Romanian Deadlift – Page 5 – Nick Momrik's Fitness Logs

Keep it Solid

Thursday is not my favorite morning of the week. At least not until squats are over because it’s Super Squats day. Warmed up with 5:00 Air Dyne (2.28 km).

Coffee Squats

Back Squat

20×45#
10×135#
5×185#
5×225#
20×245#

Went up 20# from last week. My drive up and back positioning felt really good. I’m the most excited about being about to keep that solid back through all of the reps. 25 days in the books.

Over to CFi for the 9am.

Warm-up

Crossover Symmetry Activation
Bottom Squat Hold
10 Air Squats
2x 15/15 Band Side Steps
15 Toe Touches (last 7 reach up too)

Strength

Romanian Deadlift

8×45#
4×135#
4×205#
4×255#
4×285#
4×305#

I felt something pull on the left side of my middle back on the first rep with 305#. WTF! Tightened up and was able to do the other 3 reps. Better just be a little muscle tweak or I’ll be so pissed at myself. I’ve been working so hard to be smart with all of the squats and it couldn’t be going any better. If a stupid RDL messes me up…grrrr.

Conditioning

Run 1 Mile

Nice and easy. Did it in 9:13. When did I get so bad at running?

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Burpees
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Air Squats
30 DU

Steady pace. Had 2 misses on dubs, after 7s and after 3s. Finished in 9:10. Did Crossover Symmetry Iron Scap and got out of there.

A Little More

Shoulder still feels good after getting a little heavy yesterday. Knocked out CS Activation before hitting the 9am class.

Warm-up

4:00 Bottom Squat Hold
Leg Swings
Hurdlers

Strength

7×1 Back Squat @ 90+%

10×45#
5×135#
3×225#
3×255#
2×295#
1×315#
1×320#
1×325#
1×330#
1×335#
1×340#
1×350# (PR match)

I was smoking every single up until the last one was a struggle. Almost got stuck in the middle. Really happy with it on the 7th rep though. Just over 2 months ago I missed 340 after going 305-315-325-335.

Accessory

RDLs

2x5x225#
5×235#
5×245#
5×250#

Used lifting straps. Started to cut off circulation in my thumb on the last set. Need to watch out for that.

Conditioning

10:00 AMRAP

30s Handstand Hold
20 Air Squats

First time doing holds and they felt good. Could feel over extension about half way through, so I tried to get my hands closer to the wall. Finished 8 full rounds plus a handstand hold.

Did a 6:00 squat hold and then CS Recovery at home.

Get Outside

My adductors have been sore since Sunday when I did a bunch of snatch deadlift work and back squats. Calves feeling it a bit today from the 200 box jumps. Did CS Activation before heading to 9am.

Warm-up

2:00 Bottom Squat Hold
Stretching

Strength

Shoulder Press

10×45#
3x10x65#
2x10x85#

Really light, but 85# got heavy. Felt fine on the shoulder.

12:00 EMOM

Odds: 5 Pendlay Rows (185#)
Evens: 10 RDLs (185#)

I did a round with 135# warming up.

Conditioning

5-4-3-2-1 Run rectangle (~135m)
2-4-6-8-10 Squat Cleans (165#)

I started dying on the round of 6 cleans. Finished in 16:50.

Couple more squat holds of 3 and 5 minutes. Some butterfly hip stretching, 2x :30 of shoulder box stretch. Did CS Recovery when I got home.

Ho-hum Tuesday

Feeling good! I can’t wait to start trying out the shoulder next week.

Warm-up

2:00 Bottom Squat Hold
3 x 30s Box Shoulder Stretch
3 x 25 Band Pulls (thicker red band)
2 x 1:00 Laying KB Hold (each side, 25# KB)
3:00 Bottom Squat Hold

Strength

Warmed up with 5×135# pendlay rows and 5×135# RDLs. Then super set these two…

5 Rounds

5×185# Pendlay Rows
10×185# RDLs
90s Rest

Conditioning

7:00 AMRAP
* 5 box overs EMOM starting at 1:00

15 GHD Hip Extensions
15 V-ups

I got either 5 full rounds plus 5 more hip extensions. I flew through the box overs, but those v-ups got slow.

Did a 6:00 squat hold after class. Will get in 15 more minutes throughout the day. Yesterday I did 5×5:00 without a problem, so I’ll make it a total of 26 minutes today.

Substitution WOD

Can’t wait to get this shoulder worked on this afternoon! In to the 9am class.

Warm-up

On our own doing some shoulder stretching and air squats.

Strength

Back Squat 5×3 @ 80-90%

10×45#
5×135#
5×205#
3×235#
3×275#
3×275#
3×285#
3×295#
3×305#

Yeah buddy! Three weeks ago I missed after 1 rep of 305#, but it was no problem today. I’m going to say my squats are definitely back. Didn’t feel the back problem at all today doing them.

