Tweaked, Again

Betting getting a lot more sleep this week, though it’s not easy to stay comfortable on a tiny bed. Went to the Bay Athletic Club this morning to get in some squats. Nice facility in the hospital in Alpena.

Back Squat

  • 10×45#
  • 5×135#
  • 5×215#
  • 1×255#

Fuck! Tweaked my back on the next rep with 255#. Not even heavy weight. Pissed me off. I’ve been doing 5×5 with more than 255# and no belt either. The bar was a larger diameter than I’m used to but I doubt that really made a difference. I’d been so careful over the last few months too and then to tweak it with something like this doesn’t make sense. Injuries rarely do though. Guess I’ll be putting the squat program on hold.

Accessory

6 Sets

  • 8/8 Kroc Rows (45-55-60-65-70-70#)
  • 10 DB Shoulder Press (35-45-50-50-50-50#)

Had these planned and was still able to do them. Shoulder press with two 50s got tough.

Goblet Squats

  • 10×50#
  • 10×60#
  • 10×70#
  • 10×80#
  • 10×90#
  • 10×95#

Still wanted to get some leg work in if I could. With the weight out in front it took the load off my back and I didn’t feel it when I made sure to be very precise with my technique.

Gymnastics

5 Sets

  • 5 Strict Pull-ups
  • 8 Strict Bar Dips

Don’t do those enough.

I went out and walked 9 on the golf course going to loosen things up. The back definitely affected my swing.

After going to a movie theater with my 4-year-old niece, I needed to blow of some steam.

Pushing Death

  • Death by Chest to Deck Push-ups.

Got 18+18 and barely got in that 18th rep, so didn’t game it to skip out on the 20th round. 2 rep PR from over 2.5 years ago at a much lighter bodyweight. Racking up the push-ups this week. That’s 189 more.

Oh yeah, done with a drink at my side.

  

Pork Gainz

Wasn’t feeling as motivated to get out of bed for the squat rack this morning, but I made it. I bet the beers I had last night have something to do with that. 🙂 My legs are still pretty sore from the week. Warmed up with 3:00 Air Dyne (1.4km).

1-1/4 Front Squats

  • 10×45#
  • 3×125#
  • 3×135#
  • 3×145#
  • 3×165#
  • 3×185#
  • 3×205#

Might have felt something in that right quad doing these. Will need to keep an eye on it. That makes 5 days in-a-row at the squat rack. Nothing heavy, but greasing the groove.

Went to the 9am class.

Warm-up

  • Crossover Symmetry Activation
  • Bottom Squat Hold
  • PVC Pass-thrus
  • Air Squats
  • PVC OHS

Weightlifting

Hang Muscle Snatch

  • 5×45#
  • 5×75#
  • 5×95#

Gotta be careful bringing them down. Felt some pinching in my left shoulder if I got sloppy.

Snatch

  • 3×115#
  • 3×135#
  • 2×145#
  • 1×155#
  • 1×165#
  • 1×175#
  • 1×185#

Second rep of 145# and the 185# were power snatches. All the others I rode down. No misses. I haven’t attempted any weight in well over a month. That 185# power snatch was the easiest, by far, that I’ve ever done one.

Accessory

4 Rounds

  • 8/8 Kroc Rows (70#)
  • 5 Weighted Push-ups (sandbag – 40#?)

It’s nice to have my 70# kettlebell at the gym now. I’d never used it once at home so figured I’d get more use out of it at CFi.

Conditioning

4 Rounds

  • 5 Burpees
  • 10 Plate Snatches (55#)
  • 15 Air Squats
  • 200m Run

I tried to keep my pace up on the runs. Finished in 8:54. Walked a 200 after.

Accessory 2

Reverse Hyper

  • 10×210#
  • 10×260#
  • 10×300#
  • 10×320#

Knocked out Crossover Symmetry Iron Scap and then 15 minutes of stretches. Picked up some gainz from the Makin’ Bacon Truck on the way home.

bacon-truck-pig

Showing Up Can Be an Accomplishment

Woke up late. Almost 8am by the time I rolled out of bed. Wasn’t feeling motivated to make it to the gym for 9am, but did because I have to pick up Mom from the airport tonight.

