Thursday, September 16, 2010

Not so bad...

Most people that know me, know that FGB is not my favorite wod. I did it within my first week of doing mainsite wods. I scored a 285 here's the previous breakdown:

30,20,20
20,15,15
27,20,22
15,15,19
16,15,16

This time around:
25,20,26
26,19,21
27,22,19
21,22,18
16,14,16

Total 312

First time breaking 300, but was never a really big goal of mine. This wod always let's me know what my weaknesses are. After doing mainsite for 8-9 weeks, I have definitely grown to like some of the longer metcons. The Bryce technique definitely helped out my sumo numbers! That and it didn't kill my back. I need to learn how to cycle box jumps without it killing my achillies now.
Also, the push press was very uncomfortable not the weight but the movement. Still having some functional issues with overhead movements.

Came into this one with a really sore back. I really think it was from the ring rows. The day after this wod my traps were rocked.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Every second still counts

Definitely dragging today only got about 4 hours of sleep and two staggered 30 min naps after that.

The strength today was press so I decided to work on my weakness in the press, shoulder stabilizers.

Strict ring rows 10x
20kg slow turkish get-up to windmill (1left, 1 right)
Strict ring rows 10x

21-15-9 reps for time of:
Front squats (135/95 or 50% of 1RM back squat)
Burpees

5:28

Originally was gong to try to keep it unbroken. Did well with the 21 set of maintaining breathing and not trying to hit it too hard. Realized how much the 15 set was going to hurt in the middle of the 21 burpees. Felt like I was losing ground on TomM on the 15 set so I dumped the game plan and did 3 sets of 5 with short rest. Last set was 5/4 split. I tried to catch up with TomM on the burpees and I did my burpees a little further away so he wouldn't see me coming but coming up in the middle of my 9th burpee he called time. It couldn't be more than a 1/2 second. Great push though.

I need to work more in this zone of pushing my lactate threshold. Today it was slightly the breathing side of things but mainly in my ability to push through the burn. I have plenty of strength for it. I even leaned more on one side alternating per 5 set in the 15 to disperse the burn. I may sub some of my strength wods for high rep med/med heavy weight for high volume. The only problem is that this usually leads to residual soreness. Decisions, decisions.

Post wod 25 HSPUs

1:29
Did this for time, just for fun. Also, challenged Bryce, Tom, and Erin to it too. We all ran into the same issue. Over exerting ourselves in the first set. I went 15 unbroken, I wanted to go 5 after that and barely squeezed out 3.

Had time so did 2 more set of 10 strict ring rows and much later did another 10 nose-to-ground HSPUs unbroken.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Pull ups!

I'm trying to channel my inner "Alison Jones" skills and throw a pic in here and there. This was me walking towards my knees-to-elbows among the mess of "The Seven." It really was an honor to do that wod. AlisonG great picture taking skills.

I didn't really get a proper warm up in but got this one in at about 3pm with Bryce.

4 Rounds for time of:
12 Power snatches (115/80 or 60% of 1RM)
400m Run
15 Pull ups
Rest precisely 2 minutes after each round

20:05
Splits: 3:18, 3:36, 3:39, 3:32

Pretty consistent... just not consistently fast.

I pretty much did singles on the snatch and picked it up as soon as the bar settled somewhat. The run was as expected, slow. I did 2 wods in August shorter than 200m. Before that I ran in mid July in Hermosa...at the Games. I guess I should run a little more. The pull ups were the high point of the wod, almost easily unbroken. Guess all the pull up work I've been doing is paying off.

Post wod 2 sets of 25 pull ups separated by about 40min breakers.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

In Remembrance

It's almost funny how as soon as I was finished doing mainsite WODs, 2 days later I'm doing another mainsite wod.

Today in remembrance of September 11th we chose a Hero workout. I personally think Hero wods are not to be scaled. They are suppose to be mentally and physically challenging. You suffer and endure in honor of those that have given everything.

"The Seven"

Seven rounds for time of:
7 Handstand push-ups
135 pound Thruster, 7 reps
7 Knees to elbows
245 pound Deadlift, 7 reps
7 Burpees
7 Kettlebell swings, 2 pood
7 Pull-ups

40:56
Splits: 2:52, 8:13, 14:48, 20:59, 28:08, 35:42, 40:56

Got really mentally soft in the 5th & 6th just couldn't get myself to pick up the thrusters. Wrist were having issues from the HSPUs to the thrusters. Only resting in the bottom of burpees helps me a ton. It's almost humiliating to sit with your face on the mat and you know you could always pick yourself back up. I guarantee it will get you moving 2x as fast as resting standing up. The only things that went unbroken were the KTEs, DLs, KB swings, and pull ups. Last set of pull ups lost flow 5 then 1 more butterfly then 1 regular kip. It felt like I was going to fall off the bar but couldn't let Kurt catch up.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Back with the crew

Thursday was a rest day so I decided to work on OHS.
45x3 75x3 105x3 135x2 165x1 195x1

195 is pretty far off from my OHS PR 255 but it felt good to OHS that much weight without it feeling like a jagged k-bar running up and down my upper spine.

