About a week actually since I worked out and updated this blog.
That doesn't seem like much but missing a Crossfit workout is like aging in dog years. You gotta multiply by seven.
So since I missed 7 days it felt like I missed 49 workouts. Mainly because my favorite friends, power cleans and burpees, were on today's menu.
That and I got off the plane from Sacramento and literally just went straight to the workout. Wow. It sucked but I needed to move around after sitting in a plane for 10 hours yesterday and today.
And I definitely got to workout today. We did descending sets of power cleans while doing ascending sets of burpees. So we started out with 10 power cleans and one burpee and ended with 1 power clean and 10 burpees. Yes it did suck and I think I had a heart attack in the middle of the workout.
But I'm back baby. This year, 2011, is going to be a great year all around. I feel and look better physically already.
Now if only my hair would start growing back that would be great. Can't have everything I guess.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Monday, December 27, 2010
Jumping muscle ups and young kids
This week my son is visiting for Christmas break and my brother is here visiting as well so I wanted to make sure I had enough time today to do stuff and hit the 6 a.m. class at RFM for the first time.
I half expected it to be totally empty but man, there were like six people there not including Kristi the trainer. Guess everyone felt as gross as I did after eating a bunch of crap during the holidays.
Strength today was bench, which has been scary since the pec tear last year. Everytime I want to go heavy and push it I end up freaking out and racking the weight if I feel even the slighest bit of strain on my right side. Push-ups for me thanks, but I do want to reach that goal of 20 reps of 225 so I've got to keep trying.
Then it was time for the workout, as many rounds as possible in 12 minutes of: 2 muscles ups, 4 upsidedown pushups, 8 kettleball swings and a 200 meter run. For those who don't know, the muscle ups are dips on those gymnastic rings. They are hard as hell, mainly because you have to stablize yourself while dipping. Your arms shake and it's a bitch. Plus just pulling yourself up to get in position is more than half the battle. That's why I did "jumping" muscle ups today. I tried pulling myself up from a standing position but there was no freaking way. As they say, leave your ego at the door and just do what you can do. So jumping muscle ups here I come.
To add another twist to things there were two new guys at the gym this morning, a couple of young fellas who of course went out drinking last night. Still, they were in good shape, especially one of them that looked like a local surfer. They said this was their first Crossfit workout but they were in good shape to begin with and of course I was thinking that I need to at least keep up with them.
This was not the case however, the younger surfer guy was ripping through the workout and his friend was right behind him. I did well with the first three and didn't even break a sweat until the 200 meter run. Even that wasn't bad. In fact I think I need to really increase my freaking speed on that thing. I could have easily rested while doing muscle ups and USDPU and kswings. Ahhhhhh damn it.
It's going to be one of those weeks where I hit Crossfit everyday. Hopefully for the Saturday workout too. And someone please please please give me incentive to do Paleo again. I really need it.
I half expected it to be totally empty but man, there were like six people there not including Kristi the trainer. Guess everyone felt as gross as I did after eating a bunch of crap during the holidays.
Strength today was bench, which has been scary since the pec tear last year. Everytime I want to go heavy and push it I end up freaking out and racking the weight if I feel even the slighest bit of strain on my right side. Push-ups for me thanks, but I do want to reach that goal of 20 reps of 225 so I've got to keep trying.
Then it was time for the workout, as many rounds as possible in 12 minutes of: 2 muscles ups, 4 upsidedown pushups, 8 kettleball swings and a 200 meter run. For those who don't know, the muscle ups are dips on those gymnastic rings. They are hard as hell, mainly because you have to stablize yourself while dipping. Your arms shake and it's a bitch. Plus just pulling yourself up to get in position is more than half the battle. That's why I did "jumping" muscle ups today. I tried pulling myself up from a standing position but there was no freaking way. As they say, leave your ego at the door and just do what you can do. So jumping muscle ups here I come.
To add another twist to things there were two new guys at the gym this morning, a couple of young fellas who of course went out drinking last night. Still, they were in good shape, especially one of them that looked like a local surfer. They said this was their first Crossfit workout but they were in good shape to begin with and of course I was thinking that I need to at least keep up with them.