Warm-up

  • 500m Row
  • Bottom Squat Hold

Strength

Stiff-Legged Deadlifts

  • 5×45#
  • 5×135#
  • 5×185#
  • 5×215#
  • 5×245#
  • 5×265#
  • 5×285#

Back squats were on the menu, but still no squatting for me. Sucks! Allows me to focus on a weak part of the legs though, so that’s a positive.

Conditioning

5 Rounds

  • 5 HSPU
  • 7 Power Cleans (135#)
  • 9 Box Jumps (24″)

Didn’t have the energy or motivation to go very hard so I set a goal of doing the cleans unbroken every round. Success! Finished in 7:47.

Accessory

4 Sets

  • 5 Evil Wheels
  • 8/8 Kroc Rows (62#)

Tried not to get the body into the rows and focus on making the correct muscles do all of the work.

Well Rested

Needed that complete rest day yesterday, which was the first one in two weeks. I’d taken days with only some light cardio, but not any complete days off during that span. Was also in bed early last night for over 9 hours of sleep. 🙂 In for the 9am class.

Strength

Push Press

  • 5×45#
  • 5×95#
  • 5×135#
  • 5×155#
  • 5×175#
  • 5×185#
  • 5×195# (PR)

My shoulders felt a little fatigued, which must be from Sunday. Pretty good speed through all of the reps, which felt good, especially for a 5# PR. Could have spent more time and gone heavier, but it would have been a struggle.

Accessory

4 Sets

  • 10/10 Kroc Rows (62# KB)
  • 10 HR Push-ups

Easiest the rows have ever been. I think the muscle-up pulldowns are paying off in multiple ways. Tried to be explosive on my push-ups since 10 is no problem.

Conditioning

21-18-15-12-9-6-3

  • Wall Balls (20#, 10′)
  • Sit-ups

No reason to break anything up here. Sit-ups are essentially a rest period in this workout. I started going for a pipe on the wall, which is probably a little more than 10.5 feet. Finished in 6:31. I wish I could figure out how to speed up my sit-ups and not slide backwards through a set.

Was nice to get out early so I had more time and energy for a second session. Out to the garage later in the day. Warmed up with 3:00 on the Air Dyne for 1.36km.

Air Dyne

6 Rounds

  • 2:00 @ 120% of 10:00 max cals pace
  • 1:00 Rest

The way I’ve been calculating percentages for AD work is flawed. I knew it seemed really high when 120% came out to 96rpm and it didn’t take longer than a minute at that pace to realize it would be impossible for 6 rounds of double that length. I took some readings of speed (km per hour) to rpms and will try to come up with something more useful. So, needless to say, my pace how a lot slower after round 1. My distances were 1.48, 1.4, 1.32, 1.29, 1.27, and 1.33 kilometers.

Update: After doing some speed to rpm calculations and looking at the average speed for my 10:00 PR, I’m not sure where to go. It says I averaged 38.8km/hr and 120% would be 46.6 which is about what I was trying to hit with 96rpm. My guess is that if there was a calories per hour number it would not follow a progression that the speed or rpms do, but on this cheaper model of the Air Dyne, who knows. The percentages less than 100% I’ve used seem to work fine, so I guess I’ll continue as I have been and when it’s over 100% I’ll just have to adjust and play a little guessing.

squat-deload

Back Squats

  • 10×45#
  • 5×95#
  • 4x5x135#
  • 5×165#
  • 5×205#

Started focusing on exploding out of the hole and really using my hamstrings. No lifting shoes or belt again, but will go back to them for heavy lifting later this week.

Accessory

4 Sets

  • 20 MU Pulldowns
  • 15 Back Extensions (20# Vest)

Damn those last 5 pulldowns in each set were as struggle, even more so probably after having done the Kroc rows this morning. Good work though! Glad I bumped up from 15 per set for the challenge.

Wednesday Already?

Where did the week go?

Feels good to be waking up at a decent time again. Hit the 9am class.

Warm-up

  • 2 Rounds NFT
    • 5 Strict Pull-ups
    • 10 Push-ups
    • 15 Air Squats
  • Bench Press
    • 10×45#
    • 5×115#
    • 5×165#

XWOD

  • 4-4-4-4-4-4 Bench Press (205#)
  • 2-1-2-1-2-1Plyo Push-up
    • 2s: 18″
    • 1s: 21.5″

Called for 75%, but that seemed took light, so I went up to 80%, which was perfect. Shoulders are feeling kind of beat from “DT” yesterday.

