Still Playing around

With the direction of my training, that is. I think now, I have a clue of what I really want to do. Still want to try armor building, but I want to do it in the vein of Easy Strength. Easy Strength is not to be confused with the 40 Day Easy, Easy Strength program by the way. Easy Strength uses loads of about 85 to 95% of your max and is not to be done every day of the week. 


Anyway, here is what Friday looked like:


Pull-ups w/ 28kg on foot: 3, 3, 3
Pistols w/ 24kg: 3R/3L x 3
Barbell Rows w/ 175 lbs x 3, 3, 3
Deadlifts w/ 275 x 3, 3, 3, then w/ 295 x 3, 3, 3
Barbell Military Press w/ 155 lbs x 2, 3, 3, then hand stand pushups on blocks x 3, 3, 3
Hanging Leg Raise x 5, 5


I take my time between sets and don't rush to perform the next set. Kinda have to because the loads are a little heavier... Though, I felt really good after I was done.


If I don't blog again before Christmas, Merry Christmas!

Time passes so quickly

Wow, 40 days of easy strength ended and so did my frequent blogging! It's easy to keep a habit when you're focused I guess. My 40 day Dan John workout was a success. That is I completed it AND got stronger in my five chosen lifts. Thats a good thing. The bad thing, however, is that it awakened a sleeping beast that has been dormant for almost 8 years: traditional weight training. 


Since I was 13 years old, I have trained with weights. Over half my life, that was my joy. Then one day about 8 years ago, I found the kettlebell. It was a romance that was fast and furious. I completely gave up "weight training" for the kettlebell and its lovely ways. Now, after my 40 day experiment, I feel like I found a long lost love; an old flame. A lady that always drove me crazy. Her name - weight lifting. 


Wanna know what I've been doing after my 40 day workout was over? I've been weight lifting. I've touched the kettlebell a couple of times, but I keep sneaking off to lift weights behind the kettlebell's back. I'm so confused, so tormented. I'm having such a wonderful time! 


I've always enjoyed training. Always. But now, I'm in love with training. Again. It's weird. Didn't know I wasn't in love with it, until I noticed this strange new feeling I get when I look at that beautiful barbell. 


Yes, I'm crazy. Yes, I still love kettlebells. But there is room in my heart for weights too. 


So, this winter is the time for growth. I'm going to try to build some armor, as Dan John puts it. I'm going to keep playing with weights, and occasionally kettlebells. ;)

One more day

Today is day 39 of the DJ 40 day ez stength training. It has been a good change and I have learned a lot. I am stronger and it was easy. Simple as that...

Its been a good week. Mindy and I held a 3 hour workshop for distance runners. From the feedback we have received, it went very well. I got to join John Brookfield and show the NCSU Wrestling Team how to use the Battling Ropes System. That was extremely cool, and educational. And, my son Luke turned 8 and we had a killer Nerf Party/war. It was a very GOOD weekend!

Highlights:
Day 37 - 11/18/10
Body Weight is 160 lbs.
Zercher Squats w/ 95lb x 5, 5
Dead Lift w/ 275 x 3, 315 x 3, 295 x 3 - the 315 was smooth and steady, felt heavy but not difficult.
BB Military Press w/ 135 x 3, 155 x 3, 165 x 2, 135 x 2
Pull-up x 10
HLR x 5

Day 39 - 11/22/10
Pull-up w/ BW x 3, 16kg x 3, 40kg x 1, BW x 2
Front Squat w/ 115 x 5, 5
C & P w/ 135 x 3, 3, 3
Dead Lift w/ 225 x 5, 5
Swings w/ 32kg x 20, 20
HLR x 5, 5
OH Carry w/ 2 -24kgs x 100 steps

That's it. Day 40 will be a light, easy, reflective day.

Great calves of fire!

It is Monday, and I could barely walk when I got out of bed this morning. Every time the tones went off at the fire station yesterday I was hoping, sometimes praying, that it was not for my truck. I just discovered the secret to getting huge calves. All you have to do is be stupid like me. ;) 


Well, one day they have to quit hurting. Right? 


