Tag: Sit-up

Angie Rx

Since I worked out later yesterday it would have been a short rest to hit a morning class, so I went to the 5:30pm again.

Warm-up

3 rounds

  • 1m Flutter Kicks
  • 1m Side Plank (30s each side)
  • 1m V-ups
  • 1m Mountain Climbers
  • 1m Bicycles
  • 1m Rest

Great ab crushing warm-up.

WOD

“Angie”

  • 100 Pull-ups
  • 100 Push-ups
  • 100 Squats
  • 100 Sit-ups

I had only done “Angie” once before, nearly 4 months ago. At the time I did all jumping pull-ups and some kneeling push-ups to finish in 35:10.

Today I performed everything as prescribed, doing kipping pull-ups the whole way and all normal push-ups. I didn’t even rip my hands on pull-ups, so I’m getting better at recognizing when I’m close and readjusting my position or taking a break. I broke the pull-ups down into pretty small sets. It took me just under 12:00 to complete the pull-ups, which is by far the longest part of this WOD. I started out strong on push-ups, but was breaking them into sets of 2-4 at the end to get through. For squats I started out with 2 sets of 20 and then pretty much did 10s the rest of the way. Sit-ups were pretty easy and I knocked those out in 50-30-20.

My total time was 24:42, which is over 10 minutes faster and that’s even doing everything as it should be done!

Carry the Medicine Ball

Got another solid night of sleep last night. It’s great to be home sleeping in my own bed again.

Warm-up

  • 600m Run
  • Power Skipping
  • Walking Zombie Kicks
  • But Kicks

WOD

A religious CrossFit box somewhere came up with this partner WOD. It’s supposed to be based on the 14 stations of the cross. I’ll hold off on any comments about the religious nature.

  • 400m Run (both partners)
  • 50 Pull-ups
  • 40 Burpees (both partners)
  • 80 KBS (Russian)
  • 60 MB Thrusters
  • 100 1-arm Push Presses
  • 100 Lunges (both partners)
  • 60 MB Cleans
  • 200 Sit-ups/Plank
  • 60 K2E
  • 50 Pull-ups
  • 100 Lateral Hops
  • 100 HR Push-ups
  • 800m Run (both partners)

One partner holds a medicine ball at all times except when doing burpees, lunges, and sit-ups/plank. I partnered up with Matt, the owner, since we had an odd number of people in class. We used a 20# MB for the workout. When performing burpees and lunges each partner completes the prescribed number of reps. During the runs, we handed off the MB at the half-way point. As an example, we split up the pull-ups into several sets, each doing a total of 25 pull-ups. Then we each performed 40 burpees on our own. For the push presses, each partner should end up doing 25 with each arm. When you get to 200 sit-ups/plank, one partner is doing sit-ups while the other is holding a plank.

It took us 42 or 44 minutes to finish, I don’t remember the time. The last half of the 800m run was straight into a strong wind. Absolutely brutal holding the MB. I highlight for me was getting kipping K2E for the first time. I wish I had figured this out a couple of weeks ago for all of the T2B.

Partner WODs are always fun on weekends. Now it’s time to enjoy Masters Sunday.

Back at Survival Fitness

I was absolutely exhausted last night when I got home. Went to bed at 10pm for a solid 10.5 hours of sleep! First day back at Survival Fitness this morning and it felt great. It was a pretty big class from what I remember the size being a few months ago. I’m excited that SF will be moving to a much bigger space soon.

Warm-up

  • 300m Power skipping while with OH PVC
  • 30 Air Squats
  • 20 PVC Pass thrus
  • 30 OH Squats

The power skipping was pretty taxing, especially having to hold the PVC overhead. I hadn’t done anything like that before.

Skill

5 rounds

  • 30s Handstand
  • 30s Deep squat hold

This was really easy considering I’ve been doing scaled handstand push-ups. I could feel it in my wrists a bit though.

WOD

  • 1 Mile run
  • 100 box jumps
  • MAX HR push-ups
  • 100 sit-ups
  • MAX pull-ups
  • 100 KBS
  • 1 Mile run

There are over 20 people from SF doing the Tough Mudder next weekend, so this WOD was designed to prepare them. It was a good test for me as well since I have the duathlon coming up in two weeks. I ran the first mile in about 6:40. The last time I did a mile test was November 20, 2011 in 7:47, so I was thrilled with my progress. I used a 24 inch box for the jumps without a problem. It’s just that 100 is a lot to knock out in a row. For maximum HR push-ups I was able to get 26 unbroken. I split sit-ups into sets of 50-25-25. I went with strict dead hang pull-ups, since the bars aren’t high enough for me to do kipping, and set a new PR with 7. The worst part of this workout was doing 100 KBS. I used a 53# KB and broke them into sets of 10 for most of the way. The last mile took me about 8:20 for a total time of 39:19. Along with another guy, we were the only people to finish under the 40:00 goal. He smoked me pretty good on both runs, but since I did fewer push-ups and pull-ups I was able to get a head start on the last run.

