Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Hanging Out: 01/29/13

It's real cold.  Actually today was pretty reasonable, but this winter has been brutal so I am going to join a gym. There are a variety of gyms near my apartment.  One is a Bally's where yelpers comment on how dirty the place is, how the water fountains don't work, and how they consistently scam people out of money.  Another is called Spartan Gym.  Ironically? reviews say there is nothing there and management sucks.  Today I went to a little neighborhood joint.  The whole place was about the same size as my apartment, but it was 40 degrees and rainy so I paid 10 bucks to the delightful owner and saddled up.  I can pretty much describe everything in the free weights "section"/basement.  smith machine, pretty nice DBs, a curl rack, two benches and, thankfully, a rowing machine.  I did 1000m on the rowing machine to warm up.  I was further limited because standing flat footed I could place my palms on the ceiling.  So I carefully did three sets of 20 plate burpees and ten prone rows on the smith machine bar. Next I did 3 sets of 10 kipping handstand push ups, 10 side ball slams, and 10 pistol squats on each leg.  Finished up with ab rollouts. And I left that place never to return and with no firm plans for a new gym.  Blargh.   

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Crossfit: 01/22/13

I feel bad for those who still have this linked to some sort of alert system. I need to start keeping track of my work again. I finally have a 9-5 and I am thinking of joining a gym. I haven't had a 9-5 nor a gym membership since summer 2009, which is completely bonkers. My fitness goal right now is to get my lower back under control. I've blown it out three times in two years and need to figure out what's wrong with it (Dr. appt on Feb 5ht) and get it fixed (PT ASAP). In the meantime I am doing things I probably shouldn't be doing, including this crossfit workout today. I am gonna to compete in the crossfit games this year as long as my back holds out and I want to start tracking my progress. A: 2 mins of double unders (lost count, maybe 60-70?) + 6 min tabata; alternate 45lb DB renegade rows and 20 lb med ball slams B: hanging clean singles: maxed out at 180. When I could get my form right I felt real strong. C: AMRAP 2 min on 1 min off hanging cleans @ 75% of 1RM. Blarg. I think most people wisely went more like 65% or lower. I got 10ish every time, including some bloody hands and beat up collar bones. D: 10 mins of do something you aren't good at. I suck at muscle ups. I've done two? Maybe one in my life. I figured it's more of a technique issue than a strength issue. I tried twice and failed, but then got a good tip and got up three times our of four. I was happy. Ill forgo a post from last week and report having snatched 155. Maybe I can keep up with this. Probably not.