row – Page 41 – Nick Momrik's Fitness Logs

Little Bitch

No problems getting out of bed this morning! 🙂 Went in early before the 4:30 class.

Warm-up

Crossover Symmetry Activation
500m Row

Then I was going for a new 1,000m row PR. I went out aggressive wanted to get my pace under 1:30 in the first 250 and then fall back. I did it, but after 500 started to really fall off the pace and feel terrible. I ended up bitching out and quitting at 740 meters. 😦 My average pace at the time was 1:32.7, so still well under what I needed to beat my previous 3:11. I’m kind of glad I stopped though because I was feeling it for about 15 minutes without even giving it that final 250 meter push. Some other day.

Strength

Bench Press (3-0-X-0 Tempo)

3x3x45#
3×95#
3×125#
3×145#
3×165#
3×185#
3×205#

Not sure I’ve done tempo on the bench before. Felt solid.

Conditioning

15-12-9-6-3 Burpees
60-48-36-24-12 Double Unders

It was supposed to be burpees and pull-ups but I did a few pull-ups and it was pretty bad on my shoulder. So I went with 4x reps on the dubs. Missed once. Finished in 5:04.

Rested 3:00 and then did…

2:00 AMRAP

Burpees

Got through 38 reps.

Midline

10:00 EMOM

2 Turkish Get-ups

I did 2 sets with 35#, 4 sets with 44#, and 4 sets with 50#.

Lauren was talking about doing something and Jason suggested my old favorite. So I whipped up a scaled version for her and jumped in.

“Annie”

50-40-30-20-10

Double Unders
Sit-ups

A few reps in I realized I forgot about grabbing DBs to anchor my feet down. If I had been alone I would have stopped. Makes a huge difference. I tripped up once starting the set of 30 because I wasn’t concentrating enough. Still not a bad time with a 6:24 though, which is 25 second off my best.

Wall, Meet Face

Had my monthly Chiro appointment and then went to the gym. Warmed up with Crossover Symmetry Activation.

Weightlifting

Snatch Balance + OHS

2x2x45#
2×75
2×95
115
135
155
175
185
195

Figured maybe these will help me get the bar back into the slot. I suck at them though and get scared when they get heavy. 185 went ok, but 195 was pretty much a push press, stop, and then squat it. Maybe I should just get to 175-185 and stay there until they get more and more comfortable.

Sprint

500m Row

Been over 6 months since I did one for time and my rowing and leg strength have improved a lot since then. Was holding a 1:20/500m pace for 250+ meters, then ran straight into a wall with under 150 meters left. The hot start allowed me to hold on for a 1.3 second PR with a time of 1:23.5.

Rested 10-15 minutes.

Conditioning

10 Rounds

2 Squat Cleans (185#)
6 GHD Sit-ups

Alex started out with me and we just swapped movements, which meant a few seconds of rest waiting for the GHD. His back was bothering him so he stopped in the 3rd round and I was able to move between the movements without resting. Did all of the cleans touch-n-go. Didn’t run a clock so no idea how long it took.

40 Minute Row

Went in and jumped on the rower in the afternoon for my active recovery. Put in the headphones and zoned out to a podcast. Slowly increased the pace over the 40 minutes to total 9,141 meters.

Follow the Rules

Frustrating day at work and almost didn’t even make it in to the 5:30 class.

Warm-up

3 Rounds NFT

15s Hang
5 Push-ups
10 Air Squats
5 Pass-thrus

It was pull-ups or ring rows on the board. I was going to do ring rows but my shoulder wasn’t even having a first rep so I just hung from the bar.

8:00 EMOM

5 Thrusters (115#)
3 Burpees

Brought back nightmares of “Kalsu”. Didn’t want to go crazy so I kept it at light and quick.

3 Rounds

1:00 Row (calories)
1:00 Air Squats
1:00 Sit-ups
1:00 Russian KBS (53#)
1:00 Rest

Other than the squats I felt really good. Did 25-25-26 on the rower and totals were 115-119-121. I never increase like that.

Test

50 Hand Release Push-ups

I thought I’d be brake and try a little bigger sets to start so I did 3 sets of 8 and regretted it because then I started to die out. Managed a 2:06, which is 14 seconds slower than my PR, but 33 seconds faster than an attempt in July.

