Friday, July 12, 2013

7/12/13 Friday July 12, 2013 (DB PR 24s, 1H SW 28)

6:30am - Original Strength resets and Primal Move - 40 minutes

7:10am - Kettlebell warm up ("Standard")

1/2K halos - 8kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
1/2K pullover - 12 kg, 5X each leg

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
1/2K pullover - 16 kg, 5X each leg
Roll to press (TGU start) - shoulder cam shafts, each arm

7:25am - Training session - DB PR with the 24 ladders, and then 1H SW with the 28 timed

Warm up -
TGUs 16 kg, 3+3 
G Sq 24 kg, 10
DB DLs 32 kg, 5, ALT 1H DL, 5 each arm
2H SW 24 kg, 10

DB PR ladders 1, 2, 3 with the 24s, cleaning before each ladder -5X (30 total PR reps, 15 cleans, up from 18/9 on Monday)

This was NOT HARD and took 16 minutes.

Timed set - 6 minutes, same as Monday, but adding 1 rep each arm on each minute
1H SW 28 kg 7 L/R X 6 (42 reps each arm, 7L, 7 R on the minute for 6 minutes)

8:00am - Complete

Notes - Well I had a choice today and since I was mentally thinking of Monday as a "light" day based on how it felt, I made this a "heavy" day and thus went two sets above Monday and jumped to 5 sets for ladders on the DB PR.  Honestly, it was not hard.  I am noticing that this round of pressing, compared to several months ago, has significant differences in feel. My feet are more rooted to the ground.  I have a firmer seat to press from on my glutes.  My grip is stronger - I am crushing the bells to the overhead position and back down, maintaining tension through every rep.  This is freaking awesome.  I attribute this to - swings, period.  The swing is amazing.  On that note the 1H swings with the 28 were tough after the press workout, but I was fine, maintained form, just was gassed at the end.  Great stuff.  Looking forward to that 28 feeling light when swinging it.

Goals are to go ladders of 1,2,3,4 next Wed and keep at 5 sets.  It is a jump, but I think I am ready.  Also need to get to 8 minutes of 8 L, 8 R on the minute with the heavy 1H SW with the 28, so going to jump up to 6 minutes of 8/8 and see how that goes.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

7/11/13 Thursday July 11, 2013 (2H SW)

8:15am - Original Strength, Primal Move drills - 30 minutes

8:45am - Kettlebell warm up ("Standard")

1/2K halos - 8kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
1/2K pullover - 12 kg, 5X each leg

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
1/2K pullover - 16 kg, 5X each leg
Roll to press (TGU start) - shoulder cam shafts, each arm

9:00am - Training session -2H SW

Warm up -

TGU 24 kg, starting from top, single L, R
GSq 24 kg, 10
DB DL 32 kg, 5, 1H alternating 5
2H SW 24 kg, 10

Timed set - 15 minutes, got 230!! reps PR - previous best was 209) total of the following:
2H SW 24 kg, 10 - 6X
2H SW 28 kg, 10 - 6X
2H SW 32 kg, 10 - 6X
2H SW 36 kg, 10 - 5X

I then finished off with the following:
2H SW 36 kg, 10

9:30am - Complete

Notes - 240 reps total in just over 15 minutes.  Wow, that is up from 220 from a week or so ago.  Awesome, that was my best swing effort ever for both reps and density. I have more in the tank, but this needs to be a consistent progression, and then probably step back to go forward.  I like the idea of hitting 300 swings in 15 minutes - that is 10X every 30 seconds.  Something to shoot for.

I was extremely tired and slept in today, and fortunately I had time to do that.  I need more sleep.  This is getting ridiculous.  The training sessions are getting tougher, and I need to sleep more to recover better.

7/10/13 Wednesday July 10, 2013 (DB Sq 20s, SN 16)

7:00am - Original Strength, Primal Move drills - 35 minutes

7:35am - Kettlebell warm up ("Standard")

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
1/2K pullover - 12 kg, 5X each leg

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
1/2K pullover - 16 kg, 5X each leg
Roll to press (TGU start) - shoulder cam shafts, each arm 16 kg

7:50am - Training session -DB Sq 20 kgs, SN 16kg - timed session 7 minutes

Warm up -
TGU 24kg, 2+2
GSq 24 kg, 10
2H SW 24 kg, 10

DB SQ 20 kgs, ladders 2, 3, 5 x 3 (30 total reps)

SN 16 kg Timed set - 7 minutes

7 L, 7 R
8 L, 8 R (set bell down)
10 L, 10 R (set bell down)
10 L, 10 R (set bell down)
10 L, 10 R done

Total reps in 7 minutes - 45 per arm or 90 reps total.

8:20am - Complete

Notes -  Felt good with the squats.  I will be moving up each training session with volume so going to add a 4th set on Monday.  After that I will have my 24s with me in Spokane and I will give this a shot with the 24s next Friday, so about a week.  We will see how that goes - should be fine I think.  The sets of 5 will be tough.

This is the most snatching I have ever done if you an believe that.  I actually felt really good about getting close to 100 reps.  This is a start.  Some reps felt great, really just a tough movement for me and particularly with the left side I just really, really have to watch the technique.  Key seems to be letting the bell almost hit me on the descent and then get out of the way to load the hips for the next rep, which helps eliminate pulling up with the arm and make everything easier.  I will keep working at it.

