CrossFit Day 56 & 57

This week at CrossFit was about the same as last week.  Hard.  But as someone mentioned yesterday, if it were easy then I wouldn’t actually be working at it so I’m just going to keep trying!

Day 56 – Push Press 5×5 (73#) – super tough this go round.  Usually I can knock these out but this time my arms were struggling a bit.

21-15-9   Typical CF step-down type WOD.  21 of each move the first round, 15 the next, finishing with 9 of each.  Between each round (or set), add in 100 single jump ropes (or 50 double unders).  This was a tough one.  The Burpees and the Pull-Ups are nemeses of mine.  I actually laid on the floor after this one for a few seconds.  Tough.

How Many Burpees

  • Burpees
  • Kettlebell Swings (26#)
  • Pull-Ups – Assisted with a two bands and it was still hard
  • 100 single jump ropes between each of the 3 sets.

Day 57 – Tabatas (20 seconds on, 10 seconds off, 8 rounds before moving to the next thing)

  • Ball Slams – 20#
  • Push-Ups – Yes, I still have spaghetti arms and could barely get 5 push-ups in the 20 seconds.
  • Lunges
  • Abmat Sit-Ups
  • Ring Rows

THEN we got to practice double unders (rope jumping but rotating the rope 2x before your feet hit the ground).  I think it went well.  I couldn’t string multiples together but I could jump a few singles, then do a double under, then a few more singles, then add in another double under.  I managed to put 3-4 into one segment (a couple times) before getting caught up in the rope.  I will note that it takes A LOT more energy to do a double under verses just single jumps. 

double unders

Good week.  I’m happy that I keep going even when I don’t want to get up I feel fatigued.

** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

CrossFit Day 41, 42 & 43

Tripling up on the CrossFit workout report since last week was a short week and I’m so slammed between work and life.

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving we had a fabulous workout.  Apparently “someone” thought we should hit it hard “in case” we overindulged during the holiday. 

Day 41 – Strict Press 7×3 (10 #s on each side w/ a 33# bar = 53# press)

Simple move, press from shoulders straight up in the air til arms are extended.  Might be tough if you have weak spaghetti arms like me cuz there is  no “hop” or leg help.  Yikes, this is all arms, baby.  All arms.  Cool diagram below from sliveryearsfitness.com.

strict press_silveryearsfitness

Step down:  10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

  • Wall Balls – 10#
  • Hand Release Push-ups
  • Ab Baskets – 10# ball
  • 110 single jump ropes

Not sure on the official name of this workout but I call it step downs for lack of a better word.  First round, do 10 reps of each and end with 110 single jump ropes.  Second round, do 9 reps of everything and then end with 110 single jump ropes.  And so on, and so forth ….  FUN but I was dying on the last couple rounds with the 110 single jump ropes!

Day 42  – Tuesday – Karen WOD – OMGosh “Karen” you are a real bitch tough chick.  150 Wall Balls for time.  10# ball for me.  We did increments of 15 so that helped but by round 3, I was wondering if I would survive.  I did survive.  I mean, HELL YEAH, of course I survived and I loved it!!  It took me 8 minutes and 18 seconds though and then I proceeded to go lay on the floor and cry.  Here is my girl, Michelle CRUSHING her workout!!

image

We got to follow that up with 7×5 Front Squats (10#s on each side & a 33# bar) just to make sure our quads and hammies were totally trashed when we left.  Mine were for sure.

Day 43 – Today – Still sore from WOD Karen.  25 Pull-ups – 2 bands assisted me and it was still hard today.  Stupid spaghetti arms.

Tabatas – 8 consecutive rounds at each rotation before moving onto the next.  20 seconds on, 10 seconds rest.  Repeat x8.

  • Rowing
  • Hand Release Push-ups
  • Kettlebell Swings – 26# – Wow, that kettlebell was HEAVY today!
  • Sit-ups
  • Rope Slams – SO.MUCH.FUN.  We did single rope slams, see first photo from phillymag.com, but the more recognizable version is the double rope slam as pictured by muscleropes.com

ropeslams_phillmag  ropeslams_muscleropes

Great group of workouts!  Thanks, CrossFit New Lenox for continuing to push me!

** Stronger Me = Faster Me ** Amanda – TooTallFritz.com **

Who’s Dirty? CrossFit Day 17– Eric K Memorial WOD

I’ve suddenly taken an affinity to black workout clothing, tops in particular.  If one thing is for certain, I’m going to come home from CrossFit looking like I just rolled thru the dirt.  If getting dirty is any indication of my level of effort then I’m definitely going to win something.