I was definitely more sore then I thought I would be Friday from the OHS. First day doing our site wods and I didn't even do it with the rest of the class. Ha! Got this one in with Bryce, Scott, and Jeni.

10min AMRAP of:
3 Power clean (185#/115#)
5 C2B pullups
7 Wall ball (20#/14#) & 11′ target (bottom of ball above X)

7+5 wall balls, yes 2 short of a full 8 rounds. It was painful to hear the Jonny count down as it seemed the wall ball just couldn’t fall fast enough. Still finished the last two after the clock expired to complete 8. All pull ups unbroken, 2 pauses in the wall balls for mouth shots just a lot of breathing in between exercises.

Mentally took too long to pick up the cleans. One time I set up and then backed away from the bar. 185# really isn't that heavy. Just mentally have to be tougher. I waited for the pain to seep on in today and it didn't come. Really good programmed wod from Alex. Probably because it was right up my alley heavy and short but I'll take it!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Linda

"Linda" was the big send-off returning me to CF-Chicago programming and I can't wait to start working out with everyone again.

"Linda"

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 reps of the triplet:

Deadlift: 1 1/2 body weight
Bench press: body weight
Clean: 3/4 body weight

Set up three bars and storm through for time.

22:30@170 (255,170,127.5) Really wanted to hit sub 20 but just couldn't hold it together. Deadlifts all were unbroken but there were long breaks before it started moving. I had the last rep of the 4 set of bench press almost break me. It took almost everything I had to finish the rep.

Looked back at previous times and here they are:
29Oct09 21:01@167 (250.5,167,125)
28Jun08 33:30@160 (240,160,120)

Really need to focus on my metcon. It sucks to look back and not see much progress but I guess that's why everything we do is measurable. Starting the list: OHS, shoulder mobility, pull up stamina, back endurance, metcon ability.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Mentally bruised

Warm up: 2x20 pull ups. Lost rhythm in the second set.

Split Jerk 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 reps

When I was on Westside/pre-neck/shoulder injury I was very close to getting a 300#Jerk. 275 and 285 was easy.

185-225-245f-245-275f

225 was no where as easy as it should have been. Overhead was not a problem but lockout was soft. After reviewing the video it shows slight bend in the arm.

I loaded up 245 and was completely shocked that I missed it. It was a slow dip/drive but I got under it plenty, stabilization was loose. I tired to save it and felt a little twinge in the back. Repeated 245 and made it but it still didn't feel good. Completely demoralized I put 275 on the bar just to feel the weight, good aggressive drive but push it slightly out in front and gave up on it way too soon. Also, my weightlifting belt is a little too loose now that I'm lighter.

Extension to get elevation on the bar felt great.

No where close to an optimal position to receive the bar. Back angle is scary! The restriction of the shoulder mobility is tilting my rib cage forward and making this super inefficient. Weight distribution too heavy in the front. Sad thing is this is the one that I made at 245#.

Just mentally beat up I decided to work on overhead squats. Loaded 95# to warm up and it felt bad. Another kick to the ego considering 255#s was my previous 1RM.

Checked the video and the first set was definitely knee dominant. The shoulder doesn't want to recess slightly back, so the knees and the lower back are compensating. It looks like I'm achieving a good overhead position and shoulders are definitely active however if you check the angle of my rib cage you'll notice the compensation.

It may be slight, but if you notice the excessive curve in my lower back is actually caused by the restriction of my shoulders and the angle of my rib cage/ thoracic spine
After a little work this is about as good as I could get it for now. Position is much more "stacked" and it was no longer knee dominant. 

This brings me to the realization that I need to fix things that are broken. The snatch and the overhead squat are eventually going to tweak my back or me knee if I don't address it now.

I wanted to do another 3-on-1 off of mainsite but I think I'll call it after doing "Linda" tomorrow. Calculating it, tomorrow will actually be 9 weeks of doing Mainsite. I missed 4 days so my 8 weeks of committing to mainsite is still complete. I think it has helped me in the long run but looking forward to working back in with the community.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Community

Warm up skill: 3x15 pull ups (wide grip is feeling really really good)

Complete as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes of:
95 pound Thruster, 5 reps
95 pound Hang Powercleans, 7 reps
95 pound Sumo Deadlift High-pull, 10 reps

9 rounds 7 cleans

I was hesitant to start this one as my shoulders probably have localized rhabdo. My traps are swollen and it actually is close to pain for me to relax my shoulders and let them just hang. I just didn't think 6-8 more hours of delay would help it any.

