Push Press

Vacation!

Started a vacation today; 10 days off!

My back is a little tight from the deadlifts and all of the pulling in the muscle-ups yesterday. Walked 27 holes of golf today and then headed to CFi around 5:30. Warmed up with Crossover Symmetry Activation. I was planning on doing some heavy snatches and front squats, but after grabbing the bar I felt it wasn’t going to be a good day. So I did the WOD with the group.

12:00 AMRAP

10 HSPU
20 Pull-ups
30 DB Snatches (40#)
40 Sit-ups
50 Wall Balls (20#, 10′)

Finished 1 round, plus the handstand push-ups, pull-ups, snatches, and 35 of the sit-ups. Should have tried to do my first 20 pull-ups unbroken.

Push Press

3×95#
3×115#
3×135#
3×155#
3×175#
3×185#
3×195#
3×205#

Thought about doing shoulder presses, but after a shoulder intense workout, figured it would be good to switch things up with some push presses since I haven’t done them in a long time.

Pretty happy about hitting that weight. Gets me back to the old 3RM I hit on blocks, dropping each rep at that time. So to hit it today, after the workout, from a rack, was a big step. After vacation I’m going to hit another Smolov cycle for shoulder presses.

Show Up

Went to the CFi 9am, but I should have stayed in bed! Didn’t wake up until almost 7:30, which is pretty rare, so I’m a little beat up. But I’m glad I got in for the workout and I’m going to push it a little this week since I’ll be away on vacation next week with a break from weights.

Warm-up

Crossover Symmetry Activation
Sumo Bottom Squat Holds
Hip opener stretches

Strength

Back Squats

5×135#
4×205#
3×245#
6x6x265#

A struggle!

Conditioning

10 Shoulder Presses
15 OHS
20 Push Presses
25 Front Squats
30 Push Jerks
35 Back Squats

Kevin asked me to come up with something and I had planned on doing this one over the weekend, so figured why not. It’s a lunch time workout done by the CrossFit Level 1 Seminar Staff, which I did over a year ago in 14:03. Rx is 115/75#. I was definitely not feeling it today, but pushed through for a PR in 13:34. The overhead stuff all killed me and I was absolutely dying. Way too much rest between sets of the pressing movements. Front squats were 10-9-6 and I did the back squats without dropping the bar.

I jumped on the rower after catching my breath and did a 2k at a slow pace in 9:52 to flush out my legs.

Some days you just have to show up and do work.

Afternoon break in the garage…

SkiErg
10 Rounds

150m @ recovery pace (~2:53/500m)
150m @ 100%
30s Rest

Total work time was 14:12.5 for the 3,000 meters. Not a terrible workout, which is probably good since I was beat this morning.

Rope Climbs

Feeling a little sore in new places from climbing the trees Sunday night at The Adventure Park. Walked 18 holes of golf yesterday. In for the 9am class at CFi.

Warm-up

CS Activation
Arm Circles
30 Jumping Jacks

Strength

Shoulder Press

10×45#
5×95#
5×115#
8x4x130#

Paired up with XWOD of:

2s – 30″ Box Jumps
1s – Broad Jump

The shoulder presses were a lot more of a struggle today. The final day of week 2 should be very interesting!

Skill

Put on the shin skins and finally tried some rope climbs while the newbs worked on kipping with Kevin. We’ve been talking about me getting on that rope for the last couple of weeks, so it was time. I was using the faster method which starts about halfway through this video…

I did 3 or 4 of them and then did one legless too. Not nearly as hard as I was expecting. Felt a lot different strain on my shoulders doing them, so points to a weakness I need to work on.

Conditioning

7:00 AMRAP

10 Deadlifts (115#)
10 Push Presses (115#)
5 Burpees

Finished 4 rounds plus the deadlifts and push presses. Did all 10 push presses in round 1 but then had to go 5-5 every other round. Rough after the shoulder presses.

About 2-3 minutes after we finished, we went for a 1 mile jog.

C2B and American KBS Back in Action

Surprisingly I’m not all that sore from the leg killer workout yesterday. I can feel some in my upper glutes, but my scaps are more sore than anything.

Warm-up

CS Activation (at home)
Shoulder Stretching
Arm Circles

Strength

Bench Press

10×45#
3×95#
3×95# wide grip
3×95# close grip
Speed Bench w/30-35s rest
- 3x3x135# wide grip
- 2x3x135#
- 3x3x135# close grip
8×185# close grip

First time putting any significant weight on the bar for that set of 185# and it felt pretty good. No struggle with the weight.

