Shoulder Press

Home For Less Than A Day

Drove back home this morning. Got some things done and got to the gym before 6pm.

Back Squat

10×45#
4×155
4×205
2×245
2×285
2×315
2×325
2×335

Squats have not felt great the last couple of weeks. Too inconsistent with all of the travel and stuff lately. I wore my belt for the last 3 sets. No close to the assigned percentages for this week but it wasn’t feeling great so I wasn’t going to get hurt before leaving on the trip in the morning.

10×45#
6×75
4×95
2×115
2×135
2×152.5
2×162.5
2×170
1×180 (PR)

Now the presses were a different story today, even though the last couple of weeks didn’t feel great. I hit the 65-75-85-90-95% and it felt good so I went for the PR since I’ll be gone. No issues with it. PR by 5#; always a win with shoulder press.

Warmed up with 3×95 and 3×135. I really didn’t want to do this after the strength work but Bryan was patiently waiting for me.

Open 15.4 – 8:00 AMRAP

3 handstand push-ups
3 cleans (185#)
6 handstand push-ups
3 cleans
9 handstand push-ups
3 cleans
12 handstand push-ups
6 cleans
15 handstand push-ups
6 cleans
18 handstand push-ups
6 cleans
…

I haven’t done this since the 2015 Open, when I got through 15+6 (66 total reps). I can’t remember the last time I did a HSPU though. I tried a different strategy today. Wanted to go unbroken on cleans as much as I could. I had done all singles back then. I was able to get all of the sets of 3, then went 2-1-1-1-1, and 4 unbroken to finish. On the HSPU I only did a 3 for the round of 3 and to start the round of 9, then all other doubles except in the set of 15 I went to singles for the last 6 reps to try to shorten my rest time. So got through 15+4 today, which I’m really happy with.

I control my descent in HSPU way too much though, fatiguing my shoulders a lot. I need to work on dropping like a rock. I also need to utilize a bigger kip earlier because I’m using too much of the press early on.

Midline

5 Sets

12 Weighted GHD Sit-ups (20#)

Might be time to go heavier.

Flying out to the CrossFit Games in the morning!

No Quitting Today

My back is still pretty rough for an hour or two in the morning and tightens up when I sit around, not moving. Out in the garage in the morning before golf. Warmed up with Crossover Symmetry Activation.

Strength

E3M – Shoulder Press

6×45#
3×75#
3×95#
3×110# (62%)
3×130# (72%)
3×147.5# (82%)
3×156.25# (87%)
3×165# (92%)

I tried to stick as close as possible to the correct percentages (note the odd weights). When 130 was feeling heaving I got worried, especially with my back. But I strapped on the belt after that to help stabilize and prevent over-extension. Made every set.

Rode in the cart golfing since my back has been bothering me, they were calling for rain, and I didn’t want to exhaust myself with shit to get done before leaving town in the morning. Went to the gym just before 7pm. Warmed up with 3 sets of 10 Reverse Hypers using 210 pounds.

Back Squat

6×45#
6×135#
3×185#
3×225#
3×265#
3×295#
3×315#
3×335#

Rested about 3 minutes between sets, maybe 4 on the later ones. Had to really concentrate on positions to keep my back safe. Happy to be able to hit the 335 triple I made last week, especially with my back. Below our prescribed percentages (same as shoulder press) for the week but I wasn’t going to push it.

Accessory

6 Sets

8/8 Landmine Rows (80#)
2:00 Rest

Really really liking these.

Conditioning

Row 1,000m

In my last attempt, a couple of months ago, I ended up quitting when I went out too hard. Might have been the only time I’ve ever quit a workout. Today I got under 1:35, which would give me a 1 second PR, and tried to hold there. I was still on pace through 600 meters but started dying. Finished with a 3:13.4, which is just over 2 seconds off my best. Been a long day, so I’ll take it.

Too Hot

Went out to the garage in the morning and warmed up with Crossover Symmetry Activation.