Buh Bye CrossFit Full Strength

Today was my last workout at CrossFit Full Strength in Phoenix, AZ. I’m starting the drive back to Saginaw, MI later today after I pack and clean the apartment. I’m going to miss everyone here. It’s been a lot of fun making new friends and hanging out with the crew from the box. I’ve learned a ton of new movements and techniques. My strength has progressed more than I could have imagined over 3 months. Hopefully I’ll be back soon.

My hands are beat up from the last few days of pull-ups, T2B, and death by deadlifts. Oh look, more pull-ups today! Two off days are going to feel great.

Yesterday I went in for one last session at the chiropractor. He was able to get in and adjust my neck so much easier than even last Friday.

Warm-up

  • 90s-60s-30s
    • Sit-ups
    • Plank
  • 20 Supermans

Strength

4 Sets

  • 3-5 Shoulder Presses, 2-0-X-1 tempo
  • 90s Rest
  • 2-3 Weighted Pull-ups, 2-1-X-0 tempo
  • 90s Rest

I did a couple of warm-up sets today, starting with the bar for 8 reps and then 75# for 5 reps. Started with 95# for the working sets and moved up to 105#, 115#, and 125# for the full 5 reps each time. Last time we did this I was only able to get 125# up 3 times, so good progress there. I used an 18# KB for the first set of weighted pull-ups and did 5 reps because that’s what we usually do. I should pay more attention sometimes. Switched to a 25# KB the rest of the way and was able to stay in the 2-3 reps.

WOD

3 Rounds

  • 10 Pull-ups
  • 30s Rest
  • 15 KBS
  • 30s Rest
  • 20 DUs
  • 30s Rest

Not a timed WOD today, other than the rest periods, which was weird. I used a 62# KB for the swings and did well on pull-ups and DUs. No new tears on my hands and I did all 10 kipping pull-ups in a row on the last round.

I’ll be back in a few days. Hopefully I’ll be able to make it in to Survival Fitness on Saturday if I get home at a decent hour on Friday night. I know I’ll need the workout after 3 days of driving.

Sunday Funday

Yesterday after walking 18 holes of golf I had to rush home, shower, and get out to a restaurant for happy hour and dinner with a bunch of my CrossFit friends. Great fun! Such a good group of people. It’s going to be hard to leave this year, but I’m heading home to my close friends and another great group of folks at the gym there.

Since we started dinner before 5pm yesterday, I was in bed around midnight with enough time to recover enough to hit the 9am this morning. Getting out of bed was rough though. I couldn’t believe how sore I was from the interval workout at the track. After moving around a bit and eating a banana I felt better and decided it would do me good to get in for a tough workout.

Warm-up

  • 400m Run
  • 3 World’s Greatest Stretch (each leg)
  • 10-15 of each
    • V Sit-ups
    • PVC Pass thrus
    • Air squats

WODs

Teams of Three. For both portions, team members will cycle through full rounds one at a time, with only one member working at any one time. The goal is to move as quickly as possible, thus minimizing your partners’ rest periods and racking up as many rounds as possible.

Since class was small (imagine that after a night of drinking!) most of us paired up for teams of two instead of three.

15m AMRAP

  • 3 Deadlifts
  • 6 HSPU
  • 9 Box Jumps

Deadlifts were done with 225#, I used 2 AbMats for the HSPUs, and jumped on to some stacked up tires that were taller than 24 inches. I was able to complete all rounds unbroken, which is why I went with 2 AbMats instead of 1. At a team, my partner Adam and I completed 15 rounds plus 3 deadlifts. I went first in this AMRAP. Teams of 2 was actually perfect here and we kept a steady pace of 1 minute rounds. With 3 people I think our rest period would have been too long.

After finishing the first WOD, I was feeling so much better than when I woke up. I’m glad I decided to make it in to class instead of going back to bed or going for a hike.

We rested for 5 minutes before hitting the second WOD.

15m AMRAP

  • 5 Pull-ups
  • 10 Burpees

I went second in this AMRAP because Adam is better at pull-ups than I am. In the end it didn’t matter because we each completed 9 rounds for a total of 18. That’s 45 pull-ups and 90 burpees each. This WOD would have been much better with a team of 3. My kipping pull-ups are getting much better because I’m able to feel when I get out of control and dial in the swing. I’m also getting better at adjusting my grip on the bar.

