B-a-n-a-n-a-s!

AMRAP 7 minutes of:
5 Thrusters (95#/65#)
10 Kettlebell swings 
Rest 4 minutes and then perform your score (rounds and reps) for time.  Goal is sub 7 minutes.

What a doozy! I knew when I read this last night that it was going to put me down like tranq'd out show elephant in the circus (where do I come up with this shit?). 

I'll save the nitty gritty details and go for the final conclusion: I should have listened to my back. The 2nd round of work is when I felt not so hot at the bottom of my thruster (squat) and at the top of my thruster (hyper-extension of my back). Wanting to beat my 7 mins time, my form went to shit. I should have tapped out like I did on Saturday. 

I iced. Rolled. Stretched. Iced again. 

Brushing my teeth at the sink was uncomfortable again. 

Sigh. 

I hoped I'm not fucked. 

PS- Post WOD recovery (not the shake) took about 2 hours to feel alright again. 

I relinquish control

Deadlift 3-3-3-3-3 reps

Oy, so much to say. I was definitely hard on myself last night for not at least getting to my prior 3RM. Well, actually I don't have a 3RM DL, but I do have a 5RM DL of 175#.

It's the realization that I have lost a measurable amount of strength since I started the Whole30 AND stopping the Post WOD shake. Those are the 2 big changes that have happened since April, where I was setting PRs left and right. Then it just stopped. 2 weeks ago I could barely eeek out a 105# backsquat.  I have isolated that while I'm eating a better composition of foods, I'm definitely not eating enough calories to maintain the extremely active lifestyle I'm living. I train 5 days a week, I coach 4 days a week, not to mention the random yoga, gymnastic, dancing into the wee morning hours activities that I do randomly, yet, regular basis. 

I plan to attend Crossfit 201 this week and get my head straight about what my food regiment should be. 

I know I don't eat enough. I usually have a 3 egg scramble with veggies and a piece of fruit... LUnch could vary... sometimes I skip and just have a small snack. Dinner after I get home, usually after 9pm, is a meat and veggie stir fry, and of recent I usually eat half an avocado with any meal I have at home--- never when I eat out. 

I need to reassess my goals, then devise a plan. All I know is that, why I love the gains I've made by eating clean (strict pull up, sub 10min Annie, PR on Fran, feeling good during met-cons, weight loss...) I'm kinda psyched out about loosing strength. I think I finally have to admit that I really need to be eating like an athlete. I would just never think me an athlete. 

So I got back Post WOD shake as of last night. Eddie also thinks that I probably lost strength because I wasn't recovering fully. When I removed the shake from my regiment, I never replaced that protein nor all the nutritional elements that came in the shake with anything... As in, I would do the WOD, and not eat anything. Obviously, my body was depleted and I never replaced the fuel I burned, and my muscles were tore up and since they were not being replenished they probably didn't recover and possibly this is where the atrophy or loss of mass could have taken place. 

So, while I've enjoyed leaning out and the aesthetic of seeing muscle definition, it not worth loosing mass or strength. 

Ahhh, what a long post.

Oh, and I used my new Oly Shoes for the first time with this wod. 

Wrecked

Power clean 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 reps

55-65-75-80m-80-85m-85PR-90m

I've never done 1RM for Power Clean, so this is my baseline, but I do not for sure that I've never clean a bar over 80#, power nor squat, so I'd say that 85#s is a PR. My attempts at 90 where I failed I think is due to me being tired, not cause I'm not strong or fast enough to successfully complete the lift. So 90 is completely in my sights. 

Went LAXCF and continue practicing cleans. Dan wanted to record me to doing it and here it is:

I initially was doing power cleans, but I think as I get into the higher weights I need to do it as a squat clean. This was 83#s. I like it. I'm sure I could drop under the bar faster, but I'm happy over all. I felt my explosion in my jump shrug was powerful and I'm getting the bar pretty high, it's just swing my elbows around and dropping into that squat. 

I really want to record myself more so I can work on tweaking my technique. 

Soooooo tired. My body is super sore and probably is dying for sleep so it can heal. 