Accessory

10:00 EMOM

8/8 KB RDLs (71# KB)
10 Alternating Pistols

My balance was wobbly today.

Conditioning

10:00 AMRAP

21-15-9
- 115# Power Cleans
- Ring Dips
MAX Burpee Box Jumps (24″)

I was solid on my power cleans going 11-10, 5-5-5, and 5-4, but ring dips were like in slow motion. Almost exactly a year ago today I did an Rx Power Elizabeth in 7:09 and this took me 7:48 with 20# lighter weight. I managed 19 burpee box jumps in the remaining time.

Short Week

In to Survival at 10am. A few folks were there for a bit working on things, but had about 90 minutes to myself. Will be heading north on Wednesday for a few days, so short week of training.

Warm-up

3:00 Air Dyne
45# Snatch Positions

Snatch Work

95# Position work & some snatches
115# Position work & some snatches
5 x 2 @ 135#

Strength

RDLs

5 @ 135#
5 @ 185#
3 x 5 @ 205#
5 @ 225#

Used a rack and straps.

Barbell Curls

5 @ 75#
4 x 5 @ 85#

So weak!

Front Squats

20 @ 45#
5 @ 95#
5 @ 115#

1 1/2 Front Squats

Did a wave type of format…

135-155-185
155-185-205
185-205-225
205-225-235
225-245-255

First time doing those. Different.

Front Squats

3 x 5 @ 185#

Conditioning

Tabata Row

Eating to Perform and Performing PRs

Starting keeping track of food yesterday in an attempt to eat following some of the Eat to Perform guidelines. A lot more carbs than I’m used to eating. Went in at 10am to lift with Kevin.

Warm-up

500m Row
PVC Pass-thrus

Olympic Lifting

More snatching! Did my typical 5:00 with 45# on the training for position work and then got into the snatches. Had no plan going in, but wanted to try to set another PR.

3 @ 95#
2 @ 115#
2 @ 135#
1 @ 155#
1 @ 165#
1 @ 170#
F/1 @ 175#
F/F/F/1 @ 180#
F/F/1 @ 185# (PR)

When I get up there I have to remember to be explosive and not focus too much on dropping under it. I also need to stay patient with standing up. Was frustrating with so many misses, but mission accomplished. Ten more pounds for a body weight snatch!

Strength

Wanted to do back squats, but didn’t really have a plan for them either.

5 @ 135#
5 @ 185#
5 @ 225#
5 @ 255#
1 @ 265#
1 @ 275#
1 @ 285#
1 @ 295#
1 @ 305#
1 @ 215#
1 @ 325#
1 @ 335# (PR)

Wasn’t expecting that, especially after already doing so many singles. Felt good to have my squat back. Kevin pointed out that I’d let my elbows drift back sometimes on the way up, which caused my forward lean and ugly squat. I was able to keep it pretty solid after that, but it happened on 335# lift and I was able to power through it.

Back at 7pm to workout with a class.

Warm-up

3 Rounds

20s Bottom Squat Hold
10 Zombie Kicks
5 Burpees

Strength

10:00 EMOM

Odds: 5 RDLs (195#)
Evens: 10/10 Kroc Rows (62# KB)

Today I learned that the RDL is not another name for a stiff leg deadlift, which I always thought was the case. I’ve always been doing SLDL and calling them RDL. Whoops!

Here are some short demos and explanations from Catalyst Athletics for each type of deadlift:

10:00 EMOM

8 Strict Chin-ups
30s Plank

Trying to use the chin-ups to work my biceps to help out my elbows, which hyper-extend. The right one has been getting achy for a few weeks due to all of the snatch volume.

WOD

12:00 AMRAP

5 SH to OH (115#)
10 Deadlifts (115#)
15 Box Jumps or Step-ups (24″)

Two minutes longer than Open WOD 13.2, but I got about a round less. I did all box jumps until the final round, which I think gassed me a lot more. I never took a break during the Open, but took quite a few today. Managed to get 7+26, but was expecting more. I did all of the push jerks and deadlifts unbroken without a problem.

Monday Morning

Went to the 9am class.

Warm-up

300m Run (before class started)
4 Rounds
- 15s Air Squats
- 15s Zombie Kicks
- 15s PVC Pass-thrus
- 15s Jumping Jacks

Strength

Front Squats

5 @ 45#
5 @ 135#
5 @ 165#
5 @ 195#
5 @ 225#
5 @ 245#

Squats felt good for the 2nd consecutive day. Didn’t try to get crazy and stayed below my 260 5RM from a couple of weeks ago.

3 Rounds NFT

12 Lunges (135#)
12 RDL(135#)
Rest 60s

Good burn with little rest.

