R5D30 – Rite Of Passage Begins (I am a man, at least in Russia!)

Day 1 of the Clean and Press with pull ups (45lb KB) – Light Day

C&P left 1
C&P right 1
Pull Up 5
C&P left 2
C&P right 2
Pull Up 5
C&P left 3
C&P right 3
Pull Up 5
Rest 1-2 min repeat another 2x for a total of 3 ladders.

Snatches – The dice roll came up 5 – do 5 minutes of KB snatches.

10 right 25lb
10 left 25lb
10 right 25lb
10 left 25lb
10 right 25lb
10 left 25lb
10 right 45lb
10 left 45lb

I was astonished at how hard the snatches were. Maybe it was due to the fact I did 5 pull ups every time I had to do pull ups and that I had to run downstairs to the basement to do them. Whatever it was, I found that doing snatches with a 45lb KB is just about the most dangerous and (objectively) stupid thing anyone could ever want to do. However, in order to satisfy my own curiosity I also decided that I would take a shot at what Pavel says is the indicator of a Russian boy’s transformation into manhood, the clean and press of a 70lb KB with each arm. I was pretty confident that I could do it, I have always had beefy shoulders but the balance and coordination is not a piece of cake. Also, when you have the 70lb KB above your head you suddenly become aware that you are just a muscle spasm away from a crushed skull.

Today, although Tuesday, was Monday’s workout. Tuesday, a day off, will have to wait until next week and so tomorrow, Wednesday, will be “medium” day which at this point is the same as light day (Monday) but with swings not snatches. So I am in good shape to catch up and get back on track despite missing Monday.

Good news is that my shin splints and back ache from NYC are gone. I don’t think I could have made it another day with that volume of walking regardless of how much delicious BBQ I crammed into my pie hole.