Conditioning

20 C2B Pull-ups
30 American KBS (53# KB)
40 SDHP (53# KB)
50 DB Push Presses (35# DBs)
20 C2D Push-ups
30 American KBS
500m Run
20 Burpees
30 V-ups
15 Ring Dips
50 DU
20 C2B Pull-ups

First time doing C2B and American KBS. My kip kept turning into a swing after about 4 reps in that first set of 20 though. Scaled down the push presses from the Rx 45# since I’m still trying to take it a little easy, especially with adding back in 2 movements in one day. Got my 50 DU unbroken, which is sweet at that point in a workout. Finished in 21:34.

Went back at 8pm for barbell club. Did CS Activation again before leaving home.

45# Snatch Position Work

Snatch Deadlifts
Muscle Snatches
Snatch Presses

5:00 EMOM

135# Snatch w/ 3s pause in the hole
2 OHS

Was supposed to go 10:00 but my wrists couldn’t take it. Not used to holding weight overhead yet.

Power Snatches

2×145#
F-1×155#
1×165#
1×175#
3x1x155#
1-F-1-1×165#

Feet were getting too wide, which really sucks for squatting with it. After 175# figured it was more worthwhile to drop down and work on some fixes. Also allowed me to work on keeping my arms relaxed and try not to bend my elbows early. When I don’t pull early with my arms, the bar just flies up. I nearly lost a few reps behind me.

Grabbed the empty bar and did 5 OHS with a jerk grip. Lost some mobility with the time away from OH.

Push Presses & Pull-ups Are Back

Feeling good. Still no shoulder aggravation from doing more things with it.

Warm-up

CS Activation (at home)
5:00 Bottom Squat Hold
Push-ups
Arm Circles
Shoulder Stretching
10×45# Shoulder Press

Strength

Push Presses

5×95#
5×135#
5×145#
2x5x145#
5×160#

Timing was off and I’m not used to receiving the bar again for the next rep. Little shaky, but good to be doing them again.

OLY

E15S 7:00

145# C&J

Didn’t want to push the weight and it was a good choice. Each rep was quick and felt solid.

Conditioning

10:00 AMRAP
2-4-6-8…

Russian KBS (71#)
Box Overs (24″)
Burpees

Finished the round of 14 plus 16 swings and 1 box jump.

Walked a lap around the parking lot and then did a 5:00 squat hold. Tried pull-ups for the first time and got 3 sets of 5 strict with no issues. Did another 3:00 squat hold and then CS Recovery when I got home.

Managing with the Back

Didn’t sleep worth a shit last night, so got out of bed and did some work early. Went in for the 9am class again. Back feels better today, but can still get some solid pain if I move in the wrong positions.

Warm-up

Did some leg swings and back stretching before class started.

“Sally Up/Down” doing squats with PVC as a bar.

Strength

5×5 Front Squats @ 70-80%

5×135#
5×185#
5×225#
5×225#
5×235#
5×245#
5×255#

BOOM! Squats are back! My form felt pretty good too. Didn’t even really start leaning forward much even on the last set. I’m fucking excited about this, especially with my back in less than ideal shape.

Accessory

12:00 EMOM

Odds: 8 Good Mornings (135#)
Evens: 30s Hollow Rocks

Felt some pulling in the back with the good mornings, but I think it helped to stretch it out too.

Conditioning

4:00 AMRAP
1:00 Rest
3:00 AMRAP
1:00 Rest
2:00 AMRAP
1:00 Rest
1:00 AMRAP

A round consists of:

5 DB Deadlifts (45# DBs)
5 DB Hang Power Cleans
5 DB Push Presses

I did 6+8, 4+8, 3+3, and 1+13. Rough, but I felt better in this than yesterday’s workout.

Headed back in at 8pm for some rowing. Another workout from NCLab

1000m Row
100s Rest
900m Row
90s Rest
800m Row
80s Rest
700m Row
70s Rest
600m Row
60s Rest
500m Row
50s Rest
400m Row
40s Rest
300m Row
30s Rest
200m Row
20s Rest
100m Row

Kept under or at a 1:52 / 500m pace through everything. My splits were 3:44, 3:24, 3:01, 2:38, 2:17, 1:54, 1:31, 1:10, 0:48, and 0:24. I almost fell over when I got off the rower and was a little light-headed for 10-15 minutes.

60 Day Lifting Challenge – Week 3 Day 3

I’m doing the 60 Day Lifting Challenge from Columbus Weightlifting. Feeling pretty good today, with nothing really sore. Out in the garage in the afternoon by myself.

Warm-up

3 Rounds
- 20s Handstand Hold
- 5 Strict Chin-ups
- 10s Hollow Rock Hold
5×95# Push Press

Jerk Balance

3×125#
3×135#
3×145#
3×155#
3×165#

Snatch

2×95#
2×115#
2×135#
1×145#
1×155#
4x1x165#

Felt a little off towards the end (maybe tired?) but made all of the lifts. Starting to feel more comfortable in the bottom again.

Clean & Jerk

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

Jerks felt weak again. Could have been from the jerk balances I guess. Cleans were pretty explosive.