WOD

20:00 Time Cap

10 OHS (135#)
10 Box jumps overs (24″)
10 Thrusters (135#)
20 Power cleans (135#)
10 T2B
10 Burpee C2B Pull-ups
10 T2B
20 Power cleans (135#)
10 Thrusters (135#)
10 Box jumps overs (24″)
10 OHS (135#)

This is why it’s good for me to go to classes now and then. We rarely program this much barbell work in our WODs and ever more rare at this time domain. I decided to go Rx even though I knew it would suck. Finished in plenty of time at 19:56. LOL!

Solo Session

My abs are sore from deadlifts and “Annie” on Tuesday, otherwise feeling good. Trained at 10am, but all alone today.

Warm-up

600m Run
PVC Pass-thrus
3:00 Air Dyne
Bottom Squat Hold

Strength

5/3/1 Back Squats – Cycle 1 Week 3

5 @ 115# (40% of Training Max – warm)
5 @ 145# (50% – warm)
3 @ 175# (60% – warm)
5 @ 220# (75%)
3 @ 250# (85%)
1+ @ 280# (95%)

Squats felt better than Saturday. Recovery is crucial and hit the legs way too much last week. I stopped after 3 reps at 280# because the last one was a slow rep and I didn’t want to push it with nobody else there to spot or help me if something happened. On that last set it was the first time I’ve ever felt my hamstrings engage like that. Pretty cool! The 3 @ 280# puts my estimated max at 307.5#, which is low but I’m ok with that for this week, considering the situation.

5 Rounds NFT

8 Font Rack Walking Lunges (155#)
5 RDLs (205#)
5 Strict Chin-ups

Felt really good. On my chin-ups I really tried to accelerate during the 2nd half and got my chin way above the bar.

Olympic Lifting

10:00 of Snatch Position Work with 45# training bar

It didn’t feel as good as yesterday overall, but I did get some really good hip pops in there. My timing seemed really off. Maybe it had to do with my legs being fatigued from the strength work.

WOD

4 Rounds

500m Row
2:00 Rest

Went all out on the first 500 and set a new PR with 1:34.4. Obviously couldn’t maintain that but kept consistent on the next 3 with 1:44.9, 1:45.5, and 1:44.6. I need more of this stuff because I was really dying. Jason Khalipa rowed a 6:31 2k in the Games and I couldn’t even hit that with two minutes of rest between each 500m.

While tearing out a stump, the landscaping crew snapped an AT&T line that went right though the stump. So without Internet, I headed back to the box at 6pm for open gym. Warmed up with about 3:00 on the Air Dyne.

OHS

5 @ 95#
4 @ 135#
3 @ 155#
F @ 180#
F @ 180#

I was actually going to do 5 with 135# but lost it in the bottom of the last rep. I should have known right there it wasn’t going to be good. My abs are still wrecked from the deadlifts and “Annie” so I think that may have been a big part of it. This is 2 OHS sessions in a row that have been terrible though, with the last one being while I was still recovering from the Tough Mudder Crud.

Did a 1.02 mile sled drag with 115# in 26:14. Switched directions 3 times I think and took a minute or so to help Ellen strap up a sled.

300 FY

Legs are tired from the last couple of days.

Got on the Air Dyne around 9am. There is a test to see if you can do 300 calories in less than 10 minutes called 300 FY (“Fuck You”) and since I was already planning to do a steady 10:00 @ 76-78rpm I figured I’d give it a shot. I hit 299 calories early in the week without even trying.

I kept above 76rpm 99% of the time and even got up in the low 80s here and there. Totaled 319 calories and 3.9 miles.

Out in the garage around noon because it was raining out. I didn’t find out until yesterday that the garage was unlocked or I would have been lifting in there on the flat floor all week. Oh well, I guess I was preparing for the unknown.

Push Press

5 @ 95#
5 @ 105#
5 @ 135#
5 @ 145#
ME @ 165# (got 8)
3 x 10 @ 105#

They felt pretty solid today. Not much, if anything, left in the tank on the max effort set.

More Strength

5 Rounds NFT 135# (don’t drop the bar)

6 hang power cleans
4 front squats
8 back loaded walking lunges

Wow was I breathing hard after each round of this. Forgot how bad barbell complexes can be. I’d actually planned higher reps and some good mornings too but it was scary trying the first rep with my back so sweaty so I canceled them and adjusted everything.

4 Rounds NFT 53#KB

10/10 side bends
12 Goblet squats
10/10 single leg RDLs

When you concentrate on doing the side bends correctly they really burn! I don’t ever remember goblet squats being so easy.

Solid week of workouts on vacation and a great way to come back after being sick for two weeks. I’m just going to relax the rest of the day and then I head back home in the morning.