No Tears (rhymes w/ Fears) for Tears (rhymes w/ glares)

Thursday, June 27;

I knew I wouldn't make it in to Friday morning's class. I also had a little bit of free time Thursday afternoon, so I decided to take advantage of the hot temps and down time. Right after I got home from work, I threw on some running pants and shoes and headed out the door. I did a quick mile and a half run to these pullup bars that are on Four Mile Run. I thought it would be a great idea to hit a partial Cindy, and then run back home for a cool down. I was really pumped about doing a crazy, quick workout at the pullup bars, and I was really excited about a pseudo-Cindy. I haven't done that workout since the shoulder blew, because the pullups and pushups were no good.

Workout:

1.5 mile run

10 rounds

5 pullups

10 pushups (from knees)

15 squats

1.5 mile run

The pullup bars are just monkey bars, so I'm able to hold on to two bars and do the pullups with my hands parallel. They feel really good on my shoulder. The only downside is that the bars are medal and then covered with paint. Trust me.. it can lead to a little suffering.. I'd come to find out soon.

I got myself set up.. Layed out 10 rocks so I could keep track of my rounds. Staked out the perfect spot for pushups (which turned out to be a little less than perfect, but made me look like a serious bad ass).. and got the stop watch set.

3, 2, 1...

The first few rounds were great.. I got through round 4 or so in less than a minute each. Then around round five I realized that the pushups (still done from my knees) were kicking my ass. My back was on fire, and so were my arms, and my shoulders (in a good way).. another thing I didn't forsee was that my knees were also a mess. The place I had staked out to do pushups was actually a dirt pit filled with rocks. What I didn't realize was that the rocks and dirt stick quite nicely to you, especially when your sweating balls.

By the time I got to round eight is was covered in rocks, dirt and sweat, and I was dragging some serious ass. I was encouraged to finish up because a group of middle school boys on their bikes had begun to gather and gawk. A little creepy.. usually when this happens I say something like.. "If you're going to watch, you have to join me." That generally scares people away.
I make it to the end of round 9 and take a look at my hands, which are also covered with rocks, dirt and sweat. I can make out a glorious callous tear on my LEFT HAND!!! You got it.. the injured left arm is now the proud owner of callous. Pure proof that it can take a serious ass kicking once again. Yay!

I had one more round to go.. I finished up, hit the stopwatch, and noticed the beautiful tear on my right hand. I guess sweaty hands and pullup bars aren't a great combination. God, I love Crossfit! My time kind of blew, but I think under the circumstances it's sufficient. Then I dragged ass all the way home to clean up my hands and hop into a much needed shower.

Wonderful Wakeup Call

Wednesday, June 18

It's been a few days since I've updated this thing. I guess my whole balancing work/personal/school life is cutting into some of my former activities (mainly updating this thing). Anyway, this is long overdue.

Monday's workout was a little tough for me. It started out well but once the workout start my shoulder went on a revolt. We started with cleans. I've been able to work up to some decent clean weights, but I'm still not where I used to be. Pre injury I was able to clean 110, but I'm probably maxing out around 90lbs maybe 100lbs if I'm focused. The deal was to workup to a heavy 5 rep max. I could complete 5 reps at 80lbs, which I was happy with. I bailed out of the 90lb max rep test at rep number 3. I forget that I just don't have the strength I used to have pre-injury. I'll have to workup to it. Slow progress I guess.

Then the WOD started. I should have known better. The movements.. Hang Squat Power cleans, Pullups and pushups. Am I serious?? What was I thinking? I limited the pullups to just 5, but seriously everything hurt. I knew after the first round that this was not a good idea. I stupidly went through 4 more rounds before finally calling it. I've called a workout once before in the blue room. It was the last day I worked out on my shoulder. After that I went into a 3 month heavy, left arm lifting hiatus. That one I called because of unbelievable pain. This time I learned. I had noticeable pain, so I said to myself, "self, this is stupid." Then I stopped. Way to learn from past mistakes!