My goals in this wod was to hit it as hard as I could in the beginning and not pace. Also, in total get 8 rounds. I was pleasantly surprised when I finished the first round in 1:08. Had 4 rounds in under 7 minute marker but I was already starting to hurt pretty good. Broke down a bit in the middle took 2 breaks, one for water, the other to turn the air on. Broke one set of cleans as I had an elbow stinger from my hands being in too close. Everyone else had a 15min amrap so I got to bask in the glory of everyone watching and yelling at me for 5 minutes while I suffered. I love the community and can't wait to get back to regular wods. 15 in my feet started to cramp up a bit so kicked off my shoes. I was in the middle of my 7th at the 15 min marker so I knew my goal was complete. I really didn't think I'd get 2 rounds (could of possibly made 3) in the last 5 minutes. I also have to give much credit to Bryce again as I wouldn't have been able to come even close to that if he didn't teach me the efficient way to do sumos. It's really like 10x easier, no shitting.

Still consider the wod a win. Anytime I get more than 1/2 of what Mikko gets it's a big fat win. Bad thing is I think I could have went harder. I should have pushed harder. I really have to work on mentally accepting pain. I need to work on not holding my knees as well as not focusing on the clock. The more people I can see, face and eyes wise, the shorter my rest will be. Is it a pride thing? Maybe, but who cares, if that's what it takes currently to kick my own ass, so be it.

When I first seen the max jerks posted on mainsite, I was really excited however the condition of my shoulders leaves me a little apprehensive. I have nailed 285 3 times with ease but the 300 marker has eluded me for a while. Also, I have a few days to consider if I'm doing "Severin" with a 20lb vest. OUCH!

Friday, September 3, 2010

Shoulder Rehab Work

With a 45 pound barbell, 21-15- and 9 reps for time of:
Turkish Get-ups, alternating arms
Sots press

29:05
Splits 10:??, 23:??, 27:??

I had all my splits on my watch but ended up clearing it while I was coaching today. One of the few workouts that I had to do alone because of space constraints. Well actually Jonny was working out at the same time.

Actually had a little metcon going in the first set of ten get ups but that quickly went away. This is exactly what I thought it would be. Shoulder stabilization hell! It didn't help that my traps were already brutally sore. This wod also let me know my toes hurt. Not just the one that I dropped the board on but the right big toe was having some flexibility issues. I originally tried to do this in the Chucks but it was too painful and did it in socks only.

I could have moved much faster through this wod but not a fan of fast tgus. It's a great movement with a ton of therapeutic value to it. I did these a bunch rehabbing my shoulder in the past. I took my time and tried to let the shoulder settle in all positions. The worst positions were in the upright/seated position, especially going back down. The sots weren't bad but I could feel myself using too much tricep for it.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Sleep deprived

Stayed up until 2:30 last night trying to nail down my OPT trip to San Diego. Feeling a little run down but squeezed in a nap today. Traps, adductors, and lower back is a little sore from yesterday.

Back Squat 3-3-3-3-3 reps

Tried Kurt's prescribed warm up and I really think I like it.

(45x10, 45x10, 95x5, 95x5, 135x5, 135x5, 185x2, 185x2), 225x3, 255x3, 285x3, 315x3, 335x1 failed on the 2nd.

I did these in my Chucks as the top of my foot is still bruised from dropping the 4x8 board on it. I can't put on my oly shoes with out pain. Still uncomfortable in the Chucks but not obnoxiously painful. I usually squat in the half racks but I chose to do it in the Rouge racks to make sure that I committed to the lifts. Glad Bryce stuck around to spot me for my last lift. I let way too much air out on the first rep and then hyperventilated it at the top of the second to try and get solid. The 315 and the 325 was belted. I was a little let down on the miss at 335x3 but Bryce did remind me I have back squatted heavy one other time (CF Total) in the 7 weeks that I've been on mainsite so I guess missing triple at 90% of my 1rm isn't that bad.

Shoulder stabilization hell tomorrow!

Light bulb

21-18-15-12-9-6 and 3 rep rounds of:
Sumo deadlift high-pull, 75 pounds
Push jerk, 75 pounds

8:23
First round was 1:15 started to feel grip go in the end of SDHPs in the 18 set. Actually resorted to using a hook grip for a bunch. I had a long pause in after the 12 set because I wasn't sure that I finished the 12 set of jerks. I didn't erase reps at all until the jerks were done so figured I was all good. Later I realized I just lost thought as I was a little disappointed with dropping the 12 set of jerks with 2 left. LAME! Didn't feel a "burn" as much as I should have but it was a forearm burner. Also, did these as "jerks" with no presses and push press. Sat around 5 minutes trying to figure out if I lost a set somewhere.

I really don't want to sound conceded, but I rarely had "Ah-ha" moments with training movements. I've been analyzing my SDHPs and I had no idea why it gases me horribly and towards the end starts to look ugly (all lower back and arms). After questioning how Bryce does it so fast, he taught me how he does it and it feels completely different and 10x easier. This is one of those things that I get to see regularly as a coach with CrossFitters. It's where the light goes on. It's frustrating that when my light went on it was red and I felt really irritated I never explored the option of doing sumos that way. I feel ripped off!!! Almost jaded.