Shoulder Press

E3M – 3s Pause at the bottom before each rep

10×45#
5×75#
5×95#
5×115#
4 sets of 5×125#

Loosely based the numbers off Prilepin’s Chart.

Walked 18 holes on the golf course and it was miserably hot out there. Took too much out of me so no gym time in the evening. Will workout tomorrow instead of resting.

Cruisin’

Woke up with tired legs from playing a bunch of Slammo/Spikeball last night.

Warm-up: 3 Rounds

10 PVC Pass-thrus
80′ Bear Crawl
10 Walking Lunges

Conditioning

800m Run
40 Push-ups
20 C&J (95#)
400m Run
20 C&J (95#)
40 Push-ups
800m Run

Took exactly 16:00. I went 15-10-8-7 on the first round of push-ups, 10-5-5 on both sets of clean and jerks, and 4×10 on the last round of push-ups, with the final 10 being very slow. Was mostly on cruise control.

Midline

6 Rounds (Tabata)

20s Hollow Rocks
10s Rest
20s Side Plank (R)
10s Rest
20s Side Plank (L)
10s Rest

I think I was able to get 18 hollow rocks each time, but they started to burn after 3 sets. Side planks were no issue.

2:00 AMRAP

Air Squats

Pretty steady pace of 10 reps every 15 seconds. Finished with 81, which is not very good by BTWB rankings.

Felt like doing something in the evening so I tested out this week’s shoulder press strength work for Intuition. Warmed up with Crossover Symmetry Activation.

Shoulder Press – E3M

9×45#
6×75#
3×95#
3×105#
3×125#
3×145#
3×155#
3×162.5#

Pretty close on the rounding of 60-70-80-85-90% based off a 180 pound estimated max. I paused for a second on my chest with 125-145-155 and maybe even 105 (can’t remember), effectively making each rep a first rep. Caused the final set to be harder than it should have been, considering I did 3×170 earlier this year.

Pulling Rope

Quads are still sore but on the tail end finally. Getting down to line up putts on the course was painful yesterday. My abs are sore from the v-ups and probably some from the GHDs too. Did a little work in the garage during the day.

Warm-up

Crossover Symmetry Activation
Shoulder press (3s pause at the bottom)
- 6×45#
- 6×75#

Strength

E3M – 6 sets

3 Shoulder Press w/ 3s pause in bottom

We weren’t sure how our original percentages would work so I wanted to try it out at 50-60-70-75-80%. Made it, so I went 5 pounds more for the bonus 6th set, which ended up having me use 95-110-125-135-145-150#.

Hit a big bucket of balls at the range in the afternoon and then went to the gym around 5pm.

Power Cleans

5x20kg
5×40
5×60
2×70
2×80
2×85
2×90
2×95
2×100
2×105
2×110

All touch-n-go reps. I chickened out on the second rep with 235# last week so was happy to get up to 242# today.

Accessory & Conditioning

Tested one 50 foot rope sled pull with 180# and then…

5 Sets

Prowler Rope Pull (180#, 50′)
High Prowler Push (180#, 50′)
125m Run

Didn’t use a clock or anything. Was sitting on the ground for the rope pulls. Walked back to the prowler after the run and didn’t take much extra rest after getting there. I’ve been wanting to try these rope pulls for lat work and I could definitely tell that my problem shoulder (left) started to give out sooner than the right.

Jumped in on with class who were doing some alternating EMOM work and then did some carries with them.

6:00 EMOM

5 OHS (135#)

Much harder than I expected. Maybe due to lats being fatigued?

200m Farmer’s Carry (2×44# KB)
Rest while partner goes

Easy.

On Sabbatical

Flew home from D.C. yesterday. Ten days is a long time for me to be away from home. Didn’t get in much exercise at all due to working a lot and going to a conference. Did go about 60 miles on foot, walking a lot! Didn’t touch a barbell the whole time away, so figured this garage workout would be interesting.

