-14-12)

The push-ups were the movement that aggravated my back the most if I wasn’t keeping a solid position.

3 Sets

  • 8/8 Single Arm DP Bench Press with hold
  • 8 DB Bench Press

I used 40-45-45# and would not have made it with 50# dumbbells.

Tried to do some of the core movements and they didn’t feel good, so we skipped core work again. Maybe we’ll do some tomorrow at the track.

Downhill Recovery

Was a little tired this morning and my back was tight, but WHOOP said my recovery was only 23%!

I honestly don’t feel that bad. Some days it seems to take the heart rate at a weird time that just throws off the formulas, because it said my resting heart rate was 48, which is much higher than my typical 38-40. Out in the garage at 3:30 today for a session that took 2 hours.

Warm-up

  • 5:00 Airdyne (103 cals, 2.55km)
  • 3:00 SkiErg (656m)
  • 2×15 Steamboats
  • 2 HSPU
  • 5 DB Hang Squat Cleans (25#)
  • 2 Burpee Pull-ups
  • 2 DB Hang Squat Cleans (40#)

Conditioning

12:00 AMRAP Partner

  • 6/6 HSPU
  • 5/5 Burpee Pull-ups
  • 6/6 Box Jumps (24/20″)
  • 5/5 DB Hang Squat Cleans (40/25# DBs)

This was a new idea for a partner workout where the sets are small, so by the time you move to your next spot it’s almost your turn again. The way this one works is each partner does 6 handstand push-ups (one person working at a time), then each does 5 burpee pull-ups, etc. Brandi scaled back her HSPU to do Rx and eventually went to some DB push presses. It worked out pretty well, with the burpee pull-ups taking the most time by far. I originally was going to do 15 minutes, but pulled back to 12 today. Would have been fine with three more minutes. This would be a good one to try solo as well. I started, we got through five rounds and I got all of my burpee pull-ups done in the sixth.

Strength

Bench Press

  • 10×45#
  • 8×125
  • 5×165
  • 5×195
  • 5×215
  • 5×225

Could have went more, but that was good enough for today with a lot of work left.

Accessory

3 Sets

  • 12 DB Chest Fly (35#)
  • 12 Underhand Front Raise (15# DBs)

3 Sets

  • 12/12 Static Bicep Curls (25-30-30# DBs)
  • 12 Standing DB French Press (50# DB)

2 Sets

  • 12 Hammer Curls (30# DBs)
  • 12/12 One Arm OH Tricep Extension (25-20# DB)

1 Set

  • 12 Hammer Curls (30# DBs)
  • 12/12 Tricep Kickbacks (25# DB)

The single arm overhead tricep extensions were really bugging my left shoulder so I did kickbacks for the third set.

Midline

3 Sets

  • 10 Jack Knives (20# DB + 5# ankle weights)
  • 10 Renegade Rows (50# DBs)
  • 20 alt V-ups (5# ankle weights)
  • 10/10 Partner Banded Rotations/Holds (blue)

We should really do more of those renegade rows on back day. I feel like they isolate the back muscles better than a Kroc row, which are easy to rotate and cheat on.

18.2 Redemption

Out in the garage at 4pm.

Warm-up

  • 5:00 BikeErg (2,535m)
  • 160′ Lateral Monster Walks
  • 160′ Monster Walks
  • 20 Air Squats

Conditioning

CrossFit Games Open 18.2: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

  • DB Squats (50/35# DBs)
  • Bar-facing Burpees (w/ jump back and up)

This was one of my most hated Open workouts. It seemed so simple on paper; 55 squats and 55 burpees. For whatever reason it destroyed me though and I got a very disappointing time of 9:44. I’ve been wanting to redo it for a long time. I found a nice rhythm with the burpees. When I jumped up out of the bottom I didn’t try to do too much and was ok with taking two short steps and then jumping over the bar. I think this really helped to pace me out. After the front squats didn’t feel very good yesterday I was worried. These squats felt great and I got faster and faster with them. At the end I busted ass through the final 10 burpees and finished in 7:50!!!! I’m so happy with that. I was surprised at how good I was feeling through the second half of the workout and even when I got done. Still not a great time compared to scores around the world but a huge improvement for me and I feel like I could push the pace more. I really didn’t know how hard to go early on because something like that can hit you out of nowhere (and did in 2018!).

Strength / Accessory

Warmed up bench press with 8×45, 8×95, and 8×125#.

4 Sets

  • 8 Bench Press (155#)
  • 8 DB Chest Fly (35#)
  • 8 Bench Press (155#)

Being smart with choosing my weight today instead of going for it in the early sets. Wanted to be able to have something left for shoulder presses. That’s a decrease on the bench and in increase on the fly. Every time I got to the second bench it was a fight.