Glad I made it in. Workout schedule for the week was switched up a bit when the boys couldn’t lift tonight (I planned to take an easy day tomorrow) so we are lifting tomorrow instead and this won’t drag me down.

Back to Work in 2016

Back to work today after 2+ weeks off for the holidays! Went to the 4:30 class.

Warm-up

2×8 Reverse Hyper (210#)
Bottom Squat Hold
3 Rounds
- 30 Jumping Jacks
- 4 Inch Worm Push-ups
- 15 Ball Slams (30#)

Was warm after that!

Strength – Back Squat

6×45#
6×155
3×205
3×255
3×285
3×305
3×325
3×345

Didn’t feel as solid in my leg drive as the 350 triple last week. Back was fine though. Would have liked to try for 355 coming into today but I don’t think I would have gotten it and didn’t have time anyway.

Conditioning

4 Rounds

300m Row
20 Russian Kettlebell Swings (53#)
20 Wall Balls (20#, 10′)
20 Sit-ups
2:00 Rest

I didn’t notice that he increased the rest from 1:00 due to the size of class and the number of rowers available, so I thought I was getting a bunch of extra rest. Turned out to be pretty close to 2:00 each round. My rounds were 3:43, 3:56, 3:59, and 3:40 which included a nice walk across the gym after getting off the rower. Rests were 2:03, 1:50, and 2:26. I guess that extra rest helped my last round because it was my fastest even though it was my slowest row. I did transition right into each movement though instead of taking a couple extra breaths so that helped.

Stuck around and did a partner workout with Bryan, Michelle, and Weston. We did it I-go-U-go with each movement for quick work and short rest.

60-40-20 Double Unders
15-12-9 Toes through Rings
15-12-9 Overhead Squats (75#)

I missed a lot on dubs. Too heavy to get myself off the ground? 🙂 The other movements were unbroken. We decided to go light on the OHS for a change and so we could speed through them. Took Bryan and I 7:17 and they were only 10 seconds behind us.

Almost 10, but Sub 40

Coached this morning and then got in my workout after class. Starting the new cycle of gymnastics work.

Skill WOD “Be the Master of your Volume” Week 1 Day 1

Warm-up – 3 Rounds for quality

10 Pass-thrus
10 Bridge Rocks
10 GHD Heel Drives
3 Inchworm Push-ups
10′ Crab Walk (forward & back)

Mobility – 5 Sets

10s Bottom of Ring Dip Hold
1 Skin the Cat (2s pause in hang)

Test Your Max

1 Set of MAX MU
4 Sets @ 60% with 2:00 Rest

Got 9 and barely missed the 10th. Rounded to 5 for the drop sets. Made each set but the last two were close to missing; caught in a super low dip.

Strength Accessory – 5 Sets

5 Strict Ring Dips
5 Ice Cream Makers (banded)

Used the black band. Those were interesting. In the 4th set of ring dips something really weird started to happen in my left shoulder and bicep and then I couldn’t lift my arm until I moved it all around. Nothing like that has ever happened before.

Conditioning

3 Rounds

250m Row
2:00 Rest

Been wanting that sub-40 and got it. Went 39.7, 41.1, and 42.2. Boy do I start to hit a wall in the 2nd half of the rows after that first attempt. Legs start to burn hard, hamstrings feel like they are cramping up, and just can’t push like I want to. I decided on 3 sets before starting, but almost called it quits after setting the PR. Glad I gutted it out.

Headed back to the gym at 4pm. Warmed up with 3 sets of 8 Reverse Hypers using 210#.

Strength – Back Squat

10×45#
6×135
3×225
3×255
3×285
3×315
3×335
3×350 (PR)

Wore my belt for the last 3 sets. My goal heading in was to get 350 and it was solid. A few weeks ago doing a double with 353 got loose, so really happy. Most 1 rep max calculator formulas put me at over 370 now. Getting there!

Midline

100 Sit-ups

Been awhile. Was on a solid pace but the last 30 reps got rough. Managed a 1 second PR with 2:58.

Wanted to get in a solid day of work with a storm coming through. I do not plan on leaving the house tomorrow except to take out the trash. Will probably do some active recovery.