I’m actually on a 3-month sabbatical from work starting today, which is pretty sweet.

Warm-up

Crossover Symmetry Activation
Shoulder Press
- 10×45#
- 5×65
- 5×85
Back Squat (after finishing press working sets)
- 10×45#
- 5×135
- 5×185

E3M – 5 Sets

5 Shoulder Presses (56-66-76-81-86%)

I went 100-120-135-145-152.5#, which is a PR. Hell, my best 4-rep was 150#. Was scheduled to do 155# on the last set, but scaled it back due to how I was feeling. Probably a good thing I did.

E3M – 5 Sets

5 Back Squat

Same percentages as the presses. I went 210-250-285-305-325#, but did break the final set into 3-2. I knew I wasn’t going to make it and my back was feeling pretty ugly. Took about 30 seconds before getting back under the bar and barely made them. In the video my back doesn’t look at bad as it felt.

Power Cleans

2×45#
2×75
2×95
2×115
2×135
2×155
2×175
2×195
2×205
2×215
2×225
1×235

I was feeling very cautious after the squats. Even though 225# felt solid, after a wide stance catch with 235#, I pre-Clarked the 2nd rep. Will take me a few days to get back in the swing of things I guess.

Hitting the golf course tonight.

To D.C.

Legs are tired and my traps are sore to the touch. Out in the garage early afternoon before heading to the airport.

Warm-up

Crossover Symmetry Activation
Back Squats
- 10×45#
- 2x5x155#
Shoulder Press (after squat work)
- 10×45#
- 2x5x75#

Strength

E3M – 5 Sets

5 Back Squat (53-63-73-78-83%)

My numbers were 195-235-275-295-315# today. Little grind but feeling good after the time away from heavy weights. Bar did not feel so good sitting on my sore traps.

E3M – 5 Sets

5 Shoulder Press (53-63-73-78-83%)

Now these got rough for the final two sets. Glad I had the belt on to help protect from over-extending too much. Weights were 95-115-130-140-150#. Seems like that last set was a PR or a PR match, but I don’t have great records of multi-rep maxes.

Glad to have time to get in my strength work for the week so I don’t fall off what we have programmed at Intuition.

Conditioning

30 GHD Sit-ups
500m Ski Erg
30 GHD Sit-ups
500m Ski Erg
30 GHD Sit-ups

Wanted to do 50-1000-50 but wasn’t confident the Ski Erg would stay on for me, so I adjusted. 30 reps on the GHD at a time was plenty! First set of 30 took exactly 1:00 but the other two rounds were much slower. My splits on the erg were 1:52.6 and 1:53.3. Finished everything in 9:03 and got my sit-ups done for the week. Now I’m of to D.C. for 10 days.

Minute by Minute

My shins are pretty sore from those explosive broad jumps on Sunday. Walking 7 miles on the golf course was a little rough yesterday. Woke up and decided not to go at 9am due to work meetings. Worked out great because I really got in a programming zone today. Went to the 5:30pm class.

Warm-up

Crossover Symmetry Activation
OHS Shoulder Stretching in Rack
3 Sets
- 20s Dead Hang
- 8 Zombie Kicks
Shoulder Press
- 5×45#
- 5×75#
- 5×95#

Strength

E3M – 5 Sets

5 Shoulder Press (50-60-70-75-80%)

I used 95-110-125-135-145#. After 110 and 125 I thought it was going to be a struggle at the end, but turned out fine once I got going. Not used to having weight on the bar, that’s for sure.

Conditioning

8 Cycles

1:00 AMRAP
- 5 Burpees
- 5 Air Squats
1:00 Rest

The work/rest was on the money for being able to keep pace. Each cycle slowed through the 1:00 of work, but was overall work was consistent from cycle to cycle. After the first few, my goal was to stay at 30+ every time. Was able to by getting 33-32-31-32-31-32-31-31 reps.

