Training 11/3-11/8 & CrossFit Invitational ReCap!

Monday 11/3- 
This week at the gym was our last week of heavy squats. This week was designed for us to be a t higher percentage of our max, for more set/reps, which (fingers crossed) in turn would lead to a new PR for our max week!
We did:

Back Squats 3x10 @ 73%  = 140lbs

Last set of 10, bumped up to 155 lbs

Snatch work @ 65lbs

- I was supposed to work this a little differently, but squats took me a little longer. I decided to throw lighter weight on the bar so I could focus on positions, and making a better connection with the bar.

Wednesday 11/5- 

Back Squats 4x5 @ 160lbs

For the lase set of 5 I bumped up to 165

-I was surprised at how light the weight felt this training day. I was getting down into full depth, and was able to stay more upright than normal in my squat. I have a tendency to loose my upper back and fall forward. I was so excited!

Pusch Press 5x3 @ 95lbs

METCON-

7 min AMRAP

7 OH squats #75

7 Lateral jumps over the bar

7 Toes 2 Bar

Finished: 3rds+3 reps

-This workout was so tough, especially after the squats in strength. I had a hard time stabilizing and squatting the weight in the OH position. Although, there was a struggle, I was so happy because that was the heaviest weight I have ever OH squatted in a workout, and my toes 2 bar, are getting better. After this workout, I decided that I need to continue to work on my gymnastic skills. Things like toes 2 bar, pull ups, push ups, and double unders. I can do a few, but then I am maxed out. I want to build up a sense of endurance for these movements, and be able to string them together.

Thursday 11/6-

Heavy Triple Pwr Snatch - hit 95lbs

drop to 3x1 @ 90% = 85lbs

RDL 

3x5 @ 135

METCON-

10- 1

Box Jump

Deadlift @ 185 lbs

Finished: 8:47

-I was so happy after this workout! I did all box jumps, which I typically will step up on some haha! I was also able to do the workout RX'd at 185- It's not that I have never lifted that heavy in a workout, but I have never lifted that heavy and with that large of a rep scheme. I felt strong with every lift, except the initial pick up of the bar, I could definitely feel the weight pull me down, and me rounding a little, but when I continued with the reps, I felt like I was straightening our my back again. When we lift heavy like that again, I will have to remember to ask whatever coach so I can work on correcting it, or staying mindful of my positions. 

Saturday 11/8-

Back Squats 

4x3 @ 88% = 170lbs

3x3 @ 85% = 160lbs

**this strength day was supposed to be 8x3 @ 88%

Garrett and I where heading out to San Francisco, so I went to the gym early, while he was training his clients to get my workout in, and I was able to get through my strength. After the dead lifts on Saturday my back was definitely feeling a little sore. It was disappointing because my legs felt good enough to squat the heavy weight, but the pressure on my back was killing me. I was/am nervous with the way I felt about these squats, I am afraid that it may have gotten in my head for max week. I just have to keep telling myself that I AM going to hit 205 for my back squat, I am right there, I can feel it. Fake it, till you make it, right? Lets just hope the positive talk works!

Sunday 11/9- 

 CrossFit Invitational!

For my birthday, Garrett got us tickets to go and watch the CrossFit Invitational in San Jose! Four teams where there to compete for the " team world champ" title! USA, Canada, Europe and Australia. Of course, we where there to support our country, the beautiful red, white, and blue! 

We where excited to see all of these athletes, because we have never seen anyone other than those that compete in the NorCal region. It was an awesome chance to see the best of the best in CrossFit represent their countries all in one place, and one that wasn't as hard on the budget as going to the CrossFit games.

Here are some pictures from the event!:

The arena before every one got there, reppin CrossFit Reedley

Well we had to change into our sweet new USA shirts haha

intermission

Ah! I got to snag a picture with Kara Webb, one of my top favs! 

Inspiration and Training

Hello again!
I am getting this post out a little late, I have been a little busy, and just didn't make time to reflect on the past week.
Over all I had a good week of training, and well living haha...