3 Sets

  • 5 Shoulder Press (115-125-135#)
  • 12 Lateral Raises (15# DBs)

Shoulders were tired!

4 Sets

  • 20s Ski Erg Triceps
  • 12 OH Cable Tricep Extensions (35#, rope)

This was so hard after the first set. We weren’t taking much more rest than letting the other person do their set.

Midline

4 Sets

  • 12 Knee-ins (5# ankle weights)
  • 12/12 Side Plank Bounces/Pulses
  • 24 alt Weighted V-ups (5# ankle weights)
  • 12/12 Partner Banded Rotations

Another great ab workout. Those ankle weights were a good purchase.

Wednesday Cable Work

I guess I can support the CrossFit brand again, since Greg Glassman is selling to a real CrossFitter and a guy who knows how to run a business. Worked out at the usual 4pm.

Warm-up

  • 8:00 BikeErg (4,078m)
  • 10 PVC Passes
  • 2×10 Kip Swings
  • 10 H2H KBS (35#)

Conditioning

  • 30 T2B
  • 40 cal Row
  • 50 H2H KBS (53#)
  • 30 T2B
  • 40 cal Ski
  • 50 H2H KBS (53#)

When I came up with this one, I wrote “GRIPPY!!” in my notes.

I went 12-10-8 for the first toes to bars and then 6-6-6-4-3-3-1-1-1-1, so doing something like 5×6 both times probably would have been better. The row took me about two minutes and the ski around 2:45 I think. Swings were unbroken. Finished in 11:48.

Accessory

4 Sets

  • 10 Wide Grip Bench Press
  • 10 Bench Press
  • 10 Close Grip Bench Press

Used 45-95-105-115#, which is the same as last time we did this.

3 Sets

  • 10/10 Cable Pull Down & Across (handle, 20#)

3 Sets

  • 10/10 Cable Tricep Cross Body Extension (handle, 20#)

4 Sets

  • 10 Overhead Tricep Cable Extensions (rope, 35#)

Took some more videos so I can hopefully get out a blog post about the cable pulley system soon. It’s getting so much use!

Partner Up

My back was better through the night again. Feeling good. Garage time at 4pm.

Warm-up

  • 5:00 Airdyne (102cals, 2.54 km)
  • 2×10 Steamboats

Gymnastics Test

  • 1 Set of MAX Strict HSPU

I got 16, which is one shy of PR.

Strength

4 Sets

  • 10 Dumbbell Z Press (35#)
  • 10 Bent Elbow Lateral Raise (20# DBs)

4 Sets

  • 10 Combo Shoulder Raise (15# DBs)
  • 10 Upright Rows (53# KB)

Combo shoulder raises are done one arm doing a lateral raise while the other does a front raise. I warmed up bench press with 8×45, 8×95, and 5×145.

4 Sets

  • 8 Bench Press (2×165, 2×155)
  • 8 DB Fly (30#)
  • 8 Bench Press

I used 170 the last time we did this, but it wasn’t after a bunch of other work like today. I was smoked!

Conditioning

20:00 AMRAP w/ Partner

  • 30 Ring Dips
  • 60 Hang Power Cleans (95/65#)
  • 30 Box Jump (30/24″)
  • 60 Russian KBS (53/35#)

Decided to make this a partner workout at the last minute (and switch from 15:00 of 25-50-25-50) because I only have one set of rings and starting in different positions would have created a completely different workout for each of us. Worked out well and was fun. We split the dips and jumps in fives. The hang power cleans were in tens until the last round where we did fives. Kettlebell swings were in 15s. We finished 3+77 with me going first. That was 115 hang power cleans for me. My hook grip isn’t used to that!

Low Bar Muscle-ups

Made the last minute decision to golf yesterday morning because the weather forecast showed rain for today. Last night I had to mow the damn lawn again. When I got in bed last night I felt my back a bit and then each time I got up to use the bathroom; like a very minor tweak. After properly waking up and moving around it hasn’t bothered me throughout the day though. Out in the garage at 4pm.

Warm-up

  • 5:00 Airdyne (99 cal, 2.51 km)
  • Steamboats
  • 5 Wide Grip Bench Press (45#)
  • 5 Bench Press (45#)
  • 5 Close Grip Bench Press (45#)

Strength / Accessory

3 Sets

  • 10 Wide Grip Bench Press
  • 10 Bench Press
  • 10 Close Grip Bench Press

I used 95-105-115# and it made me feel so weak. Haha!!

