Week 20
Day 7: Rest
Today I was going to run 2.5 miles and do chin-ups, but I didn’t. Come at me goals.
Week 21
Day 1: Chin-Ups
Chin-Up
BW: 10-10-8-10-6-6
So how is the running feeling? Is 2.5 miles a tough distance for you or is it feeling pretty easy now?
[quote]csulli wrote:
So how is the running feeling? Is 2.5 miles a tough distance for you or is it feeling pretty easy now?[/quote]
Hey bud. It feels terrible lol. I haven’t noticed any difference, but I don’t think I’ve been doing it frequently or for long enough to notice any real improvement. It’s hard to tell though, maybe I have improved a little. Actually my calf DOMS definitely doesn’t feel as bad as it did. I’m not particularly ambitious with my running though, so I’m not too bothered.
Week 21
Day 2: Handstand Push-Up
Handstand Push-Up
BW: 5-5-5
It may not seem like I’m progressing on these, but I feel like my technique is improving.
Single Arm Push-Up
BW: 2-3-2
I used to be a lot better at these. I’m thinking about adding them in regularly, I think they have advantages over the kettlebell flat press: heavier load, closed chain, starting extended. I’d be interested to hear peoples opinions on this.
[quote]furo wrote:
[quote]csulli wrote:
So how is the running feeling? Is 2.5 miles a tough distance for you or is it feeling pretty easy now?[/quote]
Hey bud. It feels terrible lol. I haven’t noticed any difference, but I don’t think I’ve been doing it frequently or for long enough to notice any real improvement. It’s hard to tell though, maybe I have improved a little. Actually my calf DOMS definitely doesn’t feel as bad as it did. I’m not particularly ambitious with my running though, so I’m not too bothered.[/quote]
Yeah, just give it time. You’ll adapt faster if you do it more frequently though, but eventually you just want to reach a point where it sucks only because it’s boring, not because of anything else.
Once you hit that point, then you can start pushing the pace and make it suck again. But by then it’s at a point where you can control how much it sucks.
I’m not too interested in running these days. Eventually I might get back into it, but I’m playing with the rowing erg here and there right now. It’s new and different so it at least has some appeal over running for me.
[quote]LoRez wrote:
[quote]furo wrote:
[quote]csulli wrote:
So how is the running feeling? Is 2.5 miles a tough distance for you or is it feeling pretty easy now?[/quote]
Hey bud. It feels terrible lol. I haven’t noticed any difference, but I don’t think I’ve been doing it frequently or for long enough to notice any real improvement. It’s hard to tell though, maybe I have improved a little. Actually my calf DOMS definitely doesn’t feel as bad as it did. I’m not particularly ambitious with my running though, so I’m not too bothered.[/quote]
Yeah, just give it time. You’ll adapt faster if you do it more frequently though, but eventually you just want to reach a point where it sucks only because it’s boring, not because of anything else.
Once you hit that point, then you can start pushing the pace and make it suck again. But by then it’s at a point where you can control how much it sucks.
I’m not too interested in running these days. Eventually I might get back into it, but I’m playing with the rowing erg here and there right now. It’s new and different so it at least has some appeal over running for me.[/quote]
Thanks for the tips LoRez, I really appreciate it. Yeah it’s funny I think I’m in the same position but the other way round. I’ve been lifting weights seriously for exactly 5 years now and a huge part of the appeal of running is that it is new.
Week 21
Day 3: Long Run
6 Mile Run
This was 95% mental. It’s the furthest I’ve run in my life. I timed it at 1:13.
My favourite thing about T-Nation is how weak it makes me feel. I don’t mean that in a soppy way at all, I’m completely serious. In almost every social setting I find myself in I’m either the biggest guy there or at least close: I’m like a big fish in a tiny pond. The problem is that my primary motivation has always come from a fear of weakness rather than a desire for strength. The good folks of T-Nation give me all the motivation I could ever need, and I strive for the respect of those of you kind enough to follow this log.