Back Squat

2×205#
2×240#
2×270#
3x2x290#

No misses today. Tried to keep my elbows forward and explode out of the hole; no hesitation.

Conditioning

12:00 EMOM

Odds – 8 Pistols (alternating)
Evens – 20 Band Pulls (red)

Did 50 band pulls at the end. Pistols were good for not doing them in ages. Off balance here and there, but I’d already been in the squat a ton.

10:00 EMOM

10 Burpees (Max reps in 10th minute)

I went 100% in the first 5 minutes (22-25 seconds), slowed to a 35-40 second pace for the next 4 minutes, and was able to get 18 burpees in the 10th. Not going to lie, this felt rough. Doing this after 2 hours of other work sure doesn’t help and I know I wasn’t all there because I have easily done 10 burpees in 19-20 seconds.

Ready for the rest day!

Behind The Neck Work

Nasty freezing rain last night. In at 10am with Kevin and Michelle.

Warm-up

3:00 Jump Rope (unbroken)
45# Clean Positions Warm-up

OLY

2 Clean Pulls
1 Power Clean
1 Front Squat

It wasn’t exactly that each time, but always at least those reps.

95-115-135-155-175-185-185-185-185

Strength

Behind the neck Split Jerks

3 @ 95#
3 @ 115#
3 @ 135#
3 @ 155#
4 @ 155#
3 @ 155#

Behind the neck Push Presses

3 @ 155#
3 @ 165#
3 @ 175#
3 @ 185#
2 @ 195#
2 @ 205#

I’m still really hesitant bringing heavy loads down to my back, but got more comfortable today due to the number of reps between the jerks and push presses. Felt pretty good about the weight, so decided to shoot for a front rack push press PR.

225# (PR)
F @ 235#
230# (PR)

Beats my old 215# PR. I missed 235# because it was too far out front. Concentrated on a big leg drink and getting the bar back as fast as possible with 230#.

Gymnastics

After an hour of OH work, why not burn the shoulders some more, right? Did 3 handstand holds facing the wall with a wall walk to get in place. The goal was 1:00, but had to drop after 40 seconds on the second one. Held on for it on the 3rd though. We rested 2:00 between each one.

Bomb Squad Not Necessary

Had no explosiveness at all today. Felt really slow.

Was in at 10am with Matt.

Warm-up

2:00 Air Dyne
DU for sets of 59 and 30 (w/ untied shoes)

Snatch

75# Positions
95# Positions
3 @ 115#
3 @ 135#
2 @ 155#
F-1 @ 165#
1 @ 165#
1 @ 170#
1 @ 170#
1 @ 160# (left side had 5# more than the right!)
F @ 165#
F-1 @ 145#
1 @ 150#
1 @ 155#

As you can see I was all over the place today. Felt slow and weak. Here are the two lifts at 170#…

Push Press

5 @ 95#
5 @ 135#
5 @ 155#
5 @ 175#
5 @ 190#

Fun!

Matt and I played two games of Rowling. The first game doing 100m for each frame and then 200m per frame in the second game. We really caught the hang of it in the 2nd game and were getting all 0s and 1s after the first few frames. So we each rowed over 3000m and got in a little recovery conditioning.

3 Hours Bro

Over to Kevin’s garage for a 3 hour training session tonight.

Warm-up

3:00 Air Dyne

OLY

3 Position Halting Clean Deadlift

2 x 3 @ 135#
3 @ 155#

High Hang Cleans (Power Position, no dip)

5 x 2 @ 135#

These two position pieces really helped my feel. My cleans have felt pretty terrible lately. Even my setup position is feeling better after forcing myself to stay over the bar, but get in a more upright position.

Warmed up the shoulders with 5 x 45# shoulder press, 5 x 45# BTN press, and 5 x 45# split jerks.

Power Clean & Jerk

2 @ 135#
5 x 1 @ 155#
5 x 1 @ 185#

Tried not to go 100% on the jerks because they felt terrible when I did and I don’t need to at these weights. Also worked on slowing down the first pull and pushing the knees out instead of having them cave in on me after the bar gets by them.

Push Presses

3 @ 155#
3 @ 165#
3 @ 175#
3 @ 185#
3 @ 190#
3 @ 195#
3 @ 200#
3 @ 205#

That’s a 20# PR on my 3RM and just 10# under the max I set about 5 weeks ago.

Gymnastics

Alternating Tabata (4 each)

Hollow Rocks
Pull-ups

Did 16-13-12-10 on the pull-ups. Didn’t drop from the bar in the first 2 rounds.

WOD

3 Rounds, Follow the leader style

500m Row
21 KBS (53#)

So we got some rest after completing the KBS each round. Pulled about a 1:46 pace for each 500 and all of the swings were unbroken.