C2 Rower
4 reps of 1k with 4 min recovery
Damper set to 6.5
Total – 15:13.2, 235 avg watts, 28 avg s/m
3:55.2, 215 avg watts, 26 s/m
3:47.2, 239, 29
3:45.7, 244, 30
3:45.1, 247, 30

This was as challenging as some of the shorter time and distance WODs, and I found that I needed the full 4 min recovery. Goal was to row stronger and faster, and that I did. 

(While rowing, 2 personal trainers incorrectly taught their clients how to row. The first thing they both said when referring to the damper was, “This is the resistance, so you’ll want to put it at 10.” There was no mention of catch, drive, or recovery. There was no correction of poor form. Did I interrupt and redirect? Uhm, yes!)

Handstand Hold
3 x 5 sec (& 10 kipping pull-ups active rest)

Plank
3:30 with 15 sec intervals

Jack led today’s session, and the focus was on the squat clean. Starting today, I’m completing 25 working up to 50 reps of a variety of skills. Today was GHD sit-ups, and I did complete 25 reps in succession. Tomorrow is 20 lb wall ball, Wednesday 55 lb push press, Thursday 45 lb thrusters, Friday TBD.
 
Squat clean:
3 reps of 75, 80, 85, 95, 105, and 115 lb
Jack observed a few rounds. I still need to focus on extending hips, increasing speed, and lifting elbows. That’s not too much, right?
 
Metcon
20 dus & 1 (70 lb) kb swing; 18 dus and 2 kb swings … 2 dus & 10 kb swings
 
I discovered just yesterday that my Rx jump rope is once again broken. Ugh. I’ve “misplaced” my cable rope (i.e., I left it either at CFD or LFF), and I just couldn’t find a rope that felt right. Sounds like an excuse, I know.
 
I performed Russian kb swings all unbroken until last round when I completed 2 sets of 5. Dus were a big mess. Ugh again.
 
My biggest problem continues to be keeping track of rounds. I kept a score sheet, and that became quite cumbersome, as I paused after each round, found my pen (which had often rolled away), and checked the appropriate box.
 
Time: Who knows? I didn’t look, and Jack didn’t record. My bad, not his.
 
Kristen is going to be my “date” for the Valentine’s Day CrossFit Challenge. We are going to kick some asses.

This was the first session I’ve attended that Colin led, and he’s awesome! He led us through a variety of warm-up exercises, focusing on shoulders and including my new favorite push-up: the clown push-ups. While I don’t like clowns, I do very much like this push-up. 

Push Press (Split Jerk)
Last week I determined that my 1RM was 125. 
5 x 70 lb | 55%
5 x 80 lb | 65%
5 x 90 lb | 70%
5 x 100 lb | 80%
The last 5 reps were to be 85% 1RM, 105, but I was feeling strong and Colin was confident that I could go heavier. 
5 x 115 | 92%

Brad is constantly offering “helpful” suggestions. He is always willing to provide feedback  
Me: How was that, Brad? 
Brad: You got it up, and that’s all that matters. 
Me: That’s what she said. 

Metcon
10, 9, 8, … 2, 1 box jumps (24″; I jumped 28″)
1, 2, 3, … 9, 10 clapping push-ups

So, 10 box jumps & 1 push-up, 9 box jumps & 2 push-ups … 1 box jump & 10 push-ups. 

This was much fun! I can jump 28″ as easily as 24″, but jumping 30″ might’ve slowed me down. I completed all box jumps unbroken, and all clapping push-ups unbroken until last 2 rounds. I neglected to clap at the end of 3 push-ups and didn’t count them. I also lost track and may have unintentionally did an extra round near the middle. 

Time – 4:54

Colin was kind enough to demonstrate back lever. I modified my form and was able to perform with body parallel to the ground for the very first time! Yay!

It is such a beautiful day that I couldn’t resist the urge to run. I did, of course, have to make it challenging. 

Wore f-lite 195s. 2 miles wearing 25 lb weight vest and another 2 miles at 5k race pace. I even threw in a sprint the last 100m. Felt great! (I do sometimes miss running.)

I attended the 10am session, led by Dave, and the focus was on strict muscle-up progressions. My shoulders are wrecked from pull-ups & KTE, but I have a renewed focus on the mu. I performed 2 with arms slightly bent at start, and 1 strict with arms fully extended at start. 