[quote]furo wrote:
Week 21
Day 3: Long Run
6 Mile Run
This was 95% mental. It’s the furthest I’ve run in my life. I timed it at 1:13.
My favourite thing about T-Nation is how weak it makes me feel. I don’t mean that in a soppy way at all, I’m completely serious. In almost every social setting I find myself in I’m either the biggest guy there or at least close: I’m like a big fish in a tiny pond. The problem is that my primary motivation has always come from a fear of weakness rather than a desire for strength. The good folks of T-Nation give me all the motivation I could ever need, and I strive for the respect of those of you kind enough to follow this log. [/quote]
That’s a nice sentiment to have, here in the UK it seems rarer to find someone who actually looks like they lifts or actually moves decent weights.
For example, I’ve only ever talked to one person that could squat over 500lbs lol.
[quote]furo wrote:
Week 21
Day 3: Long Run
6 Mile Run
This was 95% mental. It’s the furthest I’ve run in my life. I timed it at 1:13.
My favourite thing about T-Nation is how weak it makes me feel. I don’t mean that in a soppy way at all, I’m completely serious. In almost every social setting I find myself in I’m either the biggest guy there or at least close: I’m like a big fish in a tiny pond. The problem is that my primary motivation has always come from a fear of weakness rather than a desire for strength. The good folks of T-Nation give me all the motivation I could ever need, and I strive for the respect of those of you kind enough to follow this log. [/quote]
Lol this is my problem tremendously.
[quote]Spidey22 wrote:
[quote]furo wrote:
Week 21
Day 3: Long Run
6 Mile Run
This was 95% mental. It’s the furthest I’ve run in my life. I timed it at 1:13.
My favourite thing about T-Nation is how weak it makes me feel. I don’t mean that in a soppy way at all, I’m completely serious. In almost every social setting I find myself in I’m either the biggest guy there or at least close: I’m like a big fish in a tiny pond. The problem is that my primary motivation has always come from a fear of weakness rather than a desire for strength. The good folks of T-Nation give me all the motivation I could ever need, and I strive for the respect of those of you kind enough to follow this log. [/quote]
Lol this is my problem tremendously.
[/quote]
Yeah, same.
It’s funny because I can bench my bodyweight easily, and to most people I know in real life, they’re actually impressed by this.
But here, I feel like a 285 bench is just borderline acceptable, with 315 finally being considered “decent”.
Basically, I’m not doing this to be better… I’m just doing this so I suck less.
It’s great to see that all of you guys feel the same way.
This is exactly how I feel:
[quote]LoRez wrote:
Basically, I’m not doing this to be better… I’m just doing this so I suck less.[/quote]
Rattlehead: I completely agree with you. I don’t want this to sound nasty, but I feel like the standard of the general population is just so low. To use a strange convoluted animal analogy, it’s like I feel like a fox amongst rabbits in day to day life, but when I come on here I’m surrounded by wolves and bears and that puts me in my place haha. I’m worried I’m coming across as arrogant, I certainly don’t mean to.
Week 21:
Day 4: Rest
I wanted to rest after my long run yesterday. The only thing I did was a couple of one-arm inverted rows to see if I can do them - I can, but they aren’t easy.
I intend 2014 to be the year of bodyweight mastery for me - I want to get really smooth at pistol squats, handstand push-ups, single arm push-ups and single arm inverted rows and, although it might be too ambitious, I’d really like to crack the single-arm chin-up. I feel like I’ve built up a semi-decent bodyweight base this year, so that should make a good starting point.
[quote]furo wrote:
Rattlehead: I completely agree with you. I don’t want this to sound nasty, but I feel like the standard of the general population is just so low. To use a strange convoluted animal analogy, it’s like I feel like a fox amongst rabbits in day to day life, but when I come on here I’m surrounded by wolves and bears and that puts me in my place haha. I’m worried I’m coming across as arrogant, I certainly don’t mean to. [/quote]
Yeah, I know what you mean and I don’t think that’s arrogant at all. I think it’s only arrogant if you tell them that 
On the other hand, I run into pro sports players here and there (a few of them live in my apartment complex since I’m right down the street from the Colts training complex)… and that always reminds me how far I have to go.
