Category: Tire Flips

Sandy’s wake

With the view from these windows its hard to tell there is a hurricane moving up the East Coast. There’s no rain, intermittent wind. Given all the news reports about what may or may not happen with the storm, its simply a matter of riding it out at this point. For the first time since I’ve been a member our box is closed; along with the schools, some businesses, bridges, roadways, the NY stock exchange.

While there are still WODs on the road available anytime, any place, today I’ve taken a peaceful express ticket to pajama-ville, have been here since 4pm.

Yesterday, Sunday, I spent 2+ glorious hours at ACF. First, Strongman tire flip AMRAP. 250lbs. max tire flips in a minute, followed by 30 seconds of box jumps. Round one: 13 flips. Round two: 14. The most unexpected result from this WOD, the feeling of complete disorientation and ability to complete the box jumps after tire flips, felt weak, unstable, and limp. This caught me completely by surprise.

Then with a bit of a break in between to catch up with some lovely ACF peeps, onto 3 minute box jump AMRAP repeat from my personal epic fail during the last Friday Night Fights. Had to know whether it was fear, or simply a lack of strength which left me finishing way short of what I thought I could do. In an empty double wide with nothing but my own personal running mix playing in the background I decided to try again. No competition angst, no one cheering, no competitors. It was just me and the lonely 20″ box. Turns out it’s my strength and stamina that failed. Right around box jump 15 the legs began to shut down. Weakened and fatigued, the thought of falling and doing some serious injury resulted in a down shift to step ups once again. Insert ‘More work to be done’ statement here.

On to strict push press work. Working up to 1RM at 80lbs. Diet is good, body feels good. Strength is clean as a result. No fog.

Looking forward to getting back to ACF tomorrow. WODs and healthy diet incorporated into a solid routine for me equals healthy body and clean mind.

Soon to be old friends.

“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.” I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou

I am officially on vacation. Tomorrow I hop a plane and go off to visit some very dear friends in a warm environment. We will fish, we will cook really good food, and share really good wine, we will sleep in late and when we finally wake up, sit on the couch and drink coffee in our pajamas. Most importantly, we will share, and we will laugh. We will hug, and we will look each other in the eye and smile, with that knowing that says, it is so good to see you old friend. And even though we live far a part, it is just as if you’ve been beside me all along.

It feels funny knowing I won’t be into ACF for a few days. My initial reaction is, what momentum will I lose, what ground gained, lost? But mostly, I will miss my family. True story.

ACF and I, we are soon to be old friends.

You walk through the door and its high fives and knuckle bumps and hugs.  It’s sharing stories about your day, and your plans for your wedding, and how you might have had a hard day at work and you were not sure you would but you’re glad you made it to the WOD.

For me, it’s my happy place.

A happy place where I work my ass off with other people. It’s like it’s the year 1842, and we’re settlers on the prairie, all working together, as a team, to get a job done, our livelihoods depending on each other. Sounds silly, I know, but I would never work this hard if it were not for the people around me, doing the same. The community that surrounds.

WOD:

I. AMRAP in 15 minutes:

15 Kettlebell Swings (70/53)

15 Burpees

Completed: 5 rounds plus 2. Kettle Bells at 45 lbs.

For those of you that are counting, that’s 77 Burpees. This WOD was hard. No other way around it. It was a BEAST. Burpees, you kick my ass. Thought to myself at one point, Go on, scale the burpees, this is too hard for you, no one will know. Just do 10 instead of 15 per round. But, I didn’t. I stuck to it, and completed each and every rep, as prescribed.

II. For Quality:

100 Hollow Rocks

100 Superman Rocks

Onto Strongman!

What a way to go on vacation. WOD then Strongman. As Carmen coined it so eloquently this evening, two hours of lovely torture.

Keg Press and Tire Flip relay. Post WOD was weak and couldn’t get the 57 lbs. keg overhead. Whoa. So converted to 30 lbs. and upped the reps to 10, Snatch style. First round at 1:54. 2nd at 1:44. And now, vacation may forthcometh.

Defiant

Meet my nemesis. The 100lbs. log.

Notice how it defiantly stares back at you? Indifferent to your existence. ‘Either you can lift me, or you can’t. Meh. Either way.’

It’s not just talking to me is it?

Notice it’s close friend and cohort, the chalk. Opened and waiting for you. You have no excuse now. Chalk-up. Ready when you are.

You can’t see the 70lbs. log. It’s not in the picture. That’s where you’ll find me. For now.

Strongman Sunday. A bunch of Coaches showed up on this beautiful Fall Sunday to strut their stuff and compete with the peeps. Two Team Rounds, relay carry, log press (70lbs), sled pull (125lbs.), tire flips (275lbs.).

which grows

“…here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)”  — E.E. Cummings

WOD:

For Time:

30 Ring Dips

Run 1600m

30 Ring Dips

Run 800m

30 Ring Dips

Run 400 m

Completed: in 23:05. (1600m equals 1 mile.)

Strongman – Wednesday Night:

Two rounds of 5:

115lbs. keg to bar

280lbs. tire flips

Completed: Round 1 @ 1:43. Round 2 @ 1:53.

Sunday.

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” — Elbert Hubbard

WOD:

I. As Many Rounds As Possible in 10 Minutes:

5 Clean & Jerk – (95/65)

5 Burpee Jumping Pullups – 8′ Bar

20 Double Unders Unbroken

Completed: at RX of 65lbs.  5 Rounds, plus 4.

Then onto Strong Person. Tire Flips and Prowler Pulls. And just general all around fun with all around great people.