Conditioning

6:00 AMRAP

  • 8 Wall Balls (20#, 10′)
  • 8 Weighted Step-ups (2×40#, 20″)

1:00 Rest

6:00 AMRAP

  • 5 Box Jumps (24″)
  • 5 Burpees
  • 25 DU

I got 6 full rounds plus 3 wall balls on the first part and 5 full rounds plus 5 box jumps, 5 burpees, and 15 double unders on the second part.

Accessory

5 Sets

  • 5 Scap Pull-ups (0#, 20#, 40#, 40#, 40#)
  • 5/5 Kroc Rows (62# KB)

First time doing the scap pull-ups.

Been a long time since I hit an OLY session in the garage. Today that ended. Warmed up with 1,000 meters on the Ski Erg in 4:26.

Snatch Balance

  • 3×45#
  • 3×75#
  • 3×95#
  • 3×115#
  • 3×135# (with 1 fail)
  • 3×155#
  • 3×175#
  • 3×185# (with 4 fails too)

Damn I hate these. Could not get comfortable with 185, but kept trying until I stood it up 3 times. Didn’t realize I hadn’t done a snatch balance in over a year. :-/

Snatch

  • 3×95#
  • 3×115#
  • 3×135#
  • 5x3x155#

Tried to focus on keeping my arms long, but looking at the video it didn’t happen. No misses, but a few saves.

Show Up

Went in for the 5:30pm class. Started with some bottom squat hold and stretching.

Warm-up

  • 5 Shoulder Press (45#)
  • 8 Front Squats (45#)
  • 5 Shoulder Press (95#)
  • 8 Front Squats (95#)
  • 5 Push Press (135#)
  • 8 Front Squats (135#)

Strength

12:00 EMOM

  • Odds: 4 Push Press (185#)
  • Evens: 8 Front Squats (185#)

Deadly! I was near failure on every set of push presses and the front squats were no joke. Felt like I got done with a WOD at the end I was breathing so hard and sweating my ass off.

Accessory

3 Sets

  • 10/10 Kroc Rows (62# KB)
  • 10 Ring Push-ups

Conditioning

5:00 AMRAP

  • 8 KB Snatches (44#)
  • 10 Sumo Deadlifts (44# KB)
  • 12 Wall Balls (20#, 10′)

* 2:00 rest and then another 5:00 of the same thing starting where you leave off in the first AMRAP.

I had no sense of urgency, just kept moving at a slow steady pace. I did 3 rounds plus 8 snatches, 10 deadlifts, and 3 wall balls in the first half and finished with 7 full rounds plus 7 snatches overall.

Walked 200m outside since it was so nice out. After class I stayed for some extra work.

Weightlifting

  • 5 Hang Muscle Snatches (45#)
  • 5 Snatch Presses (45#)
  • 5 Hang Muscle Snatches (65#)
  • 5 Snatch Presses (65#)
  • 5 Hang Muscle Snatches (75#)
  • 5 Snatch Presses (75#)
  • 5 Hang Muscle Snatches (85#)
  • 5 Snatch Presses (85#)
  • 5 Hang Muscle Snatches (95#)
  • 5 Snatch Presses (95#)

I was dead after the workout and know I wouldn’t have the energy for anything explosive. The muscle snatches and presses were back to back so it got tough.

Back

Reverse Hyper

  • 3x10x230#

Could feel my back tight from the class so figured these were a good idea.

I don’t know if yesterday took more out of me than I noticed or that the EMOM to start just completely wiped me out.

Get Out of Bed!

Still having a rough time getting up, but I had to this morning since Kevin is out-of-town and I was running the 9am for him.

Warm-up

  • Bottom Squat Hold
  • Band Rack Stretch
  • 20 Squat Jumps

Strength

Front Squat

  • 10×45#
  • 5×135#
  • 3×205#
  • 2×235#
  • 2x2x255#
  • 2x2x265#
  • 2x2x275#
  • 2×285#

Felt pretty good. This right IT band has been really funky for a couple of weeks now.