Gymnastics

5 Rounds

2 Wall Walks
30s Plank

Piece of cake. Did the planks on my hands with a forward lean. Was feeling that combo in my wrists a little by the end.

Double Tabata

Don’t feel anything after yesterday’s workout.

Warm-up

Crossover Symmetry Activation
3 Sets
- 5 Burpees
- 20 Mountain Climbers
- 1:00 Bottom Squat Hold
10 Shoulder Press (45#)
5/5 Bulgarian Split Squats
10 Shoulder Press (75#)
5/5 Split Squats (75#)

Strength

E3M – 6 Sets

12 Shoulder Press (95#)
6/6 Bulgarian Split Squats (95#)

Yuck! Close to failure on the last 3 sets of shoulder press. Did the split squats with the bar on my back again. Glad we are done with this cycle!

Conditioning

8 Rounds (Tabata)
- 20s Air Squats
- 10s Rest
2:00 Rest
8 Rounds (Tabata)
- 20s Double Unders
- 10s Rest

My goal was sets of 17 air squats and I managed, though had to speed up the last few on some rounds. 136 total squats. Thought the dubs were going to be horrible after the squats but I think it actually helped to relax my legs, which sounds kind of stupid to say. I only had one miss and it was to start round 2 or 3. Got 284 reps, just 2 shy of my 286 best. If I don’t have any misses and get an extra rep or two per round, that 300 might be possible. It’s hard to speed up dubs though because then you have a higher risk of missing.

8:00 AMRAP

5 One-Arm Deadlifts Right
50′ Suitcase Carry Right
5 One-Arm Deadlifts Left
50′ Suitcase Carry Left

Used a 70 pound kettlebell. We were outside and I have no idea how many rounds I did. Not speedy, but kept moving the entire time.

Went for a run before dinner. Hot out! Ran 2 miles in 16:17, which is 30 seconds faster than Saturday. Slowly speeding up. Started out way too fast or I think I would have been able to hold a better pace.

Will have time for ROMWOD yet later.

Unhook the Piano

Not much sleep since I was up playing around with a little home network server project.

Warm-up

Crossover Symmetry Activation
2 Sets
- 5s of StrongFit Tricep & Bicep Openers (10#)
- 15 Reverse Hypers (210#)
3 Sets
- 10 Thrusters (45#)
- 10 PVC pass-thrus
- 20 Mountain Climbers

Strength

E3M – 6 Sets

11 Shoulder Press (95#)
6/6 Bulgarian Split Squats (95#)

Didn’t even need any extra warm-up after those thrusters. The presses were getting rough in the 3rd set! Hope it was just the lack of sleep and early morning. First time trying split squats with a bar on my back. Worked well.

Conditioning

Every 30 second Death By 2 MB Cleans (20#)

1st 30 seconds – 2 reps and rest with what it left
2nd – 4 reps
3rd – 6
… adding 2 reps each 30 seconds until failing to hit the assigned number of reps

Wasn’t bad until 10 and then you’re basically going with no rest. I finished the set of 12 and got 12 of 14. All sets unbroken because you have to; no time to waste in 30 seconds.

1 Mile Run

Been a long time since I tried to push a mile. Wanted sub-7, but only managed a 7:08. I’m so bad at pacing. Should have paid closer attention to the pace on my watch. I would love to get this under 6 by the end of the summer.

Finished up with Crossover Symmetry Iron Scap and will ROMWOD tonight.

More Running

Forgot I had a chiro appointment or I would have went to the gym in the evening and saved a drive out that way (it’s night by the gym). After finishing up with work I decided to head out for a run. Maybe I just needed to learn what it feels like to run again because the paces are getting so much easier every week and I don’t even realize I’m going faster until I check the watch. Went 2.66 miles in 24:10, which is just over 9 minute miles. It’s night and day to compare how that run felt compared to the 11 minute miles I started with 3 weeks ago. Average HR of 144 (bit inflated due to a bad reading for 90 seconds around 1 mile in) is higher, but it felt fine.