10/4/13 Friday October 4, 2013 (Training with Kevin)

Checked my training log and I last trained with Kevin on Friday September 6 - it has been 4 weeks.  In the early part of that week on Monday the 2nd I had a training accident on a 2H SW that had left my right wrist pretty beat up, and the forearm as well.  Treated it immediately with several visits to my acupuncturist, some TLC, lacrosse ball release, and smarter training.  I am sitting here 4 weeks later thinking about what I accomplished in the last time period and it feels damn good.  I am grateful, and appreciative

Before meeting Kevin at 6:30am I did about 15 quick minutes of OS resets at home as well as my standard kettlebell warm-up minus arm bars.  Body was feeling pretty good.

6:30am - Training session with Kevin.  We did some basic primal move and then got into things.

We practiced some light TGUs with the 16 and then did some rack holds with some prying forward and back, as well as rotating side to side.  I liked how that felt quite a bit.

We did a few TGUs with the 24, working on really locking out the elbow particularly on the L.

Did some pull up practice, over hand grip, ladder of 1, 2, 3 PUs.  Very easy.  This is intended to ensure I can bang out the 5 required PUs for the SFG without every practicing PUs as I don't have a PU bar at home.  I still know I really need to try and do something about that.

We then got into some swings, using the 24 for a set of 10 2H, then 10L, 10R.  We then got into the same thing with the 28, and then I practiced with a 32 kg with 1H for a few sets of  5 L, 5 R.  The thing felt extremely heavy which surprised me. Turns out Kevin sent me a text later in the morning and I was 1H swinging a damn 36!!!  No wonder.  There were some wonky reps in there, did not feel good, it is quite encouraging to know that was a 36.  I actually think a 32 is something I am ready for but no way in hell with a 36 yet.

We moved on and practiced some DB 24 kg SW, did probably 5 or so sets of 8-10 reps.  Got a good feeel for these - it has been a very long time since I did the SW with DBs.  It's a good movement and I like it.

We then practiced some DB SQ with the 24s, a couple sets of 5, got some cues from Kevin to really pull down into the hole and keep everything very tight coming out so there is no give in the back.  After a couple of cues I felt my form improved.

We then practiced some DB PR with the 24s, a couple of sets of 3, which felt great.  That is probably one of my strongest lifts.

We finished off by snatching the 24kg for 2 or 3 sets of 5 R, 5 L, just practicing technique on "breathing through the hips" to try and improve timing of exhale to occur prior to the bell's ascent out of the hole, exploding the hips, which is going to make the movement to lockout quite a bit easier.  These felt good.

7:35am - Finish
Great session, I feel like we covered quite a bit of ground with a lot of lifts and is was very good practice for me to get Kevin's eyes on my lifts.  Here's to more progress---

10/3/13 Thursday October 3, 2013 (TGUs, 2H SW)

6:15am - Original Strength and Primal Move - 30 minutes

6:45am - 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

Arm bar 12 kg, 1+1

7:00am - Training session - Focus on TGUs, 40 kg 2H SW

28kg, 1+1 (2x)

Warm up
28 kg 2H SW, 10

40 kg 2H SW, 5, 10X (50 reps)

7:25am - Complete

Notes -  Punch the clock workout again, just trying to get some heavy swings in to keep the focus.  TGUs with the 28 all week, that was good too.

10/2/13 Wednesday October 2, 2013 (DB 24 kg complex)

6:00am - Original Strength, Primal Move drills - 20 minutes (abbreviated going very fast due to having little time)

6:20am - 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
12kg armbars - 1 L, 1 R

6:35am - Training session -DB Sq 24 kgs complex

Warm up -
TGU 24kg, 2X 1+1
GSq 24 kg, 5
DB 32 kg DL, 5, 5 alt L/R

DB 24 kgs Complex - 20 minutes timed

Got 10X of the following:
DB CL, 3
DB PR, 3
DB Sq, 3

Awesome!!  Major improvements over the last several weeks.

Pace for the first 8X was 1 minute work, 1 minute rest.  At the 8:00 minute mark remaining I took 30 extra seconds for 9X.  Then again went at 1:30 for 10X.  Taking the extra rest on the last two sets was key, as was shaking out my arms fast and loose style.

Totals:
DB CL - 30
DB PR - 30 (27 last week)
DB SQ - 30 (26 last week)

7:05am - Complete

Notes -  This may seem subtle in terms of improvement but it was not.  This was a major step up in one week.  These reps were strong, and I was not just "surviving" the set at the end but still focused and doing good, quality reps despite dealing with accumulating fatigue.  I had to grind on the last press of the last couple of sets, but I kept it nearly perfectly strict, got rid of the lean back that had crept in here and there the last few weeks. clenched the glutes and really gripped the shit out of the bells on the ascent and the descent, pulling down hard with the lats to load the next rep.  Squats were solid, down into the hole and strongly back out on each rep.  I really, really love this double bell work.  Incredibly demanding, very time efficient, challenges the technique, mental fortitude to stay focused, etc etc.  There is no reason to try and go up in bell size yet with this particular work session.   I am not what I would call "dominating" the 24s all the way to the last rep yet so more practice needed before going to 28s.

10/1/13 Tuesday October 1, 2013 (TGUs, SL DL bw)

6:15am - Original Strength and Primal Move - 30 minutes

6:45am - 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

Arm bar 12 kg, 1+1

7:00am - Training session - Focus on TGUs, SL DLs

28kg, 1+1

SL DL bodyweight, 5x per leg

28 kg, 1+1

SL DL bodyweight, 5x per leg

7:15am - Complete

Notes -  Good session, just another punch the clock effort.