Accessory

4 Sets

  • 10/10 Kroc Rows (62#)

Conditioning

14:00 EMOM

  • Odds: 5 Hang Cleans (155#)
  • Evens: 8 Burpees

Tried not to pull on the hang cleans. Did burpees AFAP, finishing in 15s or less each round.

Back

Reverse Hypers

  • 5x10x210#

Bench Sesh

Shoulders are tired from all of the push presses yesterday. Back was not happy sleeping last night. In to CFi at 4:30 today.

Strength

Bench Press

  • 5×45#
  • 5×95#
  • 5×135#
  • 5×165#
  • 5×185#
  • 5×190#
  • 5×200#
  • 5×210#
  • 5×220#

Felt good! New 5RM.

Gymnastics

4 Rounds NFT

  • 5 Strict C2B Pull-ups
  • Muscle-up
  • 5 Strict Ring Dips

Accessory

4 Rounds NFT

  • 10/10 Kroc Rows (62# KB)
  • 10/10 Side Bends (62# KB)

Conditioning

5 Rounds

  • 30s Row
  • 1:15 Rest

Went balls to the wall on the first round and was able to hold about a 1:20 pace. Distances were 182, 174 172, 168, and 171 meters. Much harder than I expected.

Running the Show

I got to CFi a little after 8 to hit some stuff on my own. Kevin has been out-of-town so I ran the 9am class for him. I did Crossover Symmetry Activation and then got after it.

Gymnastics

5:00 AMRAP

  • 3 Strict Pull-ups
  • 3 Strict Ring Dips

Was a fun was to get in some reps without taking all day. I got 10 rounds.

Weightlifting

  • 5×45# Muscle Snatch
  • 3×75# Muscle Snatch
  • 3×95# Muscle Snatch
  • 2×115# Snatch
  • 2×135# Snatch
  • 2×155# Snatch
  • 1×165# Snatch
  • 1×175# Snatch
  • 4x1x185# Snatch

Felt so money today! No misses. It was one of those days where I would have loved to keep going, but class time was starting, so I had to end it.

I didn’t do the warm-up with class (already plenty warm) or really the skill work of double unders either because I was trying to help people out with them. I warmed up a couple of quick shoulder press sets with 6×95# and 6×115#.

Strength

6 Rounds (Every 1:20, alternating)

  • 6 Shoulder Press (130#)
  • 6/6 Kroc Rows (62# KB)

I missed a set of Kroc Rows in the middle when I was screwing with the music.

Conditioning

4:00 AMRAP

  • 15 Wall Balls (20#, 10′)
  • 10 T2B

Rest 2:00 & Repeat

I got 3+15 and 3+12. All wall balls were unbroken sets. I think I did my first set of toes to bar unbroken and then 6-4 for all of the others. Should try to push myself more with those. Grip on the bar felt good with them today.

Building the Body

Was nice to have a rest day yesterday. I got a massage that made me exhausted the rest of the day. I did manage to get in 5 bottom squats holds of 6:00 for my half hour on the day even though I debated resting from them too. Excited to finish out week 1 of Smolov programming.

Out in the garage just after 10 and started with CS Activation.

Warm-up

3 Rounds

  • 50 DU
  • 1:00 Squat Hold

Back Squats

  • 10×45#
  • 5×135#
  • 5×205#
  • 3×235#
  • 3×265#
  • 10x3x290#

I rested about 2:30 between the 10 sets and it wasn’t really that bad. I was expecting much worse. Did a 5:00 squat hold right after. Up 10# for the next week of Smolov lifts.

Time for some bodybuilding!!

7 Rounds
* Keep moving, no real rest

  • 10 Incline DB Bench Press (20-25-30-35-40-45-50)
  • 8/8 Kroc Rows (3×53# KB, 4×70# KB)

4 Rounds

  • 10 Incline Flyes (15-15-20-25)
  • 10 Band Pulldowns (like pull-up motion, green, kneeling)
  • Rest 1:00

4 Rounds

  • 12 Skull Crushers (45#)
  • 12 Barbell Curls (45#)
  • Rest 1:00

3 Rounds

  • MAX Ring Dips (Strict, then kipping)
  • MAX C2D Push-ups
  • MAX Speed Band Curls (red)
  • 2:00 Squat Hold

I haven’t felt an arm pump like that in ages.