hsifeng: (Exercise - The Poor Man's Plasic Surgery)
2013-03-27 12:56 pm

How Many Times Can She Bruise Herself In One Session...

The answer is MANY.

My poor right arm still hasn't recovered from the striping it got *last week* when I was trying to do Double Unders (the actual stripe from the jump rope is gone, but the bruise is huge and vivid still on my upper arm). I added two more smaller stripes to my right elbow yesterday and managed to hit my knuckles so hard at one point that the middle joint on my left hand center finger is *still sore* today and the bruise from the broken blood vessel I gave myself on my right hand pointer finger still hasn't gone away.

Although the ginormous swollen blood vessel in my knuckle has mostly returned to normal size.

This was for the warm up folks. Not even into the session yet.

In good news, I think I may be actually making progress with Double Unders. Apparently beating myself black-and-blue is key in some way.

*eye roll*

Tuesday, March 26th- Crossfit:
March 26 - Board - Crossfit
The gym is still in 'form and technique' mode, but since I need these I am OK with it. It will be nice if tonight is more pace oriented though...

1 Minute WOD (Workout of the Day): GHD Sit Ups - so I did 25 of these, pretty firmly Middle Of The Pack. My back wasn't sure about this whole idea (because really, back-bend much anyone?) and I whacked my right forearm GOOD on the support bar about ten reps in (OWCH - and yes, another bruise). I am ambivalent about these as a WOD exercise, it just seems like there are too many opportunities to mess up your spine in the process of pushing your reps. *makes a face*

Back Squat/Medicine Ball (MB) V-Ups Complex: The first two sets of back squats (6 X 50% and 4 X 70%) were used as warm up. The next 3 sets of 4 reps at 80-85% were done in alternation with the MB V-ups. I topped out my squat at 50 kg, and could have done more but focused on getting my technique down rather than my weight up. The MB V-ups started with a 8 kg weight, but moved to a 6 kg weight when my form was lost. The manner that the V-up's was done in varied from the video in that each time you hit the top you passed the medicine ball from your hands to your feet, or back to your hands. A rep included two passes (so you ended up with the ball back in your hands again).

Strict Press/GHD Raises Complex: The first sets of press was used as warm up, but I ended up finding that it was my 75-80% weight for the number of sets and reps I was going to do, so I just used it as 'extra' at the beginning of the work. My weight for this exercise was 30 kg since strict presses are pretty much *all* arms and shoulders with almost no momentum helping you move the weight. The next 4 sets of 6 reps were done in alternation with the GHD Raises (an exercise that I still can't complete all 3 X 6 rounds of without assistance. I did learn that it is critical to make sure that the foot plate on the GHD machine is as close to your base as possible (leaving no room for 'toe pointing' to reach the plate; this prevents serious calf cramping!).  I got all the way through these with good form and a little less help that the first time I did the raises; plus there is at least one guy at my gym who is a MONSTER when it comes to Crossfit who couldn't even do a single one of these (then again, he had probably killed his legs earlier in the day/week...so...*shrug*).

Monday, March 25th: Pub Run! (Updated)

4 mile run achieved and I stuck with B & L the whole way! B says mile two was at 7:45/mph which is pretty much my high-end pace. The fact that I did this for such a duration, with some of the fastest ladies out there, makes me super happy! Needless to say, there was a pint at the end of the trail for a reward. ;)
hsifeng: (Running)
2013-03-25 12:40 pm

And On The Fourteenth Day, She Rested

OK, so maybe Sunday wasn't the 14th day straight in my exercise cycle (since I count Yoga and hiking as exercises - funny that!); but it was the first day in awhile that I can remember actively choosing to DO NOTHING.

It was nice, but TBH I got fidgety by the end. I am way too used to being active...

Friday, March 22nd- Crossfit:
March 22 - Board - Crossfit
The Gym is currently going through a five week cycle of weekend competitions (WOD's) and that means that most Friday's are skills days for working on the stuff they are going to compete in on the following Saturday. It's all good with me, I can use the technique work!

1 Minute WOD (Workout of the Day): 400 M Run - wherein I kicked much ass. 1:15 min. with traffic and a 180 degree turn to deal with. There was only one guy from an earlier class that posted that same time and no one posted faster. Of course, someone may have come in later to beat that time but I think they would have had to work for it so I am happy. *grin*

Skill Day: We worked on each of the following for about 10-15 minutes, focusing on technique and practice.
Double Unders - after success with getting these going on Wednesday of this week, I was back to *sucking* at them on Friday. What gives? Where did my coordination juju go? I even tried doing all the stuff that they recommended in the video I posted about these damn things.  /makes a face
Muscle Ups - my new obsession. This is going to take awhile to perfect, but I know where I need to work. Lots and lots of ring dips...
Rope Climb - Just what it sounds like. Of course, I use both arms and legs on this one but I project zero fear and get all the way to the top and back without incident. :D
KBS - We skipped this one. Not sure if A (the trainer) meant to or not, but we all needed a lot more work with our muscle ups so I think she just chose to focus our time elsewhere.

Cash-Out: Do this series through three times, each exercise in sequence for a total of three sets of each.
Wall Balls (10 reps) - we focused on form and I am getting better and catching the ball on the return and making the whole move continuous. This is the key to speed. Now I just need to work on getting the power flow through from my squat and arms so that I am not just using my upper body to get through the throw.
Toes-to-Bar (TTB) (10 reps) - I used to hate these, and now I sorta like them. Except for the part where my grip strength is poor. :P
Kettle Bell (KB) Pull Overs (10 reps) - 12 kg KB used. modified from the video as follows; there is no 'crunch'. Maintaining your lower back on the floor, lower the KB over your head with straight extended arms and then return to upright position above sternum. Repeat.


Saturday, March 23rd: Yoga, Gardening & Hike

Hatha yoga with Yoga Mary for 1.5 hours followed by an easy 1.5 hours of pulling tall grass out of the back garden by it's roots. Filled an entire garbage can and then some, and looking forward to finishing up with a Roto-tiller this Friday and then planting next week! :D Then I put the dog-o in the new car (his maiden voyage in our Subaru) and took him up the hill for a nice long hike above the lake. Put in about 3.5 miles, but since most of that is uphill I feel like we did a significant amount of walking (even though poor dog-o is mostly couch potato stock these days). He got the whole trip off leash and was exceptionally well behaved and totally exhausted when we got home. I need to take him out more often!


Monday, March 25th: Pub Run!
Going to meeting up with N and the rest of the running crew for 4 miles and a pint!