10/23/2015

AM
4 rounds easy of:
3:00 airdyne
3:00 row
3:00 mobility work of choice

PM
A. Clean pull, 1-1-1-1 @235; 2:00 rest
B. Snatch-grip deadlift, build to a heavy single
C. Sled drag, 6x20m very heavy grind indoors; :90 rest
+
3 sets:
400m run @same pace as last week
:60 rest

AM
complete

PM
A. complete
B. 225
C. complete w/260# on sled
+
1:28
1:28
1:28


Clean pulls felt REALLY have today, they weren't getting very high and I was getting frustrated. I don't understand why I have no problem using my legs and hips for snatch pulls but with clean pulls I want to use all arms and back (video). I can't even imagine cleaning this. 

Snatch-grip deadlift was good, 225 was definitely tough. As soon as I picked it up I knew I wouldn't be able to go any heavier without sacrificing the tempo. 

Sled drag was rough, I think I overestimated myself on this. Last week I did 245 and it wasn't horrible so I used 260 this week and I think it was too big of a jump. I stopped at least once every set. It was easier dragging it backwards than forwards so I did that the last three sets. 

Runs were very hard. This is my own fault for pacing them too quickly four weeks ago. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it through the third one without vomiting afterwards, I was breathing really hard. The rest flew by between runs. Eeeeesh. I was happy I was able to keep the pace and I'm a little nervous for what might show up next week.

10/22/2015

OFF

10/21/2015

AM
6-8 sets easy:
:60 row
:60 front leaning rest on ground
:60 airdyne
:30/side plank
2x[:10 double unders + :20 single unders]

PM
A. Snatch pull, 5x1@185, :90 rest
B. 1-arm DB row w/straps, 3x4-7/arm, 21x1; :45 between arms
+
5 sets @high effort:
10 russian KB swings, 53
30 double unders
:30 rest
200m run
:30 rest
+
Not for time:
1500m row cool down

AM
6 sets complete

PM
A. complete
B. 40-45-50 (5 on the L)
+
complete
+
complete


Today was a good day!

AM session was good, double unders felt excellent this morning. Also getting better at engaging my lats during the planks instead of keeping my traps tense. 

Snatch pulls are getting so easy, 185 was getting pretty high today (video). The first three reps were a bit higher than the last two, but overall these felt really good. I'm getting very anxious to get back to snatching. Also, please enjoy this bonus video I caught of myself talking about how I should have a whistle like Captain von Trapp from Sound of Music. I'm so weird. But we already knew this. 

DB rows were good. 

I enjoyed the KB/double under piece, I really liked the :30 rest before the run. I was pushing the run a lot more since I was getting a bit of rest before/after. It was nice to do some KB swings today! Shoulder felt really good through the entire training session. Maybe we could start testing this out a bit more? Ehhhhh? 

10/20/2015

AM
4 sets of:
6:00 bike easy
3:00 Balza rehab of choice

PM
A. Back squat clusters, 3x1.1.1, 20x1, :10 between reps; :90 rest
B. DB pull-overs, 3x7-10; :90 rest
+
For 15:00
1st: 14 alternating box step ups/step downs, 20
2nd: 8 scap push ups on rings
3rd: :20 axle double overhand deadlift hold, 160
+
Not for time:
800m walk cool-down

AM
complete

PM
A. 225-235-245
B. 12-15-20
+
complete
+
complete


Back squats felt reallyyyyyy heavy today. I'm not sure if it's because I'm used to doing them on day 1 and now I'm doing them on day 2? Either way they were really hard. 

I really enjoyed the DB pull-overs, today was the first time I had ever done these. These are definitely a good exercise to help practice engaging my lats. 

The EMOM was pretty good, step ups were all completed in :30. Scap push ups on the rings were a bit awkward the first set but it got better as I went along. The axle deadlift hold was very tough, by the fifth set the bar was slipping out of my hands. I never dropped it early but I was very close. Curse my tiny hands and weak grip. 

10/19/2015

AM
30:00 airdyne @Z1

PM
A. Bear crawl, 5x10' forward + 10' backward, very slow and deliberate w/flat back; :90 rest
B. Hang power clean, 3-3-3-3; begin a set every 2:00
+
10:00 @80% 
15 burpees
250m row
+
3 rounds not for time:
20 band pull aparts
10-15 moderate reverse hypers 

AM
complete

PM
A. complete
B. 145-155-170-180 (PR+5)
+
complete
+
complete
red band
65#/side for RH


Pretty good day! 