Still in the HATE phase

Zeb somehow jedi mind tricked me into attending TRACK NIGHT at Santa Monica College, coached by Frank.

At 3PM in the afternoon, I text Zeb that I would be taking a rest day and wouldn't be able to make it. But for some reason, at 5:50pm, I found myself getting dressed and heading out the door for some running.

Got there and immediately told Frank of my abhorrence for running; that is was a borderline phobia with how my body goes into panic mode while running for no reason at all.

We ran a 800m warm up, at which I did not stop :D--- seriously that's a big deal. Then we did a good amount of stretching. After our muscles were warm, we went into about 30 mins of amazing running drills. My mind was exploding with all this new technique and practical skill work. It was great.

Now came the WOD:

4 x 400m with 3 minute rest between each 400m. A mile total.

Here were my times:

2:06
2:31
2:30
2:29

My first 400 I just ran like the dickens, completely not applying any pose running drills we just did.
The second run was a bit brutal as I was doing my best to keep form, but the whole time want to quit.
The 3rd 400m I had a grip on my compulsive thoughts and just tried my best to keep my head calm and relaxed, focus on the cadence and keeping my body not tense.
The 4th and final 400m Frank said I looked the best, my cadence was faster and my heal strike was less exaggerated. I did feel my midline was tight and my shoulders were back and relaxed for the entire lap around the track. When I finished I collapsed. I was very glad to have completed the WOD without stopping/walking/bitching/moaning/complaining.

I told Frank that I'm committed to improving this weak link in my fitness and will be attending his class every time he puts it on.

My hamstrings are soooooo tight right now. That pose running is going to need a lot of practice. Awaken those muscles. I've been running with my hip flexor, as my left foot bows out when I'm tired. So much to correct.

Running. My achilles heel.

Testing my inner strength

Five rounds for time:

7 Front squat (185/135#)

10 Burpee pull-ups

What a day. So much on my mind, and in heart, trying to listen to my gut, still not trusting my intuition.... With all this, I really wanted to unload all this "heaviness" at the box. Just lay it all out. 

With this in mind, I attacked my 1st Strength WOD with lofty goals. My 1RM max, set in November is 105#s. In the past 3 months I've attempted to set a new 1RM of 110# twice about a month ago, failing both times!!!

I remembered being discouraged. I just kept thinking, "What's 5#s more over my current PR of 105#?"

Fast forward to today, and I thought, I'm going to set a new PR. Of course, I actually thought, I'd be happy if I did just one rep, but successfully completing a 3 reps, that just sent me over the moon!!! :)) It was difficult, but doable. I'm sooo happy. Setting a new PR is so satisfying.  

Following the CFSB (that's Strength Bias) template, I proceeded to prepare for a high intensity WOD, taking today's WOD and modifying it so that it would fall under 10 mins and keep the intensity high. I dropped down to 65#s and lessened the reps to 5 & 7 vs. 7 & 10, respectively. After lifting those heavy loads, this WOD was definitely brutal. I just kept thinking, I just want this to be over, I just want this to be over!

End of round 2, I felt hopeless. My legs were so fatigued at that point. My burpee pull ups felt so slow. When I got to the burpees in round 4, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and put into high gear and went all out. 

I finished my last set of front squats and Diso called "9 mins in!" I knew I wanted to be under 10 mins so I pushed through the last 7 burpees and called time at 9:29. I collapsed and writhed on the floor, feeling my stomach convulsing. My head was reeling... Burpees do that to me. 

This was exactly what I needed. 

4 hours later and my legs are just killed. 

Say it with me, "Bee-Brahms"

For time:

70 Burpees

60 Sit-ups

50 Kettlebell swings, 1.5 pood

40 Pull-ups

30 Handstand push-ups

Since this was yesterday's WOD, I had already heard the murmurings of everyone's take on it: arms are blasted and wrecked by the time you get to the HSPUs, regardless of what kind of progression you use. Even my Wondergirl, Courtneyrose, had to scale way back from box HSPUs to tri-pod. Knowing this, I went into it realistically. 

