Tag Archives: Push Press

CrossFit Day 60 & 61 …

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CrossFit_going back

Needless to say, I’ve been sore this week.  Little Rock, or more specifically the weather and the hills, beat me up badly.  I was sore in places that never hurt.  However, I knew if I didn’t haul it up and out to CrossFit on Tuesday morning that my recovery would be stalled.  I needed to stretch a lot and get the blood flowing to heal those micro tears in my muscles.   But it wasn’t easy getting “up and out” the door because quite frankly, I was exhausted between the race and the driving and my little man who thinks sleeping is boring.  But I went anyhow and I was glad that I did because I started feeling better!

Day 60 – Substitute instructor {insert total panic} – However, The Sub was told “about” our group a couple times.  We aren’t hard core CrossFitters, we just CrossFit for cross training and strengthening.  We are “special”, and we are loud, and we are a lot to handle at 5am.  Kudos to The Sub for managing the class without totally freaking out about our stupid questions.

Strict Press – Press up over the head w/o any bounce or use of legs.  Super hard.  5×3 @ 63#s

Tabatas for Total Reps – 8 sets of each movement, 20 seconds on, 10 seconds rest, keep track of reps.

  • Air Squats – Just regular squats but the title freaked me out cuz I was thinking I needed to do like a jumping squat in the air.  And I knew I wouldn’t be able to get those tired legs 2” off the ground.  So it was a win in my court when The Sub told us that they were just regular “unweighted” squats.  Very doable.
  • Abmat Sit-ups
  • Burpees
  • Ball Slams – 20#

Day 61 – Welcome back Jared!  Don’t leave us again, you scared us badly. I realize that you too need to vacation but we were were afraid The Sub was going to hurt us! 

Push Press – 5×3 @ 73#

EMOTM – Every Minute On The Minute – 20 minutes.  You have one minute to do the first move.  After completion of the required reps, rest until that minute “dings”.  Then switch to the second station and complete the required reps within one minute.  The buzzer dings every minute to signify the switch.  You will work for 20 minutes total, 10x at each station.

  • 10 Kettlebell Swings – 36#
  • 10 Ring Rows

Good week at CrossFit and I’m now loosened up enough that I should do a short, slow run tonight.  Next up, the Oak Forest Fleadh 5K on Saturday March 8th.  12 degrees with snow and ice expected.  Can’t wait!  Okay, I’m exaggerating by a lot but trying to be positive.

** Amanda –TooTallFritz **

CrossFit Day 58 & 59

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Good week at CrossFit.  It’s one of those activities which can seem SO HARD one day, then not so bad the next.  It’s all about the movements in the WOD and whether it hits your list of strengths verses weaknesses.  This is the reason as to why it’s so important to KEEP GOING, even when you are feeling bad or as if you aren’t making any progress.  The very next workout may be the one that YOU knock out of the park. 

Day 58 – Push Press 5×3 – 73#

Tabatas for Total Reps – Keep track of your reps throughout each of the 8 sets of a movement. 

  • Kettlebell Swings – 35#s – Dang that KB is soooo heavy.  As indicated by my crazy face below.

Kettlebell Swings

  • Ball Slams – 20# – Another super heavy item! 
  • Hand Release Push-Ups – Not a good move for my spaghetti arms.
  • Rowing for Calories (something to count for the total reps)

Day 59 – Back Squats – 5×3 – 83#s – Moved up in weight!!

5 Rounds

  • 15 Front Squats with a 35# KettleBell – Yep, still heavy.
  • 10 Sit-ups
  • 5 Burpees – Dare I say these are almost manageable in increments of 5? 

Then we stretched, rolled & worked on our Double-Unders!  Good week!

** Keep Pushing, Even When Progress is Indiscernible ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

CrossFit Day 56 & 57

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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 54 & 55

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I’ll be honest, this far into CrossFit, it shouldn’t seem so hard EVERY DAMN TIME.  But it is hard.   I’m not sure if that is good or bad.  I want to be stronger but just don’t feel as if I am getting where I want to go.  Maybe because I only go twice a week?  Maybe because I’m in the middle of a pretty fast training cycle as I am trying to get these legs to start turning over QUICKLY again?  Maybe because I’m overeating and have gained weight?  Maybe because I’ll be 40 in a little over a month?  Obviously, I’m not sure what the missing part of the equation is, for me, but I’m pretty sure I can put the blame on the crap that I’m stuffing in my mouth my food intake.  I eat well 90% of the time.  But apparently that 10% WEIGHS me down.  I need to get it together!!  I need to be more disciplined.

