5/16/13 Regionals WOD

You know how your body gives you signs it needs things like rests by being sore or making you fatigued? yeah…why I don’t listen to those signals is beyond me. I was at least smart enough to make last night an Active Recovery but I almost hurt myself last night pushing my tired body too far. This week has been like a condensed Games Open since we’ve been doing all of the Team Regional WODs and every day I have wanted to go as Rx as possible to see if I could even cut it on the Team. Well my friends, I finally hit my tipping point where I HAVE to rest and I’m pretty sure I am not ready for Regionals:

21-15-9 <– Did 15-12-6

Deadlift (275, 185) <–100#
Box Jump (30/ 24) <– 20″ with some step ups

Yeah… My hamstrings twinged in the second round of this. And when 100# deadlifts feel heavy I know something is off with me. I did finish in 3:56 but I felt stupid pushing myself to even do the WOD. The after party was a 500m row and I barely gave much effort. I got to 500m but it was super slow.

That was my wake up call – I need to rest! I might not be terribly sore but my muscles are trying to tell me something. And if I want to be able to go to crossfit in GA I better rest up so I’m able. It’s not worth pulling a hamstring over.

I also had a melt down yesterday about Paleo.  I’ve been really frustrated and feeling weak/fatigued and like I’m not doing something right. I sent my food journal to the coach in charge of the challenge and I’m waiting for her reply. My friends, though, who do Paleo/Zone think I’m not getting enough carbs since trying to eat 3 blocks of most veggies is physically impossible. They suggested I use fruit to help with the carb blocks at least so I get enough carbs and steer towards lower glycemic index fruits such as melons and berries that aren’t as likely to spike my blood sugar levels as say apples and bananas. Plus eating fruit for carbs is better than a processed or simple carb. So I’m going to try that and see how it goes. I know this diet is healthier in a weird way because I have not eaten anything processed (minus my wedding reception day) nor have I used any splenda/sugar on anything. Just those 2 things alone are good for me – Fact. I think, however, for me to be able to sustain this way of living, I’m going to have to tweak things so they work better for me. Which means fruit and an occasional treat. Strict Paleo/Zone is definitely not sustainable! So here’s to yet another week of self discovery. This has definitely been one of the toughest challenges I’ve done in my life. I’m just glad I have friends/family to continually push me to get through at least this month.

5/15/13 Regional Team WOD

Per my suspicion we did another Regional Team WOD last night. It kicked my butt – hard!

30 Wallball (20/14) <– Rx to 10′ target and Nick ‘No Rep[ing]‘ me
30 Chest to Bar Pull Ups <– Red band
30 Pistols (alternating) <– red box with plates
30 1 arm DB Snatch (choose your load) <– 35#

Despite there only being 30 reps of each thing I thought I was going to cry/throw up/die afterwards. I don’t know if I’m just tired or not doing Paleo right or if I pushed too hard or what. But man it was tough. I finished in 8:56. Almost a whole minute slower than Nick. Oh well. Can’t win ‘em all.

Afterwards we did walking weighted lunges and I picked 24Kg. Why I picked that, I have no idea. I could barely make it. I was dead last and actually had to have everyone say “c’mon you got it!” and watch me do the last 3 lunges in order to finish. I was slightly embarrassed…but no one cared – they just wanted me to finish which was pretty cool.

Today I continue to feel tired – slightly less than yesterday – and a little bit icky. I have no appetite and I feel weak and just cranky. I emailed the woman in charge about things so now I need to wait and see what she says. I just feel like crap, honestly. It could be a combination of stress from the wedding receptions, PMS, and Paleo but who knows. I just want something to make me feel better!

5/14/13 WOD Regionals Style

So I’ve been noticing a trend at my box this week. All of the WODs are the Regional Team WODs. We already had a day of AMRAP 7 Muscle Ups that I missed, Jackie on Monday, and now Overhead Squats:

Overhead Squat

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Since I’m not on the team I didn’t have a time cap or have to do this from the ground but I did work hard on my form and increasing my weight. I was THRILLED to PR at 85#! The last time we did this workout I maxed out successfully at 70# and had 2 shaky reps at 75#. So for 2 months to improve by 15# – that’s awesome! I could’ve probably gone heavier, too, had we had more time but I’m ok with my efforts.

The after party was pretty cool. EMOM 5 – as many unbroken box jumps as possible but no more than 10. I managed to do the best box jumping I’ve ever done! I did all 10 and I even did them like I see on crossfit games! I was so proud of myself and made a mental note that the next time we have box jumps in a WOD I need to do at least 3 each round like that. I was SO much faster that way! I need to get that skill better!

My left butt cheek still is REALLY sore from Saturday’s WOD. I stretched it out before and after class but man is it still struggling! I hope it starts to feel better soon.

And just to give a little check in with the Quick & Derrty Challenge – I’m still doing pretty well with it. I struggled on Sunday and Monday a little bit but I’m doing better now. It’s the 2nd week and I’m feeling kind of lazy about the whole thing but I keep remembering $200 and that I have a partner who is relying on me who I cannot let down. If it weren’t for my partner I’d consider quitting…I know it sounds terrible but after an extremely stressful week last week I’m so tired I just have not wanted to plan Zone/Paleo meals. I’ve set myself up pretty well by defrosting meat and getting out my recipes and keeping my kitchen stocked but I just would rather have someone package meals up for me while I’m going through this lazy phase. Thankfully I have been doing well pre-planning for our drive to GA this weekend. I went to this site: Steve’s Paleo Goods and ordered the Original Sampler. It came with a bunch of easy to travel with foods so I don’t need to carry a cooler in the car for veggies/fruit and I don’t have to rely on the junk at gas stations for food. I even already labeled each item in my sampler with how many blocks it is so I can’t fail. This is definitely a tough challenge for me. Only 24 more days… sheesh that is a lot.

