2016

My Week As Rx (Probably Scaled): May 9 – May 15

Nick PalomoLeave a comment

I included a video of some of the workouts I did during the week. Check it out at the end of this post.

Monday

Strict Press – 6×6 at 65% (110 lb.)Starting the week with more barbell club workouts. I was able to get through this quickly without much trouble. The weight felt heavy towards the end but that’s about it.

Power Snatch (Low Block) – 4×3 at 75% (115 lb.)

This is the first time I did snatches off of low blocks. It felt great but I need to work on my technique. I need to work my bar path since the bar would swing out.

Pause Power Clean and Jerk – 5×2 at 70% (155 lb.)

This was challenging for the first two sets. I’m not that great at pause lifts but I was able to finish the workout. I got the hang of the movement towards the end of the last round.

Front Squat Pause – 5×3 at 70% (215 lb.)

This was a hard one. In the beginning, it was easier to keep an upright torso and keep my elbows up. Towards the end I had to fight to keep my elbows up. I tried to focus on maintaining a good front rack and being active in the bottom position. I also need to learn how to breathe while holding that pause at the bottom.

WOD – 10 Minute AMRAP

50 double unders
10 back squats (135 lb.)

This was a great workout. I wanted to test my endurance during a high intensity workout. I’m okay at double unders but I tend to tire quickly. The back squats are light enough that I can go unbroken without issue. My goal for this workout was five rounds. I was able to go unbroken on the first two rounds and then I hit a wall on the third. It was difficult for me to string double unders together. I would get to about 5-10 reps and then hit my shoes or stop from fatigue. It took me about a minute or so to get through them. The same goes for round four and the beginning of five. The squats started feeling heavy after round two. I would complete five reps rest for ten seconds and then continue with five more reps. I was only able to complete four rounds plus 35 double unders, a bit short of my five round goal. If I didn’t fatigue on the double unders I would have finished five. I have a lot of room for improvement.

Tuesday

3 Position Snatch – Heavy One Rep
I thought this workout was going to be power snatches but it’s regular snatches. I wanted to at least get up to 145 lb. since I was able to power snatch that weight from two positions. I was only able to get up to 135 lb. but I did notice a few things on the video I recorded. I need to work on lowering my hips, lifting my elbows towards the ceiling instead of back and working on my catch.
Deficit Power Clean – 5×2 at 80% (185 lb.)

Took some time to get used to the platform. I’ve been working on deficit dead lifts which are done on plates but the platform has some room for foot movement. I also had to work on stepping off the platform to drop the weight since it might have hit the platform and bounced everywhere.

Back Squat – 4×4 at 70% (265 lb.)

Ended this day with a back squat workout. Nothing too crazy, mainly a maintenance day.

Wednesday

Deadlift – Max Out!

 

I wasn’t able to hit a PR today but I learned a lot. Programming is important. The past few weeks, I haven’t been doing the strength portion of the class programming. I’ve been focused on the oly strength work and haven’t been doing heavy deadlifts. I was able to complete my 93% (385 lb.) but I failed at 420 lb. I felt my form break a few inches off the ground and I let it go. I didn’t want to fight for it and hurt myself in the process. Need to get back to heavy deadlifts so I can finally PR this lift!

WOD – 14 Minute AMRAP 

Run (200 m)
10 Ab mat sit ups
6 deadlifts (225 lb.)

This was a fun workout especially after all the heavy deadlifts. My goal was to complete six rounds completing one round every two minutes or so. The first few rounds went by smoothly. I did all the reps unbroken and was below my two minute per round pace. After round three though, the run started to slow me down. I was jogging at a slow pace and I couldn’t speed up. It was like I was in auto pilot. I was able to finish 5 rounds and 50 m.

Thursday

Push Press Complex
 
3 Snatch Grip Push Press (Behind The Neck) + 1 Snatch Balance 5×1 at 70% (115 lb.)Haven’t done these skills in awhile and I had a good time doing them. Snatch balances are one of my favorite drills now.