9/30/13 Monday September 30, 2013 (28 kg complex)

6:45am - Original Strength, Primal Move drills - 45 minutes (needed lots of extra time on the foam roll, lacrosse ball, just could not get loose due to running 4 miles around the lake yesterday)

7:30am - 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
12kg armbars - 1 L, 1 R

7:45am - Training session - Single bell 28 kg complex

Warm up -
GSq 24 kg, 5
DB DL 32 kgs, 5, 5/5 alt hands

2X the following, done in circuits.
28 kg TGU, 1+1 (note did these by cleaning and then pressing OH, going to knee/arm, and back up due to rain and wetness and just not wanting to deal with full TGUs)
28 kg 2H SW, 20 (15 last week)
28 kg FSq, 5+5 (3+3 last week)
28 kg 1H SW, 10+10 (5+5 last week)
28 kg C&P, 5+5 (I had to put the bell down after 5 L, 4 R and get the last rep on the R after another clean from the ground - didn't want to miss the last rep badly) (3+3 last week)
28 kg 1H SW, 10+10 (5+5 last week)
24 kg SN, 10+10 (PR, never SN the 24 for this many reps in a set) (5+5 last week)

The circuits took about 32 minutes to complete including the rests between each movement / round.  This is down from 35 minutes last week for 3 sets, of shorter rep counts.

8:30am - Complete

Notes -  Really a very productive and enjoyable training session, albeit yes it was hard at times particularly catching up to me on the the C&Ps.   I intentionally dropped to two sets from three last week but upped the volumes in each set to see how that would affect training.  It was definitely harder this week, more time under load in less overall time for sure.  Really all the lifts felt good albeit on the C&P I did have to put the bell down, take a short rest, and then C&P on that very last rep each set on my R (started L, got all reps).  Interesting as my R side is my strong side but it goes to show you what will happen with accumulating fatigue, and C&Ps with a heavy bell are a bitch.  What a movement though.  I did feel better on my presses this week, tried to get under the bell with my leg on the bell side and really focus on clamping both glutes and squeezing the off arm for additional tension.  My biggest problem today was getting loose before training as I had carryover soreness from running 4 miles around the lake yesterday afternoon.  I have been trying to do a little bit of running just to see how my body reacts and so far I have to say it is not a fail but definitely not a big success either.  

9/27/13 Friday September 27, 2013 (24 kg Snatch 4/4 12 minutes)

6:30am - Original Strength, Primal Move drills - 30 minutes

7:00am - 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
12 kg arm bar, 1 L , 1 R

7:15am - Training session - Snatch sets of 4/4 on the minute for 12 minutes with the 24 kg

Warm up -
TGU 24kg, 2+2
CL and rack hold marching 24 kg, 10x each leg L/R
DL 44 kg alt L / R 5, 2X

2H SW 44 kg 2, 3, 5 - 2X

SN the 24 kg 4/4 on the minute for 12 minutes

Total reps in 12 minutes - 48 per arm, 96 total (compares to 15 min at 5/5 with the 20kg last week, 150 reps)

7:45am - Complete

Notes -  Very pleased with this training session today.  My body felt good this morning, best it has all week. Got warmed up reasonably well and once I started swinging the 44 kg I knew it was going to be a solid training day.  Honestly the snatching felt good, again went R first, the L, as I have been doing lately.  Interesting that the movement just feels different on both arms.  R, I have more of a tendency to overgrip and not use the hips, but lockout is very solid and kind of an open hand lockout where the palm is turned toward my head.  On the L side, I think I use my hips well and get the bell to the top for the punch up very well.  On the L side I open up the hand well and the bell is faced forward so my palm is facing out, as opposed to facing my head as on the R side.  Interesting.  The technique though I feel is getting better and I just took my time, paused at a number of lockouts, never felt rushed and keep a consistent pace all the way through.  I definitely respect the 24 kg on the snatch and am quite conscious of technique all around.  I do really enjoy snatching and it is just a powerful, aggressive exercise where you can let loose.  It's awesome.  At this point I would say I feel most comfortable with the 20kg.  The 16 kg is "easy" and feel like it will fly out of my hand.  The 24kg is still "hard" in the sense of if I pushed the reps up any more or cut down the rest periods, I would be hurting.  I definitely need to get extremely comfortable snatching the 24kg since that would be my bell to do Strong First SFG.  The snatch test is 100 reps in 5 minutes with the 24kg and I still am nowhere near being able to do that.  I suspect if I pushed it I could probably get 60-70 reps (about 12-14 per minute; today for example I did 8 reps in about 30 seconds each round, with 30 seconds of rest).  100 reps in 5 minutes with the 24 kg is no joke. Respect.  I will keep working slowly to that goal and my other goal of strictly pressing my 1/2 body weight, which would be a 44 kg.  Also, wow, definitely no joke there.

9/26/13 Thursday September 26, 2013 (TGUs, 40 kg 2H SW)

6:15am - Original Strength and Primal Move - 30 minutes

6:45am - 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

Arm bar 12 kg, 1+1

7:00am - Training session - Focus on TGUs, 40 kg 2H SW

24kg, 2+2

Warm up
24 kg 2H SW, 10

40 kg 2H SW, 5, 10X (50 reps)

Finisher
24 kg 1H SW, L/R, 10/10 (alt hands every rep)

7:25am - Complete

Notes -  Just wanted to get some 2H SW reps in with a heavy bell, have not done that in a while.  Loved it.   Not a whole lot to say other than noticed that the L trap was a bit tight, need to do some lacrosse ball release there.  Overall back, hips and quads felt a lot better today and the DOMs from running on Sunday I think has passed.  Frustrating that it lasted several days.