5/13/13 WOD “Jackie” [Benchmark WOD]

Last night I felt pretty cool getting to participate in not only a benchmark WOD, but one that everyone going to Regionals will be performing. This way I can feel the same pain as I watch them break records all over the country and then immediately go do another WOD.

“Jackie”

1000 M Row <– Rx
50 Thrusters (45/ 35#) <– Rx (in the Games it’s 45# for men and women…)
30 Pull-ups <– Red band

I’d say it’s official I have graduated to the red pull up band – and that’s pretty awesome if you ask me. Only a few steps away from no band WODs!! Since there were 20 people in class that night I had time to create a little bit of a strategy. I decided to pace myself and go a little bit slower on the row. I knew I could really go harder on the Thrusters at 35# and so I did sets of 10 until I got to 30 when I had to do sets of 5 until the end. The pull ups are my weakest point so I did sets of 5 the entire time. I thought I was moving really slowly until I realized I had finished in 10:53! It’s no earth shattering record but I did really well, in my opinion.

Afterwards we did EMOM 7 – 2 burpee pull ups. That was pretty tough after Jackie but I managed to get through it

5/11/13 WOD

Since I didn’t get to go workout on Thurs or Fri, I made a huge effort to go Saturday morning before things got rolling for my first wedding reception party. And it was one of the tougher WODs I feel I’ve ever done.

 

For Time:

400 M Run <– Rx
21 Wallball (20/15#) <– Rx
21 Inverted Burpees <– Rx but not fluid
21 Pull-Ups <– Red band
400 M Run
15 Wallball
15 Inverted Burpees
15 Pull-Ups
400 M Run
9 Wallball
9 Inverted Burpees
9 Pull-Ups

The inverted burpees slowed me down the most. It wasn’t that I couldn’t do them, but rather they were oddly fatiguing and required much more focus from me to get into a handstand and not fall on my head so I couldn’t just heave myself around.  I didn’t finish in the 20min time cap. I got through the last run right when the buzzer went off. Evan said to add a second of time for each rep I missed to my score so I got 20:27.

Afterwards we rowed. It was to get to 500m or for 2min. Whichever came first. Since my 500m row is about 2 min as it is and I was WIPED from the WOD I just rowed for 2 min. I got to 470m. I definitely felt I had earned my privilege to drink and eat cake that night!

5/8/13 WOD

I am officially out of the carb flu! I feel like I am on crack I’m so hyper and happy! And no, I haven’t cheated and gotten any caffeine! It’s Crazy! I’m also going to attribute last night’s AMAZING WOD to some of my happiness. It was truly MY night!

Deadlift

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Deadlift? HELL YES!

I was in Sara WOD Wonderland I love deadlifting! And last night was no different. I made a goal to get to 230# for my 5 rep max. I picked that number because I knew 250# was too heavy and 225# might not be pushing myself to my limits. So 230# seemed right in the middle. Evan helped me write out my ramping load for the night:

135 – 185 – 200 – 215 – 230

Those were rather large jumps ~15# each jump but they worked well because 135-200 was easy. Then 215 was work and 230 was definitely my max! My butt is still sore! I also got help from Susan, our resident power lifter, and it made a world of a difference. I changed my grip to mixed and I focused on bringing my knees, hips, and chest up at the same time all while keeping my knees from turning in. SO great to have a spotter! And I was so proud of myself for reaching my goal

I forgot to mention I did my 8 burpees and mobility before class. I’m starting to thinking just the little bit of mobility I’m doing is actually helping me. Imagine that!

After class we did EMOM 5 HSPU. I chose to do 3 each minute with 3 ab mats. Then the last round took it down to 2 ab mats. I should’ve done 2 ab mats the whole time but oh well.

All in all I felt like a beast! And I didn’t pass out at 9pm!! If this is how I’m going to feel for the rest of the month then I’m sold on Paleo! You win, crossfitters of the world! I will convert! You’ve made a believer out of me!

5/7/13 WOD

First, let me say I am continuously feeling better. Today I walked the dogs past Planet Fitness (per usual) and I didn’t cringe thinking about all of the cardio machines inside. In fact I even considered running. And I sort of feel a little, dare I say, hyper. I guess Day 5 of the Quck & Derrty Challenge is my tipping point and I am finally through my carb flu/detox! *crosses fingers*

Last night, however, I felt like poop. I was SO SLOW! I mean like dirt slow. I warmed up with some mobility and my 7 burpees and we did a 400m row and toe to bar practice. Then it was WOD skill warm up and WOD time:

3 Rounds for time

15 Pistols (alternating) <– red box with 2 10# plates
5 Hanging Snatch (155/ 100) <– 63#
21 Burpees

During the first round I had a moment of ‘Should I scale the number of burpees?’ because I wasn’t sure I’d finish in the time cap. Yet, miraculously, I finished in 11:04. Almost last *lol* but whatever. I did it.

In the after party we did cossack lunges. EMOM 5 – 6 cossack lunges. I was surprisingly more mobile that when we did these a while back! I was pleased! Then I went home, ate, and passed out. All in all a pretty good day.