Tabata Clean and Jerk (Touch and Go) at 75% Body Weight (155 lb.)
 
40 seconds work, 20 seconds rest

I would only work for 20 seconds and rest for 40. It was difficult holding onto the bar for that many touch and go reps. I would stop after I let go of the bar. For the first two rounds I was able to do three reps and declined to one rep by the sixth minute. I found a second wind and completed two and then three reps for the last four rounds. I may have to do less reps in the future, since my form wasn’t great towards the end.

Pause Front Squat –  5×3 at 70% (215 lb.)
These front squats were very difficult. It could have been because of all the clean and jerks from the previous workout. I was able to upright but my elbows would drop. I hung in there and was able to complete all the reps. I hope they program the squats at the beginning next time.
WOD 1 – 10 Minutes
 
Alternating EMOM
15 cal. row
15 handstand push ups

I was able to complete the row but not the hand stand push ups. My reps ranged from 5-15. I might have been fatigued from all the press movements but I pushed as hard as I could to finish. It was rough.

WOD 2 
 
25 Russian kettlebell swing (53 lb.)
10 supine ring rows
Row (500 m)
10 supine ring rows
25 Russian kettlebell swing (53 lb.)
I rested for about five minutes before I joined this class workout. It looked like a lot of fun so I decided to join. The ring rows were the hardest part of this workout. The first set was good. I was able to complete 10 unbroken. I had to break the second round into two sets of five. My forearms started to go during the second set of KB swings. I was able to hold on and finish the set unbroken. My final time was 5:58.

Friday

Back Squat  – 4×4 at 70% (265 lb.)
More back squat work. This was the same workout as Tuesday, not a crazy squat day.
Strict Press – 7×5 at 70% (115 lb.)
35 reps is a lot. I wasn’t sure how well I was going to do but their was only one way to find out. Surprisingly, it went by quickly. I focused on my front rack, and my finishing position. The weight felt heavy towards the end but with enough rest I was ready to take on the next set without issue.
Power Snatch – 5×2 at 70% (115 lb.)

I learned a lot in this workout. I had one of my coaches watching my reps and he corrected a bunch of issues with my lift. I worked on my catch and foot work. I feel a lot more confident in this lift but I still have a lot of work to do.

Lift Heavy and Level Up!

 

Barbells and Boxcars: Episode 5

Nick PalomoLeave a comment

Episode 5

In this episode of B&B we discuss the Pacific, California and South Regionals. We also discuss our highlights for the week. We talk about getting into wargaming and what to expect.

Contact Info:

Email: barbellsandboxcars@gmail.com

RSS Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BarbellsAndBoxcars

Links
EPISODE 5

My Week As Rx (Probably Scaled): May 2 – May 8

Nick PalomoLeave a comment

 

Monday

Power Snatch – EMOM For 9 Minutes at 75% (115 lb.)
After a few days of rest and recovery, I was ready to start the week strong. I did some warm up drills and some mobility before I started this EMOM. The workout as a whole wasn’t too bad. The weight wasn’t too heavy and helped me focus on form.  It was only nine reps which wasn’t too bad.
Strict Press – 8×4 at 70% (115 lb.)
Coming straight off the snatches, I started on the strict press. Thankfully the sets were short with only four reps. The workout didn’t last too long however. I would take a max of two minutes in between. I worked on my lock out and re racking the bar on my shoulders before the next rep.
Back Squat – Find A Heavy Two Rep
Same workout as last week without a percentage to guide us. I wanted to lift a heavier weight than last week (315 lb.), it would depend on how I feel during the warm up. The warm up went well and I worked my way up to 305 lb. before deciding on a weight.
Partner WOD – AMRAP 20 Minutes
15 burpees
20 overhead squats (115 lb.)
30 ab-mat sit ups
Run 100 m
This workout looks like a lot of fun. The overhead squats would be an issue but I’m sure I’ll be able to power through it. Each person must run 100 m which I hope wouldn’t be an issue. We decided to break up the workout evenly. The burpees would be done in fives and then the next round we would switch the order. The overhead squats were split into fives and the ab-mat sit ups were split in half.The burpees started out great, breaking them up into fives helped recovery. The overhead squats were easier than I though. It took me two rounds to warm up. During the breaks I would rest the bar on my back instead of dropping it. This way I wouldn’t have to power snatch it again. I had a difficult time during the last round since the bar and my hands were a bit moist from sweat. I didn’t want to run and chalk up so I gripped it a bit harder and held on. The sit ups were not too bad and the run was quick and short. We finished with six rounds completed.

Tuesday

Front Squat – Find A Heavy Two Rep
Another heavy squat day. I’m gaining confidence in my front squat and it feels great. I warmed up to 235 lb. before starting my heavy set. I loaded 265 lb. on the bar and started my set. The reps were challenging but I was able to complete them without help. I went up to 285 lb. but I was only able to complete one rep.
Power Snatch – 6×1 at 85%  (135 lb.)

My snatch is getting better and I can feel the difference. I treated this like an EMOM and finished it in six minutes.

Clean and Jerk Complex – 4×1 2 Power Clean + Jerk at 85% (185 lb.)

This workout was fun and challenging. I’m not used to jerks at this weight but I knew I could get it done. The whole workout was great and I finally feel more confident doing jerks. I need to do a few more heavy reps to get the hang of it.

Deficit Snatch Deadlift – 3×3 at 90% (145 lb.)

I haven’t done this in months. Thankfully I had a coach nearby to teach me. These were easy enough. It’s a light weight for me so I focused on form.

WOD – For Time
 
20 pistols
10 deficit handstand push ups
5 bar muscle ups
18 pistols
8 deficit handstand push ups
4 bar muscle ups
16 pistols
6 deficit handstand push ups
3 bar muslce ups
14 pistols
4 deficit handstand push ups
2 bar muscle ups
12 pistols
2 deficit handstand push ups
1 bar muscle up
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to throw in a WOD after training but I wanted to do some muscle ups. I used a 45 lb. plate for my deficit. The workout was tough but I had fun. I knew the pistols were going to be tough. I didn’t realize it would be that bad. The front squats killed my legs. The deficit handstand push ups went well. It wasn’t a huge deficit but I can tell I’m getting stronger. On the bar muscle ups, I was able to string a few together. I haven’t done it before so it was a small victory for me. I had to take short breaks but it wasn’t an issue. I finished the workout at 14:34.

Wednesday

Deadlift – 5 at 55%, 5 at 60%, 3 at 65%, 5 at 75%, 5 at 85%
I haven’t done deadlifts in a few weeks so I was eager to see how well I would perform. The lifts started to feel heavy around 75%.  I was able to finish the reps but it was challenging. At 85% I had to break up the reps into 2-1-2. I would take 30 seconds in between reps. I need to do more deadlifts. 

WOD – AMRAP 7 Minutes

15 power cleans (95 lb.)
30 double unders
After a few days of heavy power cleans, I was confident I could finish a lot of rounds in this workout. I didn’t think I would have problems with the double unders either. The first round was quick. I did 10 reps of cleans and finished with five reps. The 30 double unders were done unbroken. The following rounds were a lot slower. I over estimated my ability to handle the cleans. I had to break up the reps into sets of five. I was messing up the double unders, only finishing 10-15 reps at a time. After the second round I was drained. I managed to finish a third round but barely. My total rounds for this workout were 3 + 5 cleans.

Thursday

Strict Press – 10×3 at 75% (125 lb.)
This took awhile. I didn’t want to rush the rest so I took a minute or two between sets. The weight was heavy but I was able to get through the reps. 125 lb. used to feel a lot heavier, that must mean I’m getting stronger!
Clean Complex – 3×3 at 70% (155 lb.)
Halting clean deadlift + hang power clean + front squat
This was a fun complex. The last time I did pause cleans was back at the old gym which was more than five months ago. I took a long warm up to get used to the pause and make sure I had correct form. The complex was different, it was fun and I would want to do it again.
Three Position Power Snatch – Find A 1 Rep Heavy 

My snatch still needs some work but this wasn’t too bad. I hit a PR with a power snatch at 145 lb. but I wasn’t able to hit all three positions. I was able to get the ground and the hang snatch at 145 lb. but not the power position.

Friday

Push Press/Overhead Squat – 5×1 at 70% (145 lb.)
 
5 behind the neck push press + 3 overhead squats
I used my overhead squat 1RM instead of my snatch 1RM. I was wondering why this was so heavy! The hardest part of this workout was lowering the bar onto my back after the third rep. I had to be extremely careful since I didn’t want it to land on my spine. Surprisingly, the overhead squats were not too bad. The weight was okay but it irritated my writs a bit. The wrist wrap did help to stabilize but it wasn’t enough to take the pain away.
Jerk – Find A 1 Rep Heavy 

I haven’t maxed my jerk in awhile mainly because my clean hasn’t gone up by much. It was also my first time doing jerks from the blocks. It took a few reps to get used to the blocks and trusting my feet to not hit them. I was able to PR my jerk by 1 lb. and 5 lb. I missed at 226 lb. but I’m okay with it. My PR is not a huge leap but I’ll take it. I would like to hit a 225 lb. clean and jerk soon. I think I’m on the right track. I posted a video below of my jerk PR’s and my miss.

Back Squat – Find A 2 Rep Heavy
My main goal for this was to at least hit 90% like last week. Surprisingly, my 90% wasn’t that bad. I didn’t need a spot and I was able to get out of the bottom fairly quickly. I might want to max my squat soon. I was able to lift 325 lb. for two reps.
Death By – Burpee Box Jump 

This was an interesting one. I don’t like burpees, I’m slow at box jumps but I was excited to do this workout. The first seven minutes went well and I was keeping a good pace but then I hit a wall at the eighth minute. I was barely able to complete the eight reps under a minute and I was only able to finish seven in the ninth round. I did better than what I thought I was going to do. It was a small victory for me.

Lift Heavy and Level Up!




April 2016 Loot Crate Unboxing: Quest

Nick PalomoLeave a comment

 

What is Loot Crate?

Taken from the Loot Crate site, “Each month, Loot Crate™ ships a themed mystery box of the best geek, gaming, and pop culture gear to a subscriber base of over 100,000 Looters. We emphasize phenomenal support and content, and include gear from some of the most respected entertainment and consumer product companies in the world.” Loot Crate sells for $13.95 a month plus $6.00 shipping and handling. You can save on the costs by subscribing for longer periods as well. If you like this theme check out the link at the bottom to subscribe.

What’s in the Box?

Labyrinth was one of my earliest fantasy movies that I watched growing up. My favorite character was Sir Didymus the fox knight. As much as I loved the movie, I don’t really like this shirt. My mom saw me opening the box and she loved it. She’s a fan of the movie and she loves Bowie. This month is also when Guam holds the annual Relay For Life event. It’s an event and fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The colors for Relay For Life is purple and she’ll will wear this to the event.
The Harry Potter item is a pair of socks. On the socks are Voldemort’s horcruxes. I decided to give these to my little sister. She would wear this more than I would.
Skol! If you watched Vikings, you will hear that word every time they pick up a drinking horn. Now I have my very own.

 

Next up is a Nathan Drake poster from the Uncharted series. I haven’t played any of the Uncharted games and it’s a shame. Shame on me! Not sure if this will push me to buy the game but if someone wants to let me borrow it, I will not decline. This game releases on May 10th.

 

One of my favorite items in this box is a D20 ice mold. I’ve been seeing the Death Star mold online and I’ve been wanting something similar. Thankfully, the universe has obliged. Combined with the Avengers ice mold my drinks will be a lot more nerdier in the future.

This pin is a shield with a d20 in the middle. It’s my favorite pin so far this month. They also made alternate pins that were all gold. A friend of mine received a gold pin but I do not have a picture. You can also pick up a Gelatinous Cube companion if you play the Dungeon and Dragons MMO Neverwinter. I might look into this game now since it’s free to play.

Final Thoughts

This month’s box was great, even though I received two items I wouldn’t normally use. Since I could give them to family members, it was definitely worth it. The d20 ice mold and the Vikings drinking horn are my favorite items.
If you want to sign up use this LINK, also use the promo code BOX5 to save $5 off your first subscription. If that code doesn’t work you can use SAVE3 for $3 off any subscription. I also get credit towards more Loot Crates if you use the link.

Lift Heavy and Level Up!

My Week As Rx (Probably Scaled): April 25 – May 1

Nick PalomoLeave a comment

New Start

Hello everyone. I was falling behind in my weekly posts and decided to start writing current workouts. I was a three weeks behind and my memory of those workouts were hazy at best. I have the results on Beyond the Whiteboard, but I didn’t remember all the details of that workout. I’m going to start writing daily and hopefully I won’t have to catch up again.

I also started a Olympic weightlifting program. I’ve been wanting to do more weightlifting specific programming so my coaches added me to one. I didn’t want to stop doing the class WODs so I would do the weightlifting workouts and then the class WOD after.

Monday

Back Squat – 3×5 at 60% (225 lb.)
Short back squat workout for Monday. The first few reps were a bit rough but after warming up I felt a lot better.
Strict Press – 6×6 at 60% (105 lb.)
I had some trouble with this workout towards the end. The last two sets I had to break up. My shoulders and triceps were on fire.
Power Snatch – 3×4 at 70% (115 lb.)
My snatch workout was fun. I didn’t do touch and go snatches and instead opted for quick singles. I had a second or two of rest after dropping the weight.
Clean Pull – 4×3 at 85% (195 lb.)
I haven’t done clean pulls in awhile so I worked up to my 85% slowly. After warming up I was able to finish them quickly.
Partner WOD – 16 Minute AMRAP
Run, (100 m)
10 front squats (135 lb.)
10 floor press (135 lb.)
Initially I didn’t want to do this workout Rx but my partner for this workout pushed me to attempt it. For the first few rounds I was able to keep up. The floor press was the hardest movement. I had to break them up my last two rounds. I would fail around five reps and would need to rest my arms for a few seconds. With the help of my partner I was able to finish my reps and finish the workout. We managed to finish 12 rounds plus 100 m run and 10 front squats.I like doing partner workouts with people who are more fit than me. They push me to go faster and harder and keep me moving when I would otherwise stop. If you want to be better you train with better people.

Tuesday

Front Squat – 4×3 at 60% (175 lb.)
Did some light front squats on Tuesday. The weight was manageable and I did them without any issues. I haven’t been working on front squats but the light weight made it easier to focus on form. I focused on keeping my core tight, elbows up and pushing through my mid foot.
Power Snatch – 4×2 at 80% (125 lb.)
I focused on quality reps and took my time to rest in between sets. The weight isn’t too heavy but I’m weak on technique. Still need to work on bringing my elbows up instead of back.
Power Clean – 4×2 at 80% (185 lb.)
This was easier than the snatches since I’ve done a lot of cleans at this weight. Was able to get through this without an issue.
Back Squat – 2 reps at 85%-90% 1RM (315 lb.) 

I was dreading this workout but it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I was scared by the percentages and the weight. I was a bit warmed up from the front squats so I didn’t take as long warming up as I usually do. I was able to do two reps at 315 lb. which is about 86% of my 1RM. I wanted to add 10 lb. to make it ~90% but I decided against it. I didn’t want to risk it since my legs were not fresh. I’m proud of my lift however.

WOD

AMRAP 7 Minutes

30 double unders

15 hang power cleans

10 toes to bar

This workout was more challenging than anticipated. I was weary of the toes to bar but I was confident I would be able to get through it quickly. During the workout it became evident that the toes to bar were going to be the hardest movement. I had to break up the hang cleans during the second and third round but I didn’t have a long rest. The toes to bar were harder to string together. I was only able to to complete three or so before I had to rest. I finished two rounds, 30 double unders and 15 hang power cleans.

Thursday

Back Squat – 4×4 at 70% (265 lb.)
My back squat feels better. After the Tuesday squat workout, the reps felt lighter and I was moving a lot better.
Strict Press – 5×7 at 65% (110 lb.)
This was a grind. Even though the weight is light, the high number of reps taxed my shoulders. The last two rounds felt very heavy. I was able to do five reps before I had to rest the bar on my shoulders and take a few breaths. I was able to finish all the reps before I had to rack the bar.
Snatch Pull – 3×3 at 85% (135 lb.)
This is movement I need to work on. One of my coaches gave me a few pointers that I will be trying out in the near future. Need to work on slowing down my first pull instead of yanking the weight off the ground. My coach also told me to try and keep my chin down instead of bringing my head back.
Clean and Jerk – 4×2 at 75% (165 lb.)
I need to work on some stuff for the clean but my jerk needs a lot more work. I don’t many jerks which is apparent in my foot movement. I still feel awkward which is a sign I need to do more reps. It’s a good thing this program is not short on reps for me to do.
WOD
21-15-9
Knees to elbow
Dumbbell hang squat clean thruster (30 lb.)
Dumbbell lunge (30 lb.)The easiest part of this workout was the knees to elbows and dumbbell lunge. The squat clean thrusters were the worst. I was only able to do five reps before I had to rest. I tried to push for more reps but my shoulders and triceps would not cooperate. I had under estimated the weight of the dumbbells. It was a humbling workout.

Friday

Push Press – 3×3 at 70% (155 lb.)
I was able to complete this workout without much trouble. The last set was the hardest and I was a bit slower doing the reps. One of the coaches was saying I should test my 1RM since it looked too easy. 

Power Snatch

Every Two Minutes for Ten Minutes

2 power snatch at 85% (135 lb.)

This workout was not as bad as I had envisioned it. Since I have a light snatch, the weight was manageable. I had enough time to recover between sets. I hope this means I can try and PR my snatch soon.

Clean and Jerk

Every Two Minutes for Ten Minutes

2 power cleans plus jerk at 85% (185 lb.)

I thought this workout was going to be tough and it was. The first two rounds were good. I was able to clean the weight without much trouble but my jerk needed help. I’m still not comfortable doing my jerk and it showed during the workout. I need to do more reps to get the hang of it. I was making sure my form was good and my coach said I was doing a great job. The last round was the hardest. At this time I was barely able to power clean the weight and it took the last bit of strength to complete the jerk. I was drained at the end but I managed to complete the workout.

Front Squat

4×4 at 75% (215 lb.)

I really didn’t want to do this squat workout. I was drained after the clean and jerk workout that I wanted to just walk away. A few members didn’t finish this part since they ran out of time but I was determined to end the week on a high note. After warming up my front squat I decided to get right into it. The first set wasn’t good. I felt my elbows dropping and I was struggling to stay upright. I took a few minutes to regroup and catch my breath and started on my next set. My form improved and the reps felt better, I was feeling a lot more warmed up. All I needed was a few minutes to regroup. The last two sets were great. I kept telling myself that it was almost over and that was enough to push me to finish.

I wanted to do the WOD but I was too tired. I was drained and I would have done horribly in that workout. It looked like lots of fun but my body didn’t want to cooperate. Sometimes, it’s best to just take a break and hit it hard the next time.

Lift Heavy and Level Up!

Loot Crate May 2016 Theme: POWER!

Nick PalomoLeave a comment

* Images taken from Loot Crate email.

May’s theme is POWER! The email states we will be getting items from Marvel, Warcraft and Dragon Ball Z. The crate will include a shirt, kitchen item and a figure but no mention of what franchise they will be from. I’m thinking the Marvel item will be from Civil War, and the Warcraft item will be from the movie.

I’m so HYPED! Watching the gif above brings me back to the days I was addicted to World of Warcraft and I loved watching DBZ growing up. I have high hopes for this box and hopefully I’m not disappointed. They would have to be trying to piss off people if they messed this up.

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!

Review: Inov-8 Trailroc 245

Nick PalomoLeave a comment

The only pair of running shoes that I own are a pair of Kayano 21’s and my other shoes are for CrossFit. Since I don’t have an old pair of shoes that I would be okay with ruining, I decided to buy a pair of trail shoes for the Konqer OCR. I read a lot of good things about Inov-8’s trail running/mud shoes and I found a good deal online for the Trailroc 245’s.

 

Looks and Fit

The shoe looks like has the usual Inov-8 design, which is not a bad thing. The shoe is made up of a soft mesh which feels durable and breathable. The toe area is also reinforced with a fuse material design. The sole looks like it will maintain grip on the muddy trails.I thought this shoe was true to size. I ordered my regular size and it fit well. The toe box is a little wide which is great for people with wider feet. After lacing up and walking around a bit, I couldn’t wait to hit the course!

 

Performance

Konquer was my first OCR, and I don’t normally do trail runs. My running experience is all on pavement so I didn’t know what to expect out of this shoe. The first leg of the run was done on loose gravel and mud. The traction was great. I didn’t slip or slide on the steep inclines. My fellow teammates wore normal running shoes and they were having some traction issues. 

During the mud section, the bottom of the shoe was covered in mud. I felt like I was running in cement shoes. After jogging on dry dirt/gravel, the mud would fall off and my shoes would feel light again. The water also drained quickly leaving only my socks feeling full of water. The shoe also handles rocks and other sharp obstacles well. I could still feel the ground but I wasn’t worried about injuring my feet.

Final Thoughts

This is a great overall trail shoe and I’m happy with the performance. I was nervous during the race and the last thing I wanted to worry about was my shoe. The durability might be an issue since the material is soft. Sharp limestone rocks are all around trails on Guam but I believe they will hold up. After I put some miles in, I’ll update this post. I’m excited to do more runs in these. 

*This model may have been discontinued which is why it was on sale for a low price. 

 

Lift Heavy and Level Up!

Review: Nike Metcon 2

Nick PalomoLeave a comment
Colorway (Cool Grey/Wolf Grey/Black/Metallic Gold)

Nike Metcon 2: Electric Boogaloo

The Nike hype hasn’t died down with the release of the new Nike Metcon 2. I had a difficult time trying to pick up a pair at launch but they were sold out. My fiance was able to get them from Footlocker.com but they were back ordered. I waited until late February and I’ve been wearing them ever since. If you liked the previous version of the Metcon, you’re going to love the Metcon 2. I will be comparing these shoes to the previous versions which I have reviewed on this site. Check out my previous reviews on the Metcon 1’s for more info.

Looks, Fit and Construction

Over the past few weeks I’ve used these shoes for everything. They were my go to CrossFit and casual shoe. This was my favorite colorway from the launch selection. The gold on black and grey looks fantastic. If you take a closer look, the shoe looks very similar to the Metcon 1. The shoe is divided into four sections that can have different colors. The area around the laces are different but it’s not a huge change. The shoe fits like the Metcon 1, true to size. It took a week or two to break in, but that’s like most shoes. The mesh on the toe box is the same as the second wave of Metcon 1’s but has a different construction.

The sole doesn’t look too different from the previous version and that’s not a bad thing.

Changed the heel by adding more padding. Heel should slip less.

Added a plastic plate to the heel which reduces friction on the handstand pushups.

Performance

I put these shoes through its paces. CrossFit to casual wear, these shoes have held up great. The sole is a bit more rigid in the heel area; I didn’t feel as much compression during squats. The sole is still flexible and do not make a squeaking noise (yet). I still wouldn’t want to run long distances in them. A mile max, but I don’t think any shoe would help me at that point. My heels felt more locked in during running and jumps. The extra padding around the heel and a new heel design is probably the reason for the improvement. I haven’t done a lot of rope climbs yet but that’s on my list of things to test. The gym just built a rig that has a rope climb section. 

The plastic heel works and I do feel less resistance. I’m not sure how much of a difference it’s going to be but it will take some stress off the sole. The wall has to be flat and smooth since that plastic piece will be able to grab onto cracks. I haven’t encountered that problem yet but it might be something to look at.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a fan of the first Metcon, you will definitely love this one. Nike took all the feedback and improved the shoe for the better. My only complaint from my first pair was the mesh on the top of the shoe but that looks like it has been fixed. I need to do more rope climbs and bang it up a bit to talk about the durability. I’m having a great time working out in these shoes and I’m sure you will too.
Lift Heavy and Level Up!

Barbells and Boxcars: Episode 0 and Episode 1

Nick PalomoLeave a comment
A New Start
 
After a few failed attempts at starting a podcast, Rodel and I decided to start one based on CrossFit and gaming. Our CrossFit discussion will be focused on our development throughout the week and discussing news from the community. The gaming portion will talk about anything gaming. From video games to table top games, we’ll be discussing them all.
We’re still new to podcasting and our equipment is not the best. Until we get better equipment, this will have to do. Let us know what you think in the comments.
Lift Heavy and Level Up!
 
 
 
 
RSS Feed (https://barbellsandboxcars.wordpress.com/)
 
Links
 
Episode 0: Intros
Episode 1

March 2016 Loot Crate Unboxing: Versus

Nick PalomoLeave a comment

What is Loot Crate?

Taken from the Loot Crate site, “Each month, Loot Crate™ ships a themed mystery box of the best geek, gaming, and pop culture gear to a subscriber base of over 100,000 Looters. We emphasize phenomenal support and content, and include gear from some of the most respected entertainment and consumer product companies in the world.” Loot Crate sells for $13.95 a month plus $6.00 shipping and handling. You can save on the costs by subscribing for longer periods as well. If you like this theme check out the link at the bottom to subscribe.

What’s in the Box?

I’m not a huge Star Trek fan but I think this shirt is from an episode. I like this shirt because the material is soft and it feels and fits great. The only downside is the color. It’s a light tan color which is unfortunate since lighter colors tend to stain easier.
Next up is an Alien vs Predator vinyl figure from Titans. The figure is slightly pose able with the arms and head able to move. I got a Xenomorph but I was hoping for the Predator. I have watched all the Predator films and one from the Aliens series.
The other wearable in this box is a reversible Daredevil/Punisher beanie. It’s a cool beanie but I’ll probably wear it only when I travel. Guam’s weather is not cold enough to warrant a beanie.
The Batman vs Superman item is a mighty wallet. I have a few mighty wallets from Loot Crate and I haven’t used any of them. Wish it was a different item.
This Loot Crate exclusive is a Harley Quinn comic. I’ll probably read it but I’m not a huge fan of DC ip’s.

 

Loot Crate also created another game app for this month. I haven’t played it yet but I’m not sure if I will download it. I’ll probably download it to try it out at my next game night. The pin for this month is a cool AVP inspired pin. You also get a free stream of Aliens or Predator on Vudu.com, or a free download of AVP: Three World War #1 from ComiXology.

The box has art inspired by Aliens and Predator.

Final Thoughts

I liked the majority of items in this months box. The beanie and the AVP figure were my favorites. The t-shirt is okay but I’m not a huge Star Trek fan. The wallet and comic are a miss for me.
If you want to sign up use this LINK, also use the promo code BOX5 to save $5 off your first subscription. If that code doesn’t work you can use SAVE3 for $3 off any subscription. I also get credit towards more Loot Crates if you use the link.

 

Lift Heavy and Level Up!