Month: August 2015

My Week as RX (Probably Scaled): August 24 – 30

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Monday


Pause Back Squat (3 Seconds) – 5×3 at 60% (215 lb.)
I took a long time to warm up, weight felt heavier than usual. I was able to power through under the time limit. 
WOD – 12 minutes: Run 1 mile, max power cleans with remaining time. Rest 3 minutes. 10 minutes: AMRAP – 6 Front Squats, 6 Push Jerks, 6 Toes to Bar.
At first glance this WOD looks like a grind. It’s 25 minutes of work and not much rest except for the 3 minutes after the power cleans. I wasn’t as quick on the run since it was just after the squats, my legs felt like jello. I was able to finish the run in about 9 minutes, and finish 20 max cleans. After the 3 minute rest I managed to finish 4 rounds, 6 front squats, 6 push jerks, and 3 toes to bar.

Tuesday

Skill Work – Pull Ups
Worked on strict chest to bar pull ups, kipping pull ups and toes to bar. I like gymnastic skill days, they give me time to work on pull strength. Need to more strength for the muscle up.
WOD – 15-12-9, Deadlifts (225 lb.), Lateral Burpee over Barbell, Run 200m 
I was going to scale this workout but I decided against it. 225 lb. is about 60% of my 1RM and I wanted to push myself. I was sure the burpees and the run will be the limiting factors in this workout which made recovering from the deadlifts a little easier. I broke up the deadlifts into 2 sets each with a 10 second rest between sets. I didn’t break up the burpees but did them at a constant pace. I finished the WOD in 9:40.

Wednesday

Did a short warm up consisting of air squats, pvc shoulder rotations and good mornings to warm up our legs, hips and shoulders. 
Overhead Squat 1 Rep Max – 205 lb.
I wrote about this in a previous post here. 
WOD – Partner Morrison 50-40-30-20-10, Wall Balls (20 lb.), Box Jumps, Kettle Bell Swings (24 kg)
Managed to finish this wod in 16:40, but I think I was too slow. My partner for this wod was pretty quick and didn’t seem to slow down at all. I managed to do all my Wall Ball sets unbroken as well as KB swings. My limiter was box jumps since I couldn’t jump all my sets, I would switch between jumping and step ups.

Saturday

Snatch Skill Work
Did some work on snatch positions and lat activation. I still have to work on activating my lats during snatches.
3 Position Power Snatch (Ground, Hang, Power) – 135 lb.
Worked up to a 1 rep heavy for this one. Started at 95 lb. and finished at 135 lb. I’m not sure if I could have went heavier. 135 lb. is ≈ 87% of my 1 rep max for snatches. 
Lift Heavy and Level Up!

Loot Crate September 2015 Theme: Summon

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I haven’t received my Loot Crate for August but I’m sure it’s in the mail. Loot Crate has released the new theme for next month and it’s Summon. From the picture it looks like some Pokemon, Hearthstone and Simpsons items. Not sure what they mean by “Supernatural”. I think it might mean the TV show or it could be a general term. Either way, it looks like an interesting theme and I hope they have some cool stuff this month.

If you want to sign up use this link, also use the promo code SAVE3 for $3 off any subscription. I also get credit towards more Loot Crates if you use the link. If you have any questions, leave a comment at the bottom.

Lift Heavy and Level Up!

CrossFit Progress: Overhead Squat PR!

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After weeks of heavy overhead squats, it was time to test my max. I wasn’t feeling confident going into today. I have been trying to get over a cold since Sunday but after last weeks 3rm PR, I was going to try my best. My target for today was 205 lb. and I was able to successfully finish the lift. I attempted 215 lb. but I wasn’t able to get the weight overhead. If I was able to get another attempt I would have done a split jerk instead of a push press. I am very happy with my result and I am looking forward to the next strength cycle. PR video below.

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Wargaming Wednesdays: Menoth Display Board

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In preperation for Otaku Recon in November, I decided to build a Protectorate of Menoth display board. Our display at EpiXcon was lacking a diorama element. The tables were great but the model display lacked creativity. Even though KR cases are cool, they do not make great display areas. In the pictures below I show the beginnings of my display board. If you have tips or comments, leave them at the bottom.

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Miniature Mondays: Finishing the TFG and Starting Reznik 2

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I just finished painting my last Temple Flameguard model but I still need to finish some of their shields. I also need to finish painting their bases but that should take an hour or two. I have been putting this unit off for two years and they are almost finished.

After I finish the TFG most of my focus will be on Harbinger and Reznik 2. Since Harbinger is already prepped and primed, I decided to work on Reznik 2. The model has some mold lines and flash but it’s easy to clean up. I like working with resin more than metal. He looks challenging to assemble but I’m sure I can get it done.

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My Week as RX (Probably Scaled): August 17 – August 23

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Monday

Started out with some mountain climbers, wall balls and lateral lunges to warm up our legs and hips before we started our strength portion for today.

Front Squat – 5 at 60%, 5 at 70%, 3 at 80%, 3 at 85%, 3 at 90% (1RM is ≈ 295 lb.)

I haven’t been doing front squats regularly and this was a challenge at 85% and 90%. I focused on getting my hips back and leading with my elbows. I hope more front squats are programmed down the line.

WOD (Partner) – AMRAP 25 minutes, 500m row, 40 Deadlifts, 30 HSPU, 20 Hang Power Cleans, 10 Muscle Ups. Every five minutes, 20 burpess

This was my dad’s first day after the on ramp and I decided to do this partner WOD with him.We used the same weights instead of getting two barbells out and I also scaled the muscle ups. I wanted to keep a pace that my dad could keep up with. He did great, scaling the movements so that he was constantly moving. It was a great experience and I’m happy that he’s getting some exercise.

