Jim vs. Karen

I’m traveling today, so I needed something Nasty, Brutish, and Short. This scaled, home version of Karen seemed to do the trick.

“Karen”
For time:
Sandbag thrusters (25lbs) x 100

Finished in 4:24, more than 30 seconds faster than when I did this in January. Cool.

Jim vs. Kettlebell Isabel

Circumstances prevented me from working out the last few days, and the workout I’d been considering just felt… kind of boring. So I went with this one, which was the other option when I did Kettlebell Grace.

Kettlebell Isabel
30 reps per hand, kettlebell snatch (35lbs)

Finished in 3:21. It was a nasty, brutish, and short kind of morning.

Jim vs. Karen

Another home (and scaled) edition of a classic WOD.

“Karen”
For time:
Sandbag thrusters (25lbs) x 100

Finished in 4:56. Not much else to say.

Jim vs. The Sandbag Clean and Press

This was one that made me say, “I wish I had a 50lb sandbag.” Well, sometimes wishes do come true.

The Sandbag Clean and Press x 50
Clean your Sandbag from the ground to shoulder level and press it overhead 50 times as fast as possible.

Finished in 5:31. Not quite “Nasty, brutish, and short” territory, but I’ll probably still make it under that and “Mid-range”; I’m sure I can get this one under five. In any case, it was well under the 10 minute cutoff, so I’m pleased.

Jim vs. Helen

Knew this one would be tough, but didn’t realize how tough.

“Helen”
Three rounds for time of:
400m run
Kettlebell swings x 21
Pull-ups x 12

This was the first time I’d done this one with the 53lb kettlebell, and also my first bit of running over two months. That latter really made itself clear; I was sucking wind on my first 400m run, and that’s no kind of good.

Finished in 11:44, over a minute and a half slower than my PR. And the experience was very unpleasant. I need to start putting in more metcons in general, and more running in particular.

Jim vs. Deadlifts

I decided not to push the weight up this week. My sleep pattern’s been problematic, work’s been a bear, and I’ve been feeling generally fatigued and sore. So I just bumped up set #3.

Deadlift
325 x 3
295 x 5
265 x 5

Getting five reps on those last two sets was nice, and I felt good and blasted afterwards.  I think I made the right call.

Jim vs. Snatches, Snatch Pulls, and Front Squats

Another short day, and a really rough one to boot.

Snatch
110 x 1 (power)
110 x 1

Snatch pull
130 x 2
130 x 2

Front squats
185 x 2
165 x 3

That first snatch wasn’t supposed to be power, but that’s what I had. And that front squat reverse pyramid was supposed to be 3-4, but again: it’s what was there.

Rough one.

Jim vs. Push-ups, Hanging Leg Raises

Took one from the original Greyskull book for my home workout today.

AMRAP in 7 minutes of:
Push-ups x 5
Hanging leg raises x 5

Got through 15 full rounds plus four push-ups. I have a feeling my chest and abs will be feeling this for a couple of days, at least.

EDIT: And as of today, March 10, I have worked out as many times in March as I did in February. Sadly telling, that.

Jim vs. Kettlebell SDHPs, Push-ups

Today I did my first home workout in some time, and decided to go with one from about two months back.

10, 9, 8… 2, 1 of:
kettlebell sumo deadlift high-pulls, 53lb.
push-ups

Finished in 4:15 this time, 20 seconds faster than my first go. I found this to be surprising and gratifying.

This was my first good week of working out in too long a time.

Jim vs. Deadlifts, 500m Rows

Visiting with an old friend.

Deadlifts
315 x 3
285 x 4
250 x 5

Been a while, and it felt like it. I need to build back up to my 3RM with these reverse pyramids. Not sure how many weeks it’ll take me to do it, though.

500m row
2:17
2:31

Those time’s aren’t stellar, but at least I’m back to timing myself.