7/9/13 Tuesday July 9, 2013 (TGUs)

7:00am - Original Strength and Primal Move - 30 minutes

7:30am - Kettlebell warm up ("Standard")

1/2K halos - 8kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
1/2K pullover - 12 kg, 5X each leg

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
1/2K pullover - 16 kg, 5X each leg
Roll to press (TGU start) - shoulder cam shafts, each arm

7:45am - Training session - Focus on TGUs

Warm up -
Tall kneeling 1H press with 16 kg, 5 L/R

16kg, roll to elbow 3+3 L, R

24kg, 3X L/R (alternating full getups)

8:00am - Complete

Notes -  Very, very solid with the 24 today.  I am getting very close to moving up a bell here for TGUs.  The 24 is feeling light.

Monday, July 8, 2013

7/8/13 Monday July 8, 2013 (DB PR 24s, 1H SW 28)

5:50am - Original Strength resets and Primal Move - 40 minutes

6:30am - Kettlebell warm up ("Standard")

1/2K halos - 8kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
1/2K pullover - 12 kg, 5X each leg

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
1/2K pullover - 16 kg, 5X each leg
Roll to press (TGU start) - shoulder cam shafts, each arm

6:45am - Training session - DB PR with the 24 ladders, and then 1H SW with the 28 timed

Warm up -
TGUs 16 kg, 3+3 
G Sq 24 kg, 10
DB DLs 32 kg, 5, ALT 1H DL, 5 each arm
2H SW 24 kg, 10

DB PR ladders 1, 2, 3 with the 24s, cleaning before each ladder -3X (18 total PR reps, 9 cleans)

This was frankly easy and took very little time, maybe 10 minutes or so.

Timed set - 6 minutes
1H SW 28 kg 6 L/R X 6 (36 reps each arm, 6 L, 6R on the minute for 6 minutes)

Finisher - a few loaded carries putting all of the bells away, also did an overhead walk with DB 24s which felt awesome.  I was really pleased with how solid this felt and how much space I felt in my thoracic spine - very cool.  This bodes well in the future for snatching and ultimately I hope jerks.

7:15am - Complete

Notes - This was a pretty easy training day.  After doing so much work lately, the urge is to press onward and upward but I like that this is waving back a bit, and then I can hopefully add to it over the next several weeks until Kevin and I meet on Friday 7/26.  The plan is to get up to 1,2,3 x 5X for DB PR which I think honestly is not going to be an issue at all.  Previously back in the winter I had worked up to DB C&P 28s for 1,2,3,4,5 x 5 sets (75 reps with 75 cleans!) when I was working pressing like 3 times a week.  My programming was poor and no surprise I ended up straining muscles, was not strong enough in all the right places, etc.  I don't know how long it will take to get back to that level, but I can guarantee when I do, I will be massively stronger and much more prepared for that type of volume no doubt about it.  One day at a time.

Friday, July 5, 2013

7/5/13 Friday July 5, 2013 (1H SW, SN)

In Portland staying with my brother Pat at his place -

7:15am - Original Strength, Primal Move drills - 30 minutes

7:45am - Kettlebell warm up ("Standard")

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
1/2K pullover - 12 kg, 5X each leg

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
1/2K pullover - 16 kg, 5X each leg
Roll to press (TGU start) - shoulder cam shafts, each arm 16 kg

8:00am - Training session -1H SW, SN, timed session 15 minutes

Warm up -
TGU 16 kg roll to elbow, 3+3

GSq 20 kg, 10
1H SW 16 kg, 10 L/R

Timed set - 15 minutes

1H SW 20 kg, 10L, 10R, 10L, 10R - 5X (total of 100 reps per arm)

SN 16 kg, 5 L, 5 R 3X (15 reps per arm)

8:20am - Complete

Notes -  This was perfect and maybe edging towards even more than I was considering given Kevin's adage to take some rest..... I was glad I put the timer on things because that did prevent me from really going overboard.  The sets of the 1H SW with the 20 were surprisingly gassing - it was the second set of 10 on each arm without setting the bell down that was getting to me.  I do not ever go this high in reps but wanted to see what it would be like at a lighter weight.  The SN were just for some practice given that Kevin is green lighting me to SN again.  I focused on really waiting out the bell on the descent.  Several the reps felt really good doing that.  If I can consistently nail this technique, the SN could become a very doable lift for me.  Also it is clear I need to have tremendous stability in the L shoulder to successfully SN.  Have to keep on top of that constantly and continuing improving it.

7/4/13 Thursday July 4, 2013 (TGUs)

7:00am - Original Strength and Primal Move - 30 minutes

7:30am - Kettlebell warm up ("Standard")

1/2K halos - 8kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
1/2K pullover - 12 kg, 5X each leg

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
1/2K pullover - 16 kg, 5X each leg
Roll to press (TGU start) - shoulder cam shafts, each arm

7:45am - Training session - Focus on TGUs

Warm up -
Tall kneeling 1H press with 16 kg, 5 L/R

16kg, roll to elbow 3+3 L, R
16kg, 3+3, L, R (full getups without setting the bell down)

8:00am - Complete

Notes -  So today was Independence Day, and yesterday Kevin and I spoke about taking two rest days and then starting up again next Monday.  I have been going pretty here for about a month, making very consistent and pretty sizable gains from training session to training session.  The last time this occurred I overdid my press programming and it set me back well for months as I worked back to the basics.  So following protocol, you can't "always go heavy and then heavier" so it is the perfect time to dial it back, focus on technique, and then start up again.  So today was in that direction.