Parkour

Today my friend Adam and I set up a course to run. Of the things included were kongs, wall runs, cat leaps, quadrapedal movements, tacs and speed vaults. We walked through it once and went over a few things (my kongs are getting much better and am getting closer to clearing a picnic table lengthwise, where as Adam can now do that).

The first "official" time we ran it, we didn't time, but the second time it took us 8 minutes and it was exhausting. I actually thought I would throw up (but didn't). I'm glad we have been able to find a place where we can not only practice individual movements but find a way to set up a course so we can incorporate some actually running into it, to help build our endurance.

Tomorrow we will be going somewhere else just to work on some fundamentals. I don't remember how I found out about Parkour, but I'm very glad I did. It's complete freedom for me.

Tuesday's workout

Yesterday's workout was:

95 lb thrusters 5x
95 lb hanging power clean 7x
95 lb sumo deadlift highpull 10x

I'm still a little confused with some of these power lifts and the difference between them, like apparently for this one, I did a hanging power clean and press. So what I'm wondering is what is the difference between a hanging clean and a hanging power clean? If I had just done a hanging power clean instead of adding the press I think I could have squeezed in a full 6th round and maybe into a 7th.

As it was, I made 5 full rounds and 1 extra round of thrusters. I found this workout to be very fun. Very challenging and very tiring. I am incredibly excited that I am able to actually complete the majority of these W.O.D's without regressing in weight or technique (ex: instead of handstand push ups, assisted handstand push ups or military press with feet extended out to stabalize myself).

My shoulder had also been tweaking out on me since I attempted a cat leap while working on a few different things for parkour. It was doing much better and still is, but I was skeptical of how it would feel during the thrusters and the hanging power cleans. It didn't hurt at all during them.

Anyway, I'm looking to try for 7 rounds next time I attempt this exercise.

Fran and nutrition

Yesterday was a rest day so Brian and I attempted Fran.

Fran:

21-15-9
Thrusters 95lbs
Pull ups

Fran is a lot tougher than she looks. I completed Fran in 12:05. My goal next time I attempt her is 10 min.

I was actually surprised a bit that I was able to do all the thrusters at 95lbs; which was incredible for me. The more I think about where I was at 4-5 months ago, there is no way I would have been able to do this. It's amazing to me the kind of strength and power that I have gotten from doing these workouts. Will I continue to do them for the rest of my life? Maybe, maybe not. I know crossfit is just but one drop in the exercise ocean, but it works and it works really well; especially for my style of working out.

Right now I'm also trying to focus on nutrition a bit more than I have, especially since I have to guide people with their eating habits, so it makes me a bit more focused on what I'm eating. I finally started reading a nutrition textbook that I borrowed from a friend, but that will take me a while to get through. For now, I'm trying to find different foods that I can eat as I know I'm not limited to just penut butter sandwiches and chicken for protein.

Fight Gone Bad

For the past few weeks I have been itching to attempt Fight Gone Bad, even to the point of setting up a few days with other trainers to attempt it, but each time it didn't work out, so each time I either did the crossfit or parkour WOD (or one from an earlier date). I really wanted to do Fight Gone Bad with at least one other person as it's a rough workout and the more the merrier (misery loves company, right?)

This called for:

Wall ball 20lb (once again, we only have 12lb ball)
Push Press 75 lb
Box Jump 20"
Sumo Deadlift to High Pull 75lb
Row 1 minute

Throughout this time you are supposed to count either reps or calories. For now I am content with finishing it and not having to take any extended breaks. Also, I have a hard time keeping track of reps and calories since I don't want to write them down immediately after, so I can get to the next station. But one of these days I'll become talented and be able to multi task.

Anyway, the other trainer was Brian (who did the 300 workout with me and is now Crossfit certified Level 1). So we did 3 rounds (I think its 3-5, but that day it called for 3). And thank the Lord it was only 3. Any more rounds of that and I don't think I would have been able to stand. The hardest part for me was the push press. It's heavier than I typically have gone and I also did a workout on monday, that I believe was Sunday's (J.T.) which shot my whole shoulder region, as I also did not have ring dips so the reqular dips became 63-45-28 and that annihilated me.

I have been very pleased though with my overall progress through crossfit; while I obviously can't do every workout as is written; I am getting much better at doing them with out regression; which is the primary goal; and the secondary goal is to keep developing more power and quickness for not only crossfit, but parkour as well. Crossfit has given me something that I never got with my other forms of working out and that is the ability to be an athlete. Even though I do not participate in any athletic event (though Parkour is close, its not recognized) I am in the condition or getting into the condition as to where I feel I could.