[quote]furo wrote:
I feel like a fox amongst rabbits in day to day life, but when I come on here I’m surrounded by wolves and bears and that puts me in my place haha.[/quote]
Like a pig among guinea pigs one might say?
There is a saying that goes, “The stronger I get, the weaker I feel.” That’s been very true for me.
You know the coolest thing about the mentality you’re describing though? It never ends lol. I spoke briefly with Scott Cartwright at the Arnold in the Animal Cage. It was right after Spoto hit a 705 bench like you or I might take a sip of coffee. He said to me “Just makes ya wanna quit don’t it?” lol.
Even Ed Coan said something like “The best I ever did in the gym, raw with knee wraps, was 925 for a double. There’s a video of Andrey Malanichev now squatting 925 for a triple, and it looks a lot easier than when I did it. That guy’s amazing.”
Even the very strongest guys are just like you and me. They see someone doing something they can’t do and think “man, I need to get stronger.” That’s a crucial element to becoming as strong as you can.
[quote]csulli wrote:
There is a saying that goes, “The stronger I get, the weaker I feel.” That’s been very true for me.
You know the coolest thing about the mentality you’re describing though? It never ends lol. I spoke briefly with Scott Cartwright at the Arnold in the Animal Cage. It was right after Spoto hit a 705 bench like you or I might take a sip of coffee. He said to me “Just makes ya wanna quit don’t it?” lol.
Even Ed Coan said something like “The best I ever did in the gym, raw with knee wraps, was 925 for a double. There’s a video of Andrey Malanichev now squatting 925 for a triple, and it looks a lot easier than when I did it. That guy’s amazing.”
Even the very strongest guys are just like you and me. They see someone doing something they can’t do and think “man, I need to get stronger.” That’s a crucial element to becoming as strong as you can.[/quote]
Yeah I love that it never ends. If we all just wanted to “get in shape” this would be a very short run thing, but for those who are really passionate it will never stop, there will always be something to improve at. It might sound depressing from the outside lol, but dissatisfaction is such a great thing. It is really cool that the pros feel that way too, those examples are inspiring.
Week 21
Day 5: Rest (again)
I’m meant to do kettlebell swings but I still haven’t recovered from that run (pathetic, I know). If I feel good enough I’ll do them tomorrow, if not I’ll move on to rows.
It’s ok if you haven’t recovered from that run. 6 miles is quite a distance if you’re not used to it.
Week 21
Day 6: Chin-Up and Push-Up
Chin-Up
Regular: 6
Uneven: 1
Single hand: F
Uneven: 1-2-1
Regular: 9-9-8
Push-Up
Regular: 15
Single hand: 3-2-1-1
Regular: 25-25
Bleh
[quote]LoRez wrote:
It’s ok if you haven’t recovered from that run. 6 miles is quite a distance if you’re not used to it.[/quote]
Thanks man
At the risk of alienating those reading/being flamed to death lol, what are people’s thoughts on Zyzz?
I’m definitely not a fanboy, but there is something fascinating about him. I can’t work it out. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to look like him…except with bigger legs.
It’s a strange one.
[quote]furo wrote:
At the risk of alienating those reading/being flamed to death lol, what are people’s thoughts on Zyzz?
I’m definitely not a fanboy, but there is something fascinating about him. I can’t work it out. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to look like him…except with bigger legs.
It’s a strange one.[/quote]
LOL. It is a touchy subject, but I also had admired his physique.
I think you would have to train differently to what you are know to look like him, and Im pretty sure its a known fact that he used PEDs. Heaps of youtube videos I believe, and Im pretty sure he trained for the pump and hypertrophy, while I see you train in a more “functional” way. I actually prefer your methodology of training as I find it more rewarding to train with “functional” goals in mind, compared to Zyzz’s method which is purely for the aesthetics.
tweet