Day 34 of my 40 day Dan John plan:
KB Front Squats w/ 2-24s x 5, 5
Dead Lifts w/ 225 x 5, 5
BB Military Press w/ 135 x 3, 4, 3
Pull-ups w/ BW x 5, 5
Dbl Swings w/ 2-24s x 10, 10, 10, 10, 10
HLR x 5
No carries today as I can hardly carry my own arse across the floor!


I am still resolute in my 5K retirement by the way. Every step I take cements that decision. Heh, heh...

I'm going to feel that tomorrow...

Ran the 5K today. But before I get to that, i'll post yesterday's 40 day training:

Day 32 - 11/12/10
Front Squats w/ 135 lbs x 5, 5
Dead Lifts w/ 225 x 3, 4, 3
KB Press w/ 32kg x 3/3, 4/4, 3/3
Pull-ups w/ BW x 10
Swings w/ 32kg x 20, 20, 20
HLR x 5

Now, Today looked like this:
5K in 24 minutes. I made it! I haven't run a whole mile in over 2 years! I ran right over 3 today and never stopped. I even feel like my time is pretty decent. What does this mean? It means God is good, cause I was a praying man before the race started. I have done nothing to prepare for this race and I probably should not have run it. I also ran it in Vibram 5 fingers (I never said I was smart!).

So yes, I haven't ran a mile in 2 years, I haven't trained at all to run a 5K, and I ran one today in Vibrams. I'm insane. And my trophy? I have the world's sorest calves. I can hardly walk! Not even 3 hours after I've run, my calves have officially staged a rebellion. I can only imagine how painful tomorrow and Monday will be. Oh well, God is good and I am dumb.

On that note, I would like to officially announce my retirement from 5Ks as of today. I came out of a 15 year retirement to run one today and after completing my mission, I'm going back into retirement. Hopefully my calves will forgive me soon...

This Should Be Fun...

Not so much, really. My wife signed me up for a 5K a while back and it is Saturday. No big deal for the average runner, I know. But, I'm not the average runner. In fact, I'm not the runner at all. I have a car. I drive when I need to travel more than a mile. I haven't ran 3 miles in 15 years. But the last time I did, man I was flying! I'm afraid history will not repeat itself on Saturday. At least not the way I ran back then...


Anyway, a 5K really is not part of my 40 day EZ strength program. It may be part of a take strength away program though, we will see.


Day 30 - 11/10/10
Front Squats w/ 115 x 5, 5
BB Military Press w/ 115 x 5, 5
Dead Lift w/ 205 x 5, 5
Pull-ups w/ 16kg x 5, 5
Swings w/ 32kg x 15, 15, 15, 15
Hanging Leg Raise x 5
Suitcase carries w/ 32kg x 100 steps each hand
 then some other odd carries for about 400 total steps.


Day 31 - 11/11/10
KB front squats w/ 2-24kgs x 5, 5
Dead Lift w/ 225 x 3, 245 x 3, 275 x 3
BB Military Press w/ 135 x 3, 4, 3
Pull-up w/ 16kg x 3, BW x 4, 32kg x 3 - hey!
Swings w/ 32kg x 10, 10, 10
HLR x 5, 5
DBL OH carry w/ 2-24kgs x 100 steps
OH carry w/ 24kg x 100 steps each


OK, tomorrow a light day and lots of prayer! I'll keep you posted on the 5K.

Setting the tone of the week...

It is day 29 of my 40 day workout. Decided to test the waters today. Dead Lifts with 315. I know, not really heavy at all as far as dead lifts go, but it has been at least 5 years since i've pulled that much. So, for me it was a little heavy and a little nice.

Day 29 - 11/8/10
Front Squats w/ 115 lbs x 5, 5
Dead Lift w/ 275 lbs x 3, 295 lbs x 3, 315 lbs x 3 - EZ strength....
BB Clean and Press w/ 135 lbs x 3, 3, 3 - i think i have found a new joy...
Pull-ups w/ BW x 10
KB Swings w/ 32kg x 10, 10, 10
HLR x 10
Farmers walks with 2-32kg kettlebells PLUS a 40 lb weight vest x 85 yards x 2 trips. This made me tired...

In the words of the immortal Rick Flair, "Whoooo!" Feel like i did something today!