What You Want Now vs What You Want Most

So I’m taking a break to go fill my water bottle and peel my banana ………

Now onto the WODs from last week.  I’m still going.  I’m still trying.  And when I get tried, I tell myself that I need to keep pushing because that’s what will make me stronger.

CrossFit Day 54 – Push Press 5×3 (73#s) & Tabatas

Tabatas – As you probably know by now, this is the 8 sets of each movement with 20 seconds on and then 10 seconds off (rest) between sets.

  • Ring Dips – Super hard.  My spaghetti arms aren’t showing much improvement, plus I’m not coordinated enough for the ring dips.  I’m very shaky and even with the assistance of the band, this is a difficult move for me.
  • Ball Slams – 20# ball.  We’ve recently moved up in weight in all our “balls”, and even the kettle bells.  I know this is a positive thing but it makes everything SO tough.
  • Sit-ups – Actually something I can do.  Yay me!
  • Wall Balls – 14# ball
  • Rowing

CrossFit Day 55  – Front Squats 5×3 – (73#s)

Partners – Each person does half of the prescribed WOD (workout of the day).  Items can be divided in any way you choose (sometimes we just do half each, sometimes we have to break it down more.  EX – burpees we did 10 each x2, then 5 each).  Timed workout, so please bust it so your partner isn’t waiting on you for too long!

  • 50 Burpees
  • 100 Sit-ups
  • 50 Box Jumps – Super tall box this time!!  I  normally use the 18” and this was maybe 24”, I could definitely tell and had to be careful to make it up and not misstep.
  • 100 Kettlebell Swings – 35#
  • 50 Wall Balls – 14#
  • 100 Ball Slams – 20#

Last week was a tough week.  I was tired.  But I still went.  If I go into every workout “fresh” and ready to rumble then I’m not pushing myself or improving.  While it’s important to know my body and know when I NEED to rest, it’s just as important to realize when I get to the mid to 3/4s point of a tough training cycle, everything will be tired.  And this is the most integral point of the cycle when I need to keep pushing so that I can make the most progress.  I “get it” but that doesn’t mean that I don’t feel like crying sometimes tired.

The Moment You Want To Quit

** Keep Pushing, the Results Will Be Worth the Effort ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

P.S. – The giveaway for the FREE Entry to the Corn Fed Spartan Crucible obstacle course, mud run is still going on!  Enter HERE.

More Wintery Workouts + CrossFit Day 52 & 53

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This was a good week, workout wise.  I’ve been in a bit of a wintery rut and decided to kick that to the curb by starting to focus on one of my favorite races, the Shamrock Shuffle 8K!  This brought the realization that I was NOT ready to run fast and I needed to start reintroducing some speedier run sessions so that I don’t hurt myself in the Shuffle!   

why should i practice running slow

Source – Emily Zatopek

As a result I started a fresh training cycle via the Run Less Run Faster app on my iPhone.  This forced both a speed workout AND a tempo session this week that I was dreading but then actually enjoyed.  While the initial speed session didn’t go perfectly, I feel as if the tempo session was decent.  No perfect, but good.  Which means that my pace isn’t that far off, I just need to get used to spinning these long legs a “little” faster! 

I also managed two StairMaster sessions, which I am dubbing as “hill work”.  Since I’m running on the treadmill, and since its super hard for me, I just zone out with a 1% incline.  All the time.  No hills.  No fun iFit live workouts thru some mysterious mountainous areas.  Nope, just flat running with a teeny-tiny incline of 1%.  I’m hoping the StairMaster workouts will give me a tiny bit of strength for whatever hills I might encounter in Little Rock.