This was not the case however, the younger surfer guy was ripping through the workout and his friend was right behind him. I did well with the first three and didn't even break a sweat until the 200 meter run. Even that wasn't bad. In fact I think I need to really increase my freaking speed on that thing. I could have easily rested while doing muscle ups and USDPU and kswings. Ahhhhhh damn it.
It's going to be one of those weeks where I hit Crossfit everyday. Hopefully for the Saturday workout too. And someone please please please give me incentive to do Paleo again. I really need it.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Light weights are good, very good
So after the brutality of the burpees yesterday, Bumper decides what we need are more squats. Wonderful.
Of course, these are overhead squats which means we get to hold the bar above our head as we go up and down. Even more wonderful. Throw in some pull-ups and it's a happy day.
Wait, did I say what our reps were? 21, 15 and 9. Yeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaawwwww.
I didn't mess around or act macho today, not with this workout. I threw 10's on each side of the bar and that was it. To hell with that.
Everybody else went heavier. Lori, Kehau, Oran and Luke. Once again, I did not care. I was just looking to survive the workout. Ever do 21 pullups? Unassisted pullups by the way, no rubber bands to help.
Tomorrow is our last day for Crossfit this week until after Christmas. For my gift I would like to choose my own workout. Please I'd like to do four rounds of:
10 handstand pushups, 5 L pull-ups, 10 pushups and a 400 meter run.
See? No squats whatsoever. Thank you Santa.
Of course, these are overhead squats which means we get to hold the bar above our head as we go up and down. Even more wonderful. Throw in some pull-ups and it's a happy day.
Wait, did I say what our reps were? 21, 15 and 9. Yeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaawwwww.
I didn't mess around or act macho today, not with this workout. I threw 10's on each side of the bar and that was it. To hell with that.
Everybody else went heavier. Lori, Kehau, Oran and Luke. Once again, I did not care. I was just looking to survive the workout. Ever do 21 pullups? Unassisted pullups by the way, no rubber bands to help.
Tomorrow is our last day for Crossfit this week until after Christmas. For my gift I would like to choose my own workout. Please I'd like to do four rounds of:
10 handstand pushups, 5 L pull-ups, 10 pushups and a 400 meter run.
See? No squats whatsoever. Thank you Santa.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Whether you jump forward, back or to the side, I. Hate. Burpees.
Today I had some complications before getting to the gym. Two different reporters wanted to meet with the mayor this afternoon, one at 4 and the other at 4:20 p.m. The area was Old Wailuku town which was perfect because Raw Maui Fitness was just a couple of blocks away. I parked the car at the gym and ran to the location.
Things wrapped up nicely at 5 and I ran back, a good warm-up before the workout. I shouldn't have bothered. Bumper had it all planned out. Damn him.
We started out doing stretches and all that then he had us partner up. One of us sat on the ground and stretched out our arms. The other had to jump over the outstreched arms 10 times, then reverse and go the other way. It wasn't brutal, but it was punishing.
But see, that was just the set up. We cranked out some deadlifts then it was time for the real deal, four rounds of five power cleans and jerks followed by 10 burpees which involved us jumping sideways over our weightlifting bar instead of straight up.
You folks reading this might be confused about the workout, but that part doesn't matter. What does matter is that none of us had any leg strength for burpees anymore after that stupid jump-over-your-partner's-arms routine in the warm-up. I did one burpee and felt my legs tremble during the first round and said to myself "Ah crap."
It was brutal and punishing and turned my legs limp. I looked around and saw my fellow gym members collapsing on the ground for the burpees and then barely making it over a bar only two or three inches off the ground.
The whole clean and jerk thing was nothing. I used 115 and could have probably done 20 pounds more. Sure Bumper said I reversed curled the first set of five but after that you have to do good form. There's no other way to get that much weight up underneath your chin. But whatever, that's not the painful part. I'd rather do 50 clean and jerks in a row than 10 burpees again, especially after the jumping we did beforehand.
You know, I'd better be able to block my brother's shots if we play basketball again with all this jumping that we do. I think when he visits for Christmas I might just invite him out for a game at the park. Maybe if I swat a few shots of his I'll feel motivation to jump again.