After the workout I headed to Total Wine & More to pick up some beer. CrossFit Full Strength has started to call today Sunday Funday because everyone is encouraged to bring a 6-pack of beer for after the noon OLY class. Last week was the first one and it was fun.

Olympic Lifting Class

After a snatch warm-up progression with the PVC pipe we worked on our snatch technique by doing a power snatch followed by a full snatch. I worked up to 105# I think.

Next we got out the racks and worked on the drop snatch with overhead squat. I got up to 125# there. Tried 135# once, but I had the weight too far forward and my feet were too wide.

I wasn’t quite all there and felt weak during the OLY work today, but it was good to get a final session in with Johnny.

PR Twice

Another great night of sleep, so I’m feeling great.

Warm-up

  • 400m Run
  • 2x
    • 10 Groiners (5 each leg)
    • 10 Supermans
    • 10 PVC Sit-ups
    • 10 KBS

I used a 35# KB for the warm-up swings.

Strength

3-2-1-3-2-1 Back Squats with 2-3m rest between sets

Sort of a weird rep/set scheme, but it actually worked out really well. Warmed up with 6 reps of just the bar and then 6 reps at 135#. For working sets I used 185# (3), 195# (2), 205# (1), 195# (3), 215# (2), and 230# (1). The 230# was a PR and we had time left so I went for 240# and got another PR. Squats felt great today. As the weight got heavy I made sure to take a deep breath and hold it until the bottom of the squat. I always forget to focus on that and it really helped to keep everything tight and ready for the way back up.

WOD

10m AMRAP

  • 5 Burpee Pull-ups
  • 10 KBS
  • 15 DB Walking Lunges

No hiding out in this WOD. Everything was pretty intense. The pull-ups weren’t too bad because it was mostly a jump from the burpee. I used a 62# KB for the swings and held 45# DBs for the lunges. I was able to finish 4 rounds plus 5 burpee pull-ups, 10 KBS, and 10 of the DB walking lunges.

Only one week left in Phoenix after today and then it’s back to Michigan. I’m going to miss the 9am crew at CrossFit Full Strength!

The Bar Takes a Piece of Me

I wasn’t really sore this morning from yesterday’s Olympic lifting session. I do feel a bruise near my neck from doing cleans though.

Warm-up

  • 3m DUs
  • 6 each of Push-up complex (Under the fence, knee to elbow at bottom of push-up, foot to outstretched hand at top of push-up)
  • 50 Sit-ups
  • 6 each of Push-up complex

I think we did something else in the warm-up, but I can’t remember what it was.

Strength

5 Sets

  • 5 Deadlifts
  • 20s Rest
  • MAX HSPU
  • 3m Rest

Since I had just done RDLs last night I wasn’t sure what I’ve have left in the tank for deadlifts. I started with a warm-up set at 135# and then my rounds went like this:

  • 165# DL / 7 HSPU
  • 195# DL / 7 HSPU
  • 215# DL / 5 HSPU
  • 245# DL / 6 HSPU
  • 275# DL / 4 HSPU

Everything felt pretty good. Today was the first time I tried HSPU with only 1 AbMat. It’s definitely harder than 2, but I’ve come along way since doing stink bugs 2 months ago. 275# is a new PR for deadlifts by 5#.

WOD

5 Rounds

  • 8 Deadlifts, 85% of 5RM
  • 20 Wall Balls

I used 235# for deadlifts and a 15# MB so that I could keep up the intensity throughout. In the first round I did all 8 deadlifts unbroken, but then broke them up into sets of 5 and 3 for the rest of the rounds. Each round I tried to do the wall balls unbroken, but had to take a break of 2-3 seconds during a few of the rounds. I finished in 10:41. On one of the the deadlift descents, the knurling of the bar scraped my knee and took a souvenir.

Cleaner Cleans

Good sleep, feeling good. My hands have been healing really well under the pinkies, but I’m starting to develop an issue under the middle fingers on both hands. I wonder if I’m compensating.

Warm-up

  • 600m Run
  • 2x
    • 5 Inch worms
    • 10 PVC Shrug Pass-thrus
    • 15 Sit-ups
  • PVC Bergener Warm-up

First time doing the inch worms. Those are interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever concentrated on doing a shrug before starting the pass-thrus either. Shoulders were sore doing those. Probably from the slow ring rows.