36 Years

Woke up a year older. Wiser too, of course. 😉 Opened up the gym from 4-6 after coming back from up north.

Skill WOD (Hustle & Flow) Week 4 Day 3

Warm-up

3 sets

5 Bar Work
(Hold and pause 2 sec at each position with no form breaks and no momentum)
- Dead Hang
- Lat Active Hollow
- Tight Arch
1 Skin the Cat
10 Straddle V-ups
10s GHD Hanging Bridge Stretch

Skill A – 4 Supersets

1 Ring Swing + Pull-up w/ swing + MU
2 Box Hip Kip Drill
3 Banded Hip Drill

Felt solid

Skill Test – 3 sets

1 rep of complex is:

MU + 2 Strict Ring Dips (after the MU dip lockout)

First two sets are 3 reps of the complex and then the 3rd set is for max reps. I only got 5 reps on the max set.

Strength Accessory – 3 sets

3 Lower to Hold Front Lever on Box

Felt harder on the grip this week.

Bonus Complex

Set 1: 3 Strict Ring Pull-up + 3 Toes to Rings + 4 MU
Set 2: 3+3+5
Sets 3+: Keep adding 1 MU until failure

I was looking forward to this stuff today, thinking I was well rested. Didn’t have it though. Maybe those curls and skull crushers from the other day had me or maybe the 2.5 hour drive played a role.

Put on me leather grips at this point. I only managed 3 muscle-ups in the first set and 1 in the second set. I took a quick rest after that 2nd set and got back on the rings to try to knock out some muscle-ups and didn’t have any. Called it quits right there on the gymnastics.

I had one terrible day in this cycle for each of the 3 movements, pull-ups, handstand push-ups, and muscle-ups. New cycle starting on Monday.

Weightlifting

Warmed up with 2 empty bar sets of 3 muscle snatch + 3 behind the neck snatch presses + 3 overhead squats.

Tall Snatches

2x3x40kg
3×45
3×50
3×55
2×60, missed 3rd rep
2×65
2 misses x70

I should have actually missed the first try at 70 behind me, but I am not used to that and pulled it back to the front. I need to do these more often. Felt like I was dropping quick, but need to get comfortable catching the bar that low and staying tight.

Conditioning

Warmed up with an easy 2:00 row for 507 meters.

5 Rounds

100m Row
1:00 rest

Wanted to set a new PR and get in a time for my BTWB fitness level ranking since it’s been almost a year. I killed my previous best 16.0 with a 15.5 on the first try. Then beat the 16.0 four more times with 15.7, 15.7, 15.8, and 15.9! I couldn’t believe it. I tried a different damper setting almost every round and even tried shortening my stroke on the final interval.

Good way to end the training session and a nice birthday surprise.

Gettin’ Gymnastics Volume

Woke up feeling a little beat from the PRs last night. Low to middle are of my back being the stiffest. Not the area where I’ve had my issues though, so that’s good. In at 11am to close out the 2nd week of the cycle.

Skill WOD (Hustle & Flow) Week 2 Day 3

Warm-up

3 sets

5 Bar Work
(Hold and pause 2 sec at each position with no form breaks and no momentum)
- Dead Hang
- Lat Active Hollow
- Tight Arch
1 Skin the Cat
7 Straddle V-ups
10s GHD Hanging Bridge Stretch

Skin the cats really stretch out that shoulder area.

Skill A – 4 Supersets

1 Ring Swing + Pull-up w/ swing + MU
2 Box Hip Kip Drill
3 Banded Hip Drill

Felt a little better with the complex this week though I start swinging back with the pull-up and it messes up my kip a little. Didn’t feel as good with the box drill. Maybe I didn’t have the heights of things set right. The banded drill was better though.

Skill Test – 3 sets

1 rep of complex is:

MU + 2 Strict Ring Dips (after the MU dip lockout)

First two sets are 3 reps of the complex and then the 3rd set is for max reps. Increased from 5 to 6 on the max set.

Strength Accessory – 3 sets

3 Lower to Hold Front Lever on Box

These are tough and doing 3 compared to 1 was a big difference in fatigue.

