Just Roll with It

Some days you feel unstoppable and some days you feel like you took a step back. This morning at the gym was one of those days.  I knew the workout would be tough as it had two of the movements that hate long, skinny arms and long femurs; front squats and chest to bar pull ups.  These two movements are my nemesis and I can't seem to gain any ground on them. The WOD just crushed me the front squats didn't feel right and the chest to bars were rough.  The one thing I must do is work these weaknesses and make them stronger movements for me.

Not all of this morning was bad though.  I managed to go 10/10 on a snatch 10 minute EMOM(every minute on the minute) and 10/10 on a clean and jerk EMOM. These two sessions were supposed to be at 70% but I felt great (before the WOD that destroyed me) and decided to go up a little bit on both. This decision in hindsight probably effected the next workout. But overall it was an ok day because I had fun and got my workout in.

When something isn't going right and your training didn't go right one day, just roll with it...because tomorrow is a new day.

Find a Way

Yesterday, it was time to find my 1 rep max clean and jerk. My previous best was 175 pounds and I was confident thatll be able to PR that, since it has been close to 2 months since I have tested it.  Since that previous PR I have been able to up my front squat and split jerk by putting the time a commitment to some lifting programs.  I remember before I started those programs, specifically the squat program, I was only able to rep out 175 2-3 times at best. Now I am able to rep out 175 5-6 and it keeps getting easier. My jerk as gone up as well; 200 pounds is just a so-so jerk now and about the time of the 175 pound PR it was rough. Id say I am now approaching 2 wheels or 225 pounds which is my goal by years end.

When I started to find my clean and jerk max, I was able to quickly move through my warm up sets of 135# and 165#. When I went and lifted again, which was easily successful, I found that I didn't have 175# on the bar, I had 185#. This fired me up a little bit because it seemed really easy.  My coach and workout partner urged me to give 200 a go. And so I did. My first attempt I was able to get under with ease but I let the bar just crush me at the bottom. After reviewing the footage my coach was taking I decided to ditch the squat clean and go power clean because I caught the bar so high.  This time I got the clean,( I am generally better at power than squat cleans) but when going for the jerk I didn't quite get under the bar and my long arms failed to lock out.(You can view the attempts Here)  I now knew I had both but just needed to combine them together. With the final lift of the session I was able to get the 200# pounds I was looking for and striving for. Now...I just to get that squat clean, because I am coming for 225 next...

New Month, New Plan

Today marks the beginning of a new month and the first day of a new strategy and plan. When I started my new class schedule, I was having trouble getting acclimated with all the work and reading. This took a tole on not only my training but the most important thing for me as a student and athlete....REST .  Rest and recovery is probably the most important thing one can do and can effect a variety of things. I haven't done a very good job of getting adequate rest during the week and this has left me more tired and sometimes unmotivated to train later in the week.  So I have decided to change that.
Over the next month and beyond  I will be dedicated to getting more sleep and listening to my body. That entails not going to bed at 11 and waking up at 6 like I have been.  I not only will I need to go to bed earlier but I need to drink more fluids and mobilize more often after training.  I believe if I begin this new routine, I will not only feel better, but I will perform better in school and in the gym.

Mindset

On Friday during open gym I wasn't feeling myself, I did my normal routine/warm up and jumped into my strength cycle. It was the last week of my Smolov Jr where I was to do 8 sets 4 at 175#s. This weight was one where I only did 1 set of 3 and 5 before. I have never done 8 before. On the fourth set I did not feel comfortable at all with it. And the fifth set came, my form felt like I was doing a one rep max. My butt came up first out of the hole and the upper back started to round. I called it quits after that set because I wasn't getting what I set out to do.  

I moved on from the strength cycle, which in some ways was an accomplishment for me, and started warming up and preparing for the WOD. I was a triplet of heavy farmers carries, a heavy yoke carry, and bar muscle ups. I was fine with the carry and yoke but the bar muscle ups were going to be challenge. As I attempted a  few to no avail, I started wondering "How am I going to do the workout and if I am failing in warmups?" I gave about another three tries and ultimately decided that its not my day and I will work them for now.  

I was a little frustrated, I know I could do them but friday just wasn't the day. So I looked back into my log and found a workout I haven't done in about six months. The workout, called "Grace" is a benchmark workout of 30 Clean and Jerks for time at 135#s. I figured it would be a good workout to take out my aggression and frustration on, so I tackled it. and tackled it I did. I ended up PRing by 1 minute and 18 seconds at a time of 3:46. Which boosted my mood from being so down earlier in the session. 

I was glad I was able to reevaluate mindset, and get refocused. I know that everyday isn't going to go your way, but if you dwell on the past, you'll never be successful. 

FIRST POST COMING SOON!!!!!