The burpees were not bad. I mean, by #55 I was feeling it in my triceps and my shoulders. Every time I threw myself on the ground for the 2nd half of 70, I did a little upchuck in my mouth. I believe I did all 70 in under 5mins. The sit ups I broke up into 10s. I did take a decent rest between sets, but they felt like they went by fast. I also broke up the KB swings in sets of 10. I used 3/4pood (26.5#s). My last 2 sets of 10, I was feeling tired and my form was starting to be compromised. I felt myself not controlling the KB at the top, at times being overextended.  As well, there were times where I felt I was loosing my neutral back (core was going soft) and dipping my chest too far forward on the downswing. Makes sense since I just did 60 sit ups, my abs were going out on me. 

The pull ups were a joke. I did one kipping pull up and my arms were cooked. I got a 1" band and broke it up in sets of 10. It was really difficult, even with the band. My forearms were not happy post KB swings. I was really tired and kipping was becoming harder and harder. It felt like this movement took the longest for me, I don't know if that's the truth but it seemed like it. 

Onto the HSPUs, in which I did the tri-pod. I did 3 and rolled onto my head. I couldn't believe I had to do 27 more. It was with a lot of groaning and moaning that I did 3 at a time. I started HSPUs at 16:09 and called time at 20:44. That's a big chunk of time to spend on 30 reps. My arms were soooooo screaming after every rep. It took all my energy to get my arms locked out. It was brutal. 

After I called time, I collapsed in a heap and laid there for awhile since my arms could not support my weight to get upright. 

I went to the board and saw that my time was perfectly "average." I was saying to Thomas that being average in Crossfit is pretty fuckin' phenomenal, so I'm happy with being average among such great athletes at my box. 

I take back all those words...

Five rounds for time of:

45 pound barbell Overhead walking lunges, 50 feet

21 burpees

Let trailing knee gently kiss the ground on each lunge.

12 days have past since I did my last WOD. Almost 2 weeks. Yikes. I don't like that. This WOD was definitely an interesting one to come back to. I did this couplet in June of 2010.  I remember it very well because I had injured my shoulder doing burpees. Myself, Diso and Zeb were confounded about it. It was when I was doing the push up portion that I felt a jolt of electricity in my left shoulder. 

So today, instead of using a 10# plate overhead, I carried a 25# barbell. The lunges got tough the last 10 meters of every round. It was my legs going dead; I felt really strong with the barbell over head, my shoulders really locked out--- my core felt solid. I giggle reading my comment that my abs were already sore so soon after doing an overhead lunges at 15#s. I'm happy to see improvement in my scaling "up."

The burpees were wretched. I literally burped everytime I threw my body to the ground. I felt sick and nauseous well into round 2. After I called time, I collapsed on my back and felt all my blood rush back into y head. I sat up and felt a terrible headache come on. First thing I thought of was my food intake in the past 2 weeks since getting off my cleanse; I've been eating like shit. Poop, if I hadn't eaten that flakey french toast and tater tots for breakfast.... yea, not even a like of protein in that meal... maybe I wouldn't be feeling like death right now. 

Tomorrow is a new day, new WOD.  

I'm GOLDEN

Every minute on the minute for 30 minutes, perform the following:

1 Squat Snatch

20 Double Unders

I think I did well. I'm a little upset that I didn't last longer doing the 1/20 DUs on the minute. I was having trouble getting into a rhythm during minute 9 and 10. I literally had 1 DU left when the minute changed over. I was pretty bummed about it. so with 20 mins left I managed to fit in 13 rounds. Within those 13 rounds, I was "greased" up enough at that point to really land my snatch. I went light for 2 reasons: I wanted to work on perfecting my technique, and two, my back is still acting up. When I commit to the snatch and I stick the landing... that feeling of being solid at the bottom of the squat, mid line tight, arms locked out, shoulders active... the feeling is GOLDEN. 

I was able to do 20 DUs straight through 5 times out of the 20 rounds. Felt pretty awesome :) 2 of those five times I collapsed on the floor with retching, pukie feeling in my tummy. Thinking back, I was pretty miserable the whole last 15 mins. So I'm quite happy that I survived it. 