Bear crawl was good, I tried to really focus on pushing my shoulder blades back and trying to keep my traps relaxed. 

Hang power cleans were excellent, these are my favorite. 180 was a 5 pound PR for a 3RM hang power clean (video). It was very easy, I definitely could have gone heavier. I probably should have taken time to set up a bit more for the first rep but the second and third rep just flew up there. I know I could hit 185, maybe 190 for this. 

I actually enjoyed the 10:00 piece. I got 4 rounds plus 1 burpee. I think that's decent? I think I was breathing harder than an 80% pace but I was just trying to stay moving the entire time. I thought my transitions were pretty good. I would like to keep doing things like this to try and get my aerobic capacity back to where it was before I had to start decreasing my volume. I never thought I would enjoy doing burpees and rowing but I know I need to work on things like this. I don't want to be totally useless for the Open. At this rate my arms won't even be functioning by that point. 

10/18/2015

Long, unplugged hike

Errrrrrrr

Did not complete. It was 30 degrees this morning so Heather and I decided to skip the hike. I went in around 2:30 to do some airdyne/mobility. Also I think I slept on my neck weird, the entire upper part of my neck was stiff and sore. It's feeling better now but I tried to roll it out as much as I could. 

10/17/2015

A. Squat clean, 1-1-1-1-1 heavy but not maxes, begin a rep every 2:00
B. Front squat, 3x4-6, 20x1; 2:30 rest
C1. Weighted glute-ham raises, 3x3-5, 20x1; :60 rest
C2. Passive 2-arm hang from fat bar, 3x:20-:30; :60 rest
+
Not for time:
800m sled drag, moderate

A. 175-185-195-205-205
B. 145-165-175
C1. complete w/15#
C2. complete
+
DNS


I knew today wasn't going to be 100%, I spent 6 hours standing at a competition and definitely didn't have enough food in me. It was worth it though. More on that later. 

Squat cleans were alright, I worked up to 195 very easily but both reps at 205 were ugly and tougher than I would have liked. My legs were really tired. I caught the first rep at 205 pretty low on my chest which hardly ever happens. I decided to stay at that weight for the last set and it was just as ugly as the previous rep. I don't know what I was doing but I had this weird hitch in my pull that came out of nowhere and it felt like it took forever to stand it up. This was annoying. I don't know why my form went out the window all of a sudden. Also, I feel like 205 shouldn't be that hard to stand up. Then again, my legs were already tired and I was already at 70% energy at that point. Meh. Could have been better. 

Front squats were surprisingly easy considering how bad my cleans were, I thought these were going to be terrible but they actually weren't bad. 175 got tough during the last two reps but other than that everything felt pretty good. 

Glute-ham raises were fine. The hold from the bar was fine too, I didn't have any pain at all. It just felt RIGHT. Ah, pull up bar, how I've missed holding you. Maybe this week we can start adding in some strict pull ups? Eh? EHHHH?

I skipped the sled drag. I'm sorry Stephen! I was completely drained at this point, I woke up at 6:45 and stood in a cold gym from 8:30 AM-2:00 PM. I just didn't have any energy left by the time I got to the sled drag, and I needed to go home and eat. I am the worst and will try to make this up at some point this week. Perhaps Thursday.


That being said, I had the experience of watching some of my MSC athletes compete in the Festivus Games and it was a blast. We had 9 total athletes competing, most of them coming from the classes. It was really cool to watch them compete for the first time, they all did so well. I was so proud of them. Two athletes made it to the finals for the Master's men's division and two athletes made it to the finals for the intermediate men. In the end, Jay and (Silent) Bob took second and third in the men's Master's division and Bobby took FIRST place in the men's intermediate. It was a great day watching all my athletes compete and have a great time doing it. They said they would definitely be interested in doing more competitions in the future, so that's exciting. It was an excellent morning. 

Coaches + Amber

Bobby takes first place in the men's intermediate

Jay & Bob with a second and third place finish in the men's Master's division

All the competitors! So proud of everyone!