Monday, June 16;

Workup:
Heavy barbell cleans
35lb x5, 55lb x5, 65lb x5, 75lb x5, 85lb x5, 95lb x 3

Workout:
AMRAP in 15 minutes
7 Hang Squat Power Cleans
5 Pullups
11 Pushups

5 rounds

100 situps with the Abmat

This post was titled "Wonderful Wakeup Call" and I'll explain why now. Since the whole shoulder rehab thing started I've woken up with shoulder pain. It's not horrible, it's just noticeable. It usually goes away after I move around a bit. (For the record, I am 26.. I shouldn't be having body pains yet!!!) This morning.. I went through the usual wakeup routine. Alarm goes off at 4:45am. I hit snooze about 10 times. Then the second alarm goes off on the other side of the room and I get out of bed to turn it off. Trust me, this is an improvement. There was a point when I was using 3 alarms. One of which was battery operated in case the power went out. Obsessive much?

I rolled out of bed and realized my shoulder did not hurt. Not only did it not hurt, but I had been able to sleep on it all night and it still didn't hurt. I was thrilled! I got out of bed and once I got to CFOT I was even more pumped when Jerry said that our workout wouldn't be shoulder intensive. SWEET! Bringing on the squats.

Workout:
For time:
400 meter run
50 squats
400 meter run
50 squats
400 meter run
50 squats
400 meter run
50 squats

Total: 11:05

25 ring dips (I got on the pink band today!!)
100 Abmat situps w/ 10 pound ball
no time.. just practice

Sparticus at Christmas 2007 trying to steal food. Typical!

On a sad note, we had to put my cat Sparticus to sleep this morning. He was a ripe ole 19 years old. He was a great guy, and he'll be missed.

Two Post Injury PRs

Wednesday, June 11;


What a day! A really freaking early morning after a really freaking late night. I have learned that two cups of Starbucks regular coffee is enough to keep me up for hours.. literally hours. I was so amped up last night when I went to bed at 11pm that I tossed and turned at least until midnight.

I've also learned that two cups of Starbucks coffee is enough to wake me up really early in the morning. I was still amped up (and had to go to the bathroom like a small child on a road trip) when I woke up at 5am. Ouch.. still also a little sore, but I figured there's no way Jerry is going to make us do pullups again after doing them on Tuesday. Right? Right?? I'm wrong so often!

We started off the morning with strict overhead presses. I haven't done heavy overhead presses for a long time. I'm not as strong as I used to be, but I have been working really hard on my form. Tight core, tight butt, tight quads.. and then push. I started light with just 15lbs and moved up to 35lb, 45lb, 55lb and then 65lb!! I actually hit a post injury PR there. I only did one, but that's because when I pressed up the barbell, I felt this really creepy liquid gush into my injured shoulder. I've felt this sensation once before when I was first started doing pushup agains. It's really gross. It doesn't hurt exactly, but it's a strange feeling.

I was excited to hit a post injury PR though.

Workout:
Strict press:
15lb x5, 35lb x5, 45lb x3, 55lb x1, 65lb x1

3 rounds of..
200 meter run
Dumbell Push presses (I did this with 15lb on left, 25 on right) 30, 24, 18
Pullups 21, 15, 9
Total: 18:20

Take a look at this most ridiculous kipping pullup ever!!!

How did my hips get all the way up there? What was I doing? I'm not sure if that's a result of the new pullup style. I know I am certainly using much more hip power.. Maybe I'll call it "mastering the wave of contraction from hip to core to extremities." Jerry, don't you love that one?? Then I look at the other pullup pictures and they don't seem so bizarre.

Take a look at this one.

My main concern is that I don't think the first picture is a very efficient use of force. If you look at it, it almost looks like I'm doing a benchpress or maybe a benchpush.. does that exist? No, I just made it up. That's enough of pullup technique talk. It's still a work in progress.. Oh I should also mention my second post injury PR of the day. I can't believe I almost forgot. 9 pullups in a row. Such small progress, but I also have what appear to be calluses on my left hand. I can't wait until they tear from too many pullups. Sick, isn't it?