Bonus Complex

Set 1: 3 Ring Pull-up + 3 Toes to Rings + 4 MU
Set 2: 3+3+5
Sets 3+: Keep adding 1 MU until failure

Went for #6 on the 3rd set and squeezed it out. Caught myself in a super low ring dip, but a rep is a rep. Maybe next week if I get those first 3 sets I’ll go for a 4th.

Some nice increases from the first week and without having to figure out that first skill section we finished up in just under an hour. My shoulders still feel wrecked after all that though. I wore my leather grips for everything but the warm-up and no further damage to my hands. I just don’t have the grip problem on the rings like I do with bar muscle-ups.

Conditioning

Bryan and I jumped on the rowers for 10 minutes. Went 2,535 meters. Didn’t get into a good rhythm until the final 90 seconds.

Front to Back

Again, planned to do 9am, but was up late playing an addicting stupid iOS game. Went to the 5:30 class.

Warm-up

Jumping Jacks
Zombie Kicks
Rack Stretch
Lat Stretch
Calf Stretch
5 Back Squats (20kg)
5 Front Squats (20kg)
5 Front Squats (70kg)

Strength

8:00 EMOM (alt)

5 Front Squats (90kg)
5 Back Squats (90kg)

Wasn’t going crazy being the 3rd day squatting this week and may do more tomorrow with Alex. Not sure yet. Legs are kind of smoked from the Air Dyne last night.

Accessory

4 Sets

8 Supinated Grip Pendlay Rows (115#)
5 Evil Wheels

These rows felt really easy. I know they were light but maybe the pull-up work is already paying off.

Conditioning

3 Rounds

1:00 Row (calories)
1:00 Burpees
1:00 Medicine Ball Cleans (20#)
1:00 Rest

I did 27-25-26 calories on the rower and totaled 60-60-58 reps overall. Those med ball cleans suck ass but I kept moving the entire time each round.

Glad there was nothing I had to modify because it’s still hard to hang or pick anything up with my hands.

Structured Gymnastics Work

Feeling pretty good after Kalsu. Legs are fine, but my shoulders are fatigued. In at 10am to start a gymnastics program. Jumped on the rowed for an easy 1,000 meters before getting started. I saw the next cycle of the Rowing WOD combines rowing with thrusters. Good time to switch out. 🙂

Going to be following the Skill WOD from Dusty Hyland, starting with a 4-week cycle he calls Hustle & Flow. With the Open about 3 months away it’s a good time to focus on increasing gymnastics strength, technique, and endurance.

Warm-up

3 sets

5 Bar taps – tight
5 Bar taps – dynamic
7 V-ups
10 Pass-thrus
7 GHD Heel Drives
10 Bridge Rocks

I really like the structure of the warm-up and how it gets everything ready, while reinforcing position work.

Shoulder Activation

3 sets: 3 Scap Elevators + 3 Strict Pull-ups
1 set: 1+1

Superset

5 Sets

5 Butterfly Box Drill Circular Rotations
1 Stop Strict Pull-up + 3 Pull-ups (butterfly drill)
5 C2B Pull-ups

Skill Test

3 Pull-ups + 3 C2B + 3 Pull-ups + 3 C2B
2:00 Rest
2 sets
- 70% MAX C2B
- 90s Rest

I figured there was no way I was getting 2 sets of 14 chest-to-bar pull-ups here after all of the other pull-ups already. Got both though!

Strength Accessory

3 Supersets

15s Underhand grip chin hang
8 Supinated Bar Rows

My least favorite part. Did not feel very good on my elbows in either part.

Bonus Complex

Set 1: 2 Strict Pull-ups + 2 Strict C2B + 3 K2E + 3 T2B + 3 Bar MU
Sets 2-3: 2+2+3+3

Damn those are some hard strict pull-ups! It’s programmed as 4 bar muscle-ups in the first set, but I could only get 3. Then you are supposed to keep adding 1 MU every set until failure, trying to get in at least 3 sets of work. Didn’t realize it until a minute or so later, but I ripped my thumb in that first set, so that was the end of the bar muscle-ups for the day. Finished out 3 sets of work.

I was being a good boy and protecting my hands during the big set stuff with my gymnastics grips, but they don’t do anything for your thumbs. I must really grip hard on that bar transitioning from rep to rep of my bar MU. Will have to tape up my thumbs from now on.

With a focused attack it took us an hour to finish. Better than I expected, especially for the first week.