Crossfit and Climbing

Sunday, November 9;

I can now say for sure thatit is not a smart thing to do Crossfit and then go Rockclimbing right after. I know Crossfitters are crazy and they do crazy things, but there is something to be said for crazy and then just plain stupid. I think what I did today may qualify for one of those just plain stupid moments.

This morning's Crossift class was great. Some good old Sunday partner work. It's like our Sunday service and G-d is saying that no one should suffer alone. I'm for it! Andrea and I partnered up. It worked out nicely, because her strengths complement my weaknesses and vice versa.

Workout:

25 Burpees

400 meter run

50 Jumping Slam Balls (15lb)

400 meter run

75 KB swings (36lb)

400 meter run

400 meter tossing slamball

400 meter run

400 meter walking lunge

I feel like I may be missing something here. This workout was timed, but I have no idea what our time was. I do know that Gar the Lt. Col were able to eek out ahead of us at the very last minute. Lucky jerks!

Of course.. I wasn't done yet. I had already signed up to go rock climbing at the rock climbing place off of Eisenhower. It is a pretty sweet place. If you haven't gone, I strongly suggest checking it out. Just maybe not after a Crossfit workout. The first hour and a half or so was spent on showing us how to tie knots and how to properly belay. What you may not realize is that belaying actually kills your arms as much as climbing. All that tightening the rope and rope burning and such.

I loved that the girl I was climbing with was as competitive as I am. The two of us climbed first. She was pretty quick, so I figured I could do it without a problem. I pulled it off pretty well. The key to climbing is using your legs instead of your arms. You have to get your feet in a good position to propel your body upward. I made it to the top and then climbed a few more different routes on different walls. I was happy that our climbs weren't timed! I was able to take my time and think about where I was going and where I wanted to put my hands and feet. I was surprised how much I liked it and how much it scared me at the same time. A+

Also, I was really impressed at the skill and comfort level of the more experienced climbers. They didn't hesitate to hop up on the really tough courses and just freakin' monkey crawl up that damn wall. Really awesome. Another thing of note that I loved seeing. Some of the other climbers were doing kipping pullups on a pullup bar, and I spotted some kettlebells in a corner. All signs of a place that easily earns my approval!

Badger with No Buzz

Friday, November 7;

What a bad idea. I have my coffee pot set on an automatic timer, so it begins brewing right around 5:45. The smell wakes me up, and then actually drinking it wakes me up even more. Today the coffee pot brewed my coffee like usual, but for some reason the act of me actually pouring the coffee/cream/sweetener did not happen. I was really dragging ass while getting ready, so by the time I realized that I didn't have my coffee with me it was too late.

I figured I'd be fine, until I got in to CFOT and realized what the workout of the day entailed. Badger. Almost immediately I decided to sub out the pullups. My body still hasn't healed from the Election Day workout, and I am just generally exhausted from this week. I did KB High Pulls instead. It doesn't compare to pullups, but it was just fine to get my heart going.

This workout should take between 35-40 minutes. Today, it took me over 50 minutes!! I've never rested so much during a workout. I've always said, "if you're talking during a workout, you're not working hard enough." Well, today I wasn't just talking I was holding complete conversations. Shame on me. I'll be back on my game by Sunday and hopefully kicking ass.

Workout:

3 Rounds for time:

30 Hang Squat Cleans 65lb

30 Sumo DL Highpulls 45lb

800 meter run

53:??

Our New Neighbor - Worth the Workout!

I couldn't help but notice this sweet new deal! So, our new digs on Royal St. have a wonderfully tasty neighbor. Check out this place, Lavendar Moon Cupcakery. It's located on 116 South Royal Street. Okay, so it's not exactly right next door. It's about half of a mile away (a short run). Our new home will be at 805 N. Royal St., but seriously did you check the place out? Vanilla Lemon Curd topped with raspberry & vanilla frosting, Mexican Chocolate pudding Buttermilk Chocolate cupcake, Chocolate lavelndar???!!! Okay, this may sound a little too sweet. It's certainly NOT on the Zone, but really I don't think I'd mind grabbing one after a sweaty workout. I'm for it!!!

Back to Normal

Thursday, November 6

Slept in again today in order to catch up on sleep after a long election day/day after election day. I'm feeling a little beaten down and certainly unable to get in a good workout. I'm glad I didn't go in yesterday because I was a walking zombie. I am a little better recovered today, but still not quite up to par.

