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Humility, thy name is change August 20, 2008

Posted by hardly Sit-ups, Kettlebell, Bar, Row, Tabata, Pullups, Pushups Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , add a comment

One of the key aspects of functional fitness lies in changing up the workout. Today, we did a couple of things that were twists on the usual, and the outcome is a hard workout. Constant shifts keep the body and the mind off-balance, and yield growth.

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What do you do to keep learning? August 7, 2008

Posted by hardly Run, Sit-ups, Bar, Medicine Ball, Row, Other Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , add a comment

I love learning new things. This can take the form of figuring out new technical things, or a new business idea, or how to physically do something different.

It’s one of the things I love about functional fitness. Every workout, do something new, try a different way, challenge yourself. Maybe that means adding more reps, or maybe it means more weight, or maybe it means changing the way you do something.  Decline push-ups anyone?
Today, we worked a bunch on the part of my form that’s used in the bar clean and bar snatch movements. I’m not making the last but of the full extension, or ‘pop’ as we call it, happen, so I’m not nearly efficient as I could be.  Also, it’s important to establish good form with lighter weights so you reduce the risk of injury later.

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Very pleased with the rowing PB.  Looking forward to continued improvements in that area, though I think they are going to be smaller and smaller steps. The deadlifts were hard, especially because I continue to struggle w/my form on that one, too. Ah, more learning in my future!

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Have you met Fran? August 1, 2008

Posted by hardly Sit-ups, Bar, Row, Other, Pullups Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , add a comment

Fran is one of the Crossfit workouts, and a great way to test your fitness level.

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Sometimes Competition is Distracting July 28, 2008

Posted by hardly Sit-ups, Kettlebell, Dumbbell, Row, Other, 100 of... for time, Pullups, Box Jumps, Recruiting Process Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , add a comment

Today, I was joined in my workout w/two other guys who are pretty close to me in ability. So close that in some things, they are better than me, and in others, I’m better than they are. This can be really good. Today, it was distracting. But, a good lesson in focus. Must stay focused on the next rep!

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Sneaking Up on Improvment July 25, 2008

Posted by hardly Run, Sit-ups, Kettlebell, Bar, Medicine Ball, Other, 6 Minutes of..., Max reps, Pushups, Dips Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , add a comment

One of the nice things about the functional workouts we do is that sometimes you’ll become re-acquainted w/a given activity and discover that you’ve improved. It’s a really great thing!

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All in all, I’m happy w/this workout. Nice to see my mile run time come down, and fun to do a few new things. I was sorta hoping that I’d get to 21 on the Thrusters, and I really tried, but it was not to be today. But tomorrow, who knows?

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I hate coming back to working out! July 21, 2008

Posted by hardly Run, Sit-ups, Bar, Medicine Ball, Row, Other, Max reps, Pullups, Pushups, Jump Rope Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , add a comment

I was not in the gym last week, more on that later, and both fell off my diet, and didn’t participate in any “high-intensity” workouts. To my detriment, I might add!

Today’s torture session…

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Working on weightlifting movements July 2, 2008

Posted by hardly Sit-ups, Kettlebell, Bar, Medicine Ball, Row, Pullups, Dips, Lunges, Jump Rope Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , add a comment

Today was a fun workout. Aside from the usual stuff, we did some ‘learning’ - working on some of the classic weightlifting movements.

It’s funny - two years ago, if you had told me I’d be doing Clean & Presses, I’d tell you that you were out of your mind. I had too much fear built up around possibly injuring my back if I did free-weight exercises where the bar went above my head. And, like most things in life, successfully negotiating this point is all about starting small and building up slowly.

Thing is, I would not go back to my previous workouts having gotten into the swing of things with free weights. The added benefits are simply too good to ignore. For example, in doing a Clean & Press, it’s amazing how much your core muscles get activated!

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No, you don’t buy it in a jewelry shop June 27, 2008

Posted by hardly Run, Sit-ups, Kettlebell, Bar, Dumbbell, Pullups, Pushups Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , add a comment

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Our new gym is equipped w/rings, and so we’ve begun using them. Gotta say that eliminating a solid support in any give movement means there’s a lot more to do!

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New Gym - 1st Workout June 9, 2008

Posted by hardly Sit-ups, Kettlebell, Bar, Row, 6 Minutes of..., Pullups, Pushups, Jump Rope Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , 1 comment so far

Oh man, I’ve been waiting for 3 months for this moment, and it’s finally arrived! Working out in a new gym that’s designed for the workouts I do! Big, big fun!

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There are a number of really great things about this gym as it relates to these workouts. First, it has all the equipment, and it’s easy to set up your circuits w/o impeding other’s work (there are no fixed-place machines, everything can be moved with some degree of ease). Second, because of our location, and past tenants, we have an industrial-sized garage door, which we open when we’re working out. It was in the low 50s this am, so it was very cool, and after getting moving, it really helped to keep me from overheating.  Third, I’m back to using kettlebells again, which is a big deal; dumbbells just don’t work the same way when you try and swing them, etc. Fourth, the weight bars are designed for weightlifting, so the knurling on the handles gives more purchase than the chrome bars I had been using.

Anyway, I’m very happy with all this. It’s going to be fun working out down there, and I can’t wait to see the rest of the equipment come in. I can’t wait to start climbing the ropes!

Logbook Activity

I hate Dave Hardwick! May 19, 2008

Posted by hardly Run, Sit-ups, Bar, Dumbbell, 100 of... for time, Pullups, Pushups, Dips, Box Jumps Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , add a comment

Damn, this was a hard workout! That Hardwick dude is a PITA!
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