Revelations

Have you ever felt like the universe was trying to tell you something? Felt like there were just too many coincidences that have occurred surrounding one aspect of your life? Recently I've been feeling like the universe has been banging on my door, desperately trying to send me a message.

I'll lay out what it is I'm talking about.

While recovering from surgery the main aerobic exercise that I'm allowed to do is row. So that's what I've been doing. At the same time I've been working on recovery, two new roommates moved into my townhouse.. both of them rowers (one of which now comes in the evenings. Holler!). I cut myself while rowing. In turn I write the "City of God" blog post about good vs. evil. My roommate comes home after the 2k WOD, and celebrates because she destroyed my score. She then tells me that even Jerry admitted that I just plain suck at rowing -- a very un-Jerrylike thing to say. He told her I just don't listen to cues. Then came the icing on the cake.. I ordered Chinese food the other night, of course it was Zone friendly. My fortune cookie, which was also Zone friendly, said "Everyone must row with the oars he has."

Could the universe be more clear. If I have to rely on my oars to survive.. I'm up shit creek without a paddle!

I have to fix my row form. It's pitiful. That also means that I'll have to go even slower than I already do in order to fix form, then perfect the good form and then get faster.

So that's my new challenge. If I have to row with the oars I have, then I need to figure out how to do it to the best of my ability (short legs and all).

Oly Movements are Much Better with a Friend

Tuesday, Feb. 24;

It was the Karen and Adrienne show today at CFOT. Yeah, there were other people there. As far as I'm concerned it was just Karen and I pushing each other to go harder.

Today we worked on Hang Power Squat Cleans. I freaking love this movement. I was a little nervous that it would take me a long time to get my speed back with my elbow whip. Thank goodness my fears go unfulfilled. I'm still working with a really light weight, but I have the movement down and the speed to boot. I can definitely work with that.

This movement is a little easier than just a clean, because I can use the momentum from my hips to make the weight weightless. All I have to do is pull hard enough to get the bar to my hips. Once it hits the little pocket of power, the bar has a moment of weightlessness. Then I just dive under that sucker. I catch it in the full squat without allowing the bar to crash on me. Smooth like butter.. or Roland Burris trying avoid press questions about fundraising for Blago.

What made today even better was that I had a buddy to push me along. Karen and I partnered up, and worked through this WOD at the same time. We set goals for the workout, achieved them, and then maintained the goals throughout. It was great to get to work with such a fire breather. It only makes me stronger!

WOD
7 Rounds Max Rep Hang Power Squat Cleans & Pushups
(subbed out ring pushups for elevated pushups)

45lb dumbbell
Round 1 - 15 HPSC/10 PU
Round 2 - 20 HPSC/10 PU
Round 3 - 15 HPSC/10 PU
Round 4 - 15 HPSC/10 PU
Round 5 - 15 HPSC/10 PU

Round 6 - 15 HPSC/10 PU

Round 7 - 15 HPSC/10 PU

Total: 110 HPSC/70 PU

All in a Row

Monday, February 23;

I was actually able to join in today's fun. My good old competitive side came roaring right back. There was no need to modify or tweak today's workout. I just had to grunt through it. OUCH!

WOD:
Row 2K
Damper setting: 5
Time: 9:23

Hoping next time is faster. It has to be.. I will have better stamina and more strength. I also will force myself to kick my own ass. I'll break 9 mins next time.

Also, my physical therapist suggested I try rowing longer??!! I love this woman!!

St. Augustine & Crossfit go Hand in Hand

Thursday, Feb. 19;

Over did it on the rower, but I'm happy about it. I also cut up my knee pretty badly with my fingernails. It's like my feminine side is clashing with my hard core side.

It's like Augustine's City of God.. the battle between "two cities." One is the earthly city (my feminine side) and the other is my spiritual city (my hard core side). According to Augustine the earthly city is base and filled with evil while the spiritual city embodies all things that are good. Basically, both sides live together in the earthly world. The evil (feminine side) is in a constant battle with the good (hard core side), but the good side (hard core) is ambivilant. The good side sees the earthly world like a holding place, until he is able to rise to the spiritual world where he will truly live.

Bringing this back to Crossfit.. is that really possible? I say yes... My finger nails (feminine side/earthly inhabitant) scratched the crap out of my knee during the rowing workout. (That's the "battle" part of my metaphor) . Despite the bloody attack, at no point did my mind or body (the spiritual side.. I know I'm stretching) stop the workout (all things that are good).

It wasn't until I went to put on my stockings and get dressed after the workout (feminine side) that I noticed the scratches. Many women would be upset at the scratch, but my bizarre (yes, I know this is a bizarre blog post) mind took over and thought. "Sweet, I had a good workout (spiritual world)."

Follow??

In case that whole entry was a confusing mess, don't worry. You'll certainly understand this...

WOD
"Interval Hell" courtesy of Super Sport

1,000 meter row
21 Front Squats (55lb)
18 lat pulls (shoulder rehab work)

750 meter row
18 Front Squats
15 lat pulls

500 meter row
15 Front Squats
12 lat pulls

250 meter row
12 Front Squats
9 lat pulls

Do my times really matter at this point??

Don't Let Your Weaknesses Get You Down

Wednesday, Feb. 18;



I thought this little video was quite appropriate for today. Don't let your weaknesses slow you down. It doesn't matter if your short or tall, injured or just not that strong. We all have things we would like to improve on, things that we just aren't that good at, or things that we used to be good at but we aren't any longer.

Today was a big old kick in the pants for me. I've never been exceptionally strong with my deadlifts, but I've always been able to pull a significantly heavy amount of weight. This was my first attempt at the deadlift post surgery. I didn't know what my limitations were. I've been cleared to lift heavy things, so I figured I'd like to test how heavy I can go. It's difficult to test that when doing such high reps, so I thought I'd stick to a light yet significant weight. This allowed me to focus on form.

Started with a PVC pipe. No problem. Went to 35lb bar. I can feel the pull on my shoulder, but nothing bad. Went to 55lb and thought this would be a good place to work. It's heavy enough that I build up calluses on my hands. It's heavy enough to test my form. It's not so heavy that I hurt myself.

WOD
5 Rounds for time
10 Deadlifts (55lb)
40 abmat situps

Total: 11:21

I'm looking forward to single max reps. This will really be the test of shoulder strength. It's getting better every day!

Lessons on Running

Monday, Feb. 16;

This is the first time running since surgery. It didn't hurt, but my shoulder was definitely getting tired. I subbed out just about all of the other exercises. I got a little sweat going, and it felt good though.

WOD
200 Meter run
25 KB High Pulls (25lbs)
400 Meter run
35 Push Press (PVC pipe)
800 Meter run
90 squats (rx was 45 wall ball, so I doubled)

Time: 12:21

Catching up..

Saturday, Feb. 14

This workout was filled with a lot of love. An Andrea special 100 cleans for time. If you drop the bar you have to do 10 chest to bar pullups.

WOD
100 cleans (15lb barbell) - this didn't hurt my shoulder, but my flexibility is still a little off
Dropped once, did 10 KB High pulls (25lb) - this stretches my shoulder, Yikes!

Time: 5:12

WOD II
100 Squats
100 Box Jumps
100 Deck squats

This workout killed after last Wednesday's leg burner. Thanks to Shawn/Sean for kicking my ass. My calves are still shredded from this one, and it's been 3 days.