Monday, January 30, 2012

Following Ken

I don't usually write about Ken on my blog. He's a quiet dude that doesn't draw any attention to himself.

He's a good athlete though and more often than not gets good scores/times on his WOD.

And while he's not exactly someone I'd call inspired, he freaking pushed me hard today. And he wasn't even trying.

So today was deload week for power cleans. Ken and I are sharing a bar and I tell him I didn't do my one rep max so I'm not sure what weight to use for this.

He says, that's okay, we'll just go up to 175.

I kinda blinked because that's not a weight I would have associated with the words "deload" and "power cleans" in the same sentence.

To me that means go light and work on your technique. And Ken's not a "go crazy lift as much as you can" sort of guy either.

Anyway I agreed and we start lifting. I'm not feeling it. Ken keeps telling me I've got great form and so does Bumper but I'm not exploding off the ground like I should, nor am I pulling my arms up high enough.

So after we hit 145 I tell Ken that I don't think I'm going up in weight anymore. His reaction was classic:

"What? Why? That's not heavy is it?"

From anybody else I would assume they were talking smack. Not Ken. He really couldn't understand why I did not want to go up in weight.

And so I did.

I continued to struggle and have problems but at least we were lifting Ikaika weight and so he joined us now. At the end of the workout I was sweating bullets. A hard  feat during deload week. Thanks Ken.

BUT THEN . . . we break up into three stations for the WOD because we're doing dips, sit-ups and air squats, five rounds of 30 seconds of work and 30 seconds of rest.

I start off with the sit-ups and who's there with me? Ken.

I don't notice him at first but then we get to the dips and there he is, cranking out three dips for every one of mine on the rings.

Then we hit squats and I'm thinking, he's going to dust me unless I match him squat for squat. And so I try.

I'm surprised nobody noticed. I was right behind Ken and doing my best to go up and down at the same time as he was. I figured if we were even on the squats I'd have a chance to pass him on the sit-ups and have a better overall total, even if he was beating me on the dips.

Didn't exactly work out that way. But I definitely worked out a lot harder because of him today, so once again, thanks Ken.

Anyway, on to more important issues. Like my next pair of Crossfit shoes.

I've got more bills to pay but by my next paycheck I'll be ready to get an upgrade.

Kehau tried to talk some sense into me today, but I can't help it. I'm going to get some Pumas.

Besides, I keep hearing people complain about those Innovates and I can't see myself wearing shoes with built in toes.

Gonna get me some yellow Esito Vulc Sala Indoor trainers. Oh yeah. Google 'em.

Later kids,

Rod

9 comments:

  1. Rod, Dude. This week IS NOT DELOAD...last week was DELOAD...this week begins a new strength cycle with 3 new movements...today's movement boys and girls was power cleans from the deck. Robert did tell us to focus on technique though and not go super heavy - so whatever...just thought I would fill you in. No need to thank me...just being a good gym-mate.

    Remind me to yell at you about this next time I see you...

    ~C

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  2. Rod. Get the damn New Balances. I don't see the problem. They're the same price as your Pumas and they're functional for CF AND for going out. You can't compare them to the 1980s New Balances you have now. Ikaika and Frank will tell you how awesome they are.

    Anyway. I got a kick out of reading about Ken. Very good Ken quote. He's to the point in an unassuming way. That guy is a DU ninja. I wish he would compete in something...

    Also, this week is not deload week. (Thanks, Carrol).

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  3. Oh yeah, we(the 6pm voyeurs) noticed alright...it was pretty obvious! You were pretty awesome - don't be so modest! The problem is...it's Ken...it's like hitting a tennis ball against a wall...the wall always wins! He's the 10.0 version of the energizer bunny - and he only knows one speed, FAST!

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  4. Thanks Glenn. Yeah, 10.0 version of the energizer bunny is a good way to describe him.

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  5. And Kehau, the problem is I can't get what everybody is getting. It's not in my nature, I have to be a little different at least. And yes I'm sorry, this is not deload week. Thanks for the editing ya blog nazis.

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    1. Haha. We are not editing your blog, we're editing your training. Think if you trained this whole week in deload mode? Wait. Do you do that every day anyway?

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  6. By the way, 1980 New Balances. That was funny. I'm still getting the Pumas.

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    1. Don't complain to me when you are doing lateral movement or running for distances longer than 400 meters. Dude, why waste $80. Well you can get it, but call it a Paia hangout shoe, not a CF shoe.

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  7. Dude, they're indoor soccer shoes. Lots of running and lateral movement in indoor soccer. But you're right, I should at least ask Ikaika how he likes his NB's, especially regarding lateral movement and running farther than 400 meters.

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