I also was able to brave the snow and our drifted roads to hit both 5am CrossFit sessions this week. #WINNING

CrossFit Day 52

Push Press – 5×3 – 73#s

Tabatas – Perform 8 sets of the particular exercise before moving to the next station.  Each set is timed and you do as many reps as possible in the allotted time.  The time frame for Tabatas is 20 seconds “on” for the movement, 10 seconds rest = 1 set.  Repeat x8, then rotate to the next station.

  • Kettlebell Swings – 26#
  • Hand Release Push-Ups – Super hard.  My arms are weak even though I want them to be strong!
  • Sit-Ups
  • Rowing
  • Ball Slams – 20# – Whoa, my pencil arms were tried by this time.  Tough but I got it done!!

CrossFit Day 53

Front Squats – 5×3 – 73#

WOD – 5 Rounds

  • 10 Kettlebell Squats – 35# – HEAVY!!
  • 10 Ab-Mat Sit-Ups
  • 10 Burpees – Whew, I think we all know how I feel about Burpees.  I hope they eventually get easier, just a tad easier!  This all goes back to my pencil arms being weak too.  Sad smile

Then we finished off the day with 2 minutes worth of planks.  I had to do 5 different sets to get the full 2 minutes:  40 seconds, then 20 seconds x 4.

DONE!

I’ll be pounding miles on the treadmill this weekend!  I hope you have a plan to get in your workouts too!  It’s so much easier when I have a plan and stick to it. 

**  Making It Happen, Even During the Snowiest Winter EVER ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Back At It & CrossFit Day #49

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I’ve been on a little hiatus since the Dopey Challenge.  I needed a break.  The plan all along was to get thru the Huff 50K & Dopey and then take some time off and really not do “much” for the remainder of the month of January.  And I was looking forward to it.  What I didn’t realize was how much my body would NEED that break.   I started getting a bit of a clue when I had a pretty severe Plantar Fasciitis flare up on the first day of the Dopey Challenge.  Yep, during the 5K.  Initially it took me off guard because it basically came out of nowhere but it didn’t take me long to realize that it was text book PF.  I was fine while running but when I stopped OMGosh things got ugly fast.  And when I sat down, the getting up and getting moving was super painful.   It felt like I was walking on spikes.  Not ideal but at least something I could self diagnose.  Also something I was familiar enough with that I could be pretty certain that completing the Dopey Challenge most likely wouldn’t do much additional long term damage. 

Source:  Mayo Clinic

plantar fasciitis

Then I got a head cold/sore throat combo that was a bit of a nuisance.  Brought that new friend home with me from Disney.  It took a week and a half to clear up (thanks to some electro acupuncture by Dr. Alexis).  I felt good for two days.  Then the stomach flu hit.  Yep, the stomach flu.  SO.MUCH.FUN.  Okay, it sucked but my body was tired and why not get it ALL out of the way while I was in rest mode anyhow, right?  Right! 

Now I’m feeling AMAZING except for the heel pain that Dr. A is slowly but surely kicking to the curb.  I ran 4 miles on the treadmill last night at 8:22 pace.  Then I hit CrossFit this morning!  I’m so happy to be back to being active.  I still don’t plan on doing anything big this month but I’m moving and that makes me happy.  Smile

CrossFit Day 49 (and if you are really counting, CrossFit Day 48 was on January 2, 2014 but the WOD has been lost in the windy tunnel of the TTF brain.  Ooops!).

WOD – Jack.  Hello Jack.  So nice to meet you.  Thank you for kicking my butt on the first day back to CrossFit in 21 days.  Thanks for reminding me WHY I CrossFit in the first place.  Thanks for reminding me that I am weak and I want to be strong.  Thank you for starting me off on my quest to be a strong runner in 2014.

20 minutes – AMRAP:

  • 10 Push Press – Empty bar, the girlie version,  #33 lbs
  • 10 Kettlebell Swings
  • 10 Box Jumps – 18” box – I did alternate in a couple step-ups a few times when I needed to catch my breath but 99% were box jumps.