I should be back in tomorrow morning for a solid workout. Then I'll be back to normal next week. I am taking Monday and Tuesday off of work and then I'll be back to my old job in the Education Department and regular workout schedule and class. Everything will remain normal at least until December 4th! :)

Election Day!

Tuesday, November 4


I slept in this morning because I'll be at work late into the night/early into the morning hours. I was hoping to get to CFOT at some point this morning, but it was just smarter for me to sleep in. After a hearty breakfast and a quick cast of the ballot this morning, I decided to hit an oldy but goody. I headed out to the exorcist stairs and put together a little workout in honor of democracy and the electoral college. The magic number today is 270. Right? Senators McCain and Obama need 270 electoral college points to win. So, I figured I had to do 270 reps for today's workout.. Stupidly.. here's what I put together..

Workout:
9 Rounds for time
10 pullups
10 pushups
10 air squats
1 lap up and down the stairs

Total: 39:11

We all know my math is challenged, so I hope this ads up to 270. 30 x 9 = 270. I'm pretty sure that's right. Regardless, by round 6 I was really, really hating myself and the electoral college! It's one thing to do 10 pullups in the blue room on the swinging bar. It's something completely different to do 10 pullups on a big, fat bar that is outside in the rain. It is really easy to kip yourself off of that stupid bar. Another thing I was really surprised about was how easy the pushups were. I had no problem banging those out. Very smooth! As you can tell by my time, this workout took forever. I can justify my time though. I figure it was in honor of James Madison. He believed in a system of checks and balances that would slow down the work of the government. That's just what I gave him!! A very slow workout that was done with a lot of thought and absolutely no compromise.

Raising the Bar

Monday, November 3;

Today was a nice little barbell workout. I was surprised at how quickly I was able to get through this one although my hands are pretty beat up. I really love these workouts, because I'm totally into the barbell movement. I especially love the workouts that don't require explosive movements overhead (jerk, snatch).

Workout:
10 Rounds for time

5 Thrusters
7 Hang Power cleans
9 Sumo Deadlift Highpulls
Time: 20:17

Like I said my hands were pretty beat up with this one. Thankfully no tears, but I do have a pretty nasty blister on my middle finger. The Sumo Deadlifts also did a nice little number on my shins despite taping them up. The tape didn't hold too well with the sweat. I was really happy with my time, and the movements felt great. I'd do this one again!

Adrienne's Version of "Rest Later"

Friday, October 31;

A busy week.. culminating in one really crazy 30 hour period. It's my version of "Rest Later" I guess. I'll just do the list. It starts Thursday evening at 5pm...

• Get home from work and begin making 2 batches (about 100) cupcakes for Halloween. They are chocolate with orange frosting and vanilla with chocolate frosting.
• Once that was done I began making my chocolate covered apples (40 of them). They were orange made out of white chocolate and black ones made out of dark chocolate with spooky faces.. like little pumpkins and ghosts.
• Went to bed at 11:30pm
• Woke up early to pack away all of the sweets.
• Went to Crossfit at 6:15am
• Did a quick 30 min. workout (this was a good one)
• Got to work and passed out all of the apples so they would be waiting on everyone's desks when they got in.
• Took a shower. (I get dressed at work)
• Got to work and began processing the last of our state race debates. C-SPAN has been airing all of the debates from competitive House/Senate/Governor races. I'm on a two person team, who is doing that. My partner was on the Road for work, so I had to wrap up the last of the debates before Election Day.
• Got home around 7pm
• Got Thai food with a friend.
• Ate dinner and then continued work on my Halloween costume (that I'm wearing for a Halloween party tonight). I'm going as Poison Ivy, and the costume requires a HUGE amount of sewing. Pictures are incoming.
  

Workout:
"Roll of the Dice"

5 Rounds for time

400 meter run .. then roll the dice

Total: 35:58

Roll the dice options were: KB High Pulls, KB Swings, Box Jumps, Abmat Situps, Burpees & Wall Ball. My rolls were not exceptionally memorable or difficult. Except for the round where I rolled 50 box jumps. But I can't lie. I love box jumps!

Also, I'd like to give a shot out to my workout brother, Danny who did this entire workout without shoes... even the five runs outside! As I was running I thought that the barefoot run doesn't really pay off, because your feet are in so much pain and so raw from the run. It would actually save time if you stopped to put your shoes on. That's just my two cents. Danny never listens to me anyway.