3 Sets

  • 12 Underhand DB Bench (45#)
  • 24 Single Arm Underhand DB Fly (20#, standing, alternating)

3 Sets

  • 10 Z Press (30-35-35# DBs)
  • 10/10 Half Kneeling Windmill Press (25# KB, 35-35# DB)

Nasty superset.

4 Sets

  • 10 Front to Lateral Raise (8# DBs)

Wouldn’t really want to go much heavier than that to keep safe.

Was screwing around on the pull-up bar that I lowered since adding the one built from pipe and realized I can do jumping bar muscle-ups in a workout!

Conditioning

12:00 EMOM (45s Work)

  • cal BikeErg
  • Parallette HSPU (4” deficit)
  • T2B
  • 50m Farmer Carry (70# & 53# KBs)

I hit back on the monitor going in to round two and it took forever to save, so didn’t start up right away, but I assume I was pretty close to my other rounds, which were both 20 calories. Went 5-4 on the handstand push-ups each round. Got 20 toes-to-bars each time, but with a different strategy each round, doing 10-10, 10-5-5, and 4×5. I did not wear grips today. Had some extra rest time on the carry, but that got shorter each round.

Trying Curtsy Lunges

I was having a hard time walking on my left leg last night due to this achilles thing. It feels a little better today. My shoulders are sore and my back is still tight. Out in the garage at 10am.

Warm-up

  • Monster Walks
  • Bench Press
    • 10×45
    • 10×95
    • 10×135

Strength

4 Sets

  • 8 Bench Press (170#)
  • 8 DB Flys (30#)
  • 8 Bench Press (170#)

Increase from the 165# I used last time. Took long rest between sets.

Conditioning

6 Rounds

  • 20 Weighted Plyo Lunges (30#)
  • 20 Curtsy Lunges
  • 20 Shoulder Taps
  • Rest – 2x 1:30, 3x 1:00

The 1:30 rest was too much, so I only rested a minute after the third round and continued with it the rest of the way. Finished in 14:19.

After not doing a muscle-up since March 10th, I’ve had the itch. Around 4:30 I loaded a ladder and my rings in to the truck and headed over to a school with a large set of swings.

Gymnastics

30 Muscle-ups

On December 18th I did this in 5:55, by doing three reps every 40 seconds most of the way. My notes say it wasn’t a problem so my goal today was sub five minutes by going every 30 seconds. No idea how it would go after zero muscle-ups in 2+ months, but what the hell! Losing ten pounds and doing a lot of bodyweight work had to count for something, right?

When I set the rings up and got up there I was easily able to smack my head against the bar, so I adjusted my press out and swing through to the next rep. So give me a break with my lockouts here. My plan paid off and I finished in 4:48, which is PR by 1:07!! 💥💥💥

It seems like just yesterday when I was struggling to get through a ten minute EMOM of 3 reps and now I can do it twice as fast. At my height and size I’m very proud of that progress.

No Way!

I mowed the lawn yesterday and didn’t really do much else. Shitty night of sleep because of worries. 🤷🏻‍♂️ My hands are sore from hook gripping and holding the bar! My traps are sore too from shrugged cleans. Went to the Heritage track at 10am and then back to the garage.

Conditioning

  • 800m Walk
  • 400m Jog
  • 400m Walking Lunge
  • 400m Walk

After all of the plyo lunging, I’ve been wanting to give the 400m lunge a retest. Beautiful morning for it.

IMG_4374.jpeg

Last October my time was 10:39, when I alternated between 20 step-through lunges and 20 bringing my feet together. My goal was to go sub 10 today, by doing 30 step-throughs followed by 10 with a feet gather. I was surprised how great I felt at 100 meters and knew I was flying. As I rounded the final corner I turned to see where Brandi was and she was not far behind me! So I pushed it doing a final 62 step-through lunges without stopping. My time was 8:47!!! Holy Fuck I couldn’t believe it.

Strength

Bench Press

  • 10×45#
  • 10×95
  • 6×145
  • 3×185
  • 3×205
  • 3×220
  • 3×230
  • 3×240
  • 3×250
  • 1×262.5

Went for a PR, because why not, but it came off the rack weird so I called it after one rep.

Midline

E2M – 5 Rounds

  • 16 Alternating V-ups
  • 16 Heel Reaches (leg lifts without lowering legs to the ground)
  • 12/12 Side Plank Bounces

Another good one from Kristi. I did my side plank bounces with my hand on the ground.

Accessory

5 Sets

  • 30s HS Hold (try to take feet off the wall)
  • 30s Rest
  • 30s Banded Curls (blue band, last 4 sets with fat grips, ~25 reps)
  • 30s Rest