Painful...simply painful!

Wednesday, Shoulder Press 1-1-1, Push Press 3-3-3, Push Jerk 5-5-5.

I've been "greasing the groove" on the shoulder press the last couple of weeks, so I was really hoping I would get a PR. My concern was that I hadn't greased in a while - had slacked off a bit due to the workouts.  So went into this, not sure how I would do.  

Shoulder Press - round 1 - 110 - got it....round 2 - 115.........got it - YAY PR!!, not the prettiest lift, but still a PR.  Then, round 3, decided, what the hell, let's get greedy!  Went for 120.  Ummm...nope - the bar said "I don't think so Greedy Gus!".  Ah well, I got the 115. 

Push press - my previous PR was 1 at 140.  The push presses were feeling a bit off.   I started at 135 got those 3, but they were not pretty at all - I wasn't putting in enough of a hip drive so ended up pressing the last bit to overhead.  Round 2 - 137, this round, I was feeling the motion a bit more - didn't feel too bad, but I don't think they were great lookin' either.  Last set, 140 - got all three, so another PR, again, albeit not the prettiest one ever!

Push Jerk - I believe my PR on these was 145 - I think that was the one I tried to drop on my head, but I'm not certain.  I was not feeling the push jerk at all - possibly because I was tired, either that or just an all out bad coordination day.  I started at 115, went to 125 - which were downright ugly.  So I went all the way back down to 95.    So, I did 'em - not my best effort by any means.

Thursday: Kettlebell Hell: Tabata intervals (20 second work, 10 second rest, 8 times) applied to Front Squats, Clean and Jerks,  Rows, and alternating floor presses.  16kg per hand.  Score is total reps.

We have not done this one in a while.  I actually, momentarily considered moving to the 20kg kettlebell for these, since, I kind of feel like I've been too comfortable with the 16kg lately.(I got a taste of the 20kg during the 10 minute one handed clean and jerks, and have been pondering it alot lately) However, upon consideration, I decided this was the WRONG workout to make a change that drastic.  I figured, I could do most of it, even if the numbers were low, but I wasn't confident about the 2 handed clean and jerks.  So, 16kg it was!  Keep in mind throughout this whole thing you are holding 2 kettlebells - AKA 35 lbs per hand.

Front Squats - total for all 8 rounds was -47 

Clean and Jerks -total for 8 rounds was -25

Upright Rows - total for 8 rounds was -49

Floor Presses - total for 8 rounds was 60

I believe these numbers are correct, but I'm not 100% sure - I know my total was 181. Ironically,  the upright rows, actually seem easier alternating (which is how we have done them previously).  I'm not certain why this would be, but they definitely felt that way while doing them.  I will admit, there were some really weak ones in that count!  Floor Press, the start position was with both arms holding the weight up (increasing the level of difficulty).  I know I started in that position, and didn't set down the Kettlebells until round 3. So I'm confident the 1st two rounds were done correctly.  I think it was probably round 3 or 4 that I set the KB's down, and when I picked 'em up, didn't think about it, and started in the down position. 

....and it was about round 5 or 6 that Jonathan saw me screwing 'em up and corrected me.  I know I did 1, 2, or maybe even 3 rounds wrong.  So, my score probably for the floor presses is a bit deceiving.

All I can say is, that I was sure glad I went with the 16kg for KB Hell, once I found out today was...duh, duh, duh.......

"The Filthy Fifty"

To some extent, I was kind of disappointed....although I don't think that's really the right word......   Here's the thing, for me at least, half of the allure of the Filthy 50 is that it doesn't come up often, so when it does, it creates a buzz and excitement that makes everyone's heart fill with dread, yet anticipation.  People go out of their way to make sure they can do it.   That excitement wasn't there, I think because it's been requested for birthday's and whatnot so much, that it's not as "special" as it once was.   I dunno - that's just my thoughts/perspective, and I could be completely hallucinating.

Anyway - even if we have done it or a versions of it, it's still a total ass kicker. ....and at 730 am, it's just that much harder.  I was the only one signed up for 73am, so I ended up in a one on one. Let me just preface this by saying, no offense intended on this, but it's the met-cons that you kind of dread one on one's.  However, Jonathan did very well, pushed when I needed it, but also knew when I was on the verge of passing out.  So, if you're in that situation...don't fear, it'll be fine.  Here's the complete play by play:

1. 50 Knee to Elbow - I decided to start with these, because I know they take me a while.  I was really trying to work on not jumping. I know I did on a couple though.

2. 50 Double Unders - I actually dreamt about these last night.  I can't remember a whole lot about it, but I do know that when I was doing my DU's, I jumped up, and was twirling the rope speedily.  When I jumped, it was as if I was floating in the up position, and having to push my legs down, to tap the floor gently to get the DU's.  I got 21 in a row that way.  That must have been when my magical floating dust was blown away. Back to reality - I definitely did not live the dream.  I tried - but it just didn't happen.  These took a bit.

3. Wall Ball - I did 15, then 7, then 8, then the last 20 in 2 sets of 10.

4. Kettlebell swings - 12kg - YAY! only 12kg.  Did these nonstop - made  up for some lost time, but couldn't breathe when done.

5. Box Jumps 20" - SLOW!  I was completely out of breathe, so it took a while to get the gusto up to jump that high.  Bounciness is not in my genes...wait, I should say bounciness in the legs is not in my genes.  Ask any of my family members!  It takes quite the effort to get that high, and I land in a full squat position, making me have to stand upright.  Basically, my box jumps are the equivalent of 50 highjumps, and 50 squats (without the down part).

6. Push Press 35# - I did 25, 15, then the last 10.  Should have been able to get 'em all at once, but I was getting a bit tired (understatement!!)

7.  Back Extensions - Not sure how I broke these up, but I did them until my hamstrings cramped.  

8. Walking Lunges - note to self - do these earlier!! I can normally get in a good 20-25 without having to stop...not so much today.  These ended up being pretty slow, at least in my head, not nearly as fast as they have been in the past.

9. Jumping  Pullups - old habits!  I cannot do jumping pullups without pausing and making sure I have enough in me to get over the bar.....or at least semi close to getting over the bar.  Most of these were done as singles.  Jonathan would try to get me to do 2 at a time, but the second one would be absolutely pathetic.  Not sure what my issue is on these, but a LARGE amount of time was spent on them!  By the end of, I could not feel my arms much at all.

10. Burpees - Whoever created these monsters is the spawn of the devil!  All I'm gonna say.

There was a 50  minute time cutoff.  I got through everything but the last 13 of the burpees in that timeframe.  I finished those off, and for completion, my time was 52:11.    End result, I cut off about 2 minutes from the last time I actually completed this one, and I did it in the black.  HOWEVER....realistically, my burpee form sucked! So, I would say the black was actually gray. Would I have been able to do this without Jonathan pushing me??......yes, but it would have taken me another 20 minutes.  To say I was in Burpee Hell would be an apt description.  There were a couple times J would say 1-2-3 go, my brain would be with him, thinking "GO BODY GO! YOU CAN DO IT!"  My body, however, would go on strike.  It didn't move - sat there looking all stupid, telling my brain to "go screw itself, the body ain't moving until it's good and ready!"  Yes - my head was a completely separate entity than my body by the end...that is the power of this torture called burpee.  

Thanks Jonathan for pushing me and not letting me stop or pause forever!