I did 11 rounds.  I was very focused on trying to get at least 10 rounds completed because at the half way mark I was into my 6th round so I didn’t want to lose ground.  I was super happy to be able to complete the 11th round, even managed a few extra push presses even though time was basically up.  I really tried to stay focused and wanted to keep pushing because it is a new year and I think it’s important to focus on new goals and try to improve.  Plus, what’s the point of getting up early for a 5am class if I’m not going to push it?  I don’t want to waste my time or anyone else’s.  I want to get better.  I want to get stronger.  I want to run far and FAST when the opportunity arises and I really think the key to staying healthy is strength and cross training.  For these reasons, I dedicate 2014 as my year of strength.  I want be be strong physically and mentally.  I want to be a better person.  I want to  handle LIFE better.  I want to be strong inside and out. 

** On a Quest to Be Strong ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

CrossFit Day 39 & 40 …

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Who would have thought that I would be able to manage 40 CrossFit sessions this year?   Not me!  I still can’t believe that Jared said yes to opening “the box” at 5am a couple times a week.  Major shout out of thanks to Jared & CrossFit New Lenox!  You’ve made a lot of lady runners excited about getting strong.   That’s a big step in our world. 

excited about where i'm headed

CrossFit Day 39 – If I get to name it, I’m calling “Ball Buster” cuz I was sore for a day afterward.

Push Press – 5×5 & Pull-Ups 5×5 – All about getting stronger while using those free weights that are so darn intimidating.  My group just loaded up the bar with 10 lbs on each side.  I think we had a 31# bar so that’s a total weight of 51#s of lifting.  We did 6 reps of 5 lifts cuz we had a few extra  minutes at the end.  For the  Pull-Ups, we are still using the bands for assistance.  I  have to use 2 bands.  6 reps of the 5 pull-ups, alternating with the push presses.

12 Minute AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) – Move thru each of the moves and just keep going as many times as possible.  Do the moves in order.  Pray the clock beeps sooner rather than later so you can stop.

  • 5 Front Squats – Bar only but I think we moved up to the 45# bar.  I’m super knowledgeable, I know.  They say lift it and I just do it. 
  • 10 Sit-Ups
  • 15 Overhead lunges with a 10# plate
  • Repeat all of the above, as many times as possible before the clock beeps.

We had a decent size group so this was fun and slightly chaotic.

CrossFit Day 40

EMOTM (every minute on the minute – 20 minutes)

Odd Minutes – 6 Ring Dips ** Even Minutes – 15 KettleBell Swings (26#)

5 Rounds

  • 5 Burpees
  • 10 Supermans
  • 5 Push-Ups
  • 10 Sit-Ups

I was super thankful that today was mostly strength work.  My legs were a little fatigued from a rough treadmill session late last night so today was good, although tiring. 

** Getting Stronger, One Day At A Time ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

CrossFit Day 35 & 36

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Another great week at CrossFit!  Our 5am class has really been hopping for the last 4 weeks or so, I know everything is a process and we do get a great turnout for 5am but we’ve added some new people too! Yay!!

Day 35 – Partner Up! The good thing about having a partner is that you don’t want to let them down and work extra hard to do your best. The bad thing about having a partner is that both of you will never be amazing at everything and it bothers me when we get to a move that I really suck at need to improve upon, I feel like I’m letting my partner down.  Fortunately, my partner was a run friend and well, she’s seen me at my worst so this workout was no big deal! LOL!

10 Wall Climbs – Each partner does half of the workout (may be broken down into small units if necessary.
20 Pull-ups – Assisted with two bands
60 lunges (in places – alternate legs)
60 Push Press
60 Sit-ups
60 Squats
4×100 meter sprints

20131108-113325.jpg

Susan & I finished in 15:20. I totally slowed us down in a few areas, like the wall climbs and the push presses and the pull-ups. But I ran fast, hope that counts for something! Side note – CrossFit is constantly adjusted to each person’s fitness level. The other CrossFitters are always encouraging to everyone else. It doesn’t matter if I’m first or last, the support is the same. And for that, I am always grateful and it’s one of the many reason why I love CrossFit.