Otherwise I'm going to continue to hate burpees.
Things wrapped up nicely at 5 and I ran back, a good warm-up before the workout. I shouldn't have bothered. Bumper had it all planned out. Damn him.
We started out doing stretches and all that then he had us partner up. One of us sat on the ground and stretched out our arms. The other had to jump over the outstreched arms 10 times, then reverse and go the other way. It wasn't brutal, but it was punishing.
But see, that was just the set up. We cranked out some deadlifts then it was time for the real deal, four rounds of five power cleans and jerks followed by 10 burpees which involved us jumping sideways over our weightlifting bar instead of straight up.
You folks reading this might be confused about the workout, but that part doesn't matter. What does matter is that none of us had any leg strength for burpees anymore after that stupid jump-over-your-partner's-arms routine in the warm-up. I did one burpee and felt my legs tremble during the first round and said to myself "Ah crap."
It was brutal and punishing and turned my legs limp. I looked around and saw my fellow gym members collapsing on the ground for the burpees and then barely making it over a bar only two or three inches off the ground.
The whole clean and jerk thing was nothing. I used 115 and could have probably done 20 pounds more. Sure Bumper said I reversed curled the first set of five but after that you have to do good form. There's no other way to get that much weight up underneath your chin. But whatever, that's not the painful part. I'd rather do 50 clean and jerks in a row than 10 burpees again, especially after the jumping we did beforehand.
You know, I'd better be able to block my brother's shots if we play basketball again with all this jumping that we do. I think when he visits for Christmas I might just invite him out for a game at the park. Maybe if I swat a few shots of his I'll feel motivation to jump again.
Otherwise I'm going to continue to hate burpees.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Did I say I hate Cardio? I hate front squats
Why you ask? Because you have to bend your wrists in an unnatural position.
Well, unnatural for me anyway. My wrists just don't go that far back. By the second set I was ready to toss the bar and weights through the wall. If I could have channeled my rage into strength today I would have been more powerful than the Hulk. Or Vernon Patao.
Worst. Workout. Ever.
Bumper had a theory too. Because I sit and type all day my wrists are trained to bend in the other way (although technically that's not true, it's more like a neutral position). Anyway when I bend the other way it feels like the bones will pop out of my wrists.
So so so so so so angry.
The workout was kind of easy too, if there's such a thing as an easy workout at Raw Fitness Maui. But six minutes of 8 front squats and 8 chest to the bar pullups shouldn't have been that bad. But it was.
Sigh. Please tell me we aren't doing anything on Friday that involves backwards wrist bending. Please.
Well, unnatural for me anyway. My wrists just don't go that far back. By the second set I was ready to toss the bar and weights through the wall. If I could have channeled my rage into strength today I would have been more powerful than the Hulk. Or Vernon Patao.
Worst. Workout. Ever.
Bumper had a theory too. Because I sit and type all day my wrists are trained to bend in the other way (although technically that's not true, it's more like a neutral position). Anyway when I bend the other way it feels like the bones will pop out of my wrists.
So so so so so so angry.
The workout was kind of easy too, if there's such a thing as an easy workout at Raw Fitness Maui. But six minutes of 8 front squats and 8 chest to the bar pullups shouldn't have been that bad. But it was.
Sigh. Please tell me we aren't doing anything on Friday that involves backwards wrist bending. Please.
Monday, December 13, 2010
I want to rock and roll all night, and Crossfit every day
Sorry, couldn't think of a better title, but I am TIRED. Like eyes ready to shut as I type this kind of tired.
See, a friend of mine came in from Oahu this past weekend and we basically drank for three days. Most of it was a blur but I do remember karaoke and poker and live music and two girls from Switzerland and Brazil. At one point we tried to watch the movie "Inception" but by then our minds were too feeble to comprehend anything. Ugh.
Then today, five days since my last Crossfit workout, I finaly made it back to the gym. I was ready for some pain and suffering, but then a funny thing happened instead.