Metcon
AMRAP in 15 minutes of the following:
5 push press (115; I lifted 95 lb)
10 lunges (holding 45 lb overhead)
15 box jumps (24″; I jumped 30.5″)

I’m enjoying – and dare I say benefiting from – setting my own goals. Today’s goal was to complete all rounds unbroken, and that’s what I did, In order to do this, I knew it would be difficult if not impossible to push press Rx. I could’ve possibly gone a little heavier, maybe 100 or even 105, but I’m doubtful that I could’ve completed rounds unbroken. I did power clean the bar for push press, and not take from the rack. Progress. Given the confines of the space due to so many people in attendance, we completed stationary lunges. I’d much rather do walking lunges. Dave instructed us to complete box jumps landing with both feet firmly on the box, and not just the toes. That’s what I did, and it became progressively more challenging as the time sped by far too quickly. Nonetheless, all box jumps were completed in succession. 

Total reps: 7 + 5 push press, 10 lunges, and 3 box jumps. 

I attended Michael’s mobility WOD. I learned many new stretches that I’ll begin to incorporate into warmup and cooldown. I don’t know, however, if I can pay attention for a full hour, and I fear that my antics & endless ramblings will be a distraction to others. 

Yellow is NOT Keith’s color. 

Row for watts
10 x 1 min w/ 30 sec recovery
2528m, 209 avg watt, 27 avg s/m

Practiced handstand hold w/ no support. Held for 5 sec. 

100 kipping pull-ups for time – 7:50
1 min rest
100 knees to elbows – 6:50

The most challenging part was using the equipment @ LFF, as I couldn’t change hand positions. I received many strange looks. 

4:30 plank, 30 sec intervals including 1 arm up, 1 leg up, 1 arm & leg up, 1 hand behind back, etc. 

Stew led today’s session, and the focus was on Superman to Hollow Rocks.  Stew was kind enough to demonstrate. However, it looked more like Superman to Wonder Woman. On his second attempt it looked like Superman to Aquaman (out of water). I made sure to let Stew know.
 
I attempted, and was even less successful than Stew. I felt pain in my rotator cuffs when rolling. I did 4 sets of 5 and stopped. I planned on doing 100 pull-ups, and was able to complete 6 sets of 10 kipping pull-ups before the start of the metcon. Now that I’m kipping on a regular basis, it’s difficult for me to understand why kipping used to be so challenging.
 
Metcon
5 rounds for time of the following:
20 double unders
25 abmat sit-ups
30 kettle bell swings (52 lb)
Time: 11:32
 
Prior to the metcon, Stew talked with us about finding the right balance between diet, exercise, and rest. I took his words to heart. Oh, who am I kidding? When I read the posted WOD, I decided that I would NOT swing 52 lb 150 times. Reason #1: my right forearm is still a little sore. Reason #2: I could find no reason to do so other than saying I completed metcon Rx. I used a 35 lb kettle bell.
 
I used a cable jump rope (instead of Rx) today, and with much better results. The first 3 rounds I completed as 15 and 5, and the last 2 rounds I completed unbroken. As usual, I only counted successes. I performed all sit-ups unbroken, making sure shoulders touched ground and hands touched feet. I also completed them very quickly.
 
Form, consistency, intensity—in that order. Today it was all about form for swings, focusing on extending hips, tightening glutes, and extending arms above head. I completed all rounds unbroken, which to me is just as important as completing Rx. Goals, baby, goals!
 
Stew watched all 30 swings during 3rd round. I asked, “Why were you watching me, Stew? Were you trying to intimidate me? Were you watching my form?” He said, “I was making sure your form was correct.” Yeah, Stew. You were looking at my ass. I know it and you know. Now the world knows it. Ha!
 
I truly enjoyed this metcon.
 
I finished the day completing 4 sets of 10 kipping pull-ups for a grand total of 100. Yeah!

C2 Rower
10 reps of 1 min row for calories with 2 min active recovery. 

Total: 10 min row, 2836m, 1417 cal/hr, 42 s/m

1 – 281m, 21 cal, 43 s/m
2 – 279, 21, 42
3 – 285, 22, 41
4 – 285, 22, 42
5 – 285, 22, 42
6 – 287, 22, 43
7 – 289, 22, 44
8 – 285, 22, 42
9 – 284, 21, 43
10 – 280, 21, 43

My goal was to row @ least 20 cal/min. This was a grueling workout! 