To start this past week 7/25-7/27 were the Crossfit Games- 3 days of intenense workouts, watching amazing athletes fight for a spot on the podium naming them "the fittest on earth." In 2011, this was the start of my love for CrossFit, when I first saw the games on ESPN I knew that it was something that I would love, and something I needed to start doing. I always get butterflies watching the athletes compete, watching them hit new PR's, watching them push through plateaus, and of course the smiles, fist pumps and congratulations from all the athletes after each event. Kara Webb, an athlete that I have had my eyes on (mostly because this is Garrett's CrossFit girl friend haha, I have to keep an eye on the competition ;) ) was in first for the first couple of days, then she sadly has been dealing with some nerve issues, and one of the workouts just aggravated it more so, and she withdrew. UGH! I wanted her to win so bad! She was doing do good! I mean she hit a 250lb OH squat! Camille Leblanc Bazinett ended up taking the title of the fittest woman on earth. She is an amazing athlete, she has worked hard, and it is awesome to see that pay off. For the men, well we all thought Rich Froning was out of it, that he wouldn't take the games this year, but of course, he won, Mr. 4-peat. haha They say he isn't coming back but I hope he does, he is an amazing athlete. But, on the other hand I want to see some of the young guns, who showed they were not messing around this year, fight for that title against Rich, because otherwise, for a few years all that will be said is "oh, its because Rich want there."

"Fittest Man & Woman On Earth"
Photo courtesy of Box Life Magazine

Now back to reality of my not so hard week of training compared to these games athletes haha...
Monday (7/28) marked the start of my half marathon training, and uuuugggggghhhh! That's all I have to say haha! There are currently a few fires burning in our area, which makes breathing in the central valley harder, and even harder when running! Other than struggling to breath while running, I have been struggling to get up early enough so the air quality and heat wouldn't affect me as bad, it is just so hard. I get up early on Tues/Thurs for my spin/circuit class, so on the other days when I can sleep in, I like to! I did end up wearing my Garmin, haha. Mondays run was my first run, it was hot, the air was bad, and I was way to eager when I started my run. I went out way to hard, and wanted to die at the end of my 3 miles haha. Wednesday and Friday I made sure to pace myself a little better and was able to keep a consistent pace without killing myself. Sunday was supposed to be a long run of 4 miles, but I just wasn't feeling it and decided to skip it. I know, I know, I can't do that, so this week I am not going to skip it haha. For my first week of runs I am excited that I got out for 3/4 of my runs, and felt decent about them.

I also continued my CrossFit training throughout the week,but I decided to take Tuesday as a rest day.
Monday- was modification of a CrossFit games workout of the 21-15-9 complex, and it was killer. I was so pumped that I was able to do pull ups through out the workout, and every rep counted.
Wednesday- we did a nasty combination of 200m run, box jumps, and push press. Adriana, Diane, and I all went Rx'd at 75lbs. It was super tough, I didn't know if I was going to be able to hand with the weight but was glad I attempted, and completed it.

Clearly not enjoying the push press

runnnnnnnin

Jumpin on the box! 

Cheering on Adriana, she didn't want to go RX'd , but she did and she killed it! 

Thursday- this was such an awesome day! In my last post I did say that I wanted to attempt 225lbs for my deadlifts the following week, well I attempted and succeed! Over all I was really pleased with my strength exercises that day, I was strong with my back squats at 165lbs, and was able to keep my torso up and shoulders back, and I was able to hit 3x3 225# deadlifts!

Friday- I didn't do any strength, Diane, Sarah and I decided to work on movements that may be in the Central Valley Throw down. 

Garrett came up with the worst workout EVER.

10 wall balls -1 Rope climb

20 wall balls -2 Rope climb

30 wall balls -3 Rope climb

40 wall balls -4 Rope climb

50 wall balls -5 Rope climb

It was definitely challenging, it got into my head a little bit. I am nervous if we will have to, and how many rope climbs we will have to do, these were tough after working on all those wall balls. I am continuing to work on my weaknesses, so hopefully they are as strong as they can be for the CVT. 

Working On Getting Up That Rope

Saturday- I caught up on some strength that I missed through out the week. I was stoked that I was able to get some heavy front pause squats, the heaviest I have done through out this cycle, 3x2 @ 125lb with a 3 second pause. 

The workout for the gym was killer. It was HEAVY, like heavy. RX'd was 95lbs. 

9-7-5

power clean

STOH

2 min rest:

4rds

200m run

12 Front Squat

6 Bar Over Burpees

clearing enjoying these squats

I knew it was going to be tough, but it was a whole lot tougher than I thought that it would be...

I struggled, but was glad to complete a the weight prescribed. 

It was a goal this week to be able to complete as many workouts as possible with prescribed weight, to push as hard, and as fast as I could with each workout, and I am continuing with that push into this week. 

Over all I am pleased with this past week. I hit goal markers that I didn't know I could. I am so thankful with for the gym and the motivation from all of the members. Excited for another week of training!