Plank Holds – 3 rounds at 60 seconds each.

Used a 25 lb. plate and had a 30 second rest in between rounds.

Tuesday

Bench Press – 5 at 60%, 5 at 70%, 3 at 80%, 3 at 85%, 3 at 90% (1RM is 240 lb.)
Haven’t done heavy bench presses in a while but these were not too bad. Went a bit lighter than the posted percentages but I was more focused on form than the weight.
WOD – AMRAP 7 minutes – 1 Front Squat at 135 lb., 2 Ring Dips. Add 1 rep to front squat and 2 reps to ring dips each round. 
This WOD was difficult but I manged to make it up to the six front squat round. I decided to use a 135 lb. bar since it was close to my front squat 1RM and I would be able to speed through the front squats. I knew coming into this WOD that the ring dips were going to slow me down a lot. I’m not great with body weight movements and the bench press was taxing on the triceps. Also, my ring dip kip is not great which slowed me down. I need to work on more gymnastics.
Burpee onto Plate – For Time – 50 reps
My arms and chest were still recovering from previous workouts, making me hate the burpees that much more. Surprisingly I finished this in 4:53 which I’m happy with. I was shooting for sub four minutes but I have a goal to aim for next time. 

Wednesday

Overhead Squat –  5 at 60%, 5 at 70%, 3 at 80%, 3 at 85%, 3 at 90% (1RM is ≈ 200 lb.)

I hit a PR during this workout. My previous  3RM was 175 lb. and I managed to lift 180 lb. I can tell my form is improving, at heavier weights I have to fight for position but it’s becoming easier. Hopefully I can set a new 1RM next week.

WOD – 4 x RFT 400m Run, 10 Power Snatch (75 lb.), 15 Box Jumps. Rest for 2 minutes after each round.

This WOD was fun and challenging. I decided to use a 75 lb. bar since I wanted to get through the snatches and box jumps as fast as possible. Managed to be consistent with my time and finished all rounds under 4:20.

Friday

Thruster 1RM 
This was my first max thruster attempt. I was able to lift 205 lb. but it was difficult. I’m not sure if I could have went heavier.
WOD – 4x AMRAP 3 minutes – 6 Mountain Climbers, 9 Sit Ups,  12 Wall Balls (20 lb.). Rest 1 minute between each AMRAP.

My main goal was being consistent and I managed to finish at least two rounds every set. The wall balls were what slowed me down the most.

Lift Heavy and Level Up!



My Week as RX (Probably Scaled): August 10 – August 16

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I wanted to keep track of my workouts and decided to add them to the blog. Now I have a written record of my training that I can reference.

Tuesday

Started off Tuesday with lat and shoulder warm up and then moved on to the skill portion of the day. The skill portion was a chest to bar complex and toes to bar.

6×2 – 1 strict chest to bar, 2 kipping chest to bar, 3 toes to bar (Unbroken)

I wasn’t able to complete this skill portion because my grip started to fail, my hands were starting to feel a bit raw and I wanted to save my hands for the WOD.

WOD – 3 Toes to Bar, 3 KB SDHP (Reps increase by 3 after each round)

I was a bit conservative during the WOD since I didn’t want to tear but managed to make it to the fifth round before time ran out. After the WOD, I spent about ten minutes on mobility.

Wednesday

Did a short five minute warm up of Double unders and overhead squats before we went into the strength portion.

6×3 – Overhead Squats at 80% of 1RM (165 lb.)

The overhead squat is not one of my strong lifts. I need to work on keeping my hips back and not bending at the knee first. I’m slowly improving and the lifts are becoming easier.

WOD – 400m, 50 burpees, 800m, 50 burpees, 400m

This WOD was rough. Two movements that I do not like, running and burpees. I managed to finish in 24 minutes but it was a grind. Finished the class with some mobility.

Thursday

Thursday was another skill day focusing on core strength and hand stand push ups. The warm up was a 500 m row and then four, fifteen second holds. The holds were a head stand, a hand stand, a L-sit from a bar and a ring support. The skill portion was broken up into two complexes.

6×2 – 1 Ring Push up, 2 ring plank

The ring planks are very similar to an “ab-wheel” plank.

6×1 – 2 Strict Deficit HSPU, 6 Kipping HSPU, Max Effort Kipping HSPU

I used two 45 plates for my deficit and managed to finish four of the six sets. I ran out of time since I took a longer rest period in between sets.

WOD: 4 RFT: 25 Bench Press at 75% body weight, 500m row, 4 minutes of rest between rounds.

Wasn’t able to do this WOD Rx since it would take forever for me to complete. 75% of my body weight would be 150 lb. I decided to scale down to 50% of my body weight. I manged to finish the WOD in 24 minutes. Finished the class with some mobility.

Friday

Started the class with 10 minutes of mobility and then started the strength portion.

6×5 – Back Squat at 75% of 1RM

Did the squats at 265 lb. and they felt great. I struggled a bit in the fifth set but other than that, manged to get through it without any issues. I realized it’s easier to get your hips back during back squats than overhead squats.

WOD –  Reverse Tabata: Row (Cal), Ski Erg (Cal), Box Jumps and Air Dyne.

This WOD is very deceiving. Manged to stay consistent throughout the workout and movements. Finished the class with some mobility.

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Miniature Mondays: TFG Update

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Finished some prep on my officer and standard bearer and started painting the last two models for the main unit. I’m almost done with my last grunt and unit leader, need to do a wash and finish up the bases. The grunt came off his base, so that will need to be attached before I finish some dry brushing.
These models should be done by this week, hopefully.

Lift Heavy and Level Up!