CrossFit_dirty   CrossFit_dirty2

As a side note for new CrossFitters – Besides black clothing, I also make sure my tops are form fitted so they stay in place while I’m standing on my head or doing whatever activity is on the board for the day. 

The 17th day of CrossFit brought us the  Eric K Memorial WOD.

First, let me apologize because I misspoke earlier when I said the run club (and I) finally RX’d a workout.  That’s a lie.  We modified two things.  First we subbed in kettlebell deadlifts for the real deal and second we used bands for our pull-ups.  As you may, or may not know, runners are not known for their arm strength.  So we suck at pull-ups, or at least I do, everyone else is amazing. 

 Eric K Memorial WOD

4 Rounds

  • 8 Deadlifts – 225/135 – Or if you’re in my crew, kettlebell deadlifts #35
  • 29 Push-Ups
  • 20 Wall Balls – 20/14 – I think I used a 10# ball though
  • 12 Pull-ups – I used 2 bands

We then paired with a partner and my dumbass I panicked cuz I didn’t see the “4 rounds” part of the workout.   I thought we had one round (not normal at all but I had like 2 hours of sleep and was apparently delusional) and then we would have to split each of these moves with a partner.  Since I’m not one to get out of bed for an easy workout,  I suggested that we would do the workout x2.   Yep, I did that.  And everyone agreed.  So basically we did the above WOD like we didn’t have a partner.  Instead of 8 deadlifts per round split by 2 people, we each did the full 8 deadlifts.  Then 29 push-ups, then 20 wall balls, then 12 pull-ups.  Repeat x4.  It took exactly 2 rounds for us to be dead on our ass.  Yep, don’t CrossFit with me, I’ll just make you work harder.  LOL!

So now I can’t lift my arms.  Anyone want to swim for me during my upcoming half iron distance TRI on SAT? 

** Dirty & Delusional From CrossFit ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

CrossFit …. Day 3 ….. 1/2 Murph

I didn’t know Murph but he was apparently a badass tough guy.  So tough that they named a CrossFit WOD after him.

Murph

 “Murph”

For time:
1 mile Run
100 Pull-ups
200 Push-ups
300 Squats
1 mile Run

In memory of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y., who was killed in Afghanistan June 28th, 2005.

This workout was one of Mike’s favorites and he’d named it “Body Armor”. From here on it will be referred to as “Murph” in honor of the focused warrior and great American who wanted nothing more in life than to serve this great country and the beautiful people who make it what it is.

Partition the pull-ups, push-ups, and squats as needed. Start and finish with a mile run. If you’ve got a twenty pound vest or body armor, wear it.

Today we were fortunate enough to “only” have to do a 1/2 Murph.  Thank goodness we are all newbies!  As I looked at the board and saw the workout, I immediately knew that it would be bad and was immediately thankful that we didn’t have a “full” Murph on the agenda. 

The HALF Murph started and finished with an 800 meter run.  Sandwiched between those runs were 10 rounds (without break) of 5 Pull-ups, 10 Push-ups & 15 Squats.  Sounds easy enough but by the 4th round, I think most of us were doubting our ability to complete all 10. 

None of us could do a pull-up which is my personal nightmare and something I’ve worked on at various intervals of my life without success.  So we needed to modify those and use bands in order to even get thru the very first set of 5.  Here is a pic of the pull-up with the bands, except most of us needed two or three bands to give us enough support to get up to the bar.  Photo Source

pull up with bands

Most know what a push-up and squat looks like so we will leave it at that but let’s just say that by the time I was half way done, a squat never seemed so difficult.  Now add in my lingering hamstring “issue” and my new hip “issue” and well, damn, I don’t like squats very much!  And they weren’t pretty like this:

SQUAT

Ironically, this was good TRI training though cuz when we went out for that second 800 meter run, it felt like a brick workout.  Legs were heavy.  Legs were dead.  Legs were shaking ……. just like how they feel when we get off the bike to hit the run.  BAM, cross training with purpose!

I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to get up from my desk without assistance by lunch time.  I’m pretty sure that my swim is going to hurt tonight cuz my arms will be like rocks.  I’m pretty sure that I’m stronger today, than last Tuesday.  Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration on “being stronger” but hey,  I have to think positively!!  I am getting stronger.  I am making progress.  I am  loving the “burn”. 

Whats My Secret

** Feel The Burn ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **