Early Festivus Feat of Strength: Randy

Festivus and my birthday arrived early this year.  Today I received my new Olympic bar and bumper plates.  Even though I didn't sleep well and thought that I should probably rest, I couldn't resist the smell of new rubber.  Such a wonderful Festivus present deserved an appropriate feat of strength.  So I did the hero workout Randy.

For time:  75 power snatches at 75 lbs.
My time: 9:52.
Yes, for some reason, Olympic lifting has very suggestive terminology.  But it isn't the only sport.  Take the football phrase for instance:  "muffed a punt."  Who comes up with these terms?

On a serious note, it is great to be thankful for new gifts and remember that there are things more important than weight lifting sets, like family.

My beautiful wife and her baby bump.

 Here's to Randy and his family.

In honor of Randy Simmons, 51, a 27 year LAPD veteran and SWAT team member who was killed February 6 in the line of duty. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Simmons' wife and two children.

Erin and a New Hero Workout

I've been struggling a bit to return from my 5 day layoff.  My legs have been very sore, which has limited my workouts a little.  My shoulder is also a little sore.  I guess this is to be expected 2 1/2 weeks out from my 37th bday.   But just in time to keep things in perspective, a new hero workout appeared on the crossfit.com site today:  "Severin."  Given that he was 43 and in the middle of a warzone, I'll count my blessings and do the best I can. 

I felt rested enough to tackle another hero workout - Erin.  This workout is a reminder that its not just Americans sacrificing everything in Afghanistan, but Canadian soldiers as well.  The work out is
5 Rounds for time:
40 lbs. dumbbell split clean - 15 reps
21 kipping pullups
My time: 17:48

Canadian Army Master Corporal Erin Doyle, 32, was killed in a firefight August 11th, 2008 in the Panjwaii District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife Nicole and his daughter Zarine.

I guess it's too much to hope for that no new hero workouts will appear.

rest up and then Cindy

I had to take a few days off, 4 days to be exact.  I had been tired and lethargic.  I didn't realize it, but I had slipped into the realm of overtraining.  But after 4 days, I've come back energetic.

Today I did Cindy.
As many rounds as possible in 20 min of
5 kipping pull ups
10 push ups
15 squats

I got 14 rounds.  Not very good.  My personal best was 18 rounds and 5 pull ups on 3/25/09.  But at least I'm back.

Angie

Yet another Crossfit post.

Angie:
100 kipping pull ups
100 push ups
100 sit ups
100 squats

I did the sit ups on a roman chair down to parallel to the floor (not touching the floor).
Time:  28:38.  Sadly, not even close to a personal record, which was 22:29 on 4/8/09.

Field Trip Day for Griff

This morning I took a field trip to the local high school track for Griff, today's hero.

Griff:
Run 800 m
Run 400 m backwards
Run 800 m
Run 400 m backwards

Result:  14:19

Running backwards is deceptively difficult with respect to both coordination and leg endurance.  Two laps around the track is not enough to make running backwards feel natural.  And I was surprised at how fast my legs began to burn while running backwards.  The most interesting part was turning around for next 800 meter run.  My legs momentarily forgot how to run forwards.  Fortunately it was very early in the morning and I was alone because for a few steps I suspect I looked like a newborn just learning to walk.  It was not a terribly difficult workout because I couldn't run fast enough backwards to keep my heart rate elevated.  But with a bit of practice, this one could be intense.  But I'm not sure that running backwards is not particularly practical skill to devote a lot of time to.  So I'll let this one stand.

My opinion of the workout does not lessen my respect for a guy who sacrificed everything:

In honor of USAF SSgt Travis L. Griffin, 28, who was killed April 3, 2008 in the Rasheed district of Baghdad by an IED strike to his vehicle. Travis is survived by his son Elijah.

Nicole

Another Crossfit posting - Nicole

As many rounds as possible in 20 minutes of
- Run 400 meters
- Max rep kipping pullups

Results: 7 rounds of running and
Pullups - 20, 15, 12, 10, 12, 11, 8

Pull ups were harder than I thought. I didn't realize the running would take so much out of my arms. At any rate, another named workout completed. 6 down, 48 to go.

Daniel

Another for the Crossfitters (as if I had anyone at all reading this).

Today was for Daniel.
50 kipping pullups
Run 400 m
21 thrusters 95 lbs
Run 800 m
21 thrusters 95 lbs
Run 400 m
50 kipping pullups

Previous best (and only) was 29:04 on 11/18/08.  Today (8/16/10) was a new record - 26:15.  Thrusters killed me (as usual).  It was - I hope - an effort worthy of today's hero.

Dedicated to Army Sgt 1st Class Daniel Crabtree who was killed in Al Kut, Iraq on Thursday June 8th 2006.