At the end of the 30 min clock, I laid out on my back and felt the blood rush to my face. I felt ALIVE. I immediately iced my lower back/left nalga. As well, I consumed a sweet potato a la Rico. 

It is now 11PM, and my "back" is bad. I'm not even sure if it's my back. The pain can be described as radiating from the hip joint/socket, shooting up my back. It feels like electrical shocks. There are no specific movements that trigger the pain, but it has now encompassed bending forward from the hip, turning from the hip with feet in place, sitting with my weight on that left side, standing with weight on that left leg... There really isn't time when I'm absolutely in comfort. I'm concerned. I'm not sure what to do. Actually I know what I have to do, but I'm a stubborn, hard-headed donkey and I really don't feel like taking time off from training. 

Tonight I plan to go to 24hour CVS and buy some epsom salts and have a long soak in the tub. I can't wait. Another 10 hour day at work. Tomorrow looks like a 14 hour day. Shoot me. Is it Sunday yet? Having brunch with the hot cougars on Sunday. We're actually coming into the Hotel. I think I'm going to get schnookered. I'm starting to feel really unappreciated and overworked. In response to feeling overwhelmed, I emotionally ate today; I had Linguini and Clams. While I completely enjoyed the dish while consuming it, I felt really gorss and guilty afterwards. Tomorrow is a new day to make better choices :)

Besides work and this injury, my spirits are high. That feeling of yearning has left me. I'm not in want. So all the good things that happen feel like a BONUS.  

Mind fuck

5 Rounds for time of:

400 meter run

95/65 lb Overhead Squat, 15 reps

Austin Malleolo 10:16,  Karianne Dickson 11:50 (65lbs)

Scale Version A:  Lower weight

Scale Version B: 3 rounds

This work out got inside me and bullied me. My head arriving in the box was distant and tired. I woke up early to receive delivery of my dining table but they ended up pushing back the delivery to 2PM, making me the opportunity to have a full 8 hours of sleep. 

Just 3 days ago I set a new OHS PR of 60#s. I decided I wanted to go heavy (@ 3 rounds), which meant for me 90% of my PR weight. For warm up Zeb said it would be good idea to load up heavier than your WOD weight for a couple of attempts so that when the WOD started your bar would feel light. 

I decided to attempt 65#s for a new PR. Well I did it! I'm overhead squatting 65% of my body weight. Woo hoo!

3-2-1 Go! we start on the run, which was fine. All 3-400 meters were fine. I was slow, but I wanted to conserve energy for my squats. 

All 3 rounds of OHSs were very challenging for me. Round 1 I broke them up in sets of 5. Round 2 I dump the bar a couple of times, barely able to hit sets of 5, just knockin' out what I could. Round 3, I knew I was gassed. My first attempt had me submitting to the bar's weight and I was laying on my back. It really psyched me out. I C&J the bar and locked out my arms. My mid-line felt really wobbly. It took me almost 30 seconds to get my feet planted. I took a deep breath, and started my slow descend into a squat- I did 5, then 3. On my 4th attempt,  I could feel my arms want to give out, I started to waiver, my bar coming out of the frontal plane; I tried to pull my arms back but it was too much, I dumped the bar and fell on my ass again. At this point my frustration came to head and I felt tears coming down my face. I was sooo tired, unsure if I had it in me. I only had 7 more to do. Setting up in front of the bar was the most intimidating thing I've felt in a really long time. 

I knew it was all in my fuckin' head. Zeb was right there talking me through it. He knew where my head was at. He reassured me that my body is completely able to lift and squat that weight, that I should not doubt it. I don't know how, but I got through my last 7 reps. I felt really alone those last moments. 

The mind is so strong. I'm relieved I got through it. I wanted it bad though. I was pissed that I retreated to fear. But not for a second did I think that I was going to give up. Look at my time, almost 25 mins... mostly of me fighting off the "I can't's" in my head...