Day 36 – Tabatas. 8 reps at each station. 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off.
Ball Slams – 10# balls
Supermans
Step-Ups – 18″ box
** 1 Minute Rest **
Rowing
Sit-ups
Push-Ups

** Get Strong ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Maxed Out ….. CrossFit Day 26

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After the Filthy Fifty WOD on TUE, I think our instructor felt bad for us yesterday.  Or maybe not but that’s my theory and I’m sticking too it.   We started the session working our form for the Push Press and were told we were going to “max out”.  Huh?  Max what?  My 5am class is just a bunch of chicks who run so I’m pretty sure none of us have ever maxed out ANYTHING except maybe a credit card or two when we were young and irresponsible.

max out_baby

As you know, anytime the weight bar comes out, I totally cringe.  Strength work, particularly for the arms, is not my forte.  However, I haven’t exactly found my forte as of yet in the CrossFit arena so what the heck, BRING IT ON!

weak person

We started with the bar only (33#), did 3 reps, then added 5 lbs to each side did 3 more reps and kept adding weight.  As we started to climb, we increased the weight by 2.5# on each side to try to prolong the inevitable .  Looks easy when its not too heavy.  Me on the left lifting like 2#s & Julie B on the right lifting the equivalent of her body weight.

PushPress_me_10-3-13      Push Press_Julie_10-3-13

We both maxed out at 88#s.  I REALLY wanted to put the 93#s up but it wasn’t happening.  I wasn’t even close and well, the 88#s was tough for me so I’ll be happy with this as my very FIRST max out!  Whooop, we have now officially “maxed out”.  Smile

We spent a significant amount of time maxing out but were then up for “Death by 10 meters”.  Due to time, we only ended up doing ten – 10 m sprints before the next class arrived. 

Death by 10 Meters

This “exercise” starts easy enough, run one 10 meter sprint over the course of 1 minute. A buzzer sounds after each minute is up and that starts the next round where we then run two 10 meter sprints in 1 minute.  Each minute then rolls right into the next adding another 10 meter interval.  Lots of waiting time at the beginning, no rest at all toward the end as you are attempting to pump off 13, 14 & 15 ten meters sprints in the minute before it rolls to the next.  However, this go round, we only had time for 10 rounds so everyone made it thru and nobody “died”.  Kinda cool to end on a positive note. 

Amanda – TooTallFritz

CrossFit Day 25 …. Filthy Fifty

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Yes, the damn awesome Filthy Fifty showed up on the white board again.  To be honest, I didn’t even look at all the exercises on the list, just helped get the equipment out and started with the buzzer. 

Filthy Fifty

  • 50 Box Jumps – 12” Box
  • 50 Jumping Pull-ups
  • 50 Kettelbell Swings – 35/26 – 35# for me
  • 50 Walking Lunges
  • 50 Knees to Elbows/Chest
  • 50 Push Press 45/33
  • 50 Supermans
  • 50 Wall Balls – 10#
  • 50 Burpees
  • 50 DU/100 Single Ropes

This workout was hard for me.  I’m not very strong in my upper body the weight bar shows up for anything, I groan internally.  I know I’m there because I WANT and NEED to be stronger but it still sucks isn’t fun.

The box jumps & jumping pull-ups were good.  The kettlebell swings were a hard push for 50 with the 35# bell. 

kettlebell-swings  kettlebell swing_vertical_South Coast Crossfit

Walking lunges & knees to chest were okay but my hands take a beating on the hanging “knees to chest”.  Plus, if I’m honest, I’m really a knees to hip type girl too.  The photo below shows me and my run friends on the “knees to chest” move.  I’m in the green socks.  The photos is a bit blurry cuz we are so amazing.  And fast.  And amazing.  And did I mention fast?

CrossFit_knees 2 chest

Push presses are definitely one of my weakness.  I did 10 with the 45# bar and then Julie M (pink top above) rescued me and traded me for the 33# bar.  SO.MUCH.BETTER but still super hard.  Here is a group of my run friends and I “push pressing” on a different day (I’m in the pink socks).

CrossFit NL_push press

Supermans & wall balls done, even with my wobbly arms from the push presses. Then I got to the stupid  burpees.  OUCH!  I was just out of steam.  So tired.  No energy.  I may have even leaked a tear or two.  Yes, I still “hate” burpees.  And I agree with the lady below, I think this would curb my PSL craving IMMEDIATELY!!

burpees equivalent PSL

I finished strong with 100 single rope jumps.  34 minutes & 45 seconds.  Done. Done.  DONE!!!

Amanda – TooTallFritz