I did really well. Like, had the best workout ever. And the best time of anyone else working out tonight: 11:07. Our workout consisted of three rounds of running 400 meters, 10 handstand pushups and 20 box jumps. I still can't believe it actually and have been trying to come up with theories about how it happened. Here's a few:
1) Resting this weekend actually helped. Normally I'm at Crossfit at least 4 days a week, sometimes 5 if I feel crazy enough. Last week I did three then did nothing physical at all for 4 days straight. Unless you count a five minute swim in the ocean on Sunday, otherwise I rested. So maybe my muscles were ready to workout today.
2) I'm actually improving. So I know I can do handstand pushups like nobody's business but what surprised me was that I was pounding out the box jumps too. My legs weren't burning with muscle failure like they usually do and I kept going strong for all three rounds. My running still sucks but nobody's perfect.
3) Drinking alcohol for three days triggered some sort of survival instinct in my body which forced me to workout extra hard today so that I would sweat out all of the poison.
I think I'm leaning more towards the last theory. Maybe I'll repeat the process again one day to see if I was right. But not this weekend. This weekend I just want to watch Tron Legacy when it comes out and then stay home all week. Thank God.
Peace people.
See, a friend of mine came in from Oahu this past weekend and we basically drank for three days. Most of it was a blur but I do remember karaoke and poker and live music and two girls from Switzerland and Brazil. At one point we tried to watch the movie "Inception" but by then our minds were too feeble to comprehend anything. Ugh.
Then today, five days since my last Crossfit workout, I finaly made it back to the gym. I was ready for some pain and suffering, but then a funny thing happened instead.
I did really well. Like, had the best workout ever. And the best time of anyone else working out tonight: 11:07. Our workout consisted of three rounds of running 400 meters, 10 handstand pushups and 20 box jumps. I still can't believe it actually and have been trying to come up with theories about how it happened. Here's a few:
1) Resting this weekend actually helped. Normally I'm at Crossfit at least 4 days a week, sometimes 5 if I feel crazy enough. Last week I did three then did nothing physical at all for 4 days straight. Unless you count a five minute swim in the ocean on Sunday, otherwise I rested. So maybe my muscles were ready to workout today.
2) I'm actually improving. So I know I can do handstand pushups like nobody's business but what surprised me was that I was pounding out the box jumps too. My legs weren't burning with muscle failure like they usually do and I kept going strong for all three rounds. My running still sucks but nobody's perfect.
3) Drinking alcohol for three days triggered some sort of survival instinct in my body which forced me to workout extra hard today so that I would sweat out all of the poison.
I think I'm leaning more towards the last theory. Maybe I'll repeat the process again one day to see if I was right. But not this weekend. This weekend I just want to watch Tron Legacy when it comes out and then stay home all week. Thank God.
Peace people.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Oh how I miss you Crossfit
I'm entertaining a friend from Oahu this weekend and so didn't make it to the Friday or Saturday workouts.
But I surprised myself when I actually said out loud "Damn it!" because I was checking the workouts online and my friend was like, "Dude, what's up?" It was hard to explain how I was pissed that I missed out on some handstand holds.
I love handstand holds! I love handstand pushups! Maybe I'll do 'em at home or something.
What kind of sick person am I that I actually miss workouts like some people miss their wife?
Don't get me wrong, I'm having a great time this weekend. Played poker and drank POG and vodka yesterday morning then went and heard some great live music at Charley's last night.
But Crossfit makes my day complete now. Without it I just don't feel right. Heck I even miss blogging about working out which is why I'm here writing right now.
I'll be back Monday for sure, just wanted to say how much I miss everybody.
In the meantime, Mimosas anyone?
But I surprised myself when I actually said out loud "Damn it!" because I was checking the workouts online and my friend was like, "Dude, what's up?" It was hard to explain how I was pissed that I missed out on some handstand holds.
I love handstand holds! I love handstand pushups! Maybe I'll do 'em at home or something.
What kind of sick person am I that I actually miss workouts like some people miss their wife?
Don't get me wrong, I'm having a great time this weekend. Played poker and drank POG and vodka yesterday morning then went and heard some great live music at Charley's last night.
But Crossfit makes my day complete now. Without it I just don't feel right. Heck I even miss blogging about working out which is why I'm here writing right now.
I'll be back Monday for sure, just wanted to say how much I miss everybody.
In the meantime, Mimosas anyone?
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