Tag: 30WOD

I did have to take 2 days off this weekend due to the wedding although I did get a short KB workout in on Saturday. Friday and Sunday were shot and so today which is Monday I went to the Ark site and was faced with this:

Front Squat (3-3-3-3-3)
Take 20 min to build to a 3 RM
Metcon (Time)
3 RFT

15 Front Squats @ 95#/65#
10 Power Snatches @ 95#/65#
500m row / 400m run

Since I was interested in the Squats and Power Snatches but also realise that my Double Unders really REALLY need work I decided on the following:

5 rounds

10 Squats
5 Power snatches 95#
10DU

Given that my DUs suck so bad it actually took about 3 minutes for each set of 10 with lots and lots of singles mixed in. At my best I was able to string together about 8 reps of 3 singles plus one double. I was really sucking wind after the first 3 sets but at the same time very happy at the high intensity I was able to maintain throughout. I will also say that I don’t work out with shoes on and each time I failed on a DU i smashed my toes with the heavy rope which was massively unpleasant but also provided suitable motivation to get it right.

The title is a misnomer because today and tomorrow I am off work. I also got a call from Crossfit Ark informing me that they have been trying to put through my payment and it’s not going through but if I want to quit or stay I should go and tell them. I should do that…

I will say one thing for this 30WOD, it’s entertaining and that takes away a lot of the pain and suffering of having to do some of the work. That said, I am constantly concerned about the bodypart cycling but as of yet I haven’t really had to sub anything due to that reason.

Yesterday was a light day, only 50 squats plus front squat practice which I admit I skipped due to the fact that I can’t do front squats yet and I needed something that I could manage. So, not having a rope to climb I improvised and pulled my 55lb 100ft rope over my chin up bar 10 times for each 5 rope climbs. It’s harder than it sounds, let me tell you. I then coached all night and today before coaching again I have to do something resembling the following but enough to make it a heavy day since I may not get the chance to work out tomorrow or Saturday. I have a wedding to go to, it’s my cousin / Goddaughter so it’s a pretty big deal but the opportunity for working out may not present itself.

So… the push press will be 95, I don’t have a rower so I will have to do a 3 minute run, which for me, sadly is around 400m.

Metcon (AMRAP – Reps)
RX’D

3 min AMRAP
Push Press @ 75#/55# Sub 95#
1 min rest

3 min AMRAP
Box Jumps @ 32″/24″
1 min rest

3 min AMRAP
Calorie Row – sub 400m Run
1 min rest

3 min AMRAP
DU – Sub singles
1 min rest

3 min AMRAP
Push Press @ 75#/55# – Sub 95#

Score Total Reps

The workouts have been pretty good since coming back from Cuba, varied and intense like I wanted. I just don’t want to get into a place where I have to skip 3 days because of a wedding…

Handstands, as has long been the case, are not easy for me. My balance while inverted is not something I have a great deal of control over. I think it’s because my control of my body is largely restricted to large muscle groups rather than the fine motor control it takes to achieve and maintain an inverted stance. That and getting 250lbs upside down is a massive undertaking. I mean how many guys my size do you see doing handstands? Not many I bet. Anyway, I was not to be defeated before starting so I diligently coached myself into a handstand in the basement before going out onto the deck to do some handstands against the wall. I noted the lever position, the arms high, the head position while inverted and even the force from an arched position into a straight body. But the chance of anything like a pushup happening was absolute zero. I did get a bit of a thrill from holding the handstand away from the wall, if only for a second or two, however the pain it brought across the top of my back and into my neck was not welcome. So I moved to the WOD and ended up doing the squats and the deadlifts and kick to handstand instead of handstand pushups. It was still a pretty good workout and I can now say that I have started on the journey to mastering a skill that (like pullups once upon a time) was something I considered beyond my reach.

Day 6 I decided to do some running, and because my distances were a little messed up I ended up doing almost 3k. I was supposed to do the following:

100m run 100m walk
200m run 100m walk
300m run 100m walk
400m run 100m walk

then repeat for a total of 2k. I actually ended up doing an extra 500m at the end of each round to get me to 3k. It was not bad, my legs are sore from the handstands which is weird and I skipped the posted WOD which I will do tomorrow as show below:

Front Squat (3-3-3-3-3)
Take 15 min to find a 3 rep max Front Squat
Metcon (Time)
RX’D

For Time

5 Rope Climbs
50 Front Squats @ 95#/65#
5 Rope Climbs

I managed to get to grips with the power snatch, I was seriously afraid that I wasn’t going to be able to handle the overhead position with any kind of weight but after some no weight and low weight reps doing the motion I actually managed to do 5 sets of 5 with 95lbs. I know it was supposed to be 115 but since I had already overextended myself by deadlifting the 200lbs the day before I thought it best just to try and take the fact that I actually did the power snatch as good enough. I did find it a bit tough getting into the full extended position, not really because of the weight but rather the tightness across my upper back in that arched pinched position. I have to admit I was a little impressed with myself, but I also know that getting to the point of doing a proper squat snatch is not something I can see myself doing. I do have a mobility issue with the overhead squat deep position, I just can’t get my body into position under load. I can get there with a 45lb bar and probably even with 95lbs but any more, any kind of actual weight and my positioning is too badly compromised due to my poor shoulder mobility and back fear / mobility. Anyway, never to say never, I know that I should work on my overhead squats and my front rack squats because they are both pathetic.

Today promises to be tough too. It’s handstand pushups. as you can see from the Rx weights I am a VERY long way away from doing these lifts as Rx’ed. My deadlift has maxed out at 205 and I have yet to learn how exciting it is to do a handstand pushup. So I will do what I can, my kids at gymnastics will be filled with mockery I am sure to learn that I have been “working on” my handstands. I still also need to get my kip, ring muscle up and bar muscle up, all things that I think I really should have.

So today will be interesting, hopefully I will get to do a handstand pushup of some kind and will then be able to boast 2 new skills this week!

Metcon (No Measure)
15 min Handstand Practice
Holds
Kipping
Strict
Free Standing
Shoulder Touches

Metcon (Time)
RX’D

5 RFT

7 DL @ 275#/185#
30 Air Squat
7 HSPU
Metcon (Time)
Foundation

5 RFT

7 DL @ 185/135
20 Air Squat
10 Push-ups