I think it's good to have WOD experiences like this one every now and again. It's humbling and terrifying all at the same. It reminds me why I keep coming back and wanting to do more, faster and better. 

OHS you will be my bitch one day. 

Day of Wreckoning

Five rounds for time:

5 Muscle ups (sub C2B PU/Ring Dips)

115 lb Overhead Squat, 10 reps (sub with 40# front squat)

15 Toes to bar (sub K2E)

20 GHD Sit-ups (Abmat)

My Scale:

My Time: 

I chained 2 double unders together-- twice! Of course, only 2, not more. But it feels good to know that I can :)

I woke up at 6AM Friday morning with only 4 hours of sleep. Not really a good thing since my body needs all the sleep it can to heal. I spent the day on my feet making hundreds of Prosciutto, Mozz and Spinach crepes... There were 3 parties at lunch and 3 parties for dinner. All day my lower back was aching. I couldn't lift anything off the ground. For example, I know I could easily lift a 50# bag of carrots to my station, but when I attempted it yesterday, I failed. My back and entire posterior chain was tight and would not "fire." I really think the 2 movements from yesterday of back extension and deadlift back to back is what really killed me. I did 105# which I am perfectly capable of doing, but coming out of the BE is what made it a doozy.

So standing on my feet all in Dansko clogs probably only exacerbated my back pain. Later into the afternoon, I start to feel "pain" running down my left thigh.  I say "pain" because it felt uncomfortable, but bordered on a soreness, tingly, numbing sensation... It was a little scary. This feeling has continued until this morning. I question if me standing all day has irritated my sciatic nerve.

As well, my left shoulder is acting up again. I cannot recall any specific movement I did this week that caused me injury or pain at the time of doing it. But Thursday evening, whilst at dinner, I felt it need to be move so I did mini-drom in my seat, rotating my arm slowly. It felt good to get it moving. It was at this time that I felt the clicking in joint. It was a weak click, but obviously there.

After leaving Dreamworks, I get in my car and my body is starting to vibrate. I'm feeling all my weeks activity and lack of sleep. I get pulled over by CHP (yay!) and get cited for a fix-it ticket.  I arrive at the box at 5:40pm; do not really say hello to anyone and B-line it to loft. I pass out on one of the folding chair. I awake not so invigorated. I feel ok. I question whether I should even work out or not.

I decide to work on my double unders for warm up... And that's when I string 2 DUs together. I was so stoked. I do it again. After several more failed attempts, being mindful of keeping the body upright and tightening the mid-line, I try one last time. During this last attempt I aggravate/pull/cramp a muscle in my neck!!! Now my neck is stiff and doesn't have range of motion. I start on DROM hoping to loosen it up, but it hurts to bad. My move onto rotating my arms, and that is when I notice the click in my left shoulder has become more pronounce and slight tingliness. I let Zeb know of my sorry state of affairs and we come to terms with how to scale the WOD to my injuries.

I felt good during the WOD. The dips scared me a bit with my shoulder but I felt no pain during or after. Knees to Elbows we ok. I had a hard time getting into a rhythm. I think in round 4, I finally was doing them consecutively, instead of breaking after each rep. I went light on my front squat not to stress out my already tense back. Going light was good because I was able to work on my form.

Overall I am happy with time and efforts considering....

I'm resisting the fact that  I have to start taking some kind of post-workout supplement. I'm 80% against taking anything processed or man-derived. But I cannot deny that I dont' think that I'm doing a good enough job with my meals or sleeping to jumpstart immediate healing like the SFH Post Workout REcovery shake says it does. All I know is that I'm committed to 3 on/1 off schedule, which is a lot of WORK, and I've hated how my body has felt all week. I've been taking fish oil morning and night desperate to facilitate healing. I need to seriously do something.

I'm sooooooooo glad today is a rest day. My plans to go to the Korean BBQ Cookoff have taken a backseat to relaxing at home. And the Going Away/Pool Party for Kristie and Alyssa doesn't seem so likely either, as I have no desire to drink and do not want to be in a situation where I will be tempted to drink alcohol. I just want to languish in my house.