Strength

4 Sets

  • 1.1.1.1.1 Cleans (Rest 10 seconds between reps)
  • 20s Rest
  • 10-15 Heavy KBS
  • 3m Rest

For the sets of cleans I used 95#, 115#, 125#, and 140#. Gayle gave me a few tips to clean up my form and it really made them much easier. I was leaning back too much instead of exploding up. I also wasn’t keeping the bar close enough to my body after it got past my knees. It’s incredible how much easier they were with better form. Oh, and we did full squat cleans which I had never done either. I used a 62# KB for the swings and did 15 each set.

WOD

3 Rounds

  • 250m Row
  • 20 Wall Balls
  • 20 KBS
  • 2m Rest

The was a brutal WOD for me. Wall balls suck. We had already done 60 swings with a kettlebell, so 60 more sucked too. Ok, enough whining! I just died during this workout. Not my strengths for sure. I used a 20# MB and a 53# KB and finished in 13:57.

2012 CrossFit Games Open Workout 12.1

Last night I was patiently waiting for the CrossFit Games site to release the first Open workout. I get so excited about competing, going on golf trips, and shit like this. I was very happy to see the first WOD didn’t involve heavy weights.

Complete as many reps as possible in 7 minutes of: Burpees

One thing most people aren’t used to for burpees is you have to put a target 6 inches above your reach and touch it with both hands on each rep. This is for judging online videos and so everyone is held to the same standards. I got to the box about a half hour before the 9am class since it was open gym from 8-9 and I could get the workout done and stay for class.

Warm-up

I did a slow 400m row.

I had never done a huge set of burpees so I wasn’t sure what I was capable of. My goal was to get 100, which averages out to 15 per minute. I started out fast, trying to get to the ground as fast as I could. I was right around 20 after 1 minute. Ahead of pace. From there it was burpee hell. I only stopped for a second or two here and there and tried to keep a steady past the rest of the way. I think I picked back up in the final minute and managed to get 92. Shy of 100, but I’m happy with that.

I am now a CrossFit Games athlete! 🙂

Warm-up?

Since I just finished 7 minutes of burpees I skipped most of the warm-up, but jumped in at the end for Tabata sit-ups.

Strength

4 Sets

  • 20 Walking Lunge (steps)
  • 60s Rest

I used 50# DBs in each hand. It was plenty of weight.

WOD

5 Rounds

  • 5 Power Cleans
  • 10 Burpees

Just what I needed, more fucking burpees! I swapped them out and did 15 ring rows each round instead. Set a new PR for cleans by using 145#. Finished in a time of 10:46.

Fitting way to end a tough week of workouts. Now I’m out of the box until Monday because I have a work conference and workshops Friday through Sunday. I may get up early and do Tabata sprints on Saturday or Sunday though.

Partner Up

I ate kind of shitty the last couple of days and my body is letting me know by not getting quality sleep, having less energy, craving more junk, etc. Ugh!

On Thursday I ended up going out and walking 11 holes of twilight golf and spent a good hour+ at the range yesterday working on my swing. Tee times were later today so I was able to make it in for a WOD. The weekends usually have some type of team or partner WOD, which is fun.

Warm-up

  • 150 Sit-up variation reps (switch as you want)
  • Plank competition
  • 3 Sets of 2 Turkish Get-ups (each side)

Since we had 15 people in class, we went across the room, each person counting to 10. I tried to do regular sit-ups most of the time, but switched to some bicycles and flutter kicks. I think I made it to the final 5 in the plank competition at just shy of 2 minutes and 50 seconds. My core was shaking so bad at the end. For the Turkish Get-ups I used a 35# KB for the first 2 sets and then a 40# DB for the last set. Bumping up 5# really makes you concentrate on that shoulder stability.

WOD

Form teams of 2, switch each exercise
10 rounds

  • 10 Thrusters
  • 10 Burpees
  • 400m Run

It’s a little confusing when you look at it. This helps:
Partner A performs 10 thrusters; Partner B performs 10 burpees; Partner A runs 400 Meters; Partner B performs 10 thrusters; etc…
Each person is doing each exercise a total of 5 times over the course of the workout. In 2 rounds, each partner ends up doing everything once.

I partnered up with a couple of guys (team of 3 since there was an add number of people in class) that are new to the gym, but in really good shape. We used 95# for the thrusters which was absolutely brutal in rounds 3-5 so I had to split up the set into 6 and 4 reps. I was hating the choice of weight during the WOD, but after it’s done I’m glad I used it. I think we finished 3rd out of all the teams in a time of 31:03.

50 thrusters, 50 burpees, and 1.25 miles of running is a pretty good way to start the weekend! Time to rush and get out to the golf course.