I woke up tired and defeated, and I should have considered this a sign to not go to CrossFit this morning. Paul is really smart, and I need to start listening to him more often. He’s handsome, too.
 
Self Taught Egomaniacal Wuss (STEW) taught led today’s session, and the focus was on the press. While much better, my right arm is still healing; thus, I didn’t push (although I did press) it.  3 reps of:  75, 85, 95, 105. I don’t particularly care for the press because, well, it’s difficult lifting that much weight over one’s head. I also don’t like imagining that I’m parting my hair.
 
Metcon—Deads and Doubles
3 rounds for time of the following:
10 dead-lifts (60% 1RM, 200 lb)
50 double unders
 
I completed first round of dls unbroken, and it felt relatively easy. First round of dus were a colossal failure, and I couldn’t get into a rhythm. I lost much, much time. Nonetheless, I only counted successes for this and remaining rounds.
 
I completed second round of dls once again unbroken, and it still felt relatively easy. Second round of dus were even worse than first—that is until I took off my shoes.
 
Stew informed us that if we completed all of the dead-lifts unbroken that this was a clear indication that we underestimated our 1RM. I could have easily completed third round of dls unbroken, but Stew kept watching me. I did 2 sets of 5 reps. I was finally able to string dus together, but by this time it was far too late and I had lost far too much time.
 
Total time: 6:23
 
It looks like I’ll be practicing dus tonight. Oh, I still hate Michael Kelley. It’s worth repeating.

Handstand was the focus, and Jack led today’s session. I practiced against the wall, and at exactly 6:23.17 Jack provided good advice: bring hands farther away from wall so as to better find center of balance. I need to focus on hips (no surprise) and assume the same position I do when performing headstand. 

Metcon
5 rounds for time of the following:
Run 400m
20 burpees
15 bent-over dumbbell rows (35 lb each hand)

This metcon was similar to the one posted on the main site last week. Rx was 50 lb each hand instead of 35.

It was cold this morning, so I wore a cap for all rounds (and gloves and sleeves for the first round) of running. My goal was to complete all rounds unbroken, and I came close. All rounds of running (of course) and bent-over rowing (surprisingly) were unbroken, as well as the first, second, and fourth rounds of burpeeing. My form was suffering on burpees, so I broke the third round into 2 sets of 10, and the last round into 9, 6, & 5. 

Jack provided excellent direction, and observed performance throughout. The reason I was able to complete fourth round of burpees unbroken was because Jack provided encouragement the entire time. Thanks, Jack! Where the hell were you during the third and fifth rounds? 

This was challenging. I admit that I used the running as active recovery, and didn’t push myself very hard. Nonetheless, I was tempted to stop and rest at the turnaround during last 400m. 

I ran an additional 400m and completed 10 push-ups with Renee as a sign of solidarity. She’s awesome. 

Time: 16:21

Jack led today’s session, and the focus was on parallette shoot throughs. We were to complete 50 strict reps. I completed in sets of 10, 10, 10, 10, 5, & 5, ensuring proper form throughout. I had time before the start of the metcon, so I practiced 30” box jumps.
 
Dear Thirty-Inch Box,
 
You no longer frighten me.
 
Love,
Paul
 
Metcon – Duck Hunt
On the minute for 15 minutes:
10 box jumps (24”)
AMRAP pull-ups/push-ups in time remaining each minute
 
I determined my strategy and stuck to it throughout, namely stopping when Jack called “Ten seconds remaining!”, jotting down number of reps, taking a drink (if needed), and beginning box jumps at the start of each minute rep. Punky Drewster and I shared a pull-up bar, and he was kind enough to do pull-ups the first round, i.e., I started with push-ups.
 
My goal was to complete all 10 box jumps unbroken, and to average at least 10 pull-ups/push-ups per round. I was able to do so.
 
Push-ups: 20, 20, 15, 14, 13, 12, 12, 15 | Total = 121
Pull-ups: 15, 13, 13, 10, 10, 9, 9 | Total = 79
Grand Total: 200
 
I once again calculated the total incorrectly (and even forgot to include last round of 15 push-ups) and mistakenly posted 187 on the white board.
 
In 15 minutes I completed 150, 24” box jumps, 121 push-ups, and 79 kipping pull-ups. If you had told me as recently as a month or two ago that I would be able to achieve this, I would have laughed in your face (and then more than likely gone for a run). CrossFit is awesome!