My CrossFit Journal (Year 1, week 27)

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year 1, week 27, day one

Behind Neck Split Jerk
4-4-4-4-4-4

(source)

We moved up in weight each time we did a set. I was on my last set of weights and it ended up being 85lbs. I dropped the weight behind my back as I was lowering it down on the first go. I decided to stop then and there, it got too heavy to bring down to my shoulders. My last successful behind neck split jerk was the 5th round at 75lbs.

Then it was time for the WOD:

“Annie”
50-40-30-20-10
Double-unders
Sit-ups

I got double unders for the first time!!! We were practicing them before the WOD and I got like 6 and 7 in a row for a few go’s. I tried to do it for the WOD but I couldn’t go fast enough and I kept tripping over myself. It was just faster and easier for me to do 3x the amount of single skips. I ended up getting down to the 30’s. We only had 10 mins for it. I surprised myself and pumped out all 50 sit ups without stopping on the first round. Boom! That’s how it’s done ;)

My elbows ended up bruising pretty badly as the skipping causes some whip marks on my arms, and sometimes my butt or ankles!

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year 1, week 27, day two

 The Seven – Modified

Five rounds for time of:

7 Handstand push-ups diver bombers
7 Thrusters; 135/95lbs I used 50lbs
7 Knees to elbows
7 Deadlifts; 135/95lbs I used 50lbs
7 Burpees
7 Kettlebell swings; 2 pood/1.5 pood I used 16kg
7 Pull-ups

It was a tough one. I was on my forth round and completed the 7 dive bombers and 7 thrusters and the timer went off. We had a 25min time limit. So nuts.

I shamelessly took before and after pictures… in the elevator. Like I said. No shame man! No probs. Full of sweat.

Before: Happy and pumped up!  After: Tired and hungry.

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year 1, week 27, day three

Hang Clean:
20 Minutes to Establish 1RM

We had twenty minutes to get to our one rep max. My 1 rep max hang clean ended up being 100lbs!! LOL omg. So awesome. Tried for 105lbx three times after, and failed. So – guess I found my 1 rep max, for sure! 100lbs impressed me. Holy cow.

Example of Hang Clean (source)

AMRAP 8: (as many rounds as possible in 8 minutes)
8 Ring Dip
8 Hollow Rocks I did V-Situps instead, because my abs killed from the Annie WOD.

I completed 5 full rounds in the 8 minutes. No extras anywhere. I hate ring dips, they’re really difficult for me lol.

I tweeted this image of my biceps, again in the elevator. Hey, it’s a long ride up to my floor, and there’s a mirror. What else am I to do? ;)

I don’t know if this was a shadow from the overhead light, or if my biceps look this big naturally. Either way, I like it.

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year 1, week 27, day four

We started out doing 40 minutes of Yoga at CrossFit before the Murphy Challenge:

1 mile run
100 pull ups
200 push ups
300 squats
1 mile runI was surprisingly not nervous for this workout until we were all sent outside to get a run-through of the WOD. That’s when my hands started shaking.

I completed my first mile in 7:40, which I was surprised about, I thought I was going slower. I teamed up with one of my CrossFit buddies and we did the 100 pull ups with the black band, together. Taking turns doing 10 each. We flew through it, and were one of the first 7-ish people to finish.

Now, the 200 push ups were what was the most brutal part of the workout. I don’t know how people flew through them. At one point I was laying down on my stomach with my forehead resting on my hands. One of the two CrossFit coaches came over to me and asked how many I had left. “70” I said. He then said quietly “mind over matter nancy, you can do this”. This is why I love CrossFit. Those simple words, I don’t know where the energy came from, but that moment right there is when I needed it. My other CrossFit coach was doing the Murphy challenge with us.

Finally getting into the 300 squats, and another CrossFit friend came over to me. He started CrossFit the same day I did, but he was one of the first guys to finish. Speedy lil’ thing. Anyway, he saw me struggling through the squats and asked how many I had left. I said “I’m at 181!” He too, said some encouraging words to me.

Finished my squats and bursted out of the CrossFit box (it’s like a warehouse) and tried to go into a full run. Most people were finished by this time, and I shouted “Oh F&C*” except I really swore ;) My legs felt like I had just done a brick-workout. Like folks when they’re racing in triathlons, and getting off the bike is difficult going back into running. My legs felt so heavy. I just shuffled along and pounded through it.

My final time ended up being 65:13. I was really proud of it, since I’ve never done the Murphy challenge before. I passed my year and a half at CrossFit last week, so it was due time that I did this. A few people said it was a “rite of passage” for CrossFit, to complete it.

I loved it, and I’d do it again soon. Does that make me sound crazy? ;)

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My CrossFit Journal (Year 1, week 25)

Thanks to those who participated in my poll last week. I was questioning whether or not to do a post each time I work out, or save it all for Monday’s into one big ol’ collaboration.

The short:

  • CrossFit x 2
  • Running x 2

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year 1, week 25, day one

Ring Dip:
max-max-max  (so annoying, I’m so bad at this) My legs were even still on the ground

Back Squat:
20 Minutes to Establish 3RM

I ended up back squatting 95lbs (!!!). We had a few minutes left and I tried to go for 105 and did one. So that’s awesome right? lol I can almost back squat my own weight, that’s ridiculous.

“Mad Cindy”
AMRAP 10:
5 Pause Pullups
10 Clapping Push Ups
15 Jumping Squats

This WOD killed my arm pits, lol.

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year 1, week 25, day two

15 Thrusters; 135/95lbs 55lbs
Run 200 meters
20 Thrusters; 95/65lbs 45lbs
Run 400 meters
30 Thursters; 65/45lbs 35lbs
Run 800 meters

This one was pretty tough. We just had an 18 minute time limit and I was on my last 800m run, and I think the buzzer went off just as I was coming back, finishing up my run. Not bad!


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year 1, week 25, day three

Didn’t go to CrossFit but ran 6k with my co-worker. PROOF!

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year 1, week 25, day four

Hilarious story. I was pigging out on junk food because my Boyfriend was away, and I decided to watch the documentary SUPER SIZE ME. Silly mistake. I was feeling already full and feeling like the dude was describing me as one of the folks he was talking about in the film. I had to pause the movie half way through and ended up going for a speedy 4.23km in 24:03! That’s clippin’ er. Mainly because it was almost 9pm at night, and in a sketch area of town and any random dude I passed, I pretended I had fresh legs and was feelin’ no pain. Though, I was feeling quite ill due to the popcorn and pizza sloshin’ around in my belly. It would’ve made for a “better” story had I have puked on the run. lol But thankfully I did not.

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A Fitness Survey

I took this survey from Christina and decided to fill it out, even though I wasn’t tagged by anyone.

1. Run/workout in the heat and humidity or freezing cold temps and snow?
I’ve never ran in the cold winter time. I’m a fair weather runner and have ran in 35ºC temperatures. I can’t stand the lung burn when you get while exercising outside in the chilly weather.

2. Washboard abs or flat abs?
On females, I’d rather flat abs, or a semi-defined stomach. I find that washboard abs look a little funky on girls.

3. Dr. Oz or The Doctors?
I don’t have cable. No idea.

4. Cardio or strength?
Both! I don’t say “today is a strength day” or “today is a cardio day” or anything like that. I just go to yoga when I feel like it, go on runs when I’m craving it, and go to CrossFit and not know what the heck is going to be up on the board that day.

5. Cravings: Protein or carbs?
I’m stealing Christina’s answer: I rarely crave protein – hopefully because I get enough. Who doesn’t crave carbs? I could sit around and eat pita chips, crackers, and bread for hours. Pasta bores me though.

6. Jillian Michaels or Bob Harper?
My boyfriend and I don’t have cable TV anymore, so I never really got into their television shows. Can I just say neither?

7. Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream?
Frozen yogurt to me, tastes the same as ice cream. At least at Menchies, so why don’t we just go with that answer.

8. To train: Upper body or Lower body?
No preference. Though, my CrossFit coaches have been getting me to work my shoulder strength more. Which is sooo difficult.

9. Protein powder or food with protein?
Food with protein, for sure. Gimmie dat chicken breast!

10. Lunges or squats?
Squats are easier on my right knee. When I do lunges I sometimes bow my right knee inwards, which causes a bit of pain on my knee cap. Something “flicks” and it can be painful! I hate wall balls (at CrossFit) and have been known to skip classes if they’re on the website for the WOD (workout of the day)!

11. Sweet or salty?
Sweet. They don’t call me candy’ girl for nothin.

12. Workout attire: cute or comfy?
I don’t think anyone intends to buy ugly or uncomfortable workout clothes. I wear anything from Lululemon, Nike, to Old Navy.

13. Body Pump or Heavy lifting?
I went to a Muscle Pump class at the local YMCA and the instructor was huffing and puffing her way through movements, and allowing us breaks, so I kept on goin’. I really didn’t enjoy it at all. I’d rather stick to something more extreme like CrossFit. TRACTOR FLIPS! Who does that? Oh. Me.

We also like doing Frog jump at CrossFit too, lol.

14. Yoga or Pilates?
Yoga is good, only if I have an amazing instructor. I haven’t tried Pilates yet. I don’t even know what that entails. Is it just a fancier name for Yoga?

15. Nike or Adidas?
NIKE! Look at my hot pink Nike Free’s I got last year.

16. Running on the treadmill or outdoors?
I can run on the treadmill, longer than I can by myself outdoors. I like the outdoors though too, and have been doing a lot of that this summer with my co-worker L!

17. Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s?
I’ve never been to either of them! Anyone want to go with me?

18. Summer or Winter Olympics?
I like the summer olympics, gymnastics is amazing, trampoline is so silly, and diving. Diving is neat. Why wouldn’t there be diving in the winter olympics? It’s indoors….anyway, doesn’t really matter to me lol.

I’m part gymnast, didn’t you know? My strong point: the leg flail jump. That or I’m channeling Molly Shannon, from Saturday Night Live.

19. Exercise classes or Exercise videos?
Classes. I haven’t really given exercise videos a chance. I like classes because if I’m doing something wrong I can be corrected by the instructor.

20. Steamed veggies or roasted veggies?
Steamed asparagus, roasted potatoes. Ha. Got you on that one, didn’t I.

I tag the following people to complete this survey! All my Toronto FitFluential gal pals: Krysten, Robyn, Morgan and Jess! I also want to tag my new friend Meg!

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